County Executive Neuhaus Talks About Projects, Plans and Challenges as He Runs for Re-election
New functions for warehouses and affordable housing strategies are afoot.
Republican Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus recently discussed his initiatives and concerns, as he runs for a fourth term in office, opposed by Democrat civil rights attorney Michael Sussman. Neuhaus first took office in 2013 after five years as Town of Chester supervisor. He has lived in Orange County much of his life, growing up in Monroe, attending Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh and then receiving a Masters in Public Administration from Marist College in Poughkeepsie. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Guard and then joined the Navy Reserve, resulting in four deployments, the last one, in 2022, in Europe, related to the war between Russia and Ukraine. During deployments that occurred while he was in office, he worked remotely.
He talked about his concern with county effects of federal cuts. The economy, housing and “massive cuts in Medicaid through the state are balanced on the county’s back,” he said. “It impacts the budget year. How do you fill gaps?”
Also descending on the county from federal cuts, he said, “Many reached out from the U.S. mint who have pink slips now or with several months severance. We offered county jobs or employment training. In Otisville, 2000 corrections officers were fired. Plus, there have been private layoffs without benefits. We had a job fair with a big turnout.”
Infrastructure and Industry
Neuhaus said that the county has “less debt and the best bond rating. We’re building infrastructure and fixing roads while making a Chester school building into a technology school for welding, AI and computers, partnering with SUNY Orange, renovating and getting private partners with SUNY Orange and BOCES.”
Last year, he noted, he met with the Taiwan ambassador and went to Taiwan for a tech conference, aiming to have the county make chips for technology and do semi-conductor manufacturing.
“Arizona and New York bid for companies,” he said. Two weeks ago $100 billion came from a Taiwan semi-conductor company. We have no problem between Democrat and Republican counties—great synergy and grant support that raises all boats.”
Affordable Housing Effortss
“Another idea is affordable housing from community development funds in the three cities,” he said. “A community development block grant for the income eligible can make dilapidated buildings available.”
Neuhaus lauded the County Legislature’s launch, in March, of the Housing Task Force, chaired by County Legislator Rob Sassi and guided by the expertise of Orange County Community Development Director Nicole Anderson, providing insights about what has been learned from successful affordable housing solutions in other communities.
To increase affordable housing, Neuhaus points to the Orange County Office of Community Development “to expedite fund use.”
“Zoning is critical. Locals want control. We need incentives,” he said.
To restore uninhabitable Newburgh houses, Neuhaus said that RUPCO, a nonprofit that supports housing, is working with the county.
He noted the need for investment in emergency management as indicated by recent floods and fires. Schools with aging buildings, hospitals and malls, need better communication, he said, such as repeater systems and updates on building plans.
Parks and Recreation
Neuhaus also mentioned the possibility of buying Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center for free movies for seniors and workshops for kids.
“Chester purchased it, and it was costly. The county can invest,” he said. “The town supervisor and board asked us to buy it. I’ll pitch it to the legislature.”
Neuhaus also pointed to the addition of thousands of acres of park acreage on the Heritage Trail in collaboration with local nonprofits, and work with the Open Space Institute to take down crumbling buildings at Camp LaGuardia.
Meanwhile, he acknowledged the illegal road built through a Gonzaga Park in S. Blooming Grove in Gonzaga to a Yeshiva and to facilitate access to Kiryas Joel.
“We’re negotiating to restore the park,” he said.
Possible Warehouse Role Changes
Asked about the controversial proliferation of warehouses in Orange County, Neuhaus pointed out that, after the closing of the Amscan distribution center in Chester left almost 500 people without jobs, the county seeks other businesses to make up for the loss.
“A motion picture company is relocating to Orange County,” he said, noting that a warehouse will become a film studio and a new position was created in the tourism office for food vendors and hotels. “Many buildings can be IT companies and data centers. Developers built warehouses on spec. They can be used for advanced manufacturing and research and development.”
As for tax breaks the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) gave warehouses and other projects in Montgomery and New Windsor, Neuhaus said he had not appointed IDA members, and he had asked them to justify their funding.
Public Health
Asked about the pause between health commissioners, he noted the difficulty of finding someone with a master’s degree in public health.
Meanwhile, CPV Power Plant began operating in 2018 without ever having an EPA air permit. As for that public health issue, Neuhaus said in an email, “The CPV project has been controversial since its inception, made more so by the scandal involving top New York State employees. Permitting is outside of the County’s jurisdiction, and, as I understand it, the current application is about to receive a final decision regarding whether the permits should be issued. As always, I will work to protect County residents and keep their best interests as my priority.”
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