RESOLUTION
A Resolution Urging the Governmental Leaders of Broome County
to maintain the
Broome County Mental Health Clinic
Whereas, officials of Broome County are following a plan to close the Broome County Mental Health Clinic, reducing mental health services through the clinic to the people of the county, including Vestal residents, and
Whereas, recent reductions in staffing of the Broome County Mental Health Department have resulted in the number of clients served reduced to fewer than half, from more than 1,200 clients in June 2013 to approximately 550 in June 2014, and
Whereas, reductions in staff make it difficult to track clients to determine if they are continuing to receive treatment by other well-trained providers, and
Whereas, persons with mental health needs are now required to wait several weeks, and in some cases even months, to be accepted and treated by other providers, and
Whereas, clients are not getting the mental health treatment they need when they need it, and
Whereas, a closure of the Broome County Mental Health Clinic would contribute to a severe lack of mental health services in our community for those persons in need and would likely lead to an increase in emergency room visits, homelessness, and arrests leading to an increased number of prisoners in the Broome County jail, with consequent costs to Broome County taxpayers, and
Whereas, by an estimate of Broome County jail personnel, approximately 40% of the current Broome County jail population are in need of mental health services, with inmates waiting two to three months to be transferred to a facility where they can be properly treated, and
Whereas, Broome County has experienced recent horrific episodes at the American Civic Association and the recent killing of Officer David Smith) related to untreated mental illness, and
Whereas, many of Broome County residents who served in our nation‘s armed forces are returning home demonstrating the emotional strains of being at war on behalf of our nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Town Board of the Town of Vestal, duly convened in regular session, does hereby:
RESOLVE that the Town Board of the Town of Vestal hereby urgently appeals to the Broome County Executive and the Broome County Legislature to maintain the Broome County Mental Health Clinic and outline a plan within the next four months to restore the full capacity of the Clinic to serve the needs of the people of Broome County, and be it further
RESOLVED that the Broome County Legislature convene a public hearing, to begin no later than July 31, 2014, to determine the future of the Broome County Mental Health Clinic and the short-term and the long-term needs for mental health services of Broome County residents, and be it further
RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution embossed with the Seal of the Town of Vestal shall be distributed to the Broome County Executive and each member of the Broome County Legislature within one week of this action.
The following letters were published in the Press & Sun-Bulletin:
There was an ad on page 20 in the June issue of “Buyer’s Mint” searching for Family Care Providers for Developmentally Disabled individuals — “no prior experience necessary.” It goes on to say, “Providers will receive a stipend for each individual who lives in their home along with reimbursement for assisting individuals with reaching their goals.” Is that where we are now? Is this what we have become as a society? Because of the pending closing of Broome Developmental Center we now advertise in a magazine for inexperienced people to take care of some of our most vulnerable members of the community?
And now, our County Legislature is considering closing the Broome County Mental Health Clinic which, until recently had 350 ongoing patients? What is wrong with us? Have we lost our way — our focus? Abe Lincoln once famously said, “…governments are instituted among (people) in order to do those things which they cannot do for themselves or which can be done better for them…” That is precisely why we have roads, highways, schools, hospitals and mental health clinics among the many other activities in our daily lives. And, the people who work in those activities are accountable to the citizen/patient. A “privatized” resource is not accountable to anyone except their own internal board of directors.
I have talked to many of those receiving mental health services for the BC Clinic and they are scared. Most have been receiving outpatient services from the clinic for several years and – they credit the loving, caring staff for their progress and success in life. What will happen to them — if the clinic closes? Will they have to requalify for services from private providers? Who will be working with them?
Do you remember Jiverly Wong? Almond Upton, James Clark and Abdulsalam Al Zahrani? All were mentally ill but not being treated. They became negative statistics and innocent people died. Who will be next?
Jones is a former Johnson City Trustee and is a current member of the Greater Binghamton Labor/Religion Coalition.
Closing mental health clinic a mistake
Jul 3, 2014 |
· To The Editor
Why are we thinking of closing the Broome County Mental Health Clinic?
At a time when service needs are at an all-time high, we are reducing the availability of services in our community. I remember when it was unacceptable for people to have to wait two weeks for an appointment. Today it is not unusual to wait up to six months for an appointment in the private sector.
What has happened? For several years, we have been transferring services from the public to the private sector and the private sector has not and cannot keep up.
The Broome County Mental Health Clinic needs to stay open and be re-staffed so that is can once again service our community. It is the humane thing to do and it keeps our community more secure.
Please call your county legislator before July 17 and tell him or her not to close the Broome County Mental Health Clinic.
WANDA MEAD CAMPBELL
Mental health clinic is a front-line responder
Kudos for questioning how the decision was made without input from the Legislature, for being concerned about the sparse mental health services in our county, and for acknowledging that closing the clinic would be dangerous, irresponsible, unnecessary and immoral.
Closure won’t save money, because consumers who fall through the cracks will cost the city, county and state far more money when they show up at emergency rooms, jails and morgues. Providing quality services to the mentally ill is the responsibility of government. These services cannot be sacrificed; they are as important to a stable community as police, fire and other front-line responders.
Those of us who care about this issue pay taxes and vote to have our voices represented, and tax dollars used, to help our most vulnerable residents.
MARGHERITA A. ROSSI, BINGHAMTON
The following Letter to the Press & Sun-Bulletin was published earlier this spring (2014):
On March 12th, members of the Greater Binghamton Labor-Religion Coalition joined with people of conscience and faith across New York State to begin the 17th Annual 40-Hour Fast. Fasting is a discipline to help one identify with others who are forced to go without. This year‘s Fast commemorated the 1912 Bread and Roses Strike in Lowell, Massachusetts, and brought attention to the income disparity evident today throughout our state and nation.
In 1912, only 1% of Americans had “bread and roses” in abundance. William Wood, owner of the American Woolen Company, owned automobiles, yachts, private railroad cars, and mansions. On a 600-acre island near Martha’s Vineyard, he had a summer home with a dozen bedrooms and two bowling alleys. Textile workers who helped Mr. Wood and other mill owners generate their vast wealth had no roses and lacked sufficient bread. In Lowell, six or more people lived in two-bedroom apartments. One physician at the time reported, ”A considerable number of the boys and girls die within the first two or three years after beginning work.”
Throughout New York State and in the Southern Tier today, some families are living in cars and under bridges. Income inequality is greater in New York State than in any other, and New York City is the most disparate among the 25 largest cities in the country. The gap between the wealthy and the rest of us grows wider every year, resulting in suffering for many. A typical CEO earns 369 times as much as the average worker.
The share of income going to the wealthiest 1% is now 35% of the total income in New York State. The wealthiest 1% of New York households has an average income 50 times greater than the average income of households earning from $25,000 to $120,000. Since 1990, the median hourly wage increased by less than 1%, while the average earnings for individuals in Wall Street firms increased by 112%.
Our elected officials should make every effort in 2012 to help create more jobs with a living wage and to make the personal income tax more fair. To strengthen our economy, these officials should reform corporate tax laws, closing loopholes, ending costly and ineffective tax subsidies, and collecting all appropriate taxes. Without these steps, New York State will continue to lack the resources necessary to invest appropriately in its infrastructure, human services for vulnerable residents, and the education required for a vital workforce, all essential for long-term economic growth.
New York State requires a level playing field for large and small businesses, insuring that large multi-national corporations pay at least a minimum corporate income tax to the state. The State should increase the Corporate Alternate Minimum Tax to 3.5%, its level a decade ago.
Honoring our Fast and in our “hunger for justice,” we invite our fellow citizens to act on behalf of those who are without jobs and other essentials. We encourage all to contact their state Senator and Assembly Member, asking them to strengthen New York State by closing corporate tax loopholes, implementing progressive income tax rates, and creating jobs with a living wage.
Ben Frisbie, Labor Co-Chair and Fred R. Brooks, Jr., Religion Co-Chair
The Greater Binghamton Labor-Religion Coalition is a local chapter of the Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State.