The Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center isn’t going anywhere. After months of rallying to keep the facility in Orangeburg, Rockland State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick told “The Morning Show” yesterday, it won’t be closed to help trim the state budget, saving 130 local union jobs…
The move to keep the center open in Rockland had bi-partisan support. Instead of moving patients to the Bronx, the center will stay open, ensuring that hundreds of Hudson Valley families can continue to receive inpatient mental health services for their children locally.
Meanwhile the governor announced late yesterday the budget has been finalized. The 212 billion dollar spending plan includes police reform, expanded childcare, mobile sports wagering, public and private green investment projects, a temporary increase in taxes on those earning over 1.1 million dollars, and a 1 billion dollar small business, arts, entertainment and restaurant relief package for businesses and other organizations recovering from the pandemic. It also repeals the protections granted in last year’s budget to health care facilities, nursing homes and health care professionals in the early weeks of the pandemic.