The Plainfield Rescue Squad Issue; Muhlenberg Recap

In the past few days I have had the opportunity to talk to the Mayor Robinson-Briggs and her staff, as well as Council President Rashid Burney regarding the Plainfield Rescue Squad issue. As usual, there is misinformation in the community that deals with this issue. The public however, is beginning to realize that there are two sides to this issue: one side being the City of Plainfield’s side, with the other side belonging to Solaris, Muhlenberg’s board, which is compromised of New Democrats. So let us level the playing grounds so that everyone accurately understands who in fact care about the core wellness of the City of Plainfield.

In the last six months, we have accomplished a lot in terms of making sure the residents of Plainfield and surrounding communities receive the best medical care not only from Solaris, but also from the surrounding hospitals. Because the ambulance issue is a part of a group of other concerns in the lawsuit, I have asked the Mayor and Council President to finalize their concerns and send them to the State. They will separate our concerns from other organizations involved in the lawsuit who are trying to lump us together with their distractions, which would in turn, slow our process.

The City needs to move forward in promoting health services pertaining to the Plainfield residents. This issue is one that on a weekly basis, the Taskforce and I have been constantly in communication with the Health Department. I would like to shed light on that fact that 1), there was a commitment by Solaris to increase the ambulance service and 2); a commitment was made by the State to offer aid to our health services in lieu of Muhlenberg closing. This past week, the State made good on their word by giving the Plainfield Health Center $644,250 for health care services.

Each premise my taskforce and I have submitted within the past six months have been carefully researched and deemed legal and do-able. For example, Solaris did not want to put a price on the Muhlenberg campus, with their position being that it was illegal for them to do so. After focused research into the matter from the State, Solaris was told that their delay in putting a price on the campus was not acceptable, and they are legally able to put price the campus. This allowed for the campus to have a price tag put on it, advancing the purchasing incentive.

Also, this Taskforce is entirely different from the one that was initially recommended. It is one that operates and is driven by community input that the one previously established. This is why we, the Taskforce and myself, have asked the Mayor and Council President to finalize their recommendations, moving the process forward and making in easier for Solaris to say ‘yea’ or ‘nay’. We cannot afford for this process to delay any longer, especially when our Taskforce and the City are ready to move forward.

Ps. I am constantly being reminded that it was Muhlenberg’s Board, made up of New Democrats, who initiated the closing of Muhlenberg by submitting a letter to the State asking for such action to commence. They did not realize the magnitude of their action and the backlash that would follow from the community. I just hope and pray that their families do not succumb to the subpar treatment others in our community and surrounding neighborhoods have been exposed to due to their actions.