Save the Newburgh DMV

Dear Editor,

On Saturday, Sept. 27th, I posted a Blog to my community Facebook page, the LoBiondo Page, entitled: \”An Open Letter To Annie Rabbitt From Mrs. Lo: Please Don’t Close The Newburgh Dmv!\” The Blog went viral. In just over 24 hours, it has been seen by 15,000 people, has 365 likes, 164 shares and comments. Here is a synopsis of my Blog and a few of the comments.

For those of you not up to speed, there are currently 3 DMV offices in Orange County: Port Jervis, Middletown, and Newburgh. The Goshen DMV closed in 2010. The DMV Commissioner, Annie Rabbitt has recommended that: \”(w)e should merge the three Departments of Motor Vehicle offices into one location, preferably the Middletown location while discussion of the Government Center continues.\” In other words, create a Mega-DMV for Orange County.

When all four offices were open back in 2010, Goshen did the most transactions (414), followed by Newburgh (304), followed by Middletown (295), then Port Jervis (100). With the closing of Goshen, transactions in Middletown AND Newburgh initially increased, as well as Port Jervis; and right now Newburgh is doing 356 transactions per day; with Middletown at 506. Currently, Newburgh is doing almost 90,000 transactions per year.

The people on this end of the county are going to fall into two categories: those who are not able to afford a 50-mile round trip car ride to Middletown and cannot give up half a day of work, and who will be completely disenfranchised. And those of us who can afford it but will choose to go to Beacon instead, or do everything possible online. Either way, it’s a lose/ lose for Newburgh and this part of the county.

The DMV in Newburgh is vital to our economy and our way of life. Newburgh is hungry for new businesses, why not put the Mega-DMV in Newburgh? I’m sure the County could get its pick of office buildings. Or, they could possibly expand the current Newburgh DMV, there is a vacant lot next door. We already have a very active County Office on Ann Street/ Broadway (the old Armory building) with Orange County probation, District Attorney and other offices in there. We have a robust City Hall building across from the DMV and an active City Courthouse. We once had a County Court building here. Why not have the Orange County DMV Mega-Office as well?

I signed a change.org petition put forth by Assemblyman Skartados, asking that the Commissioner reconsider and NOT close the Newburgh DMV. I will go one step further, and ask that, instead of building a new Mega-DMV in Goshen, build it in Newburgh!\”

Comments: \”Why not move the hospital, police, fire, EMT, Post Office and any other civil service agency to Middletown too. People in Newburgh do not need them ….\” Alessandra L.

\”A lot of people who live in southern Ulster County use Newburgh’s DMV service as well and when we do head to Newburgh we spend our money there too …\” Kate K.

\”Not everyone who goes to the DMV has a car. A lot of people in Newburgh just need to get a state ID card. How are these people going to complete their transaction?\” Vanessa C.

\”That also means that the Newburgh area car dealers would have to go to Middletown to register their customers new cars … \”Robert M.

\”They closed Goshen and it has been a waiting game ever since … I say keep the DMVs open and hire more staff.\” Robert J. \”Sounds like they are giving up on Newburgh. A lot of people will be distraught.\” Maverick R.

The people have spoken: Save the Newburgh DMV!

Thank you for your time.
Juliana LoBIONDO (\”Mrs. Lo\”)