The following points show support for the erection of an assisted living/nursing facility in the Town of Wawarsing.

(1) The population of the Town of Wawarsing (which, of course, includes the Village of Ellenville) is approximately 12,889 and our unemployment rate is almost 18%. In 2009, $200,000.00 was put in the Social Services line; in 2010 we spent over $311,000.00 in this line; this year we have increased the same line to $400,000.00 this reflects the unemployment rate and cannot continue.

(2) We need — and our goal must be — permanent jobs in the southern part of Ulster County. The assisted living/nursing home facility would bring approximately 150 jobs for the next 30 years in the Town of Wawarsing.

(3) The trend today in America is to have smaller facilities strategically located in different areas, i.e., in this instance Ulster County. The Blue Ribbon Report, chaired by Legislator Robert Parete, has made the suggestion of three facilities — Saugerties, Kingston and Ellenville. It is my opinion that two would be fine, one in Kingston and one in Ellenville.

(4) Nine options were studied by a Legislative Task Force. Two of those options were: Renovate the existing structure at $84M or build a new center at $71.3M. Option one, i.e., refurbishing the existing facility for $84M is a bad idea and should be off the table. The Ellenville location should have been one of these options — why were we left out?

(5) The work force at Golden Hill will be retired in 15 years. Individuals who pursue a career in nursing from the southern part of Ulster County must travel 32 miles each way for employment. With the price of gas at $3.78+ per gallon (and rising), traveling north/south on route 209 for the next 25 years is not cost effective. The advantages for a local facility in the Town of Wawarsing far outweigh the disadvantages.

(6) My opinion is to eliminate the Golden Hill Facility — build one-and-two bedroom senior housing for which there is a dire need in Ulster County.

(7) The Town of Wawarsing has many assets that would be beneficial to an assisted living/nursing facility. We have a hospital, a senior housing complex, infrastructure that is in place, a new Sheriff's Substation, supermarkets, restaurants and a local airport.

(8) We have recently secured over 1,000 signatures on petitions requesting that an assisted living/nursing home facility be located here in the Town of Wawarsing. In addition, at a Wawarsing Town Board Meeting held on March 28, 2011, a Resolution was unanimously passed urging the Ulster County Legislature to make nursing home access to the southwestern townships a top priority in any plans that would be considered for nursing home care in the County. All of these documents have been submitted to the Office of the Clerk of the Legislature.

I would appreciate it if the Ulster County Executive, the Health and Human Services Committee and the County Legislators would favorably consider the Town of Wawarsing for placement of an assisted living/nursing home facility.