FRIENDS AND FOES

Thank you Dapper Dan for posting the links to POP’s pro bono attorney Bennet D. Zurofsky’s letter’s to the State Health Planning Board and to Commissioner Howard of the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, the copy of the Brief on behalf of POP submitted June 10, 2008 to the State Health Planning Board, and above all Senate Bill # 2790 introduced by Senator Raymond J. Lesniak and passed in both houses around 6/11/07.

Senate Bill # 2790 although passed unanimously by voice vote in both houses only was approved by an 8 to 4 vote in the Assembly’s Appropriation Committee. It is unique in that it seems to approve financing one hospital (Solaris for example) to close another (could the intent have been Muhlenberg?) Certainly by the provisions of this law it would cost Solaris nothing as it abandons MRMC. In fact it even appropriates responsibility for outstanding debt interests and guarantees outstanding bonds.

Yes the Falsettos Facilitators of the Soprano State have made it the taxpayer’s responsibility to assume the costs of Solaris’s rape of MRMC.

For me, a layman, Atty Zurofsky’s brief is clear and pertinent to why the CN to close MRMC is inappropriate. In fact he points out that both the SHPB, and DHSS did not follow procedures or even do minimal due diligence. Of course I may b e prejudice since he uses practically verbatim my remarks at the June 6^th hearing regarding the difficulty in public transportation to reach JFK from Plainfield. Mercie Atty. Zurofsky.

Seriously, it still appears that an appeal will be necessary. We cannot expect the attorney to bear all the legal expenses. It behooves Plainfield’s Government to get off its ***** and vote to support such action.

My concern also is that by the time the Commissioner issues her ruling on Solaris’s request for a CN, with the acquiescence of the DHSS there will b e no viable acute care hospital left. There must be legal actions that can be taken without further delay to preserve if not restore essential care services. If the Council will not act the private sector should and hold the Council members accountable.