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St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors opposing cutbacks at Ogdensburg Psych Center

Posted 5/13/13

OGDENSBURG -- The board of directors of the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors has voted to approve a resolution opposing the closure or reduction in services at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric …

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St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors opposing cutbacks at Ogdensburg Psych Center

Posted

OGDENSBURG -- The board of directors of the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors has voted to approve a resolution opposing the closure or reduction in services at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center.

“The Psychiatric Center is not only a source of good paying jobs in the region, but also is the only facility of its kind north of the Thruway,” said Realtors President Jennifer Stevenson.

The state Office of Mental Health will host a "listening session" 10 a.m. May 15 at the facility's Unity Center to hear pubic comment on a statewide plan to possibly close some psychiatric hospitals as part of a plan to create regional hospitals and save money.

“Closing or reducing the staffing levels would not only create economic hardship for those employed there and the area in general, but would also harm the patients and their families,” Stevenson said. “The former would be pulled out of familiar surroundings with caregivers they know, while the latter would be forced to drive many more miles to visit their loved ones. Most likely, this would hurt patient care as they would see their families less often.”

The resolution has been sent to Governor Cuomo, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand; Congressman Bill Owens; State Senators Griffo, Little, and Ritchie; and Assembly members Butler, Blankenbush, Duprey, and Russell.

The letter accompanying it urges each to do all he or she can to prevent the Ogdensburg center from being downsized or closed.

The St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors is a trade association representing about 200 local real estate professionals and affiliated firms.