Broome County is taking public comment on a possible addiction treatment center Tuesday night.
This comes as Broome County Executive Jason Garnar is pressuring the legislature to approve $2.7 million funding for the facility. That funding comes from the New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and would bring addiction treatment services at the site of the former Broome Developmental Center.
County Executive Jason Garnar is holding Tuesday’s hearing in the wake of an announcement last week that the Broome legislature wouldn’t vote to approve the funding until at least the new year.
Republican Chairman Dan Reynolds said that’s because he doesn’t believe the legislature has all the information. For example, Reynolds wants a detailed report of how the public funds will be used, according to WBNG. A call to Chairman Reynolds was not returned.
In a tweet last Friday, Garnar, a Democrat, wrote: “The time for debate has ended, the time for action is now.”
Penny Stringfield agrees. She lost her son to an overdose.
“I do not understand, for the life of me, why anyone would try to block this and wouldn't be moving as quickly as possible to make it happen,” she said.
Stringfield and other supporters of the treatment center are holding a press conference before the hearing.
Republican State Senator Fred Akshar and Democratic Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo also want the legislature to approve the funding.
The hearing is Tuesday at 5:30 P.M. at the Broome County Office Building.