Save Our Community Hospitals
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Chair: Tony Buba
Opening Prayer: Rev. Zachery
1. Event Committee: Tony Buba reported that the Rally on Nov. 19th was a great success with over 300 people there; all the TV stations and newspapers. The rally was just the beginning.
2. Publicity Committee: David Hughes, happy with all the press coverage so far. Tony reported that he has put up a website, with photos by Ed Murray. The url is http://www.savebraddock.org
3. Outreach Committee: Jan McMannis reported that lots of people helped get the word out in Braddock and surrounding communities. Most people were supportive.
4. Allies Committee: Steffi Domike reported that we are still gathering allies and should begin to reach out to national groups and other affected communities.
5. Talking Points were distributed. This generated a long discussion on non-profit organization status and whether UPMC is violating the terms of such a status. We need to address community obligations of the corporations. They owe the community because they made us dependent on them. Are they here because we’re here? Or are we here because they’re here?
6. Legal Options:
* Jesse Brown reported that pateients are now being told to get their blood tested at McKeesport Hospital. Several elderly patients refused to leave and go to Mckeesport and eventually they got their blood tested.
* Jesse filed papers today (11/23/09) under Title 6 of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Also sent letters to Congressman Doyle and Senators Casey and Specter to get the Justice Department in to look at UPMC’s books.
* Carmella Mullen has been active contacting the US Senators offices, getting support from 4 NAACP groups. Is gather ing resources for information on the hospital. The PA Health Department has hospital usage numbers. We should look into whethere there has been an environmental impact statement done for the Monroeville site or whether there was an assessment done under the National Environmental Policy Act. Recommends looking at http://www.upmc.com/monroeville for info on the new hospital construction plans.
* Mike Stout suggested we get copies of the Wilkinsburg council resolution in support of SOCH and circulate it to other community groups and municipalities.
* Tina Doose suggested that we need to research the demographic data from Southside and compare it to Braddock.
7. Protest ideas:
* Gypsy funeral
* Zombie walk
* Singing telegrams to the board
* Protest at UPMC headquarters in Pittsburgh
* Use the Christmas crèche as a set for demos
* Demand that UPMC meet with our communities
* Pat Morgan reported on the first meeting at Heritage with the county group. They are pressuring for time delays and encourage keeping the pressure on. We need to go back to Romoff with something new.
* Write letters to the Editors
* Call Paul and Board of Directors and send them monopoly money
* John Kidd volunteered to draft letters to the editor for people
* Rev. MacDonald wants to see more usage data.
* Evalyn suggested we need to get a kitty going for our supplies
* Carmilla said we should ask our elected officials to fund our work.
* Butch Henderson wants students to get involved.
* Robin Clarke said that students at Pitt are still pissed off since the G20 events.
* Tina Doose asked if we could get the recordings from the Braddock Council meeting when UPMC pledged to keep the hospital open
* Phone tree suggested, Peggy DiVenture volunteered to put that together.
8. Black Friday event planned for noon, November 27th at UPMC headquarters.
9. Event for Friday, December 4th
10. Event for Saturday, December 12th – rally at Braddock Hospital
11. Major push for event on Friday, December 18th at UPMC headquarters.
12. Planning meetings will continue every Monday at 7 PM at Immanuel Lutheran Church (we can ask if we can meet at other churches as well). At the next meeting we will break down into working groups to develop these ideas.
Comments