"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have"
Thomas Jefferson

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Don't Follow His Lead


Darrel Aubertine used the people of Fulton and A.L. Lee Memorial hospital for political purposes, trying for a quick attempt at success in Oswego County after he won the special election, but Aubertine did not properly assess the situation and has miserably failed by not dealing with reality and misleading the people of that community.

In June of this year, he announced a deal with Oswego Health to keep Lee Hospital open, although, Oswego Health had no idea of the Senator's announcement. The Senator filmed a "You Tube" clip promoting a pending deal and followed that up with a news release. He has shamefully used the hospital and community in his campaign mailings and TV commercials. He used the situation for political gain instead of doing what needed to be done and assisting the facility for transition.

The Health Department has made numerous remarks to the contrary and today The Valley News online reports according to Health department director of Public Affairs Claudia Hutton, failure to deal in reality has cost the hospital funding.

From The Valley News

Because most hospitals that were mandated to close or change the scope of operations complied within the one-year deadline, those facilities were granted closure/conversion funds earlier, leaving those who did not originally apply with less, she said.

“They are receiving about one-third of what was requested,” Ms. Hutton said. “There’s only so much money.”
Still more evidence that Aubertine simply does not understand the issues and the job, from the article.
State Senator Darrel Aubertine’s recent campaign flyers (sic) have suggested that the hospital will remain open. “Protected 200 jobs at Lee Memorial Hospital by standing up to the government bureaucrats and getting the job done,” the flyer states.

His office did not respond to requests for comment, however, when asked following the recent debate held in Fulton if the campaign material was misleading the community into believing that the hospital would remain open, Aubertine said no.“I saved it,” he said.

Read the entire article here

Lee Memorial awarded funding for closure costs

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Darrell has grossly misled the people of Fulton and Oswego County, he has abused their trust for political gains...
Now the hospital is at the end of the alley with no options that will work and less money from the state to adapt to the change.
Your chickens have come home to roost Darrell! and we're the losers down here

Anonymous said...

PIV has mess around with Lee. He is messing around with wind power. He is trying to screw them both up because Darrel beat him up.

Anonymous said...

OMG! The rumors seem to be true!

Darrel Aubertine was quick to take credit for "saving" AL Lee in June, but we haven't heard a word from him in months.

Was he planning to tell us on Nov. 5, after the election.

Our health care shouldn't be a political issue.

Shame on him!

Anonymous said...

My daughter works at AL Lee and she has been in shock since this series of stories began running in the Valley News. Thank God someone is willing to tell these poor workers the truth. The jobs are so important to our area, but even more important is the health care needs that will go unmet.

Last week, the paper reported that the Health Dept. had not even heard from Darrel or the hsopital about its conversion plans, so the closing may have to take place by default, instead orf an orderly transition to some type of urgent care facility.


Darrel Aubertine should explain to the people of Fulton how he so badlly botched this rescue job, and be better pray it doesn't snow in the winter time when some poor soul needs urgent medical care.

Anonymous said...

All of this should have been a no brainer to the workers at the hospital. The hospital isn't going to stay the same and Berger isn't going to go away.

So if it goes to urgent care then some of the workers will probably lose their jobs. If they merge with someone else, that someone else has to give up the same number of beds the Fulton hospital keeps. I doubt they will need twice as many workers for the same number of beds. One would think there'd be some compromise how many from each hospital get laid off. Why would another hospital merge and lay off their workers? Then their workers will be all upset and worried too about losing their jobs.

No matter what, it looks like there will be some losing jobs so why would any of the workers be in shock? I wonder what they've been told? I think the health department letter that was published in the paper said it all.

Anonymous said...

What ever they do they should do it soon because the longer they wait the more chaotic it will be.
Casey waited to long or did too much wishful thinking or too much listening to Darrel.
They've got 8 months. I don't see how either option will go smooth when it's going to take time for the community to get used to it and learn what is and isn't offered.

Anonymous said...

You gloat because you think Lee is now a failure. That is what you wanted all the time. You are not interested in our care here. You are just interested in your Senator Aubertine hate. Conversion to a reliable Urgent Care center is a perfect compromise for our county. We would now have expansion of the kind of service we use Lee for most and we have additional funding for Oswego. Excellent during a time when everyone will see reduced fundings. Valley News never writes an article without a republican slant. I can tell you are not a long time reader. You have to dismiss half of every article if you want the truth.

Anonymous said...

You people are ridiculous Darrel got the DOH to extend their closure plans for another year, so they could try and find a solution to this mess. IV it is laughable that u say Darrel has politicized this issue. He is the one legislator who has done something. Will Barclay and Jim Wright for years ignored AL Lee, that is why we have gotten to this point. You are nothing but a bald faced lier, and you prove it when you say Darrel has done nothing to help this hospital. You sir are a disgrace for trying to undermine what he has done, all for the good of your party. What a shame.

City Watch said...

Not gloating at all, just being realistic. There is a difference between getting something done and using you folks for campaign rhetoric.

Anonymous said...

you folks for campaign rhetoric.

Which is exactly what you are doing. Leave us alone and take care of your own dirty laundry.

Anonymous said...

Looks like since the health department exposed the foott dragging that now all of a sudden urgent care is going to be great...

Darrel changes his position more than most people change their underwear.

Anonymous said...

Annon #7 sounds like the failed former Chairman of the Oz leg. Has a hard on for the Valley news, 'cause they pointed out his lies and inconsistancies.....he tried to sue 'em, but didn't show up for Court.....

Anonymous said...

Darrel changes his position more than most people change their underwear.

In Oswego Co. Not that often...

Anonymous said...

political iv said...
Not gloating at all, just being realistic. There is a difference between getting something done and using you folks for campaign rhetoric.

October 26, 2008 9:22 AM


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