Altschuler opposes Foley nursing home sale

It might have been odd to hear GOP congressional candidate Randy Altschuler -- who has said "the private sector creates jobs, not the government" -- criticize the privatization of a government facility in a public forum. But he was ready to do so last week, when the Suffolk Legislature heard testimony against Democratic County Executive Steve Bellone's deal to sell the John J. Foley nursing home to for-profit operators. Altschuler, seeking to unseat Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton), signed up to speak, but after a long wait, left before he was called. He later said he opposes the $23 million sale. Among his reasons: He feels Bellone didn't involve the nursing home workers' union in the decision, and the county may not be getting a fair value. He said Foley's high-need residents make it a special case."Moving forward with a process like this, you've got to do it right," Altschuler said. "And that hasn't been the case here."

-- Paul LaRocco