No, you are wrong. the only place you get any care is the taxpayer funded homes. They other private sector ones are run by greedy people who push the old ladies in the wheelchair down the stairs each day and beat them with rubber hoses. Didn't you know that? Anyone who questions the tens of millions the place hemmorages is cruel and sadistic and a greedy capitalist pig.

Quoted from 47

In a nutshell, I couldn't agree with you more.  I have had residents call me and ask when the town was going to start collecting garbage rather then having to pay a private contractor.  My response to them is....be careful what you ask for, if local government was to take over the role of trash removal it would be less efficient and MUCH more costly then paying for the service privately

Working with alot of folks from the city of Schenectady.....they pay a HELL of alot more for their trash pick up than private.....however,
alot of the folks in the city are "gypsys"---so to speak.....they move from rental to rental....and from NYC and back ......ALOT of times
not to mention every other city in the tri-state area.....Troy/Schenectady/Albany.......the rest of USA, doesn't want to 'know' those
areas....Just NYC and the Adirondacks.......

Quoted Text

SCHENECTADY COUNTY
Nursing home plan is focus of forum
Public input sought on proposed facility; Republicans say meeting is ill-timed
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Michael Lamendola at 395-3114 or lamend@dailygazette.com.

    The public will have a chance Thursday to comment on the proposed $51 million construction of a new Schenectady County nursing home.
    The county must start construction of the 200-bed facility by Nov. 1; otherwise the state Department of Health will withdraw permission for the project.
    County Legislators Karen Johnson, D-Schenectady, and Brian Gordon, D-Niskayuna, will host the forum scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Glendale Home, 59 Hetcheltown Road.
    Johnson and Gordon are cochairs of the county Legislature’s Human Services and Aging Subcommittee on Glendale Home.
    “We thought it would be a good time to sit back and listen to people about Glendale and what they think are the important things we need to do going forward,” Johnson said.
    The Glendale venue will allow residents of the skilled nursing facility and their families to participate in the hearing, Johnson said. “The real truth and the real important insights come out of people who are using the service in great detail,” she said
    Gordon said the county will incorporate public comments into the design of the proposed facility. He said the county has a general design but nothing specifi c.
    Gordon is pushing for the creation of a senior citizen living center on the Glendale campus. The campus would consist of an entirely new skilled nursing facility, the use of the existing Glendale Home facility for medical services and the addition of independent living structures.
    The county is on a tight timeline for the project and must meet several other conditions to keep state approval. They include providing final construction documents, a bond note, a debt amortization schedule and a plan to reduce the Glendale skilled nursing facility to 200 beds from its current census of 220.
    As part of its approval, the state said the county must complete construction of the new facility by Nov. 1, 2011.
    Legislature Minority Leader Robert Farley, R-Glenville, said he is upset with the date of the hearing because it falls on the night of the Schenectady County Republican Committee’s annual Lincoln Day dinner.
    “They are holding it on a night when no Republican in the county can attend and they know it,” Farley said. He asked that the meeting be rescheduled but was rebuffed by the majority Democrats.
    Farley also said Republicans have not been included in any discussions about the future of the nursing home. No Republicans sit on the subcommittee and the chairs have not notified the minority about its meetings, he said.
    “They want to hold a public hearing to ensure there is no dissent on their plans. It is really disgraceful and shows a lack of courtesy,” Farley said.
    Johnson and Gordon both said they were unaware the hearing conflicted with the chief Republican fundraising event of the year. They said the hearing date was the only one available that was convenient to their schedules.
    Johnson said, if applicable, the subcommittee will conduct another public hearing at a different venue.
    Gordon said public comments are not a requirement for the project, “but public input is always worthwhile.” He said the county is still determining how to pay for the project, including the use of bonds and state funding. Johnson said the county would pay off the bonds using revenues generated by the nursing home.
    The total cost to operate Glendale this year will be approximately $27.4 million, more than 10 percent of the county’s total 2009 budget of $235 million. The county receives $20 million in patient billings, plus $3 million in a special federal reimbursement. The rest comes from the general fund. In 2008, the county subsidy was $7.4 million. It will be approximately $4 million in 2009, as the county is using a federal subsidy to offset local costs.
    County officials want to build a new nursing home because Glendale is obsolete. It consists of a series of buildings, some constructed decades ago, some without their own heating and cooling plants. The Berger Commission, more formally known as the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century, originally suggested the .................................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00801

Quoted Text

The Glendale venue will allow residents of the skilled nursing facility and their families to participate in the hearing, Johnson said. “The real truth and the real important insights come out of people who are using the service in great detail,” she said
    Gordon said the county will incorporate public comments into the design of the proposed facility.

If I am understanding this correctly, and correct me if I'm wrong, but they will 'allow' residents and families to participate in this meeting. BUT the public comments will be 'allowed' only for the design aspect of this issue? Will they allow the public who are against this all together, speak in opposition of a new nursing facility?

WHO IN THE WORLD WOULD BE AGAINST A PLACE FOR THE SENIORS ARE YOU NUTS?

So, Sal,

You oppose Viscusi's proposal to give tax breaks to those who provide housing for their parents and
grandparents, but rally in support of spending millions of dollars to construct a nursing home wherein the government can care for our elderly?

You are no advocate for the seniors.  You are a political hack.

I can't state that I'm in favor of the proposed tax advantage, but I sure as hell prefer that families take care of their elderly loved ones whenever possible.

you hat e the seniors who are poor, that is sad you do over here  -  very sad. Most other repubs do to so I think you are in the right comapany tring to take the jobs away to like this by throwing the workers and the seniors in the street. Now you want to close down the senior center to I heard that as well from people in the know that I know. Stevie wants to sell it to a corporation to make the money instead of keeping it for the kids and seniors. Shame shame shame

Sal,

You refused to answer my question.

Who do you believe is better to care for the elderly?  The families or the government?

For you, this isn't about protecting seniors or kids, but rather about protecting government patronage.

I thought that I'd give you an opportunity to clarify your contradictory statements on this issue.  Your failure to do so means that it's time to put you back on "Ignore"

Quoted from 78

Sal,

You refused to answer my question.

Who do you believe is better to care for the elderly?  The families or the government?

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that answer..... Of course it's better for families to take care of their
elderly family members but that's easy to say and the fact remains that there are many cases that families are not  capable of handling themselves. Whether it be financial or the elderly's illness is beyond the
family members ablility to handle.

As far as that in-law apartment tax issue, I'm completely against such an idea. I don't need to pay more
property taxes so that individuals who have in-law aparmtents pay less. IMO, it's a terrible idea. Many of
these properties never gained the correct approval/permits for the work and these properties can see their
values increase by having that option. There are many reasons why families have in-law apartments and
they don't all deserve to have their taxes reduced and mine increased.

Individuals that want to get involved in politics ought to be looking for ways to decrease our property taxes not increase them on the majority of over-taxed property owners.

pg,

I agree with you that there are cases in which family can no longer care for their elders due to the nature or severity of the illness or physical impairment.  For those individuals, nursing homes may genuinely be the last option.  

I don't believe that the government should be in the business of running nursing homes.  I would prefer a system in which the private sector operates the nursing homes with appropriate government oversight and, perhaps,  subsidies for those patients who don't have the financial means.  Such a system would, I would hope, increase accountability and reduce patronage while providing the necessary oversight and control and a financial security net for those in need.  

Like you, I oppose the special tax treatment for those who construct in-law apartments to care for their parents or grandparents.  People should not be motivated by money to provide assistance to those for who they care.  Further, there are too many special exemptions that result in a disproportionate amount of the tax levy being shared by too few property owners.

My question to Sal was posed to point out his perceived hypocrisy and overt political partisanship.

the elderly people and seniors are alone and need the help and just when they are out in the street with Bushes depression like Jesus was in the night, you throw them out. Would you throw the blessed mother out with the Christ child too from the manger repubs?

Quoted from 78

pg,

I don't believe that the government should be in the business of running nursing homes.  I would prefer a system in which the private sector operates the nursing homes with appropriate government oversight and, perhaps,  subsidies for those patients who don't have the financial means.  Such a system would, I would hope, increase accountability and reduce patronage while providing the necessary oversight and control and a financial security net for those in need.  

Like you, I oppose the special tax treatment for those who construct in-law apartments to care for their parents or grandparents.  People should not be motivated by money to provide assistance to those for who they care.  Further, there are too many special exemptions that result in a disproportionate amount of the tax levy being shared by too few property owners.

I can understand your position on nursing homes. I too prefer privately run businesses, Mohawk for example, but I must confess that I need to research the nursing home issues much more before I can come up with a final position. I think there is a lot of issues around that subject but on concept I can certainly see the rationalization of having a private company running it would be more cost efficient. No doubt in my mind.

Your quote, (Further, there are too many special exemptions that result in a disproportionate amount of the tax levy being shared by too few property owners.") just re-enforces another reason why I'm against this special tax. I already pay part of several other property owners taxes with the ever-growing list of special tax
discounts to seniors, veterans, volunteer firemen etc. etc. I have great respect for these groups of people but we can't afford anymore give-aways. Everyone needs to pay there fair share.

Now Sal's poor seniors will be the whipping post at which those running for election will use...and use...and use....and use........those poor seniors
need a defender of their pride,respectability, person etc.......they may be seniors but they are not those poor poor seniors.....they are people like
the rest of us,,,just older.......

here's an idea: no in-law apartment taxbreak now for 'future income'.....see,,,,,it does roll uphill for both parties.......

Quoted Text

GLENVILLE
Forum gathers input on Glendale Home
Residents, others offer opinions on plans for new $51 million facility
BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter

    Barbara Botsford has lived at the Glendale Home for five years now. She enjoys a private room, but she didn’t always have that.
    When she moved in, she had to share a room and a bathroom, something that residents of a new Glendale Home should not have to go through, she told a panel of county officials Thursday night.
    “A new nursing home should have all private rooms,” said Botsford, 75, the resident council president. “It’s hard enough to move into a nursing home and then having to share a room with a stranger,” she said. “Not all people get along. Many seniors are used to living alone.”
    Botsford was among more than 125 people to attend Thursday night’s forum at the home.
    County officials called the forum to get feedback on what the proposed new $51 million project should include. The Glendale venue was picked to allow residents of the skilled nursing facility and their families to participate.
    The county must start construction of the 200-bed facility by Nov. 1 or else the state Department of Health will withdraw permission for the project.
    The county must also meet several other conditions to keep state approval. They include providing final construction documents, a bond note, a debt amortization schedule and a plan to reduce the Glendale skilled nursing facility to 200 beds from its current 220.
    As part of its approval, the state said the county must complete construction of the new facility by Nov. 1, 2011.
    But Thursday night was left for residents and families. Many spoke of a good staff and a current building that has many shortcomings.
    It was private rooms that was also on the mind of the Corino family. Rooms should also be large enough for wheelchairs to turn around in, they said. They had a lengthy list of suggestions for the new home.
    Resident Earl Corino lives at the end of a hallway where heat doesn’t always make it to, according to his wife Arleen. Arleen Corino couldn’t make the forum, so her sister-in-law, Earl’s sister, Shirley Ratajak, read a letter on Arleen’s behalf.
    Among the suggestions: Rooms should have individual heat and air conditioning adjustments; there needs to be a place for residents to gather with family; shower rooms need to be warm enough; and there should be a outdoor spot for residents to enjoy the scenery without excessive noise.
    “I hope that there will be shrubs and flowers to make it pleasant for residents,” Ratajak read. “As of now, under the cover in back, we have the oxygen delivery with all the clanging and banging.”
    For Viola Jones, the location of the home is perfect. She told the panel that she counts it as a blessing to be able to come see her 82-year-old husband at the home.
    “If this place were anywhere else, it would be hard for me and my family to go see my husband,” she said. “I thank God I can come.
    “I’m grateful, so please keep the nursing home here and make sure it’s upgraded.”
    County officials want to build a new nursing home because Glendale is obsolete. It consists of a series of buildings, some constructed decades ago, some without their own heating and cooling plants. The Berger Commission, more formally known as......................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00900

Thank you mayor Johnson for fixing this problem the repubs left you