3 REPUBLICANS TELL GOVERNOR:
Keep Hands Off
Upstate Ventilators
COOPERSTOWN – Three key Republicans representing Otsego County issued a statement today calling Governor Cuomo’s plan to “seize” ventilators and PPE equipment from Upstate hospitals “dangerous” and “just plain wrong.”
They are county Rep. Peter Oberacker, R-Schenevus, who is running to succeed state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, and Assemblymen John Salka, R-Brookfield, whose district includes Oneonta and Cooperstown, and Chris Tague, R-Schoharie, whose district includes Cherry Valley, Roseboom, Decatur and Worcester.
The governor announced at yesterday’s coronavirus briefing that he would send the National Guard to pick up the ventilators, but they would be returned if the need Upstate required it.
Bassett Healthcare Network was asked for comment on the development.
“As we approach the apex of this crisis we cannot create greater risk and uncertainty for our residents and our hospitals and health care providers must be allowed to make decisions on how to best care for the people they serve and not be burdened with additional stress from reckless and irresponsible decisions,” the statement said.
“This is a critical time for our state and we must work together to ensure the health, safety, and well being of all New Yorkers,” they said.
They cannot be returned once they are in use downstate as we hit that upswing here.
These are uncommon times. If the ventilators are needed in NYC, but not yet at Bassett, what is the harm. Cuomo has already said he will deploy all equipment and staff to the next epicenter. My mom worked at Bassett for years. Don’t let her down. (Virginia C. Flatt)
About time. We need more to stand up
Awesome job!! I’m so thankful someone finally stuck up for what’s right! U guys rock! Thank you so so much!!
Rep. Salka. I couldn’t agree more with yours and your fellow reps from Central NY area. Hospitals and other health care facilities in this area of New York will soon be needing what they have right here. I believe Gov. Cuomo has done a decent job of representing the Citizens of the Downstate area but it would be a tragic thing for him to confiscate the ventilators from the rest of the state when we unfortunately have not seen the peak of new cases here in CNY. If within a few days of the proposed confiscation we begin to have an urgent need for them here NOW, would we have them returned overnight in usable condition. These mechanical things have a way of being unworkable in just a little time. I fear for us if that should happen and we do not get a timely return of the ventilators “borrowed” from our local hospitals. At this time Onondaga County is seeing a dramatic rise in cases of the virus. I hope other assembly persons and state senators will not allow this grab to happen.
People live upstate! I feel bad for what’s going on down there but we are just getting started here! We need our equipment!
Mr. Cuomo, Leave upstate ventilators and PPE’s alone! Get them elsewhere!!!
Bassett Healthcare Network’s response that “…we must work together to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all New Yorkers” hits the nail on the head. Were the situation reversed, and Upstate needed ventilators, we would expect the state government to find the equipment we would need, EXTRA equipment that wasn’t needed elsewhere in the state.
These Republicans’ comments spread anger and fear, the thing we need to fear most.