Speaking to about 100 members and guests of the Cedar Brook Block Association, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp outlined steps he is taking toward restoration of a health care facility on the former Muhlenberg hospital campus and urged citizen participation in a city-sponsored study of possible uses of the site.
Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center closed in 2008, despite dozens of rallies and pleas to state authorities to keep it open. Since then,only a satellite emergency center with links to JFK Medical Center in Edison remains to serve residents of Plainfield and neighboring communties. In 2012, JFK Health System presented an appraiser's report saying the best use for the campus was development of 600 luxury apartments, a concept roundly rejected by city residents.
On Thursday, Mapp introduced the city's new deputy city administrator for economic development, Carlos Sanchez, to talk about the city-sponsored study. Sanchez, formerly the director of economic development for the city of Elizabeth, first assured residents that recent activity observed on the Muhlenberg campus had nothing to do with renovation or construction, but was only disposal of old equipment and furniture from a dialysis facility on the campus. He presented a schedule of three community meetings that are part of the city planning study on the site - March 27 at Plainfield High School, April 24 at Washington Community School and April 29 at Emerson Community School - and said the information will also be disseminated in Spanish. Each meeting, from 7 to 9 p.m., will include a Spanish translator so that the city's Latino population, now more than 40 percent, can participate.
"We want to make sure everyone comes out," Sanchez said, urging those present to call others to attend the meetings
A draft report could be ready by late August or early September, he said.
Challenged by resident Regina Bagley-Gray to describe his background, Sanchez noted his service in Elizabeth, with the Union County Economic Development Corporation, with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and in commercial lending with various banks.
"Economic development cannot be done in a vacuum," he said. "What I bring to the table is relationships."
But he added that economic development cannot be done from City Hall alone, but has to involve with the community and businesses.
Bagley Gray asked whether he lives in the city and what he wants to see in Plainfield, to which another resident said what Sanchez wants "is not nearly as important as what we want."
Sanchez said he was not a resident, but he issue was not he wants.
"That's why we are having all these community meetings," he said.
Residents raised several other issues, including why Mapp chose Ron West to be finance director when he was linked to JFK Health System as a board member.
"That's like having your drug dealer become your therapist," the resident said.
Mapp said he insisted on West severing all ties to JFK Health System and West is not included in any city discussions about the campus.
Other speakers included activist Dottie Gutenkauf, who said a planning study was proposed during the previous administration "but did not make it into the budget." In support of the current one, she said, "We need our own planner who will put Plainfield first."
--Bernice
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