Politics and justice

Despite being charged with crimes in Florida, Georgia, New York and the nation’s capital, Donald Trump has every right to run for president—and citizens have every right to vote for him. And Trump also has an absolute right to insist he won the 2020 election. Although over 60 court cases failed to uncover a single instance of voter fraud, and even given the 12 Trump-appointed judges who heard federal cases and ruled against him, Trump still has a First Amendment right to repeat his discredited allegations. 

But no one has the right to use speech to try to overturn an election, which is part of what Trump is charged with in Georgia and in one of the federal indictments. Every American has a right to see the rule of law upheld, and the fact that Trump is running for president with the support of a significant minority of Americans does not warrant derailing our legal system. As awkward and messy as it may be, politics and justice must both move forward at the same time. If something’s got to give, it can’t be the law.

Bruce Ferguson
Callicoon Center, NY

Patients are suffering at the Adult Care Center

I am writing to express my deep concern for the patients at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center at Sunset Lake. 

When the county ran the facility, it had a five-star rating from Medicare. The legislators hired a company called Infinite Care to oversee the facility and it now has a one-star rating with a red hand, which indicates possible patient abuse. 

The DOH inspected the facility in April 2023, and found that it was below the standard required for patient care, maintenance and fire safety. The air conditioning units on the roof are leaking and have not been repaired, leaving some patients with no air conditioning. The first-floor dining room has been converted to a gym for outpatient rehabilitation, leaving patients on that floor to eat alone in their room, denying them socialization. 

They have eliminated the activity director’s position, again leaving patients with no socialization. Bloodwork, podiatry and dentistry, which were done by local county professionals, is now done by a Brooklyn firm, making the time lapse for blood results dangerous for patients. It also takes away revenue from local labs and practitioners. 

Staffing shortages have led to late meals, minimal bathing and incontinent patients not being changed frequently. 

These poor people are suffering with substandard care and with no socialization; the facility has become nothing more than a warehouse where people wait to die.

I think the county should go back to running the day-to-day operations at the facility. 

Jean Schmidlein 
Senior Legislative Action Committee 
Bloomingburg, NY