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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , January 24 , 2018
Forum seeks solutions to opioid crisis
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making the problem worse , said Jeff Kaufman , a former NYPD police officer and defense attorney who teaches at Riker ’ s Island . “ We ’ ve had no success on this war on drugs ,” said Kaufman , who saw families destroyed when parents became addicted to drugs . Regardless of arrests , “ the drugs got more concentrated , the deaths increased ,” he said .
“ If we attack this in a more concerted , policy-oriented way ... to prevent this from ( involving ) the criminal justice system , not only will treatment be made available more easily , as a society , we ’ ll be able to deal with this problem
in a way that does not stigmatize .”
An ask for services
Cornerstone Family Healthcare Center for recovery Substance Abuse Counselor Vincent Trunzo spoke about Governor Andrew Cuomo ’ s “ Five Point Plan ” to combat the opioid crisis in the state .
Plan goals include holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic , getting rid of insurance barriers to addiction treatment and recovery services , and adding fentanyl to the state ’ s list of Schedule-I controlled substances . Cuomo also plans to direct state agencies to carry out policy reforms to increase access to substance-abuse services .
Trunzo called for more funding for medically-assisted treatment programs , such as the methadone treatment program at the Cornerstone Family Healthcare Center for Recovery in Newburgh . “ We have over 400 ( people ) in our program , with a waiting list of over 100 more ,” he said . “ We ’ re the only ones in Orange County . There are about six programs around the Hudson Valley and they all have waiting lists .”
Funding is also needed for education on opioids , Trunzo asserted . “ And then prevention , it ’ s so important ,” he said .
City votes to accept donations for Dutch Church rehab
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state Preservation League in 2016 . A large part of the church ceiling collapsed in 2012 . Community groups have worked to repair and stabilize the church over the years .
A project proposed last year by Alembic Community Development and Hester Street Collaborative would see the rehabilitation of the church along with the redevelopment of the former City Club property on Grand Street and housing on 1.8 acres on Montgomery Street .
Residents opposing the project have argued that the Montgomery Street property is highly valuable and capable of generating significant tax revenue . “ That bluff is worth $ 4 to $ 10 million of tax revenue , with $ 4 to $ 10 million in tax revenue , you ’ re not laying off City of Newburgh firemen ,” said Drew Kartiganer , speaking about the parcel at a public hearing in December . “ Our taxes are killing us ,” said business owner Melanie Collins .
“ There was an outpour from the public to look at different options and look at possible funding opportunities … so ( the church ) wouldn ’ t be tied to the development of 2 Montgomery Street ,” Councilman Torrance Harvey said Monday . He noted that a developer ’ s
The historic Dutch Reformed Church .
agreement had not yet come before the council . “ We haven ’ t moved on anything ,” Harvey said .
The Montgomery Street land was cleared during Newburgh ’ s Urban Renewal period of the 1960s . The vacant parcel boasts panoramic views of the Hudson River .
A preliminary plan for the project calls for construction of town houses , affordable rental units and first-floor retail spaces . This development is expected to provide tax revenue to support the restoration of the church and the former City Club property .
In December , city Director of Planning and Development Deirdre Glenn said it was too early to say whether there would be a payment in lieu of taxes ( PILOT ) agreement for the project . Alembic is expected to carry out four to six months of public-information gathering for the project .
The developer will host a public meeting for the project from 6 p . m . to 8 p . m . on Wednesday , Feb . 21 at the City of Newburgh Activity Center , located at 401 Washington Street .