Port Washington seniors rally to save harborside

As the facility faces bankruptcy, Gov. Kathy Hochul says the state will step in if the living community closes.

Kurt Semder

Oct 25, 2024, 1:05 AM

Updated 2 hr ago

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Seniors at The Amsterdam at The Harborside have made it clear: they don't want to move.
But they may not have a choice.
A packed room of residents implored Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York State Department of Health to take action to keep the facility from closing due to bankruptcy.
As News 12 previously reported, Harborside had a prospective buyer, LCS. However, it backed out after its application was rejected by NYS DOH due to a lack of compliance with state law.
The president and CEO of Harborside tells News 12 they are exploring multiple pathways to avoid shutting down and is asking the governor for interim funding while a solution is worked on.
A spokesperson for Gov. Hochul's office tells News 12, "At this point, no closure plan has been submitted, and as per State Department of Health regulations, any facility closure requires an approved plan that ensures all residents are properly placed elsewhere before operations can cease. No facility can close until every resident has been safely moved."
"It remains uncertain whether a new application will be submitted. However, if there is a closure, options will be provided by the state, and we will make sure that no one is left without housing or the care they need and deserve. At the same time, our regulatory responsibility remains clear: we must protect residents by ensuring any sale complies with the law and provides full transparency."