Rallies For Fair State Budget |
COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
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| Community rallies behind
Elmira PC By SHERRY HALBROOK The message “Keep EPC open!” could be seen and heard everywhere as PEF led hundreds of supporters of Elmira Psychiatric Center (EPC) in an April rally at the center to oppose state budget plans that would close the center’s inpatient services, shutting down local treatment for nearly 250 patients annually. From bright yellow and blue balloons, to colorful picket signs, buttons and stickers, the messages of protest were visible in all directions. And the opposition voices were heard over and over again as a wide variety of speakers came to the microphone to explain how Elmira and New York’s entire Southern Tier depend on EPC for top-notch mental health services. PEF President Roger Benson said PEF, which represents approximately 225 EPC staff, is waging an all-out campaign in the courts, state Legislature and the media to protect services at EPC and other state mental-health facilities throughout the state. “New Yorkers depend on these services, and this community needs these jobs. They must be preserved,” Benson said. “Yes, the state has a serious financial problem, but this is no way to resolve it. If we all share that financial burden, no New Yorker will be crushed by it.” Other speakers included state Sen. John R. Kuhl Jr.; Assembly Member George H. Winner Jr.; former Elmira Mayor James Hare; Chemung County Executive Tom Santulli; Chemung County Mental Health Director Linda Lincoln; and many others. The state’s plan, they said, would send nearly 100 adult and juvenile inpatients now at the center and 185 staff 150 miles away to Rochester Psychiatric Center — far from their homes and families. The move also would create a severe hardship for approximately 1,300 outpatients who receive treatment at EPC annually, and it would eliminate jobs from the local economy. PEF is part of a coalition of concerned organizations and individuals that sponsored the rally to raise public awareness of the threat to services and jobs. Dave Porter, council leader of PEF Division 223 at EPC, said the coalition has built strong support for restoring the EPC funding among residents, governmental and community leaders throughout the Southern Tier. Bonnie Wood is one of many PEF members who have organized letter-writing campaigns for EPC. She has organized a bus trip to Albany for people served by the center and their families. They will bring the governor petitions with thousands of signatures from residents and leaders who want the center to continue providing inpatient services in Elmira. Other PEF members have helped create a Web site, epcstays.com, to share a wealth of information about the center and efforts to save it. “This community is united in defending these services,” Porter said. “We may be a long way from Albany, but they will hear us.”  PEF Ad
campaign blitz breaks statewide on March 30, 2003Closing Psych Centers and Research Institutes across New York State opens us all up to disaster Bronx News - Bronx Times - Elmira - Middletown - NY Times - Rockland - Staten Island - Syracuse See the TV Commercials - 2 meg. each download (requires Quicktime) NYC - Syracuse - Middletown - Elmira See the TV Commercials - 2 meg. each download (requires Windows Media Player 7) NYC - Syracuse - Middletown - Elmira Hear the Radio Commercials NYC - Syracuse - Middletown - Elmira - (requires some type of media player)    |
