PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH CARE

It was obvious when at  Tuesday night's Town Hall 2nd Ward meeting something  serious had  happened in Plainfield when a policeman came in and whispered to Public Safety Director Hellwig who immediately left the room.

Wednesday's paper report3d the fatal stabbing of a young male on downtown Watchung Ave, The late on line Courier announce the arrest of a  14year old male. This marked the 2nd  killing in Plainfield this year and I believe  the 2nd stabbing this month. The previous one the victim was able to call a friend who drove him to the ER.

Tuesday night's victim  according to the paper was pronounced dead  at a local hospital. I did not see any mention of which hospital and how long it took for the victim to be transported or even he seemed alive when the squad arrived.

Emergency transportation was one of the subjects discussed at Tuesday nights meeting. There is only one ambulance in Plainfield. I believe that it was Tony Rucker who said that he had to go to Overlook and was forced to wait 50 minutes before the ambulance came. If I am in error I will post a correction.

Plainfield is a city of almost 50,000 inhabitants, no a small cohesive community with a population that consist of many community oriented  individuals who volunteer for many civic needed jobs, such as  rescue squads, or fire department as examples. In those communities those volunteers often get tax breaks other  benefits depending on their length of service.

When the Rescue Squad was formed  after the Korean War there existed in the community a large core of civic minded residents who took pleasure in  their services. At that time there were four or five large "Service Clubs" the Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Optimist and later the Frontier,all found a special niche to contribute to the  youth in the city.

Over the years interests in these organizations including the Rescue Squad as eroded to a point that  some Servics Clubs have disappeared. others merged with neighboring clubs or remain as small units meeting biweekly or monthly instead of weekly. The Squad has at time  had so few members that it could not field a unit during the daytime.

Plainfield can no longer act like a small town and depend on a Rescue Squad. Emergency care is a city function and this service should be part of the domain of the Public Safety Department. To establish such a service will cost money which will mean a tax raise. One benefit is that service will always be on hand. Another is that the cost will be born by all and not by a few committed individuals. If the city operates such a service  the cost will be reflected in increased taxes which of course are deductible in figuring income taxes.

There is more to the health care equation.That includes (1) a concerted public effort to reopen an acute care hospital which this area needs, (2) an honest unyielding effort  by all  area political leaders to get approval in Trenton  ,and (3) formation of a plan to assure financial support from all involved area municipalities.

  That sounds impossible but it can be done if there is the will.