Something Interesting...

The following email came to me recently as part of the SaveHospital mailing list and I thought it was very interesting. I wanted to take the time to share it with my readers.

From: Dottie Gutenkauf <dottiegutenkauf@gmail.com>Subject: City appealing decision to close MuhlenbergTo: SaveHospital@yahoogroups.com, SaveHospital-owner@yahoogroups.comDate: Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 11:04 AM

Plainfield has filed a Notice of Appeal of the Commissioner's decision to approve closing Muhlenberg. Here's the story, posted on the Courier News website September 9: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080908/NEWS/80908048/1018/NEWS0401
There's an updated story in the Courier News print edition September 10: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080909/NEWS/809090364/1018/NEWS0401 Councilman Rashid Burney has posted the City's Notice of Appeal on his blog: http://rashidburney.blogspot.com/2008/09/plainfield-notice-of-appeal.htwhml together with a copy of the news release issued by the administration and council: http://rashidburney.blogspot.com/2008/09/statement-from-administration-and.html. The POP/Restore Muhlenberg Coalition is joining the appeal, and leaders of surrounding communities are being contacted and urged to sign on. Interesting note: Second Ward Councilman Cory Storch's position, according to the article: "Councilman Cory Storch said Tuesday he needed to review more information on the matter before coming to a decision, saying 'I need to get up to speed on this before I can take a position.' Storch abstained from voting." He is the only Council member who did not support the City's appeal.

My comment: Where has Councilman Storch been, and how much more information does he think he needs? This situation has been going on for more than six months...Plainfield's citizens have been united as never before in their efforts to keep our hospital open...and we have been at every Council meeting since March talking about the problem and urging the City and the Council to act. And it was Mr. Storch, in talking with my husband and me after a recent Council meeting, expressed concern about what would happen to JFK Hospital if Muhlenberg reopened. Could it be that Mr. Storch is pandering to the members of the Muhlenberg Board of Trustees, all Second Ward residents, who apparently went along with Solaris's decision to close our hospital and who have not raised a single voice in protest? And I say "Bravo!" to the Mayor for going forward with the appeal and the six Council members who support it!