I agree with them close the camp

Candidates say homeless shelter must close

Chester — Camp LaGuardia has got to go.

That's what Michael Edelstein, Democratic candidate for Orange County Executive, said during a press conference on Thursday. Camp LaGuardia, a New York City-owned homeless shelter, creates psychological problems for the people who are housed there and social problems for Chester.

"I don't think tweaking will make this a good facility for our community," he said. "The time for that is past."

If homeless men are to be reintegrated into society, he said, they need to be close to the place where they will be living.

"It is long past time they [the city] dealt with its homeless at home and not in our community," he said.

Edelstein and Chester Councilman Noel Spencer, who is running for the eighth Legislative District, said the 325-acre campus could be a great asset for Orange County and for New York City.

"That's the carrot — there are excellent uses for this property that could benefit the city," Edelstein said.

The stick would be pressure from the county executive, legislators, town officials, and community activists and the threat of a possible lawsuit, he added.

Spencer outlined his ideas for reducing the size of Camp LaGuardia and using the real estate in productive ways.

"New York City, through the excellent work of Commissioner of Homeless Services Linda Gates, is reducing the homeless population," he said. "She has worked with them to eliminate the mindset that leads people to return to homelessness after they have been placed in permanent homes."

He estimated the reduction in homelessness to be at about 18 percent. The city closed a large homeless shelter in June, Spencer said, and he has asked city officials to move people from Camp LaGuardia rather than close shelters in the city. Spencer also had suggestions for uses of the property that could benefit the city.

The city is currently trying to attract such industries as biotechnology and other research-based enterprises, he said, adding that Camp LaGuardia would be an excellent spot for this purpose. It could also serve as a college campus or a five-star hotel complex, golf course and recreation center, he said.

"This could be a win-win," said Spencer. "Showing the city how it can benefit would be more effective than threats and lawsuits."

The ideas for encouraging the city to close Camp LaGuardia, given its reduction in homelessness, are excellent, Edelstein said, but they are long term. In the immediate future, the city must be made to comply with the so-called Rampe Agreement, a set of conditions contained in a court settlement during the term of former County Executive Joseph Rampe. This will require a concerted effort, which he contends County Executive Edward Diana has not made.

"This past week, Eddie Diana met with New York City officials in a closed-door meeting to discuss Camp LaGuardia issues," Edelstein said (see related story, page 6). "The only thing he reported was that the talks were ‘useful.' The time for such empty talks with the city are over."

Edelstein also faulted Diana for the timing of the talks with New York City, which were held last week.

"He waited until the last second of his term, and he now says he's happy with the talks."

Diana has described the talks as productive, but has not specified what, if any, agreements were reached.