MONTICELLO – State Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D, Forestburgh) is a registered nurse and she said if the state goes through with its plan to shut down its Monticello health office and move it to Orange County, it would be devastating to the 75,000 year-round Sullivan County residents and the additional 175,000 summer residents who come up during the summer months.
That move appears to be on hold for now as a state officials called Gunther later with that news.
Gunther, who was joined by State Senator Michael Martucci (R, New Hampton) on Tuesday urging the governor reverse the decision to close the Sullivan office, it would be devastating to the county’s health care.
“We cannot have a county that is second to the last in health care rankings – 61 out of 62 – literally losing a department of health field office,” she said. “What kind of message does that send to everyone working to make this community healthier and a better community.”
Martucci called the move “unfair and punitive” to Sullivan.
Gunther said the administration is “leaving this county out in the cold.” As a nurse, “this is the wrong thing to do,” she said.
