August 13, 2008 marked a sad day for both the city and I due to the closing of the acute-care services at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center. Although the governing board of Muhlenberg has exhibited an unwillingness to work with elected officials and members of the public in ongoing efforts to keep the hospital open, recent incidences have shown me that our efforts are not in vain. After meeting with health officials and elected officials, the common buzz throughout central Jersey is the unity and companionship we have been illustrating through our combined, citywide efforts to in resolving this delicate issue. This past week, Muhlenberg was identified as a hospital offering above-average services. This is exactly why we, Plainfield, need to continue to fight to re-open Muhlenberg as a full service hospital.
Our mayor, Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, is doing all she can, and doing an excellent job if I may add, in salvaging any healthcare operations in our city. Since the closing, she has filed grievances as well as appeals to the state of New Jersey in means of saving any resources that the hospital has left behind. The beautiful Muhlenberg campus is still operational and needs to remain that way. The city of Plainfield prides itself on providing environments of sound education for the advancement of those who inhabit our precious community.
The nonprofit organizations aiding our movement, such as the People’s Organization for Progress and Restore Muhlenberg, are also striding hand-in-hand with our mayor and myself in recovering any and every resource we can from this crippling occurrence. It becomes even more difficult however, more of an uphill battle, when you have leaders in the community who lack the zeal, desire, and capacity to unite with us, the community of Plainfield, to fight and press for the defense and security of our local infrastructures; infrastructures that affect our daily lives, as well as give and support nourishment to our community. Leaders such as Cory Storch, and Dan Damon would rather play politics and drag their feet with this issue as opposed to helping to overcome this damaging blow to the community. They would rather participate in childish antics of accusing the mayor and council, embarrassing the city, diverting attention from the dire matters at hand: the securing of what is left of our medical facility and the strengthening of our bonds of community after this staggering blow. It is time for them to straighten up, to listen, and to be more attentive to the voice of you, the voice of the people, the voices of the city of Plainfield. I hear those voices; I listen to their petitions, as does Mayor Robinson-Briggs, as does the People’s Organization for Progress, as well as the Restore Muhlenberg organization. We are fighting to regain stability and medical security for our city, as well as our neighbors who have been impacted by this crushing blow.
Let me share a piece of information that has me absolutely thrilled and excited about you, the great city of Plainfield. In meeting with fellow members of the Assembly in Trenton, as well as communicating with our neighboring cities and districts, Central Jersey is buzzing about the camaraderie, the closeness, the family-oriented devotion we share with one another within the Queen City! Our neighboring towns, cities, and districts read the papers and watch the news, they are aware of the closing of our hospital. And yet, they saw through our example of coming together that we are a strong, united city, and an encouragement to others. They admired and praised highly our ability to come together in such a time of crisis in means of seeking out a healthy and balanced solution. The papers also are keeping up with our progress in this matter. The Courier News is doing an outstanding job in cataloging the small wins that come our way. These smalls wins, and the notation of them in the Courier News is VITAL to our movement to maintain progress in this issue due to the fact that the more our efforts are printed in the newspaper, the hotter the kitchen gets for the Solaris group and the State Department of Health. The more heat for them the better, because the appeals and grievances we filed are not to slow or delay any process; they are to ensure the progress of efficiency and benefit for us, the community of Plainfield, in the realm of health care, treatment, and oversight.
The unity from you, the community of Plainfield, is astounding on this issue. The rallies for the support of Muhlenberg Medical Center were simply amazing. Everyone came out on one accord, leaving any other problems or issues at home, and gathering to protest the closing of our hospital. I came to see that at the protests, at the rallies, and the meetings in the Public Library, that our wonderful community of Plainfield was not trying to put on a show for the cameras, if you will. The sincere, genuine care and concern for the hospital was electrifying. The hairs on my arms were up because of the passion of you, the city of Plainfield. You gathered on one accord, thinking not of self, but of community. That is how I know our Queen City is ready to transition from good, to better, to best!
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