The Muhlenberg Independents

Special Request - Most Popular Document

2012-02-11T17:28:00.000-05:00

Muhlenberg Foundation IRS 990 Financial Analysis

Special Request - Second Most Popular Document

2012-02-11T17:22:00.001-05:00

MI - Sen Vitale Releases Legislative Motives for Muhlenberg Closure

A Look At The Bi-Partisan Save Muhlenberg Coalition

2012-02-11T11:48:00.000-05:00

Muhlenberg in Morristown NJ Health Dept Data

2012-02-10T12:26:00.001-05:00

Muhlenberg in Morristown

2012-02-07T22:43:00.001-05:00

Gov. Corzine and Health Commissioner Heather Howard placed the communities served by Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in the Morristown Service Area, in a document designed to "Rationalize Healthcare" through a heavy focus on hospital closings and the resulting redistribution of health care resources.

This expensive, outsourced perspective on New Jersey geography was developed by the same consultants that produced the very short, controversial, travel times to alternative acute care hospitals. This, now "historic" report cost taxpayer dollars when accurate data could have been calculated, in house, by weights and measures or by google and mapquest, for free.

The other Hospital Service Area options include New Brunswick that borders communities served by Muhlenberg and are listed in the travel times to alternate sources of care. At least the Newark service area is accessible by public transportation. Seniors and people without cars can reach Robert Wood Johnson, in New Brunswick, by taking multiple trains with a change in Newark.

The Neighborhood Health Center, long ago moved virtually out of Plainfield, and now borders Greenbrook and Dunellen in Somerset and Middlesex Counties. These women who tend not to have cars, were sent to Elizabeth, virtually Newark, to give birth? A long way to transport a woman in labor and a difficult trip to visit a newborn that doesn't come home with the mother. At the very least, Elizabeth should have been restored to the Raritan Valley Train Line. People doing business with Union County and the court system would help make the route more profitable.

Have you ever tried to get to Morristown from Muhlenberg? Why was there no travel time to Morristown included in the alternatives to care at Muhlenberg?

New Jersey Acute Care Hospital by Market Area
http://www.nj.gov/health/rhc/finalreport/documents/appendix_3.pdf

10 25 09_Candidate Christie Muhlenberg Hospital Community

2012-02-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

MI - 10 25 09_Candidate Christie Muhlenberg Hospital Community

Memorial Stone

2012-02-06T01:31:00.000-05:00

Elkanah Fitz Randolph and his tombstone were moved from the Seventh Day Baptist cemetery to another Plainfield Area cemetery in 1903. The people interred in the Seventh Day Baptist Cemetery, which was located at West Ninth Street and Arlington Avenue, had to be moved to other local cemeteries because the land was purchased by the City of Plainfield to build Plainfield High School.

Elkanah Fitz Randolph was President Barack Obama's 5th cousin 6 times removed.

Photograph taken by NAP
copyright 2012 NAP

Solaris Application to Close Muhlenberg - NJ Health Dept. Staff Analysis

2012-01-27T20:40:00.002-05:00

Mi - Certificate of Need Application Staff Analysis

Breaking News - President Obama's Ancestors and Muhlenberg Hospital

2012-01-25T11:42:00.000-05:00

MI - Muhlenberg Hospital and the Obama Connection

Pride Must Stem From Truth

2012-01-20T08:55:00.004-05:00

It is time to eliminate what is being called Black History Month and evolve to a new standard of what is called American History that celebrates the truly diverse people who made this nation possible.

Who blasted through the mountains for the railroads?

Who dug the tunnels beneath the Hudson River?

Who could tolerate the heights that made our skyscrapers and bridges possible?

Until everyone knows who invented and implemented this society, we'll all be stuck in neo-primitive lies that empower no one.

Attorney Notification of Vulnerable Muhlenberg Hospital Assets

2012-01-13T15:41:00.000-05:00

April 7, 2008

Attorney General Anne Milgram
New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety
Division of Law
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
P.O. Box 106
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0106

Re: Proposed Closing of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center by Solaris Health
System

Dear General Milgram:

New Jersey Appleseed Public Interest Law Center has become aware of the proposed closing of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center (“Muhlenberg”), a 130-year old nonprofit, acute-care facility. Starting in late February, several newspapers announced the intent of Solaris Health System, the owner of Muhlenberg, to file on March 1, 2008, a Certificate of Need application with the state Department of Health and Senior Services to seek closure of the hospital. E.g., Mariam Jukaku and Angela Stewart, “Flood of red ink spells the end of Muhlenberg Medical Center,” The Star-Ledger, February 2008. Because the CN application has not been deemed complete and is not yet public, we do not know, at this time, whether Solaris intends to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the hospital in whole or in part or intends to continue to provide non-acute care services at the facility.

Accordingly, we are requesting the Attorney General take all steps necessary to ensure that the value of all endowment funds, restricted funds and foundations associated with Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center (including Muhlenberg Foundation, Inc.) are adequately protected and used for the purposes for which they are irrevocably dedicated.

Sincerely yours,

Renée Steinhagen
Cc: Jay Ganzman, DAG
Bennet Zarofsky, Esq.

Muhlenberg Hospital and the Obama Connection: Untold American History

2012-01-06T03:04:00.008-05:00

There is a little red, one and a half story, 18th century farmhouse extant in Plainfield, New Jersey, that has more history than most people know. It is located on Randolph Road, and down the street from Muhlenberg Hospital, and it has remained relatively unchanged for centuries.

The house was once the home of Elkanah Fitz Randolph and his family. Elkanah was born in Mt. Bethel, NJ (now Warren, NJ) on October 9, 1797. He married Phebe Drake, daughter of Hugh and Hannah (Littell) Drake, in Plainfield, NJ, on January 1, 1823. They had eight children: Mary, Rachel, Eliza Ann, Elizabeth, Peter B., David, Samuel, and Alexander.

Elkanah Fitz Randolph was a farmer and owned a good portion of the land in the south eastern part of Plainfield, including the property that Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center (Muhlenberg Hospital) was built on in the early twentieth century.

When Elkanah Fitz Randolph died on February 26, 1877, he died intestate. His estate went through the probate process in Union County, NJ, and eventually, his property was distributed to his remaining children since his wife Phebe had died on June 19, 1876.

In 1901, Rachel Fitz Randolph, Eliza Ann Wooden, Samuel and Alexander Fitz Randolph offered some of the property for the new location of Muhlenberg Hospital at Park Avenue and Randolph Road. They did save the family home, and did not sell that portion of the property. Remarkably, the Fitz Randolph home still stands in Plainfield, NJ, across the street from the Van Blake tennis courts and Plainfield High School Athletic Field Facilities.

The Obama connection?

Both the 4^th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, and Elkanah Fitz Randolph can trace their roots back to Edward Fitz Randolph, who emigrated to Scituate, Massachusetts, in 1630, from England. Edward Fitz Randolph and his wife, Elizabeth (Blossom) Fitz Randolph moved a couple of times in Massachusetts, and finally in 1669, he, his wife, and six of their children moved to Piscataway, NJ. Edward and Elizabeth Fitz Randolph were buried in a church yard in the section of Piscataway that is now Edison, NJ. However, their tombstones cannot be found because during the American Revolution, the British troops marched across the area, and after the war the ground was leveled.

Edward Fitz Randolph is President Barack Obama’s 10^th great grandfather.

Edward Fitz Randolph is Elkanah Fitz Randolph’s 4th great grandfather.

That means that Elkanah Fitz Randolph is President Barack Obama's 5th cousin 6 times removed.

The cousins’ lineage crosses through President Barack Obama’s mother, Ann Dunham. Ann Dunham’s line comes through Edward Fitz Randolph’s son, Nathaniel. Elkanah Fitz Randolph’s line comes through Edward Fitz Randolph’s son, Thomas. Nathaniel was Thomas’ older brother by seventeen years.

Nathaniel Fitz Randolph had a son, Samuel. Samuel had a daughter, Prudence. Prudence Fitz Randolph married Shubal (Shubael) Smith, and their daughter, Mary married Jonathan Dunham (born 1716/17), and thus the Dunham line down to President Barack Obama.

Both the Fitz Randolph and Dunham lines are strong in New Jersey. The Fitz Randolph line can be traced back to many famous, religious, political families throughout New Jersey. The Dunham line can be traced to the first grist mill in New Jersey, and President Obama's 8th great-grandfather's house built in 1671 still stands in Woodbridge, NJ.

Both the Fitz Randolph and the Dunham families married into some of the most notable names in early New Jersey history, including: Drake, Manning, Coon, Stelle, Smalley, Wooden, Runyon, Bloomfield, Shotwell, Vail, Eaton, Singletary, Laing, to name a few.

So who would have ever thought that Muhlenberg Hospital and President Barack Obama had a connection? The land that Muhlenberg Hospital was built on was once owned by President Barack Obama’s ancestors.

2012 copyright: NAP

Photographs and additional information available

Sources and Special Thanks:

Historical Society of Plainfield, Drake House Museum, Plainfield, NJ

Cemeteries located in Plainfield, South Plainfield, Edison, and Woodbridge, NJ

Muhlenberg Independents and Muhlenberg Research Group

Family from South Plainfield, NJ, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and California

Friends from Plainfield, North Plainfield, Piscataway, and Berkeley Heights, NJ

Preservation New Jersey

Local History Departments in Public Libraries in Plainfield, Piscataway, and Warren, NJ

"The Descendants of Edward Fitz Randolph and Elizabeth Blossom, 1630-1950" by Louise Aymar Christian and Howard Stelle Fitz Randolph, 1950.

"Richard Singletary and Some of his Descendants” by Harman R. Clark, Jr., Dunellen, NJ, 1995

google.com

ancestry.com

Various bloggers

Special Request - AG Letter - Missing Muhlenberg Trusts And Endowments

2011-12-10T01:43:00.001-05:00

AGTrustsand EndowmentsLetter2P

Special Request - Sources Of Missing Muhlenberg Trusts And Endowments

2011-12-08T19:34:00.004-05:00

Position Paper
Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center,
Plainfield, New Jersey

June 11, 2010

On behalf of the Public Interest, we respectfully request that the New Jersey Attorney General's Office conduct a forensic audit of the Permanently Restricted Assets/Permanently Endowed Funds of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center (MRMC), also known as Muhlenberg Hospital.

We make this request to resolve the unanswered issue of the fiduciary responsibility of the Muhlenberg Board of Trustees and Solaris Health System Board of Trustees. Did the Muhlenberg Board act independently, or were they subservient to the dictates of Solaris Health System and their Board of Trustees? The location and disposition of these permanently restricted assets/permanently endowed funds were overlooked, not addressed, or simply forgotten by the Certificate of Need Closure document of the former Commissioner of Health Heather Howard in her letter of July 29, 2008, and the recent court proceedings.

The amount of assets documented by IRS Forms 990 is between $4.2 Million and $6.7 Million [Exhibit 1] and may not be limited to those amounts because permanently endowed assets can possibly be held by other entities, such as: the Muhlenberg Foundation (established in 1977) and the Plainfield Foundation (dating to 1920), Muhlenberg Auxiliary, etc.

At the Muhlenberg public hearings, members of the public testified about the endangered endowed assets. Prior to that a letter dated April 7, 2008, was written to the then Attorney General by the New Jersey Appleseed Public Interest Law Center. [Exhibit 2] The Public would like to know what has happened to the permanently endowed assets/funds. The April 7, 2008, letter was written prior to the passage of P. L. 2009, c.64, "Uniform Prudent Managment of Institutional Funds Act." At no point did anyone go before the Courts as required by cy pres, for the legal transfer of gifted assets.

Muhlenberg was a beloved hospital during its 130 years of existence. Through those years thousands upon thousands of individuals, businesses, corporations, churches, community groups and organizations, foundations, municipalities, and government agencies donated funds to keep Muhlenberg financially viable. In fact the land that the hospital buildings are located on was purchased with public subscriptions.

Extensive research has found a sampling of probated wills and refunding of bonds and releases naming Muhlenberg Hospital, specifically, as beneficary of those probated wills:

- John M. Whiton Bequest $9,500 Memorial Fund $425,944 [Exhibit 3] Please note that Mr. Whiton was at one time a Councilman of Plainfield.

· Albert C. Stebbins Residue of estate $226,000 Permanent Endowment [Exhibit 4] Please note that Mr. Stebbins served on the Plainfield Common Council.

- Leighton Calkins Bequest $5,000 Endowed room with tablet inscribed [Exhibit 5] Please note that Mr. Calkins was a Mayor of Plainfield.

· Annie M. Hyler Bequest $5,000 Endowed Room with tablet inscribed [Exhibit 6] · Roger Murray Bequest $1,000 Permanently endowed funds [Exhibit 7] Please note that Mr. Murray was a NJ Assemblyman.

· Leonore Darrow White $ 500 Private room with tablet inscribed [Exhibit 8]

Many other community minded people left unrestricted monetary amounts to Muhlenberg when they could have further enriched their family and friends. Many people thought their funds to Muhlenberg were safe and did not restrict their funds because they could never imagine that Muhlenberg would close. People who made provisions for alternative recipients in case the primary recipient no longer existed did not feel the need to make the same provisions for Muhlenberg.

The six deceased cited above did not leave their wealth unrestricted. The review of this small sampling of wills should spark a look back at the location of the permanently restricted assets/funds. We would hope that all of the permanently restricted assets would be adequately protected by your office.

As life long residents of Plainfield, we would like all permanently endowed assets/funds returned to the Plainfield community in trust for healthcare needs, and a community board of private citizens established to oversee those assets. It is our belief that the intent of the donors was not to enrich another community in another county whose demographics do not in any way match the level of diversity that exists in the Plainfield area.

[Please note back-up documentation can be provided upon request]

The Muhlenberg Research Group
The Muhlenberg Independents

NJ Healthcare Facilities Financing Authority MRMC - JFK Hospital Bond Issues

2011-12-04T00:23:00.000-05:00

NJ Healthcare Facilities Financing Authority MRMC - JFK Hospital Bond Issues

October 30, 2010

RE: Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center Property

Plainfield, New Jersey

A recent newspaper article (enclosed) detailed vague discussions concerning the development of the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center property located in Plainfield, NJ.

Since the State of New Jersey holds the $152,925,000 State Contract Bonds (Hospital Asset Transformation Program) on the total Muhlenberg property issued by the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority with the Bank of New York Mellon, as Master Trustee, the State of New Jersey should be an interested party and participate in the ongoing discussions in order to fully protect the public interest.

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center was closed in 2008, by the former Commissioner of Health and Senior Services Heather Howard. (July 29, 2008, closure letter)

The New Jersey State Legislature passed a bill to allow for the bonding to go through even though the court challenge was not adjudicated. In October, 2008, the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority approved the $152,925,000 State Contract Bonds in the Hospital Asset Transformation Program.

According to papers filed in the County of Union Clerk's office, the $152.9 million bond note is secured by the Muhlenberg property only and does not impact The Community Hospital Group, Inc. [Please note that at one of the hospital annual meetings, it was stated that there is also a $17 million mortgage on the Muhlenberg property, but research can not substantiate that as a fact.]

The Plainfield area residents lost healthcare for a supposedly $18 million loss, but the Muhlenberg assets have been leveraged to provide $152.9 million to another entity.

Regardless, the State of New Jersey needs to be aware of this development in order to protect the State's interest.

[updated 07/04/2011]

A search as of yet has not been done of the papers filed in the County of Middlesex; however,
acording to the NJHCFFA (NJ Health Care Facilities Financing Authority) October 23, 2008 Meeting Minutes, page 6,

"The proceeds of the financing will be used to : refund the the Authority's Variable Rate Composite Program - JFK Medical Center Project Series 2005 A-3; refund the Authority's Variable Rate Composite Program - Community Hospital Group Series 2003 A-1; refund the Authority's Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center Issue, Series 2000; refund the Authority's JFK Medical Center/Hartwyck at Oak Tree Obligated Group Issue, Series 1998; refund the Authority's JFK Health Systems Obligated Group Issue, Series 1995: refund the Authoriity's JFK Health Systems Obligated Group Issue, Series 1993; fund capital improvements at the JFK Medical Center related to the closure of Muhlenberg; fund capital interest; and pay related costs of issuance."

The $152.9 million was leveraged to refund 5 JFK related bonds and only 1 of Muhlenberg bonds.

Minutes of the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority meeting held on October 23, 2008 on the fourth floor of Building #4, Station Plaza, 22 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey.

NJHCFFA October 23, 2008 Meeting Minutes p. 6

B. JFK Medical Center Obligated Group

Mr. Escher stated that the following portion of the meeting will be considered a public hearing in connection with the proposed issuance of bonds on behalf of JFK Medical Center Obligated Group. This hearing took place in accordance with the public notice and approval requirements of Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

As a public hearing, Mr. Escher welcomed everyone to participate in the discussion, but first asked Mark Hopkins and Bill McLaughlin to bring the Members up to date on the transaction.

Mr. Hopkins took the opportunity to provide a brief background of the purpose of the TEFRA Hearing, the specific financing program, and the Authority’s action at this meeting. He stated that the Authority will consider authorizing, with certain contingencies, a financing for three borrowers: The Community Hospital Group, Inc. which does business as JFK Medical Center, Hartwyck at Oak Tree, Inc., and Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center. These borrowers will be referred to going forward as the JFK Medical Center Obligated Group. He also noted that reference may be made to Solaris Health System, which is the borrower’s corporate parent.

The financing that is being considered for the JFK Medical Center Obligated Group is a type of financing authorized by the State’s Hospital Asset Transformation Program (“HATP”), which is part of the Authority’s enabling legislation, and which permits the State to pay principal and interest on the bonds, subject to appropriation, if certain criteria are met. It should be noted that the JFK Medical Center Obligated Group will be required, under a loan agreement (secured by a mortgage), to pay an amount equal to the principal and interest on the bonds to the Authority. The Authority will then pass those payments on to the State Treasurer, making the transaction revenue neutral to the State.

The HATP was established in 2000 after it became clear that the state had several over-bedded areas that negatively impact the financial operations of the other hospitals in the area. A 1999 State Commission recommended that the closure of one or more hospitals may strengthen the healthcare delivery system as a whole. Therefore, one of the criteria to use the program is the closure of acute care services at a specific location. The State-backing was recommended as a result of the recognition that the stranded indebtedness of the closed hospital may cause undue financial distress to surviving hospitals in its system.

While the Authority is empowered to issue bonds under the HATP, it is not involved in making the decision on whether or not a hospital can close its acute care services. That decision is made at the Department of Health and Senior Services through the Certificate of Need process. In this case, the Commissioner has approved the Certificate of Need Request to close acute care services at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center with numerous conditions that must be met by the JFK Medical Center Obligated Group and the Solaris Health System.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, a public hearing is required when tax exempt bonds are issued to benefit non-governmental entities. As such, the Authority is conducting this hearing to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed issuance of tax-exempt bonds for this project.

Bill McLaughlin then introduced Richard Smith – Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from JFK Medical Center Obligated Group (“JFK”).

He stated that staff has been working on a financing for the benefit of JFK under the HATP. The elimination of acute-care services at the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center (“Muhlenberg”) meets the eligibility requirements for using the Program. The Treasurer has approved entering into a contract with the Authority, which will provide the security for a bond issue approximating $169 million. JFK will enter into a loan agreement with the Authority, which provides the covenants under which JFK agrees to pay the debt service on the bonds.

He noted that a request for a Certificate of Need to terminate acute-care services at Muhlenberg was filed and a Certificate of Need was granted for the closure on July 29, 2008.

The proceeds of the financing will be used to: refund the Authority’s Variable Rate Composite Program - JFK Medical Center Project Series 2005 A-3; refund the Authority’s Variable Rate Composite Program – Community Hospital Group Series 2003 A-1; refund the Authority’s Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center Issue, Series 2000; refund the Authority’s JFK Medical Center/Hartwyck at Oak Tree Obligated Group Issue, Series 1998; refund the Authority’s JFK Health Systems Obligated Group Issue, Series 1995; refund the Authority’s JFK Health Systems Obligated Group Issue, Series 1993; fund capital improvements at the JFK Medical Center related to the closure of Muhlenberg; fund capitalized interest; and pay related costs of issuance.

Given that the working group worked to finalize documents over the past week, the documents provided in the mailing package to the Members had been adjusted. Specifically, the Bond Resolution has been updated to reflect the following changes:

Specific authorization for staff to solicit and purchase advertising to support this transaction, if necessary;

Contingencies related to interest rates and underwriter discount;

Expanded redemption provisions that include a “make whole” premium; and,

(added by Mr. Hancock) Additional limitations on the disbursement of funds related to the new money proceeds.

He then asked bond counsel to present the Bond Resolution.

NJHCFFA October 23, 2008 Meeting Minutes p. 7

2011-11-30T03:05:00.003-05:00

Governor Chris Christie Takes Action to Help Offenders

2011-11-30T02:59:00.005-05:00

Gov - Executive Order #83

Muhlenberg Hospital History Timeline

2011-11-26T13:00:00.001-05:00

The orginal Muhlenberg Hospital was located on West Third Street near Muhlenberg Place. After unexpected and annoying delays in the construction of the Hospital building, the building was completed and paid for, and on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1881, it was open for inspection. There was a large contingent of residents and addresses by many dignataries at the opening, and Job Male presented the deed that conveyed the property to the Hospital. On November 28, 1881, Muhlenberg formally opened to receive patients.

Notable Dates and Events of the 19th and Early 20th Centuries

• The first surgical operation in the Hospital was performed by Dr. Endicott, M.D., of the Hospital's staff.

• Dr. Charles A. Hart who was instrumental in the founding of the Hospital was not able to serve it long because serious illness led to his severance of his Hospital service in 1883.

• Dr. Harvey D. Burlingham. the first physician, appointed to the staff dies in 1886.

• By 1887, Muhlenberg needed more room, and on July 5, 1887, the Board of Governors resolved to purchase more property extending the boundary from Muhlenberg Place to South Second Street. On February 25, 1889, plans were adopted, prepared by Mr. Charles Smith, architect, for an addition to the main Hospital building designed for private patients and isolation. By October 28, 1889, this addition was open for patients.

• All the Hospital buildings were lighted at night by oil lamps, and water had to be pumped. By the summer of 1891, electric lights were introduced in all the buildings, and about the same time when the Plainfield Water Supply Company laid water mains in South Seconde Street pure and wholesome water was supplied.

• 1892 - first step taken in the training of nurses, one pupil appointed as an experiment.

• June 26, 1893, Eye and Ear Department, directed by Frank C. Ard, M.D., was established for the treament of diseases of the eye, ear, nose, and throat.

• May 28, 1894, decision made to build an operating room, and in 1895, it was completed at a cost of $2,800.

• October 29, 1894, Department of Pathology and Bacteriology, headed by Benjamin van D. Hedges, M.D., was created.

• December 10, 1894, the Board of Governors established a Training School for Nurses. The first graduates of the school were Miss Annie Wolfe and Miss L. Grace Clark in 1896, and graduation exercises were held at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church on May 21, 1896. By 1897, the decision was made to extend the training to three years.

• December 30, 1895, first ambulance was furnished by the Women's Auxiliary Board.

• 1896, the Board of Governors determined the need for a detached Nurses' Home. Evarts Tracy, architect, designed a two story and attic framed buildings, and Mr. Charles Westphal, the builder, completed it in 1897.

• On November 27, 1899, the Board of Governors recognized the need for a more commodious and quiet site. The current location was in a populated neighborhood near the railroad, which was noisy, and near extensive manufacturing plants. There was oppostion.

• November 26, 1900, a special committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions.

• February 25, 1901, the Board of Governors by formal vote resolved to build a new hospital.

• March 7, 1904, arrangements made with the Plainfield Board of Health for the bacteriologist to make cultures at no expense to the Hospital.

Nancy Piwowar

Governor Chris Christie Announces Education Reform Agenda

2011-11-17T12:28:00.000-05:00

Governor Chris Christie Announces Education Reform Agenda to Turn Around Lowest Performing Schools in No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Waiver Application
Previously Announced Christie Administration Education Reform Agenda Consistent with the Obama Administration’s National Education Reform Goals

Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie and Acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf today announced a bold and comprehensive reform agenda to address the biggest challenges facing public education in New Jersey, fully embodied in its No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waiver application. The agenda, including the development of a new accountability system and a package of specific education reform legislation previously introduced and awaiting action by the state legislature, will identify and seek to turn around New Jersey’s consistently lowest-performing schools, recognize and reward improvement in all New Jersey schools, and provide the necessary tools to meet these goals in a manner consistent with President Obama’s national education reform agenda.

“There is no issue more important to the future of our state and country than putting the opportunity of a quality education within every child’s reach, no matter their zip code or economic circumstances. Our education reforms, contained in four specific bills sitting in the legislature today, are aggressive in meeting this challenge, bipartisan and in-line with the Obama Administration’s national agenda to raise standards, strengthen accountability systems, support effective teachers and focus more resources to the classroom,” said Governor Chris Christie. “These reforms provide a comprehensive approach that recognizes there is no single solution. For a new accountability system to be effective and successful in benefitting children, we must have all of the tools that are provided for in this legislation. A piecemeal, incremental approach will not turn around our failing schools or close the achievement gap.”

Outlined in the Fall of 2010 and subsequently introduced by July of this year, the four bills needed to achieve the education reform goals of Governor Christie and consistent with the Obama Administration's NCLB waiver requirements have been stalled in the Legislature for 133 days. This package of bills goes hand in hand with bipartisan education efforts to fix failing schools, broaden school choice for students in underperforming districts, identify and reward effective teachers, and support teachers who are not effective.

“New Jersey ranks among the top states in the nation in student achievement overall, but we cannot play in the margins with half-measures and expect to finally bring real, long-term change to the children in persistently failing districts who are not getting the education they deserve,” continued Governor Christie. “It’s time for the New Jersey Legislature to step up with my Administration, President Obama, Secretary Duncan and a national, bipartisan movement to act boldly and give every child the education they deserve.”

The bipartisan package of bills includes:

· School Children First Act (S-2881/A-4168; Senator Kyrillos/Assemblyman Webber): The bill would create a statewide educator evaluation system consistent with the goals of the Obama Administration, ties tenure to effectiveness, ends forced placements and Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) personnel policies by using both seniority and educator effectiveness in staffing decisions, and reforms compensation systems. These changes will allow New Jersey to identify and reward the most effective teachers in a meaningful and fair way, while also better supporting those comparative few teachers who are not effective.

· Charter Reform Bill (A-4167; Assemblyman Webber): The bill provides critical updates to strengthen and improve New Jersey’s charter law. The bill increases the number of charter school authorizers, permits public schools to be converted to charter schools by local boards of education as well as the Department Of Education Commissioner, and increase charter autonomy while making them more accountable.

· Opportunity Scholarship Act (S-1872/A-2810; Senators Lesniak and Kean/Assemblymen Fuentes and DeCroce): The bill would provide tax credits to entities contributing to scholarships for low-income students.

· Urban Hope Act (S-3002/A-4264; Senator Norcross/Assemblyman Fuentes): The bill provides for the creation of as many as ten “transformation school projects” in five of the State’s worst performing districts.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced in September that he will consider proposals from states seeking to waive provisions of NCLB if they indicate a strong commitment to improving student performance, reducing the achievement gap, and turning around underperforming schools. A waiver would allow districts and states additional flexibility in providing support and interventions to struggling schools.

“NCLB remains an important piece of legislation because it put a renewed focus on student achievement and accountability in K-12 education and highlighted the needs of typically underperforming student populations. However, the law suffers from some significant flaws, including its failure to give credit for progress and its one-size-fits-all approach to labeling schools as failing,” said Acting Commissioner Chris Cerf. “Through our waiver application we have developed a new accountability system that allows for differentiated supports and interventions of the schools with the most pervasive and persistent achievement problems. The proposed legislation is crucial to enhance our ability to turn around our lowest performing schools and ensure that students in those schools have the options they deserve. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to school improvement which is why we must focus our resources and most significant interventions on those schools with a long standing history of low performance.”

In developing a new accountability system, the Department will focus its supports and interventions on the lowest performing schools in the state. The Department will create three tiers of schools - Priority Schools, Focus Schools and Reward Schools - which will be identified using both growth and absolute proficiency.

Led by the Department’s new Regional Achievement Centers, the Department will create customized interventions to turn around Priority and Focus Schools, based on their individual needs. Though the Department will focus its interventions on Priority and Focus Schools, the Department will support all schools in constantly improving in two ways. First, the Department will develop and publish new school performance reports for every school in New Jersey to replace the current bifurcated School Report Card and NCLB Report Card publications. Among other data points, the reports will include progress towards closing achievement gaps, comparison to “peer schools” with similar demographics, performance on state tests over time, and additional college and career readiness data points. These public reports will help districts focus on areas of low performances in their districts. Second, the Department will encourage all schools to take advantage of professional development and other support opportunities available for Priority and Focus Schools.

As part of the waiver application, the Christie Administration outlined a comprehensive reform strategy built on the three principles outlined in the waiver application and accomplished through the package of reform legislation sitting before the Legislature:

1. Implementing college and career ready expectations for all students, including a detailed implementation plan of Common Core State Standards in K-12 English Language Arts and math; development of model curriculum in corresponding grades; and rollout of assessments tied to the Common Core State Standards through the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) Consortium.

2. Developing a new, unitary accountability system to identify the state’s persistently lowest-performing schools and develop a differentiated plan to support and intervene in those schools, and to identify the state’s top performing schools and a plan to reward those schools for their achievement.

3. Supporting effective instruction and leadership by developing and implementing statewide teacher and principal evaluation systems that take into account both student outcomes and effective practice.

In order to develop New Jersey’s waiver application, the Department held a number of meetings with educators, parents, and professional associations to solicit input on the application. The Department also collected more than 200 comments through its website over three total weeks both before developing its initial plans and then after posting a draft outline.

Endangered 1912 Closson-Edgerton Maternity Pavilion

2011-11-16T12:00:00.001-05:00

The 1912 Closson-Edgerton Maternity Pavilion was a bequest by Mrs. Minnie Closson-Edgerton in memory of her brother, James T. Closson, and her son, James Closson Edgerton. Mrs. Edgerton left $50,000 in her will with instructions to build a maternity pavilion, and if that was already in progress then the instructions were to build a children's ward. A total of $25,000 was to be used for the maternity pavilion construction, and the income from investment of the remaining $25,000 was for maintenance.

This maternity pavilion was built in a similar architectural style as the 1903 Muhlenberg buildings, and there is a lengthy memorial inscription on the building. The 1912 Closson-Edgerton Maternity Pavilion was designed by
Crow(e), Lewis & Wickenhofer, a New York architectural firm. The 65th edition of the Muhlenberg School of Nursing yearbook noted that the erection of this Maternity Pavilion "made it possible for the students to receive their obsterical nursing at Muhlenberg."

Since Mrs. Edgerton's will provided for the maintenance of the Maternity Pavilion, this building has survived for almost 100 years. With the passage of the 2009 Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act, this endowed maintenance fund could be in jeopardy, and then the building would be in jeopardy.

by N. A. Piwowar, 2011

Muhlenberg Hospital Architecture - A Forgotten American Treasure?

2011-11-14T14:34:00.001-05:00

Muhlenberg Insider Newsletter
A publication of the Citizens' Research Group on Muhlenberg Hospital
August, 2009 edition

The Best Kept Secret in Plainfield

The citizens of the Plainfield area, who have for over a year opposed the closure of their beloved Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center (Muhlenberg Hospital) based on humanitarian reasons, now must send another clarion call to the public about the possible loss of the historic core hospital architecture at the Muhlenberg site.

All along many thought the battle of Muhlenberg was about the development rites of the Muhlenberg properties. Whether that is the question or not - this question now has surfaced - are the Plainfield area residents ready, willing and able to stand up to fight for the historic buildings that currently exist on the property? The same buildings that have stood on the Park Avenue/Randolph Road grounds since the opening in 1903, located in the center of the property and passed by daily without a thought to their historic significance to Plainfield, to New Jersey, and to the Nation.

In 1877, Muhlenberg Hospital was incorporated. In 1879, Muhlenberg had its physical beginnings in the West End of Plainfield, when the first hospital in Union County was built at Muhlenberg Place. Within twenty years it became evident that a larger facility and more land was needed. Since the location near the railroad tracks made it impossible for further expansion, the Board of Governors began to look for a more suitable location.

After many twists and turns and coaxing, the farmers at the southeastern part of Plainfield agreed to sell their farm land. Public money built Muhlenberg Hospital. All private donations totaled in excess of $83,500. $11,000 was for the land; $70,000 for the buildings, grading, driveways, and sewer plant; and $2,500 for furniture and furnishings. An additional $10,000 was donated by a gift of J. Howard Wright for an operating pavilion in memory of his two grandsons, Howard Wright Corlies and Parker Wright Mason. Ernest R. Ackerman (N.J. State Senate, 1905-1911; President of N.J. Senate, 1911; U.S. Congressman 1919-1931) donated a gift of a ward in memory of his father, J. Hervey Ackerman.

The 1903 building essentially looked like one large structure, but really consisted of five parts: the columned entrance facing Randolph Road which comprised the main reception building including the superintendent's quarters, general offices, and staff dining room; the operating pavilion; the two wards for men and women; the large kitchen and the eye and ear and clinic department. Although surrounded by fencing and other structures, it appears that a portion of those 1903 buildings are still in existence. Some alterations are evident. The 1903 main building with pediment removed is behind the 1936 columned building; however, the 1903 operating pavilion retains many of its original elements including inscription. An architectural historian would have to determine whether or not the historic significance of the remaining 1903 core Muhlenberg structures outweigh the alterations.

What historic significance are these forgotten 1903 treasures? Other than being the oldest hospital in Union County and one of the oldest in New Jersey, Muhlenberg Hospital was designed and built by the architectural firm of Tracy and Swartwout of New York City. Many of the Tracy and Swartwout firm's buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, including: Cathedral of St. John in the Wilderness, Denver, (1905-1911); the US Post Office and Courthouse now known as Byron R. White U.S. Courthouse (opened in 1916), in Denver, The Missouri State Capital building (1912-1916) in Jefferson City, Missouri. Other buildings include: Former Yale Club, now the Penn Club, New York City, (1900); Skull and Bones, cloister-garden at Yale University, New Haven, (1906); Connecticut Savings Bank, New Haven, (1906); the Department of Commerce Building, Washington, D.C., (1912); George Washington Memorial Hall, Washington, D.C., (1915), and Ridgewood High School, Ridgewood, New Jersey, (1919). Muhlenberg Hospital's 1903 buildings were some of the earliest Tracy and Swartwout buildings.

The partners of the Tracy and Swartwout firm were Evarts Tracy (1868-1922) and Egerton Swartwout (1870-1943). Both men were Yale graduates: Tracy in 1890 and Swartwout in 1891. They met at the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White, and in 1900, formed a partnership called Tracy and Swartwout located in New York City.

Evarts Tracy was a most interesting man. He was born in New York on May 23, 1868, and moved with his family at the age of six to Plainfield, New Jersey. His parents' house is located on West Eighth Street in the Van Wyck Brooks Historic District, Plainfield, New Jersey. As stated earlier he graduated from Yale in 1890, and he was a Bonesman, Yale's secret society. Tracy was the great-great grandson of Roger Sherman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the only one to sign three other historic documents: The Association of 1774, The Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States.

Tracy married Caroline Streuli on June 23, 1894. In 1900, Evarts Tracy built his own house in Plainfield, New Jersey and occupied it in 1901. Tracy's residence was built perpendicular to the road, and one could surmise that he watched the construction of Muhlenberg from his residence on Hillside Avenue. Tracy's residence is now part of the Hillside Avenue Historic District, Plainfield, New Jersey.

In 1896, Tracy designed a Nurses' Home for the "old" Muhlenberg in the West End of Plainfield, and it was completed in 1897. In 1901, The Board of Governors of Muhlenberg selected nine architects to submit plans for the "new" Muhlenberg, Tracy and Swartout won the competition, and the plans were adopted in 1902. On December 28, 1903, the patients were transferred to the "new" Muhlenberg Hospital.

Tracy was not just an architect by trade. He was also a creative and curious soul and into the latest inventions of his time. He purchased a locomobile, "Best Built Car in America," and it was expensive and elegant. He thought so much of his locomobile that the archtitectural plans of his Hillside Avenue residence shows that he designed a large locomobile opening and door so that he could drive his locomobile right into the basement of his house. This no longer exists at the residence, but what a concept for 1900. The story goes that he also gave people rides around the city.

References are made that Tracy retired from the architectural firm in 1915, but in actuality he offered his services to the country in the Great World War (WWI). He entered the United States Army and commanded Co. 15 at the Pittsburgh Camp. He had an idea about camouflage, and he was appointed captain in charge, and later commissioned Major of Engineers, commanding the 40th Camouflage Regiment organized in France. His ideas of camouflage were used on ships and over two million soldiers were transported to Europe without a loss of life by German submarines. He became known to the French government, and Lieut. Colonel Tracy was selected to work on the reconstruction of France. He was in Paris for two months in 1922, when he developed heart disease and died in the American Hospital on January 31, 1922. He was survived by his wife Caroline and five sisters and one brother. (He was one of nine children of Jeremiah and Martha Sherman Evarts Tracy, and two of his brothers pre-deceased him.)
His military service during WWI was memorialized in the Plainfeld City Hall bronze memorial tablet.

Just who was Lieut. Evarts Tracy, perhaps his tombstone reveals the man:

"Sacred to the memory
of
Lieut. Col. Evarts Tracy
Born New York May 23, 1868
Died Paris January 31, 1922

An architect who in the service of beauty
erected noble buildings
A soldier who in the service of his country
won achievements expressing a valiant soul
As Major of Engineers
pioneer camouflage officer
in the United States Army
he performed important labors
was twice cited for bravery in action
and was
awarded the distinquished service medal

As a man and a friend he was loved."

[Hillside Cemetery, on a hill overlooking Muhlenberg Hopsital]

Much more needs to be learned about Lieut. Colonel Evarts Tracy including information about his design of the old Plainfield Police Headquarters, his locomobile history, complete listing of all his architecural designs and buildings, his camouflage military experience, his Plainfield educational experience, and a further look at the historic significance of the 1903 core Muhlenberg buildings. If anyone would like to assist, please call Nancy at (908) 757-0095.

Stay tuned!

Sources: Plainfield Courier-News, December 18, 1903, and February 1, 1922.
Muhlenberg Hospital, Plainfield, New Jersey, Report for 1903-1904, June, 1904.
History of Union County, New Jersey, 1864-1923, by A. Van Doren Honeyman, 1923.
Various internet websites.

[update No. 4, 11/4/09]
by Nancy A. Piwowar

Martha Tracy, MD (1876-1942)

2011-11-14T12:55:00.000-05:00

Evarts Tracy's sister, Martha Tracy, MD, was one of
New Jersey's pioneering female doctors, and relatively unknown in New Jersey history even though she was a dean of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (1918-1940), now Drexel University. Dr. Tracy worked with Coley's toxins, an early possible cancer cure.

Dr. Tracy was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, on
April 10, 1876; she graduated from Bryn Mawr College
in 1898, and from Woman's Medical College in 1904.

Her father, Jeremiah Evarts Tracy, was on the Board of Governors of Muhlenberg Hospital, and her brother, Evarts Tracy, was chosen as the architect of the "New" Muhlenberg. It can be surmised that the family plan was to have her come back and run Muhlenberg as a woman physician.

Dr. Tracy was an authority on preventive medicine, and in 1940, resigned her post at the Woman's Medical College to become the assistant director of Philadelphia's Public Health Department, first woman to hold that position.

At the time of her death she was assisting the war effort - medical preparedness for the city of Philadelphia in the event of air raids. She succumbed to pneumonia on March 14, 1942.

By N. A. Piwowar, 2011.

The Muhlenberg Operating Pavilion: Plainfield's Forgotten Gem by Nancy A. Piwowar

2011-11-10T19:06:00.000-05:00

Hidden behind a stockade fence, set far off Randolph Road, on the Muhlenberg property is a red brick building with a large arched window and a scrolled keystone. The Muhlenberg Operating Pavilion dates to 1903, and is Plainfield's forgotten gem.

A notice in the local newspaper, Plainfield Courier-News, in 1900, related the possibility of a new hospital building, and the response by the local residents was immediate. Public subscriptions were received. Then the decision was made by the Muhlenberg Board of Governors, to build a "new" Muhlenberg Hospital at a new site, and many distinguished men offered land. James E. Martine offered a lot on Thorton Avenue. Former Mayor of North Plainfield, John F. Wilson, offered a lot in North Plainfield, but this could not be accepted because it was in a different county. Finally the Muhlenberg Board of Governors took an option on farm land at the edge of the City on Park Avenue and Randolph Road.

Within four months of the discussions of a "new" Muhlenberg in the local newspaper, it was reported that J. Howard Wright in April, 1901, gave the largest and most generous donation of $10,000 for an operating pavilion for the "new" Muhlenberg in memory of his two grandsons. Howard Wright Corlies died at the age of 23 from pneumonia in 1899. Parker Wright Mason died at the age of 19 from typhoid fever in 1900. J. Howard Wright was a wealthy Standard Oil businessman from New York City, and his two daughters and families resided in Plainfield, for many years.

The Muhlenberg Operating Pavilion also contained a sterilizing room, an etherizing room, a room for the X-ray instrument and a recovery room, which were all considered essential for a modern hospital.

The 1903 Muhlenberg Operating Pavilion retains many of its original exterior elements including inscription, large arched, scrolled keystone, and northern window. The only evident change is the removal of the roof line skylight. The Muhlenberg Operating Pavilion was designed by Tracy and Swartwout, a New York architectural firm, and Evarts Tracy, one of the architects, grew up in Plainfield on West Eighth Street in the Van Wyck Brooks Historic District, and he later resided with his wife on Hillside Avenue, in the Hillside Avenue Historic District within sight of the "new" Muhlenberg and the Muhlenberg Operating Pavilion.

The 1903 Tracy and Swartwout Muhlenberg complex of buildings were not built squarely to face either Park Avenue or Randolph Road, but were "built squarely with the points of the compass." The purpose of this was "to have the operating room face North, so that it would have the full benefit of the North light." [Plainfield Courier-News, July 19, 1902, page one article.]

Plainfield's forgotten gem has survived over one hundred and seven years, and is passed by daily on the way to the satellite emergency department without nearly a second glance because it is behind a stockade fence. The wall inscription is obscured by the fence, and according to newspaper articles, behind the cornerstone of operating pavilion is a copper box that contains various items including: local and New York newspapers, Muhlenberg Hospital annual reports, photographs of J. Howard Wright's grandsons, photographs of doctors, nurses, employees, and of the old hospital buildings, names of the contractors, to name a few items.

The Muhlenberg Operating Pavilion serves as a grand monument to Mr. Wright's Plainfield family, and the Muhlenberg Operating Pavilion is one of the only known surviving separate, stand alone operating room buildings extant in New Jersey and most likely in the United States. It is important to preserve The Muhlenberg Operating Pavilion because it is a monument to the Wright family, Muhlenberg heritage and medical culture, and Muhlenberg's doctors, nurses and staff.

JFK Muhlenberg Free Transportation Brochure

2011-11-03T05:49:00.000-04:00

JFK MUHL Transportation Brochure Final

SED Brochure Advertising Free Transportation to Hospitals

2011-11-03T05:43:00.001-04:00

SED Bi Fold Brochure Final-1

Muhlenberg Foundation: Board and Highest Salaries

2011-11-03T05:14:00.000-04:00

MuhlenbergFoundation.1a

Harriet Washington "Deadly Monopolies" Interview

2011-11-01T15:40:00.001-04:00

Plainfield Health Center IRS Disclosure: Board and Top Salaries

2011-10-29T17:24:00.000-04:00

PlainfieldNeighborhoodHealthCenter.1

Muhlenberg Hospital IRS Disclosure: Board and Top Salaries

2011-10-29T17:20:00.000-04:00

MuhlenbergRegional.1

Solaris IRS Disclosure: Board Members and Highest Salaries

2011-10-27T16:58:00.000-04:00

SolarisHealthSystems.1

Muhlenberg Foundation IRS 990 Financial Analysis

2011-10-14T14:43:00.000-04:00

Muhlenberg Foundation IRS 990 Financial Analysis

Hospital Closings, Nonprofit Corporations and Unregulated Asset Transfers

2011-10-03T23:41:00.000-04:00

The closing of the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center (MRMC) by Solaris Health System (Solaris) may have violated the Articles of Incorporation of the MRMC and the Muhlenberg Foundation (MF). The MRMC was founded “for the purpose of care, cure, and nurture of sick and injured persons” which “are to be carried out in the City of Plainfield and its vicinity.” The Muhlenberg Foundation was formed to be operated exclusively for the benefit of the Muhlenberg Hospital and was the principal fund raising arm of the hospital.

In 1997, John F. Kennedy Hospital (JFK) of Edison, New Jersey was merged with the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center (MRMC) of Plainfield, New Jersey, which formed Solaris Health System. It was called a pooling of interests on the Consolidated Financial Statement of Solaris Health System. After the merger, Solaris gained $44 million in assets. Prior to the merger, Solaris had net assets of $109 M. After the 1997 merger, Solaris had $153 M in net assets. Included in the assets that were acquired by Solaris was the Comprehensive Health and Educational Corporation, a for-profit corporation.

At the time of the merger, Solaris told the employees that it was a kind of partnership and that no one partner took the other over. But soon after the merger, assets started to be transferred to JFK Hospital or sold. As early as 1997, Associated Radiology was replaced by the radiology group affiliated with JFK.

 1998 - The Diabetes Center was moved to Talmadge Road in Edison, NJ.

 2000 - SurgiCare of Central New Jersey was sold by Solaris in.

 2001 - The Dialysis Center, located at the Kenyon House, was sold.

Since 2003 Solaris Health System has moved a number of very successful operations from Muhlenberg to JFK Hospital. Some of the functions transferred to JFK include: Pediatrics, Out-patient Physical Therapy, Orthopedics and in-patient Oncology.

Did Solaris Health System misrepresent the financial condition of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in order to win the approval of the State Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to close the Hospital? The Federal Exempt Organization return (Forms 990) filed under the penalty of perjury with the Internal Revenue Service shows a much stronger financial picture than the one reflected on the MRMC Consolidated Statement of Operations for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. Profit/ (Loss) before Depreciation and Interest were:

 $9.9 M Profit in 2005

 $4.7 M Profit in 2006

 $4.6 M Loss in 2007

As of December 31, 2007, the MRMC was a solvent corporation and had net assets of

$ 5.2 M. Even after MRMC was stripped of many profitable assets by Solaris, it was still a financially viable corporation. At the New Jersey State Health Planning Board meetings in Plainfield, New Jersey pertaining to the closing of the MRMC, a number of speakers questioned the losses reflected by the MRMC. At least one speaker suggested that an independent CPA firm be appointed to evaluate this matter before a decision was reached on the Certificate of Need for closure. The pleas of the speakers were ignored. Below is a summary of the difference between the numbers reflected on the IRS Form 990 return and the MRMC Financial Statements:

Year Financial Statement IRS Return

2005 1.5 M Loss 2.3 M Profit

2006 2.9 M Loss 2.5 M Loss

2007 16.7 M Loss 11.9 M Loss

IRS Profit/ Loss before Depreciation and Interest

Year Profit/Loss Depreciation/ Profit/ Loss

Interest

2005 2.3 M Profit 7.6 M 9.9 M Profit

2006 2.5 M Loss 7.2 M 4.7 M Profit

2007 11.9 M Loss 7.3 M 4.6 M Loss

In 2007 the Muhlenberg Foundation transferred the stock of Midtown Shops Corporation, a firm that has extensive holdings of commercial real estate, to the Muhlenberg Region Medical Center. The Muhlenberg Foundation received the Midtown Shops stock as a pledge from the Harold B. & Dorothy A. Snyder Foundation in 2007 and valued it on their books at $4.7 million, which included $200,000 in cash. Prior to the stock being controlled by the Muhlenberg Foundation, the Snyder Foundation received a yearly dividend of $109,000 from Midtown Shops Corporation. The purpose of this transaction needs to be questioned. Was it done in good faith? Why was Midtown Shops stock transferred from the Muhlenberg Foundation within months after the Foundation received the total pledge, which was settled over a period of three years? Also, the value of the real estate holdings of the Midtown Shops Corporation must be determined by an independent appraiser. In addition, the Muhlenberg Foundation is the majority owner of the Comprehensive Health and Education Corporation (CHC). The value of this for profit corporation must be determined. In 2008, MRMC assets were transferred to JFK Hospital even before the closing of the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center was approved by the State Commissioner of Health and Senior Services. These items included hospital beds, computers, nursing and operating room equipment.

A review of the 2007 IRS Form 990 for the MRMC indicates that a $150,000 loss on the sale of property and equipment needs to be reviewed and verified. Was it a bonified loss? Finally, MRMC restated its previously issued financial statements in 2007 to correct errors made in 2006 and in prior years that related to interest in perpetual trusts that were not recorded on the books in earlier years. These perpetual trusts have a value of $2.4 million. The trust covenants need to be reviewed to ensure that the endowments restricting the funds for uses in Plainfield are being followed.

Solaris Health System controlled the Board of Directors of the MRMC and the Muhlenberg Foundation. When you review all the transactions over a period of years that were directed by Solaris, it appears that Solaris might have orchestrated actions between the related corporations that are considered prohibited transactions. The Board of Directors of the MRMC and the Muhlenberg Foundation may not have acted independently. They allowed Solaris to close the hospital without conducting their own needs assessment or impact study. The Board of Directors never considered operating the Hospital independently. Thus, the tax exempt status of Solaris Health System is in question. Should it be revoked?

Harriet Washington Signing "Medical Apartheid" and "Deadly Monopolies" At Johns Hopkins' Henrietts Lacks Memorial Lecture 1/1/2011

2011-10-03T16:12:00.000-04:00

http://www.DeadlyMonopolies.com/

http://www.medicalapartheid.com/

Federal Health Centers A Factor In Hospital Closings

2011-09-12T18:28:00.000-04:00

Federal Health Centers A Factor In Hospital Closings

Nonprofit Mergers and Aquisitions Revisited

2011-09-11T00:23:00.000-04:00

Monday, January 26, 2009

The Muhlenberg Independents

New Jersey hospital closings have exposed a mergers and acquisitions strategy, popularized by rogue nonprofits, who remove social services and endowments accumulated over decades, while robbing all levels of government of tax revenue, as they enrich themselves personally.

Muhlenberg was started 131 years ago after a train accident, beginning a tradition of bequests and endowments long before government was expected to provide for charity care. Residents upheld a long tradition of leaving bequests and endowments they expected to compensate for charity care. The Muhlenberg Independents are researchers that believe the salvation of Muhlenberg lies in the protection of those assets that include an astonishing amount of real estate outside of Plainfield. Muhlenberg exposes a fatal flaw in the protection given to endowments, after the benefactor’s death.

Wall Street tactics of mergers and acquisitions have spread and redefined the practices of a new generation of profiteers. Utilizing the barely scrutinized and rarely regulated structures of nonprofit corporations, the plundering of old richly endowed facilities, like Muhlenberg Hospital, is turning into a tragic loss of history and multiple generations of philanthropy. We must honor the sacrifice of people who made provisions to care for the poor and disenfranchised or return those assets to the appropriate heirs.

The Muhlenberg Independents are in possession of a small mountain of financial documents that prove the violation of donor intent and the failure of the State of New Jersey to protect the substantial donated assets of old hospitals that the state is closing.

Muhlenberg remains an asset even in its current state. It does not matter if the hospital has been gutted and the cost of keeping such an old building functional are high. The only thing that cannot be replaced is the land. The community deserves a fair price and an uncompromised sale with Solaris relinquishing all control over the assets of Muhlenberg.

Solaris was voted control of Muhlenberg’s substantial assets without payment or promises to continue to serve the community. Is their refusal to participate in a good faith effort to find a buyer indicative of their alternative agenda or the legal lack of standing to sell a facility that they control, but do not own? Did Solaris even have the legal standing to apply for a certificate of need to close Muhlenberg?

FBI Healthcare Fraud Education

2011-09-04T06:11:00.001-04:00

FBI Healthcare Fraud Education

FBI NJ Launches Healthcare Fraud Awareness Drive

2011-09-04T06:04:00.000-04:00

FBI NJ Launches Health Care Fraud Awareness Drive

Sen. Vitale Sponsors Legislation Expediting Muhlenberg Asset Transfers

2011-08-28T20:06:00.000-04:00

http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/63396440?access_key=key-ateiqw9si9moo1uabh2

MI - Sen Vitale Releases Legislative Motives for Muhlenberg Closure

Muhlenberg Foundation Financial Review

2011-08-27T20:54:00.000-04:00

Muhlenberg Foundation Inc.

Review of 12/31/2008 & 12/31/2007 Forms 990

In 2007, the Muhlenberg Foundation made payments to the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center of $5,571,490, which included the transfer of stock of the Midtown Shops Corporation, a firm that has extensive holdings of commercial real estate. The Muhlenberg Foundation received the Midtown Shops stock as a pledge from the Harold B. & Dorothy A. Snyder Foundation in 2007 and valued it on their books at $4,712,976, which included $208,570 in cash. Prior to the stock being controlled by the Muhlenberg Foundation, the Snyder Foundation received a yearly dividend of $109,000 from the Midtown Shops Corporation. The transfer resulted in 30.4 percent of the net assets of the Muhlenberg Foundation being transferred to the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center. The purpose of this transaction needs to be questioned. Was it done in good faith? Why was Midtown Shops stock transferred from the Muhlenberg Foundation to the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center within months after the Foundation received the total pledge, which was settled over a period of three years. We question how the income from the Midtown Shops is reflected on the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center Return for the years ending December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2008.

The closing of the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center (MRMC) acute care hospital by Solaris Health Systems in August of 2008 violated the original Articles of Incorporation, which clearly states that the sole purpose of the organization is “to provide a hospital for the residents of Plainfield, New Jersey.” The Muhlenberg Foundation was formed to operate exclusively for the benefit of the Muhlenberg Hospital and was the principal fundraising arm of the hospital. Thus, the closing of the hospital left the Muhlenberg Foundation without a hospital to support in Plainfield, New Jersey. The statement of Program Service Accomplishments on the Muhlenberg Foundation Form 990 for 2008 now states the Foundation is “to engage in programs and activities for the benefit of Solaris Health Systems.” This is a drastic change from the purpose as stated in the Foundation’s Articles of Incorporation. The change was made prior to a New Jersey Appellate Court hearing challenging the closing of the Muhlenberg Regional hospital.

The Attorney General under Governor Jon Corzine failed to protect the interests of the Muhlenberg Foundation and the 13 communities serviced by the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center when it stood silent and allowed the Muhlenberg Hospital to close. The closing of the hospital terminated the purpose of the Foundation. Did Solaris Health Systems, the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, or the Muhlenberg Foundation notify the Attorney General or the Surrogate Court of the hospital’s closing or seek direction as to the disposition of its assets? The net assets of the Muhlenberg Hospital were reduced by 1,026%!! Net assets in the beginning of 2008 were $5,238,417 and at the end of the year they were (-$53,788,837). The $55,808,594 loss from discontinued operations was charged against unrestricted net assets and needs to be verified by a complete audit of the return. (The discontinued operations loss was primarily the acute care hospital income and operating expenses for the period January 1, 2008 through August 2008). However, included in net assets of the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center was $1,875,325 in perpetual trusts. The health services rendered at the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center have been reduced to a bare minimum, which resulted in the constructive closure of the hospital facility. The remaining health services are:
a. Home Health Care (Per 2008 Form 990 for MRMC, Home Health Care receives 45% of the revenue from non-acute care hospital sources of income)
b. School of Radiology
c. A small satellite Emergency Room that will close in 3.5 years
d. minimal outpatient services
e. A limited X-ray department that does CAT scans twice a week.

As of December 31, 2008, the net assets of the Muhlenberg Foundation were $7,597,236. This includes $2,950,583 in investments in publically traded securities and $1,767,663 in beneficial interest in perpetual trust. Included in this total was $1,640,356 in assets described on the Balance Sheet as “Assets whose use is Limited”? A specific analysis needs to be completed in order to determine the nature and purpose of assets classified as “Assets whose use is Limited”.

Other Issues requiring resolution by independent review of the Forms 990 for the years ending 12/31/2007 and 12/31/2008 are as follows
:
1. Why did the Investment Income on Form 990 of the Muhlenberg Foundation decrease from $330,625 in 2007 to $4,563 in 2008?
2. Why did the investments in publicly traded securities on Form 990 of the Muhlenberg Foundation decline from $5,803,443 in 2007 to $2,950,583 in 2008?
3. Determine reason(s) for the large decrease in net assets of the Muhlenberg Foundation from $9,760,931 in 2007 to $7,597,236 in 2008.
4. Form 990 - Part 5, question 6a - Did the organization solicit any contributions that were not tax deductible? The “yes” box was checked. From whom and for what reasons were these contributions solicited?
5. Form 990 - Part 5, question 7a – Did the organization provide goods or services in exchange for any quid pro quo contribution on more than $75.00? The “yes” box was checked. What were the goods and services provided and why was it considered a quid pro quo transaction?
6. Form 990 - Part 6, Section A, question 7a – Does the organization have members, stockholders, or other persons who may elect one or more members of the governing body? The “yes” box was checked. The Foundation was established to support a hospital in Plainfield, New Jersey, which is located in Union County. If the control of the governing body is transferred outside of Plainfield and Union County, the community may have been harmed by decisions from a Board of Directors without ties to Plainfield, New Jersey or Union County.
7. Form 990 - Part 6, Section A, question 7b – Are any decisions of the governing body subject to approval by members, stockholders or other persons? The “yes” box was checked. The issue in item 7b is the same as in item 7a; were the decisions by the Board of Directors compromised by persons not living and associated with the Plainfield community and Union County?
8. Why were $229,892 (2007) and $74,095 (2008) of net assets released from restrictions for use in operations on the Foundation’s Form 990?
9. What was the $464,370 unrealized gain from investments other than trading securities on the Foundation’s Form 990 for 2008?
10. The issues as reflected in items 6 & 7 above are also present on the 2008 Form 990 of the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center.
11. What systems are in place in order to protect the Muhlenberg Foundation’s Perpetual Trusts of $1,767,633 and the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center’s Perpetual Trusts of $1,875,325? Are the terms of the trust instruments being followed?
12. A review of the Forms 990 of the Plainfield Neighborhood Health Center shows that Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center loaned the PNHC $2,040,000 in 1997. It also indicates that this loan was paid off in 2004; however, was this transaction ever recorded in the Union County, NJ County Clerk's office? If not, why?

It appears that Solaris Health Systems has developed a corporate culture, led by management and acquiesced by the Trustees of the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center and the Muhlenberg Foundation, Inc., that the delivery of health care is best left exclusively to the sole judgment of management. This resulted in the acute care hospital being closed, assets being liquidated, and tangible personal property, such as beds and medical equipment being transferred to other related Solaris entities prior to the Appellant Court’s decision in a case challenging the Commissioner of Heath and Senior Services’ decision to terminate the Muhlenberg Hospital’s Certificate of Need. It should have been the New Jersey Attorney General’s function to oversee the Muhlenberg institutions and protect its charitable assets. In Connecticut, the Attorney General intervened in a situation involving an acute care hospital facility abandoning its historic core mission as an acute care facility to become an ambulatory care facility with an emergency room. There, the hospital trustees voted to close in-patient care and lay off related medical support staff. The Connecticut Attorney General’s Office contended that such a fundamental transformation required cy pres action, and the court agreed. In New Hampshire the Attorney General is a necessary party in any proceeding involving cy pres, or deviation or termination of charitable trusts. Finally, we need the New Jersey Attorney General to oversee and protect the medical needs of Plainfield, a minority community.

The Dismantling of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, Plainfield, NJ, 07060

2011-08-24T00:02:00.000-04:00

What is Midtown Shops?

Property located in Kenilworth, New Jersey and falls under two listings:

Boulevard Shops Inc.
480-496 Boulevard, Block 80, Lot 1, Kenilworth Boro, in Union County, NJ

Midtown Shops Inc.
500-506 Boulevard, Block 81, Lot 1, Kenilworth Boro, in Union County, NJ

2006

Boulevard Shops, Inc.
480-496 Boulevard, Block 80, Lot 1, Kenilworth Boro, in Union County, NJ

Tax Record address: P.O. Box 671, Moorestown, NJ 08057

Midtown Shops Inc.
500-506 Boulevard, Block 81, Lot 1, Kenilworth Boro, in Union County, NJ

Tax Record address: P.O. Box 671, Moorestown, NJ 08057

Source: Tax Records - Kenilworth, NJ Tax Office

2007

"During 2007, the Foundation [Muhlenberg Foundation] transferred to MRMC the Snyder Foundation pledge which included the Midtown Shops property in the amount of $4,712,976."

Source: Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, Inc. Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and Independent Auditor's Report, page 30.

"During 2007, the Foundation transferred to MRMC the Snyder Foundation pledge which included the Midtown Shops Property. Once MRMC closed on the property, Midtown Shops became a wholly-owned MRMC subsidary."

Source: Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, Inc. Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and Independent Auditor's Report, page 8.

Question: "Once MRMC closed on the property...", where is the recorded deed?

Sometime in 2007, the tax record address changed to 98 James Street, which is the address of record on IRS Form 990 for Solaris Health Systems, Inc.

On the 2007 IRS Form 990 for Solaris Health Systems, Midtown Shops is listed as a non-exempt related organization, page 33.

Boulevard Shops, Inc.
480-496 Boulevard, Block 80, Lot 1, Kenilworth Boro, in Union County, NJ

Tax Record address: 98 James Street, 4th floor, Edison, NJ

Midtown Shops Inc.
500-506 Boulevard, Block 81, Lot 1, Kenilworth Boro, in Union County, NJ

Tax Record address: 98 James Street, 4th floor, Edison, NJ

Source: Tax Records - Kenilworth, NJ Tax Office

2008

2/11/08 File date on deed for the three way subdivision of the Muhlenberg property located at
Park and Randolph Road. Source: Union County , NJ Land Records

2/13/08 Change of Agent and Officers Midtown Shops, Inc.
Address: Solaris Health Systems
80 James Street
Edison, NJ 08820

9/04/08 Notice of Settlement

between Kenilworth Equities, LLC., Mortgagor, and Investors Savings Bank , Mortgagee,
and the lands to be effected are commonly known as:

480-496 Boulevard, Block 80, Lot 1, Kenilworth Boro, in Union County, NJ
500-506 Boulevard, Block 81, Lot 1, Kenilworth Boro, in Union County, NJ

Source: Union County Clerk Office Notice of Settlement filing # 270939

11/04/08 Notice of Settlement

between Midtown Shops, Inc. and Boulevard Shops, Inc., Seller, and Kenilworth Equities, LLC., Buyer,
and the lands to be effected are commonly known as:

480-496 Boulevard, Block 80, Lot 1, Kenilworth Boro, in Union County, NJ
500-506 Boulevard, Block 81, Lot 1, Kenilworth Boro, in Union County, NJ

Source: Union County Clerk Office Notice of Settlement filing # 272721

11/04/08 Notice of Settlement

between Kenilworth Equities,LLC., Mortgagor, and Investors Savings Bank , Mortgagee,
and the lands to be effected are commonly known as:

480-496 Boulevard, Block 80, Lot 1, Kenilworth Boro, in Union County, NJ
500-506 Boulevard, Block 81, Lot 1, Kenilworth Boro, in Union County, NJ

Source: Union County Clerk Office Notice of Settlement filing # 272722

Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied

2011-08-22T23:33:00.000-04:00

AGTrustsand EndowmentsLetter2P

Special Request Post From MuhlenbergIndependent Archives

2011-08-22T21:31:00.001-04:00

NJ Healthcare Facilities Financing Authority MRMC - JFK Hospital Bond Issues

October 30, 2010

RE: Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center Property
Plainfield, New Jersey

A recent newspaper article (enclosed) detailed vague discussions concerning the development of the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center property located in Plainfield, NJ.

Since the State of New Jersey holds the $152,925,000 State Contract Bonds (Hospital Asset Transformation Program) on the total Muhlenberg property issued by the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority with the Bank of New York Mellon, as Master Trustee, the State of New Jersey should be an interested party and participate in the ongoing discussions in order to fully protect the public interest.

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center was closed in 2008, by the former Commissioner of Health and Senior Services Heather Howard. (July 29, 2008, closure letter)

The New Jersey State Legislature passed a bill to allow for the bonding to go through even though the court challenge was not adjudicated. In October, 2008, the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority approved the $152,925,000 State Contract Bonds in the Hospital Asset Transformation Program.

According to papers filed in the County of Union Clerk's office, the $152.9 million bond note is secured by the Muhlenberg property only and does not impact The Community Hospital Group, Inc. [Please note that at one of the hospital annual meetings, it was stated that there is also a $17 million mortgage on the Muhlenberg property, but research can not substantiate that as a fact.]

The Plainfield area residents lost healthcare for a supposedly $18 million loss, but the Muhlenberg assets have been leveraged to provide $152.9 million to another entity.

Regardless, the State of New Jersey needs to be aware of this development in order to protect the State's interest.

[updated 07/04/2011]

A search as of yet has not been done of the papers filed in the County of Middlesex; however,
according to the NJHCFFA (NJ Health Care Facilities Financing Authority) October 23, 2008 Meeting Minutes, page 6,

"The proceeds of the financing will be used to : refund the the Authority's Variable Rate Composite Program - JFK Medical Center Project Series 2005 A-3; refund the Authority's Variable Rate Composite Program - Community Hospital Group Series 2003 A-1; refund the Authority's Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center Issue, Series 2000; refund the Authority's JFK Medical Center/Hartwyck at Oak Tree Obligated Group Issue, Series 1998; refund the Authority's JFK Health Systems Obligated Group Issue, Series 1995: refund the Authoriity's JFK Health Systems Obligated Group Issue, Series 1993; fund capital improvements at the JFK Medical Center related to the closure of Muhlenberg; fund capital interest; and pay related costs of issuance."

The $152.9 million was leveraged to refund 5 JFK related bonds and only 1 of Muhlenberg bonds.

Minutes of the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority meeting held on October 23, 2008 on the fourth floor of Building #4, Station Plaza, 22 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey.
NJHCFFA October 23, 2008 Meeting Minutes p. 6

B. JFK Medical Center Obligated Group
Mr. Escher stated that the following portion of the meeting will be considered a public hearing in connection with the proposed issuance of bonds on behalf of JFK Medical Center Obligated Group. This hearing took place in accordance with the public notice and approval requirements of Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
As a public hearing, Mr. Escher welcomed everyone to participate in the discussion, but first asked Mark Hopkins and Bill McLaughlin to bring the Members up to date on the transaction.

Mr. Hopkins took the opportunity to provide a brief background of the purpose of the TEFRA Hearing, the specific financing program, and the Authority’s action at this meeting. He stated that the Authority will consider authorizing, with certain contingencies, a financing for three borrowers: The Community Hospital Group, Inc. which does business as JFK Medical Center, Hartwyck at Oak Tree, Inc., and Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center. These borrowers will be referred to going forward as the JFK Medical Center Obligated Group. He also noted that reference may be made to Solaris Health System, which is the borrower’s corporate parent.

The financing that is being considered for the JFK Medical Center Obligated Group is a type of financing authorized by the State’s Hospital Asset Transformation Program (“HATP”), which is part of the Authority’s enabling legislation, and which permits the State to pay principal and interest on the bonds, subject to appropriation, if certain criteria are met. It should be noted that the JFK Medical Center Obligated Group will be required, under a loan agreement (secured by a mortgage), to pay an amount equal to the principal and interest on the bonds to the Authority. The Authority will then pass those payments on to the State Treasurer, making the transaction revenue neutral to the State.

The HATP was established in 2000 after it became clear that the state had several over-bedded areas that negatively impact the financial operations of the other hospitals in the area. A 1999 State Commission recommended that the closure of one or more hospitals may strengthen the healthcare delivery system as a whole. Therefore, one of the criteria to use the program is the closure of acute care services at a specific location. The State-backing was recommended as a result of the recognition that the stranded indebtedness of the closed hospital may cause undue financial distress to surviving hospitals in its system.

While the Authority is empowered to issue bonds under the HATP, it is not involved in making the decision on whether or not a hospital can close its acute care services. That decision is made at the Department of Health and Senior Services through the Certificate of Need process. In this case, the Commissioner has approved the Certificate of Need Request to close acute care services at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center with numerous conditions that must be met by the JFK Medical Center Obligated Group and the Solaris Health System.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, a public hearing is required when tax exempt bonds are issued to benefit non-governmental entities. As such, the Authority is conducting this hearing to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed issuance of tax-exempt bonds for this project.

Bill McLaughlin then introduced Richard Smith – Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from JFK Medical Center Obligated Group (“JFK”).
He stated that staff has been working on a financing for the benefit of JFK under the HATP. The elimination of acute-care services at the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center (“Muhlenberg”) meets the eligibility requirements for using the Program. The Treasurer has approved entering into a contract with the Authority, which will provide the security for a bond issue approximating $169 million. JFK will enter into a loan agreement with the Authority, which provides the covenants under which JFK agrees to pay the debt service on the bonds.

He noted that a request for a Certificate of Need to terminate acute-care services at Muhlenberg was filed and a Certificate of Need was granted for the closure on July 29, 2008.

The proceeds of the financing will be used to: refund the Authority’s Variable Rate Composite Program - JFK Medical Center Project Series 2005 A-3; refund the Authority’s Variable Rate Composite Program – Community Hospital Group Series 2003 A-1; refund the Authority’s Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center Issue, Series 2000; refund the Authority’s JFK Medical Center/Hartwyck at Oak Tree Obligated Group Issue, Series 1998; refund the Authority’s JFK Health Systems Obligated Group Issue, Series 1995; refund the Authority’s JFK Health Systems Obligated Group Issue, Series 1993; fund capital improvements at the JFK Medical Center related to the closure of Muhlenberg; fund capitalized interest; and pay related costs of issuance.

Given that the working group worked to finalize documents over the past week, the documents provided in the mailing package to the Members had been adjusted. Specifically, the Bond Resolution has been updated to reflect the following changes:

Specific authorization for staff to solicit and purchase advertising to support this transaction, if necessary;

Contingencies related to interest rates and underwriter discount;

Expanded redemption provisions that include a “make whole” premium; and,

(added by Mr. Hancock) Additional limitations on the disbursement of funds related to the new money proceeds.

He then asked bond counsel to present the Bond Resolution.

NJHCFFA October 23, 2008 Meeting Minutes p. 7

Federal Urban Economic Assessment Includes Plainfield, New Jersey

2011-07-03T20:07:00.000-04:00

Press Releases
September 13, 2010
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085
URBAN NEW JERSEY REGIONS RECEIVE U.S. EDA FUNDING FOR ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $240,000 grant to Thomas Edison State College of Trenton, N.J., to develop an urban economic assessment that will identify types of distress within 19 non-contiguous urban areas. The project will establish the basis for a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to address urban distress in the northern and central part of New Jersey.

"This EDA grant will provide a blueprint to guide future economic development initiatives designed to spur business development and job growth in the region," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John R. Fernandez. "The project will be advanced by taking advantage of the vast resources available through Thomas Edison State College."

"The Thomas Edison State College urban economic assessment will provide an assessment of the landscape of economic development for the targeted cities and specifically assess their unique urban needs. The project will help promote growth and sustainability for each of the targeted distressed areas," said Dr. Joseph Youngblood, III, Dean, Thomas Edison State College, School of Public Service.
The work to be conducted will occur in nineteen municipalities within seven counties. The municipalities of Asbury Park, Bayonne, Bloomfield, East Orange, Elizabeth, Hoboken, Irvington, Jersey City, Lakewood, Neptune, New Brunswick, Newark, Orange, Passaic, Paterson, Perth Amboy, Plainfield, Roselle and Woodbridge have experienced an increased level of disinvestment due to sudden and severe job loss experienced during 2009 and 2010.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov):
This year, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) marks 45 years of public service, with a mission of leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that partners with distressed communities throughout the United States to foster job creation, collaboration and innovation.‪

2011-06-22T20:36:00.000-04:00

MI - 2011 ApplicationnewBergengeneralhospitals[1]

Current crisis highlights longstanding medical needs

2011-06-16T01:26:00.000-04:00

The need for better medical care predates Solaris acquiring and moving to close Muhlenberg. Long before hospital closings, there was an acknowledged need for more non-emergency health care. We have to think beyond restoring the status quo and work to meet our needs in the most modern and effective way possible.Muhlenberg can become a viable engine for wellness in Central Jersey, economically sustainable by adapting to current market trends and social issues.

Recent hearings revealed that ambulatory clinics are taking profit-making business away from hospitals. Many hospitals run varied assortments of ambulatory clinics. Muhlenberg could offer a general medicine clinic for extended hours, backed up with specialty clinics, reducing the burden on all area emergency rooms while still providing the continuity of care and preventive medicine necessary to improve health and lower costs.

In addition to the fundamental clinic, patients would be drawn to specialty clinics that would embrace integrative medicine and help patients maintain the diet, exercise and activities that promote health.
Similar to a magnet school, integrative medicine would attract patients and provide better care to a community dealing with many conditions that respond to preventive medicine and lifestyle changes.

Clinics at Robert Wood Johnson already have a long waiting list for appointments. Would the state medical school be willing to help establish similar services at Muhlenberg?

Starting with diabetes, hypertension, obesity and addiction, we could easily expand to under-served specialties, especially multiple sclerosis, HADD and autism. All of these areas are prime candidates for foundation funding and clinical trials using alternative medicine protocols.

A decade ago, I envisioned a health-care prevention and maintenance cooperative that would provide affordable access to supplements, healthy food and a host of popular alternative medicine treatments in return for participation in clinical trials necessary to validate or disprove their effectiveness.

Funding is increasingly available to investigate promising medical protocols, even when no one has the ability to profit through a patient.

Deborah Dowe
DNV.Dowe@Verizon.net

1999 Hospital Commission Announces Plans

2011-06-12T00:03:00.000-04:00

News Release

PO 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 Len Fishman
Commissioner
For Release:
February 11, 1999 For Further Information Contact:
Rita Manno
(609) 984-7160

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commissioner Convenes Advisory Commission on Hospitals
Trenton -- A new advisory commission will examine the hospital industry, assess the overall financial health of facilities, identify warning signs that might place a facility in jeopardy and recommend options for hospitals looking to merge or convert to other uses, Commissioner Len Fishman announced today.

The new commission -- formed at the direction of Gov. Christie Whitman -- is in response to a request by hospitals to study an industry that has undergone tremendous change in the last five years with mergers, acquisitions, competition for services, certificate of need reform and expanded managed care.

In their February 5 letter, hospital CEOs asked the Governor "to begin an immediate examination of our concerns and to work with us to devise solutions that will preserve our health care safety net, particularly in our urban areas."

The task force will bring together hospitals, employers, consumers, government, unions, doctors, nurses, and others involved in health care.

"Access to quality health care is one of the most important rights consumers have. We need to examine our hospitals in this state and the challenges they face in this very changing market place" the Governor said.

Over the last decade, some hospitals in New Jersey have consolidated, merged, joined systems or closed, the Governor noted. "Everybody including hospitals and government need to be prepared for any future changes," she added.

The advisory commission will also respond to the findings of a report by the state Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, which is analyzing the financial condition of the hospital industry in New Jersey. That report, expected in March, will be looking at capacity, demand, revenues and expenditures in hospitals.

The advisory commission is expected to report to the Commissioner in June.

In addition, a Hospital Assistance Unit will be created within the department to help hospitals and their boards explore options for their future, including restructuring, consolidation of services and changing the type of services offered. Hospitals need viable options to achieve a balance between their revenues and expenditures. The state will consider financial assistance to a hospital in retaining the consultants necessary to evaluate a hospital's current and future strategies.

"In using the new unit within the department, hospitals will be opening themselves up to a process that seriously considers some fundamental changes," said the Commissioner.

"We're saying to hospitals in need of help that they have to be pro-active at an early stage in order to get the best possible outcome."

The administration already has taken many actions to support hospitals, especially urban inner city hospitals that serve a disproportionate numbers of uninsured patients. These include:

Supporting charity care and hospital relief programs that distribute $523 million annually to hospitals caring for disadvantaged populations. The formula used to distribute these funds is effective in that the majority of the funds go to hospitals providing most of the care to the poor and uninsured.

Reforming the certificate of need law to eliminate Certificate of Need requirements for many services and streamline them for others. This makes it easier for hospitals to add or remove services in response to changing market conditions. The Certificate of Need reform commission continues to examine the impact on urban hospitals if further revisions to Certificate of Need requirements are implemented.

Promoting partnerships between urban and suburban hospitals, including the new cardiac services pilot program which will allow a suburban hospital to offer satellite cardiac surgery services in partnership with an urban hospital cardiac program. Revenues from the cardiac program in the suburban hospital must be used to support programs and operations in the urban hospital.

Expediting decisions on hospital mergers, consolidations, conversions of use and/or closures that require a full Certificate of Need, without compromising the complete review of these transactions.

Responding effectively to assure uninterrupted access to care when services or facilities are closed through such measures as ensuring emergency transport of patients, and transfer of records and extension of admitting privileges to physicians at the receiving hospital

Supporting HCFFA's program for refinancing hospital debt, which has resulted in a record number of refinancings. In 1998, HCFFA issued $1.4 billion in bonds. About $1 billion of these bonds represented refinancings, which resulted in present value savings for New Jersey hospitals of more than $57 million.
Note: Members of the Advisory Commission on Hospitals have served on a prior committee that examined health care issues. Attached is the list of members.

ADVISORY COMMISSION ON HOSPITALS

George Laufenberg
NJ Carpenter's Fund
Sister Jane Frances Brady
CEO
Saint Joseph's Hospital & Medical Center

Hank Meisner
Director, Governmental Affairs
Horizon

Dick Oths
Chairman
New Jersey Hospital Association

The Honorable Michele Guhl
Commissioner
NJ Department of Human Services

Lilton Taliaferro, Jr., Esq.

Jim Leonard
Vice President, Government Relations
NJ State Chamber of Commerce

John Jacobi, Esq.
Seton Hall Law School

Dr. Gregory Sachs
Chairman
Medical Society of New Jersey

Gary Carter
President
New Jersey Hospital Association

Dr. Stuart Cook
President
University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ

The Honorable Jaynee LaVecchia
Commissioner
NJ Department of Banking and Insurance

Andrea Aughenbaugh
President
NJ State Nurses Association

Joe Gonzalez
President
NJ Business & Industry Assoc.

Frank Ciesla, Esq.

Jeff Beck
Director, State Government Relations
Aetna/U.S. Health Care

Frank Fumai
President & CEO
Cathedral Health Care System

Charles Wowkanech
President
NJ State AFL-CIO

Albert Tama, M.D.
Executive Vice President/Medical Affairs
Cooper Hospital

The Honorable Jane Kenny
Commissioner
NJ Department of Community Affairs

Dr. Jonathan Metsch
CEO
Jersey City Medical Center

Paul Langevin
President
NJ HMO Association

F. Kevin Tylus
Vice President, Health Plan Operations
Prudential HealthCare Group

The Honorable Jim DiEleuterio
NJ State Treasurer

Melanie Willoughby
President
NJ Retail Merchants Assoc.

The Honorable DeForest B. Soaries, Jr.
NJ Secretary of State

Curt Macysyn
State Director
National Federation of Independent
Businesses of NJ

Ciro Scalero
Association of Children of New Jersey

The Honorable Mel Gelade
Commissioner
NJ Department of Labor

Harry Luna
President
Latino Chamber of Commerce of
Mercer County

Harvey Holzberg
CEO
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Rev. Reginald T. Jackson
Saint Matthew A.M.E. Church

Maurice Coffee
Vice President, Government Relations
West Jersey Health System

Charles Wowkanech
President
NJ State AFL-CIO

Albert Tama, M.D.
Executive Vice President/Medical Affairs
Cooper Hospital

The Honorable Jane Kenny
Commissioner
NJ Department of Community Affairs

Dr. Jonathan Metsch
CEO
Jersey City Medical Center

Paul Langevin
President
NJ HMO Association

F. Kevin Tylus
Vice President, Health Plan Operations
Prudential HealthCare Group

The Honorable Jim DiEleuterio
NJ State Treasurer

Melanie Willoughby
President
NJ Retail Merchants Assoc
.
The Honorable DeForest B. Soaries, Jr.
NJ Secretary of State

Curt Macysyn
State Director
National Federation of Independent
Businesses of NJ

Ciro Scalero
Association of Children of New Jersey

The Honorable Mel Gelade
Commissioner
NJ Department of Labor

Harry Luna
President
Latino Chamber of Commerce of
Mercer County

Harvey Holzberg
CEO
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Rev. Reginald T. Jackson
Saint Matthew A.M.E. Church

Maurice Coffee
Vice President, Government Relations
West Jersey Health System

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best matches for new jersey hospital mergers and acquisitions
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Weinberg on Hospital Closings

2011-05-30T21:55:00.000-04:00

MI - Weinberg[1]

Click on first icon on the bottom left side to enlarge

10 Most Endangered Historic Places of 2011

2011-05-18T16:46:00.000-04:00

Preservation New Jersey

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center

Tracy & Swartwout Buildings

Incorporated in 1877, and moved to this 17-acre location at Park Avenue and Randolph Road in 1903, Plainfield’s Muhlenberg Hospital, now known as Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, was one of the oldest hospitals in the state when it was closed in 2008.

The historic 1903 core of the existing hospital complex is one of the earliest known extant complexes of buildings designed by the notable New York architectural firm of Tracy & Swartwout. The partners in the firm, Evarts Tracy and Egerton Swartwout, were both Yale graduates who met while working for architectural masters McKim, Mead & White. In 1900, the two formed their own firm. Evarts Tracy had strong ties to Plainfield, having moved there as a child. He built his own home in Plainfield on Hillside Avenue in 1901, from which he would have been able to watch progress at the Muhlenberg site when he was overseeing the construction of the original Muhlenberg Hospital buildings. While the Muhlenberg Hospital buildings were some of the earliest designs of the young architecture firm, the men went on to design many significant buildings, including the Cathedral of St. John in the Wilderness and the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, in Denver; the Department of Commerce Building and George Washington Memorial Hall in Washington, D.C.; and the Missouri State Capital building in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Despite numerous additions over the years as the hospital grew into Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, the complex’s original Tracy & Swartwout buildings remain largely intact. The Tracy & Swartwout buildings looked like one large structure when originally built, but actually consisted of multiple parts, including a main reception and office building, an eye and ear clinic, a large kitchen, separate wards for men and women, and a stand-alone "Muhlenberg Operating Pavilion." Today, the buildings retain many original features, including inscriptions noting the contributions of various turn-of-the-century Plainfield families to the hospital’s construction. As such, Muhlenberg’s historic buildings tell the story of some of Plainfield’s most significant people and their dedication to improving healthcare in their community as the 20th century dawned. Additionally, this historic complex of hospital buildings illustrates the growth of the medical profession through its separate structures that housed individual medical uses, in comparison to today's mega-structure hospital complexes.

When Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center closed in 2008, it was required by the state to maintain minimal healthcare services, including a Satellite Emergency Department, for a limited time. This use occupies only a small portion of the entire complex, however, and does not include the historic Tracy & Swartwout buildings. While these buildings are visible from the street, public access to these historic buildings is prohibited, so their condition is unknown. The entity that controls the hospital complex, Solaris Health System, confirmed last fall that it had a confidentiality agreement with a potential buyer and developer of the property, but no further information has been released about future development. This large piece of property, 17 acres, is in a prime real estate location, near the Plainfield Country Club, Plainfield's historic districts and close to the South Plainfield and Edison borders. In an improving economy, the possibility of development on the property is likely and the future of the historic Tracy & Swartwout buildings is uncertain.

Preservation New Jersey urges recognition of the significance of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center’s historic buildings to the history of Plainfield and New Jersey. These buildings, designed by noted architects, are one of a dwindling number of extant historic medical complexes, representing the history of the medical field and the evolution of healthcare throughout the 20th century. Muhlenberg’s historic buildings were in use until the facility closed and remain viable, presenting a unique opportunity for future rehabilitation. We encourage the current owners and potential future developers to consider the historic significance of the 1903 Tracy & Swartwout Buildings at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center as future plans for the property are developed.

Sponsors: The Muhlenberg Research Group & The Muhlenberg Independents

SaveMuhlenberg April 7, 2008

2011-05-14T13:29:00.000-04:00

Hospital Closings and Restricted Assets

2011-03-30T12:40:00.000-04:00

Position Paper

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center,

Plainfield, New Jersey

June 11, 2010

On behalf of the Public Interest, we respectfully request that the New Jersey Attorney General's Office conduct a forensic audit of the Permanently Restricted Assets/Permanently Endowed Funds of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center (MRMC), also known as Muhlenberg Hospital.

We make this request to resolve the unanswered issue of the fiduciary responsibility of the Muhlenberg Board of Trustees and Solaris Health System Board of Trustees. Did the Muhlenberg Board act independently, or were they subservient to the dictates of Solaris Health System and their Board of Trustees? The location and disposition of these permanently restricted assets/permanently endowed funds were overlooked, not addressed, or simply forgotten by the Certificate of Need Closure document of the former Commissioner of Health Heather Howard in her letter of July 29, 2008, and the recent court proceedings.

The amount of assets documented by IRS Forms 990 is between $4.2 Million and $6.7 Million [Exhibit 1] and may not be limited to those amounts because permanently endowed assets can possibly be held by other entities, such as: the Muhlenberg Foundation (established in 1977) and the Plainfield Foundation (dating to 1920), Muhlenberg Auxiliary, etc.

At the Muhlenberg public hearings, members of the public testified about the endangered endowed assets. Prior to that a letter dated April 7, 2008, was written to the then Attorney General by the New Jersey Appleseed Public Interest Law Center. [Exhibit 2] The Public would like to know what has happened to the permanently endowed assets/funds. The April 7, 2008, letter was written prior to the passage of P. L. 2009, c.64, "Uniform Prudent Managment of Institutional Funds Act." At no point did anyone go before the Courts as required by cy pres, for the legal transfer of gifted assets.

Muhlenberg was a beloved hospital during its 130 years of existence. Through those years thousands upon thousands of individuals, businesses, corporations, churches, community groups and organizations, foundations, municipalities, and government agencies donated funds to keep Muhlenberg financially viable. In fact the land that the hospital buildings are located on was purchased with public subscriptions.

Extensive research has found a sampling of probated wills and refunding of bonds and releases naming Muhlenberg Hospital, specifically, as beneficary of those probated wills:

· John M. Whiton Bequest $9,500 Memorial Fund $425,944 [Exhibit 3] Please note that Mr. Whiton was at one time a Councilman of Plainfield.

· Albert C. Stebbins Residue of estate $226,000 Permanent Endowment [Exhibit 4] Please note that Mr. Stebbins served on the Plainfield Common Council.

· Leighton Calkins Bequest $5,000 Endowed room with tablet inscribed [Exhibit 5] Please note that Mr. Calkins was a Mayor of Plainfield.

· Annie M. Hyler Bequest $5,000 Endowed Room with tablet inscribed [Exhibit 6] · Roger Murray Bequest $1,000 Permanently endowed funds [Exhibit 7] Please note that Mr. Murray was a NJ Assemblyman.

· Leonore Darrow White $ 500 Private room with tablet inscribed [Exhibit 8]

Many other community minded people left unrestricted monetary amounts to Muhlenberg when they could have further enriched their family and friends. Many people thought their funds to Muhlenberg were safe and did not restrict their funds because they could never imagine that Muhlenberg would close. People who made provisions for alternative recipients in case the primary recipient no longer existed did not feel the need to make the same provisions for Muhlenberg.

The six deceased cited above did not leave their wealth unrestricted. The review of this small sampling of wills should spark a look back at the location of the permanently restricted assets/funds. We would hope that all of the permanently restricted assets would be adequately protected by your office.

As life long residents of Plainfield, we would like all permanently endowed assets/funds returned to the Plainfield community in trust for healthcare needs, and a community board of private citizens established to oversee those assets. It is our belief that the intent of the donors was not to enrich another community in another county whose demographics do not in any way match the level of diversity that exists in the Plainfield area.

[Please note back-up documentation can be provided upon request]

The Muhlenberg Research Group

The Muhlenberg Independents

Tax Exempt Hospital Accountability

2011-03-27T12:15:00.000-04:00

For Immediate ReleaseMarch 24, 2010 Grassley’s Provisions for Tax-exempt Hospital Accountability Included in New Health Care Law M E M O R A N D U M To: Reporters and Editors Re: tax-exempt hospitals provisions in new health care law Da: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, with jurisdiction over taxes, has worked to hold tax-exempt hospitals accountable for the federal tax benefits they receive. The health care legislation signed into law yesterday includes provisions Grassley co-authored to impose standards for the tax exemption of charitable hospitals for the first time. The bill requires that a hospital complete a community needs assessment once every three years and adopt and publicize a financial assistance policy; prohibits billing those who qualify for financial assistance the top rates; and prohibits a hospital from taking extraordinary collection actions if the hospital has not made reasonable efforts to notify patients of its financial assistance policy. The bill also requires the IRS to review the tax-exempt status of each hospital every three years; requires Treasury and Health and Human Services to submit an annual report to Congress on the level of charity care, bad debt expenses and the unreimbursed costs of means-tested and non-means-tested government programs; and requires Treasury and HHS to provide a report in five years on the trends on the items reported on an annual basis. Grassley made the following comment on the advancement of these provisions. “Tax-exempt hospitals don’t have many measures of accountability for their special status. The law hasn’t given them much direction, and so they’ve defined standards for themselves. Sometimes that’s resulted in providing very little charitable patient care or other community benefits, failing to publicize charitable care to patients, charging indigent, uninsured patients more than insured patients, and using very aggressive collection practices. The Government Accountability Office and others, including the former IRS commissioner, have said for a long time that there is often no discernible difference between the operations of taxable and tax-exempt hospitals. These new provisions are modeled after principles and polices that the Catholic Health Association has had in place for years. I appreciate the association’s willingness to have honest, forthright conversations about charitable hospitals’ activities. The provisions take steps to differentiate tax-exempt hospitals from for-profit hospitals and provide further transparency about tax-exempt hospitals’ fulfilling their charitable mission. Congress, the IRS, and the public will now have additional tools and information to ensure that charitable hospitals act charitably.” The provisions enacted in the new health care law are the result of Grassley’s leadership on tax-exempt organizations’ accountability and transparency, including hospitals. In 2005, he sent letters of inquiry to some of the nation’s largest tax-exempt hospitals. In 2006, he convened a hearing and released a summary of the hospitals’ responses. In 2007, he released a staff discussion draft of potential legislative reforms and convened a roundtable of experts to discuss the potential reforms. In 2008, he followed up with letters of inquiry to more hospitals and received a report he’d requested from the Government Accountability Office. In 2009, he drafted legislative reforms and succeeded in persuading the Democratic majority to include several of the reforms in the new health care law. © 2008, Senator Grassley

Researchers Learn From Holi Festival

2011-03-20T10:35:00.000-04:00

Hospital Closing Researchers

Need To Celebrate

Muhlenberg activists were honored guests of Dr. Ramesh Pandey at a celebration that made us question the loss of family and culture that we have all sustained. From seniors to newborn infants families gathered in beautiful clothes to enjoy a sumpteous feast at the Jaipur Restaurant on Hamilton Boulevard in South Plainfield. None of us can recall the last time we tasted food that was as good. I think I could live on Mango Lassi.

When the Muhlenberg movie is made, someone will have to play Doctor Pandey. From the day we first met him at the swearing-in ceremony for Congressman Leonard Lance, Dr. Pandey has embraced our vision of an Integrative Medicine and Ethnopharmacology Institute at Muhlenberg. He worked tirelessly to help elect Gov. Chris Christie, the only candidate who promised to investigate the closure of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center.

To the Indian community of all faiths, we give thanks for the care, the support and the vision of happy intact families that challenges us in ways you can hardly imagine.

Next year, we won't be so worn and weary. Next year, we dance.

God bless you, one and all.

Deborah Dowe

Muhlenberg Hospital in Morristown Area?

2011-03-15T12:50:00.000-04:00

Asset Transformation and Hospital Closings

2011-03-04T17:15:00.000-05:00

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center Property
Plainfield, New Jersey

A recent newspaper article detailed vague discussions concerning the development of the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center property located in Plainfield, NJ.

Since the State of New Jersey holds the $152,925,000 State Contract Bonds (Hospital Asset Transformation Program) on the total Muhlenberg property issued by the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority with the Bank of New York Mellon, as Master Trustee, the State of New Jersey should be an interested party and participate in the ongoing discussions in order to fully protect the public interest.

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center was closed in 2008, by the former Commissioner of Health and Senior Services Heather Howard. (July 28, 2008, closure letter)

The New Jersey State Legislature passed a bill to allow for the bonding to go through even though the court challenge was not adjudicated. In October, 2008, the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority approved the $152,925,000 State Contract Bonds in the Hospital Asset Transformation Program.

According to papers filed in the County of Union Clerk's office, the $152.9 million bond note is secured by the Muhlenberg property only and does not impact The Community Hospital Group, Inc. [Please note that at one of the hospital annual meetings, it was stated that there is also a $17 million mortgage on the Muhlenberg property, but research can not substantiate that as a fact.]

The Plainfield area residents lost healthcare for a supposedly $18 million loss, but the Muhlenberg assets have been leveraged to provide $152.9 million to another entity.

Regardless, the State of New Jersey needs to be aware of this development in order to protect the State's interest.

The Muhlenberg Independents
The Muhlenberg Research Group

Weakened Oversight of Public Assets

2010-12-18T13:25:00.000-05:00

New legislation is dismantling century old trusts and endowments that were supposed to continue in perpetuity. This is the raiding and plundering of historic endowments to compensate for property mortgages, pet projects, failed investments and expanded personal compensation packages, which are not for the benefit of the public and certainly not the donors' intent.

In 2006,the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) released Bush era guidelines deregulating a substantial portion of nonprofit funds. More than 40 states have adopted versions of these guidelines with very little debate and even less publicity. On June 10, 2009, NJ Governor Jon Corzine signed into law the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act. This law creates troubling changes in the way that charitable trusts and endowments are managed and regulated.

The use of the term "prudent" in dealing with "small funds" has resulted in an expansion of the affected funds from the ULC suggested amount of $25,000 to a high of $250,000 in New Jersey and in a number of other States. These funds become "old" after the suggested 20 years in NJ, and at least one \state has shortened the time to 10 years. Language on retroactivity is strategically vague and neglects public notification and transparency.

Liquidating the principal in countless smaller endowments that support charitable work in good times and bad will do irreparable harm to the public good that will eventually achieve infamy as a crime against the living as well as the dead.

Most significant is the transfer of oversight from the jurisdiction of the States' Courts to a political appointee - the State Attorney General - making nonprofits more vulnerable to pay-to-play and unregulated asset transfers. Ethical assumptions about prudence, motives, and human nature have subsequently been changed with lessons learned by the banking crisis, predatory lending practices, bonuses amidst bailouts and the failure of the SEC to regulate the exploitation of foundations and non-profits by Madoff.

The dismantling of New Jersey hospitals, specifically Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, Plainfield, NJ, was facilitated by a corporate, non-profit parent company with related for-profit holdings and overlapping interests. The transfer of over a century's accumulation of assets: endowments, gifts, real estate, facilities, and equipment was done under the approval of the NJ State Government, and the NJ Attorney General's Office. The cy pres doctrine was essentially ignored.

Citizens have raised the endowment issue at state hearings, in letters to the editor, and various other venues, but all of this has fallen on deaf ears. The citizens are in affect paying tax dollars to the same state government employees who are not protecting their interests. Unless the citizen's can muster enough money to initiate a court action, all of the historic endowments will be lost forever, and a crime against the dead will have occurred. In this case, the NJ UPMIFA of 2009 had not yet been passed, but the raiding and plundering of endowments happened anyway.

Grade Inflation Equals Consumer Fraud

2010-03-31T19:20:00.000-04:00

Education reform can begin with a policy that prohibit the granting of honor roll grades to students who are not doing work that is on grade level. Grades are deceptive and few parents know what children are expected to know at various stages of their development. Accepted practices of grade inflation need to be banned as a destructive form of consumer fraud.

Honor rolls can create a deceptive sense of satisfffaccction for everyone involved. It would produccce a higher level of advocay and effort from parents and students if they were aware that they were achieving excellene in work below the core ontent standards for their grade.

In every school system, there are students who will do whatever it takes to master all of the work required of them. It is not fair for them to never be presented the full sclope of academic instruction that is given to other students that they will have to compete with in college. Valedictorians from one school district are place at a disadvantage next to "C" students from another.

Many college freshmen are surprised and discouraged to learn that they have to take loans and acquire debt for non-credit courses. This often includes the cost of room and board for instruction they should have obtained while living at home attending public schools where they excelled. Without proper support, many of these gifted students are lost to higher education, forever.

All positive change does not require money. A public policy that requires 'truth in grading' can go a long way toward preventing schools from languishing, unchallenged in entrenched failure.

Deborah Joyce Dowe

Believe In What You Need

2009-11-05T03:16:00.000-05:00

Thank you to the voters who supported our efforts. Election day was not the finish line for us, but it took us closer to the goal of restoring Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center.

With the election of Chris Christie, changes in Trenton will replace many of the people who refused to listen to our concerns and failed to follow legal requirements that a community needs assessment and an impact study must be conducted prior to closing a hospital.

Hope Thompson and Karen Gielen should be proud of the support they received as first-time unfunded candidates. Through this process, we discovered old friends and made new friends for life. We'd like to thank everyone who encouraged us, offered assistance and helped make our issues a vital part of this election.

Deborah Dowe

Campaign events

2009-11-01T11:38:00.000-05:00

The Muhlenberg Independents Call For Bi-Partisan Support And Cooperation

Think Independently, Work Together

Deborah Dowe - Mayor of Plainfield

Hope Thompson - County Freeholder

Karen Gielen - County Freeholder

Sunday, November 1st, 4:00pm

Community Rally and Press Conference

Monday, November 2^nd, 6:30pm

Debbie Dowe and friends present

The Truth About Muhlenberg Hospital:

Her Vision for Plainfield

(Jobs, lower taxes, education, healthcare)

The Du Cret School of the Arts

1030 Central Avenue. Plfd.

(Light refreshments served)

Letter from Christopher Christie

2009-10-27T22:10:00.000-04:00

click on document to enlarge

Plainfield Parking Meters

2009-10-25T12:42:00.000-04:00

Did you know that the Plainfield parking meters use batteries? They behave the same way clocks do when the batteries are weak. They don't keep time, but you end up with a $35 dollar ticket that can cause the registered owner to lose their license to drive if it is not paid.

We could also be vulnerable to a class action suit.

I buy Halal (Islamic Kosher) food downtown Plainfield, outstanding yogurt and my favorite restaurant where you can watch your food prepared. I also like to watch African movies while they braid my hair on Somerset Street where I got a ticket soon after putting the maximum of two hours on the meter.

When I went to the police to complain, I learned I could beat the ticket by a legally requesting the maintenance records. By the way the meter by the police station was so jammed with money it couldn't be used.

Why does this matter? It discourages people from shopping downtown. Its not right. We don't get the proper revenue from the machines and we get unjust revenue and penalties from the tickets. Loss of your drivers license can limit access to healthcare as well as work.

What happened to 'truth, justice and the American way'?
Are we participants, or are we prey?

Deborah Dowe

League of Women Voters Questions

2009-10-25T00:12:00.000-04:00

For the mayoral candidates:

1). What strategy will you advocate for economic development in the next four years?

Plainfield has valid needs and underserved markets that can create the jobs and economic vitality that fuels the broader goal of community development. Services and social interaction bring universal benefits, while residential expansion strains all resources. Incentives should go to supermarkets, hotels, banquet halls, game rooms and jazz clubs instead of more homes.

Plainfield is a medically underserved community with a substantial population of insured residents willing to invest in wellness, natural cures and programs that integrate alternative and mainstream medicine. Restoring rapid access to acute care and expanding access to chronic care and lifestyle medicine will create more jobs that the 1100 that have been lost.

2). What is your stand on tax breaks for developers?

Taxpayers deserve to know the extent of tax breaks that are currently in place, including an inventory of tax free properties that are in use or vacant and eligible for development. Programs that allow seniors to work in lieu of a modest portion of their property tax debt need to be investigated for compliance with New Jersey laws.

3). How do you intend to enforce property code ordinances, such as those banning satellite dishes visible from the street?

Residents need common standards and a commitment to equal treatment of property, citywide. Compliance with state and federal regulations requires a review of local ordinances. For instance, FCC regulations negotiated by satellite providers, give single users of residential and commercial real estate wide latitude in the placement of satellite dishes on private property. If the Plainfield ordinance was legal when passed, it may not be legal now.

For the assembly candidates:
1). How would you bring back acute medical care to Plainfield?

Court action to return the Muhlenberg donations, scholarships and endowments along with income from Muhlenberg’s extensive rental properties will greatly subsidize charity care and make the hospital more attractive to buyers.

Plainfield’s size and complex population are ideal to nurture demonstration projects in the fusion or medical technology, traditional or native cures and ethno-pharmacology that will impact the next decade of medicine.

Plainfield is a uniquely diverse, medically underserved community in the heart of the pharmaceutical state. We can actively seek partnerships with the Integrative Medicine community as they seek to establish fundable protocols for preventive care and wellness programs. Passively, we can wait till over 100 new cardiac drugs require clinical trials on diverse populations and evaluate the options this opportunity will preset.

2). What sorts of shared services could lower the local property tax burden? Be specific to the towns in the 22nd District?

Shared services need to begin within Plainfield. A system needs to enable City government, school system and PMUA to share specialized staff starting with Public Information and Communications. News and events need to be scheduled and promoted in a cooperative effort.

3). What will you do to rein in state and local taxes that are driving people out of New Jersey? County school systems are a good start. Currently New Jersey pays a segregation tax to enable residents to live and go to school with people that are alike, more so than any other state in the nation. We must face this issue and chose efficiency over separateness, or not.

Please send your photo, bio and responses to the aforementioned questions by October 10, 2009.

League Of Women Voters Campaign Coverage

2009-10-22T13:16:00.000-04:00

The Short Story

A number of campaign supporters have expressed concern that none of my political commentary appeared in the Courier News Plainfield League of Women Voters ad that stated my submission was too late. My computer froze and had to be replaced, requiring all information to be completely reconstructed.

Instead of the usual word limit for a general statement, candidates were given specific questions and no word limit. Questions directed to candidates for Mayor did not include the Muhlenberg issue, even though it was included in questions for Assembly Candidates. I took the time to answer them all. The League decided that 18 minutes past midnight, of the date for submission, was a vaild reason to reject my responses and advertise that my submission was too late to be included.

Consequently, I did not expect any of my information, or my image to appear in their ad. Their use of my picture and blog address occurred after I questioned and accepted their decision and verbally withdrew permission to use my information on the League website.

I prefer no coverage to partial coverage that is subject to their judgement and control.

If you want to hear me speak in a public forum. Make sure you attend the:

Plainfield Area NAACP Candidate Forum
300 Central Avenue
Whitney Allen Young Community Room
Plainfield, NJ 07060
Please Park On The New Street Side

Sunday October 25, 2009, 5:15PM

Any groups or individuals who would like to hear my vision for Plainfield should:

email me at DNV.Dowe@verizon.net, or call 908-756-7273.

Deborah Dowe

League of Women Voters' Questions

2009-10-21T21:21:00.000-04:00

My computer froze,I reconstructed answers to questions that the league posed to the Assembly Candidates, as well as questions for mayor that did not directly address health care and the Muhlenberg issue.

The answers were emailed 18 minutes past midnight. If anyone wants to challenge my decision not tofurther participate in League Campaign Coverage. I will research copies of League campaign coverage, dating back to 1999 and break my rule against pointless negativity.

The Courier was helpful, and even provided copy from prior submissions. I did not expect that there would be a problem with information submitted eighteen minutes past midnight. I simply could have not answered the additional questions that were intended for the Assembly candidates, but the Muhlenberg question was not put before the candidates for Mayor.

I have posted the information that would have appeared in the League newspaper ad. If anyone has additional questions or would like me to adress a group, feel free to call me at 908-756-7273.

If you want to hear me speak, please attend the:

NAACP Candidate Forum

Sunday, October 25, 2009

5:15PM

Whitney Allen Young Apartments

300 Central Avenue, Community Room

(enter from the New Street side, through parking lot)

Plainfield, NJ, 07060

For the mayoral candidates:

1). What strategy will you advocate for economic development in the next four years?

Plainfield has valid needs and underserved markets that can create the jobs and economic vitality that fuel the broader goal of community development. Services and social interaction bring universal benefits, while residential expansion strains all resources. Incentives should go to supermarkets, hotels, banquet halls, game rooms and jazz clubs instead of more homes.

Plainfield is a medically underserved community with a substantial population of insured residents willing to invest in wellness, natural cures and programs that integrate alternative and mainstream medicine. Restoring rapid access to acute care and expanding access to chronic care and lifestyle medicine will create more jobs than the 1100 that have been lost.

2). What is your stand on tax breaks for developers?

Taxpayers deserve to know the extent of tax breaks that are currently in place, including an inventory of tax free properties that are in use or vacant and eligible for development. Programs that allow seniors to work in lieu of a modest portion of their property tax debt need to be investigated for compliance with New Jersey laws.

3). How do you intend to enforce property code ordinances, such as those banning satellite dishes visible from the street?

Residents need common standards and a commitment to equal treatment of property, citywide. Compliance with state and federal regulations requires a review of local ordinances. For instance, FCC regulations, negotiated by satellite providers, give single users of residential and commercial real estate wide latitude in the placement of satellite dishes on private property. If the Plainfield ordinance was legal when passed, it may not be legal now.

For the assembly candidates:

1). How would you bring back acute medical care to Plainfield?

Court action to return the Muhlenberg donations, scholarships and endowments along with income from Muhlenberg’s extensive rental properties will greatly subsidize charity care and make the hospital more attractive to buyers.

Plainfield’s size and complex population are ideal to nurture demonstration projects in the fusion of medical technology, traditional or native cures and ethno-pharmacology that will impact the next decade of medicine.

Plainfield is a uniquely diverse, medically underserved community in the heart of the pharmaceutical state. We can actively seek partnerships with the Integrative Medicine community as they seek to establish fundable protocols for preventive care and wellness programs. Passively, we can wait till over 100 new cardiac drugs require clinical trials on diverse populations and evaluate the options this opportunity will preset.

2). What sorts of shared services could lower the local property tax burden? Be specific to the towns in the 22nd District?

Shared services need to begin within Plainfield. A system needs to enable City government, the school system and PMUA to share specialized staff starting with Public Information and Communications. News and events need to be scheduled and promoted in a cooperative effort.

3). What will you do to rein in state and local taxes that are driving people out of New Jersey?

County school systems are a good start. Currently New Jersey pays a segregation tax to enable residents to live and go to school with people that are alike, to a greater degree than any other state in the nation. We must face this issue and chose efficiency over separateness, or not.

2009-10-21T17:15:00.000-04:00

Plainfield feeling the pain of Muhlenberg Hospital

By Mark DiIonno

October 17, 2009, 7:00AM

Amanda Brown/The Star-LedgerNimrod Webb, Jr., owns Netherwood Auto Repair Center in Plainfield. His business has been affected from the shutting down of parts of Muhlenberg Hospital.

The Netherwood Auto Repair Shop is about a mile from what’s left of Muhlenberg Hospital, but owner Nimrod Webb says business is way off since the hospital closed a year ago.

"This is the worst thing that’s happened since we’ve been in business," he said.

The ‘we’ is Webb and his late father, who started the business in 1962, five years before riots did irreparable damage to Plainfield’s reputation, economy and housing market.

"That was bad, but this downturn has been absolutely drastic," he said.

On Park Avenue near the South Plainfield border, Cheryl Mazellan’s Imperial Deli has also taken a big hit.

"We did a lot of business there. All the lunches and catered platters they ordered are gone," Mazellan said.

The Imperial is in a strip mall with a pizza place and a Chinese restaurant, and there is plenty of parking at lunch. Along Park, "For Sale" and "For Rent" signs are posted in front of medical arts buildings and doctors’ offices. A pharmacy closed, and another slashed hours.

In a bad economy, no town can afford to lose 1,100 jobs. In any economy, Plainfield can afford it less. The town has struggled in the four decades since the riots, with downtown declines marked by changing demographics and competition from malls. Through it all, Muhlenberg was a source of pride. Many "Welcome to Plainfield" signs are subtitled "Home of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center."

The original historic edifice has the name carved in concrete and for Corinth pillars, and for 132 years, the hospital was a stanchion of the community, growing with the times. There were new centers for wounds, bariatric treatment and dialysis, and a 355-bed full service hospital with an operating room almost round the clock.

When Muhlenberg was closed by owner Solaris Health Systems because the company said it was unprofitable, it became another statistic in state hospital closures. About 25 have closed in New Jersey since 1990, most are in urban areas; Irvington General, St. James and Columbus in Newark, Orange Medical, Barnert in Paterson, Greenville in Jersey City, Union Hospital, to name a few.

Unlike those hospitals, Muhlenberg has no nearby medical facilities. JFK in Edison, also owned by Solaris, is closest at five miles away.

Amanda Brown/The Star-Ledger (left to right) Deborah Dowe, Karen Gielen Jim Colvin and Hope Thompson are some of the community members and former Muhlenberg Hospital staff who are upset about the closing of the hospital in Plainfield. They stand in front of one of the older sections of the hospital.

Healthcare is now the country’s most public debate. As a New Jersey election issue, it runs third behind property taxes and the economy. As a Plainfield issue, Muhlenberg is about all three. The closing effects care, business, and real estate value, the barometer of property taxes.

"I know of people who want to move out of town or are reluctant to move into town, because we no longer have a hospital," said James Colvin, the pastor of Plainfield’s United Church of Christ. "It has definitely impacted property values, and depressed many of our residents. They feel abandoned."

In Star-Ledger interviews, the three major candidates talked about recent hospital closings.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine said the state had a glut of hospital beds, and that glut is almost gone. He said certain "safety net" hospitals for low-income and uninsured people "need to be protected" and expansion of federally qualified health care centers would help fill the void.

Republican Chris Christie said "the state has a role in reforming the way we operate our health care system." He said a cooperative system of hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities would make spending more efficient.

Independent Chris Daggett said "the broad need of the community has to be taken into account," and the state should ensure health services are available when a city hospital closes. Daggett used Muhlenberg’s "satellite emergency department’’ as an example of a vulnerable community remaining served.

But emergent care only heals part of the wounds left by a hospital closing.

"This hospital was not only an economic engine, but it was also a backbone of our civic service community, and serviced the most vulnerable people we have in this country," said Deborah Dowe, who has led a coalition that continues to challenge the closing. "Every kind of group home was put in Plainfield. We have homes for addicts, alcoholics, the developmentally disabled and mentally challenged. Then they took away the hospital that serves their needs."

Dowe, Karen Gielen, a former Muhlenberg nurse, and Hope Thomas, are running as independent freeholder candidates in Union on a "Save Muhlenberg" platform. The three women and Colvin complain the federally-funded clinic for poor Plainfield residents is across town, near Green Brook and Dunellen, and little mass transit goes that way. Hospitals that are absorbing Plainfield’s births, surgeries and other patient care are also far removed from mass transit.

"Solaris wants to send everybody to JFK, but there’s no bus lines there," Dowe said. "Now, if you’re poor and don’t have a car, you have to take two or three buses to go visit a sick relative or a newborn baby in Elizabeth, or Edison."

For the sick, the only way to get to a hospital is by ambulance, medical transport or cab. The first two are very expensive for the uninsured. The last may be the lone economic upside to the Muhlenberg saga. Since the hospital closed, there are three new cab companies in town.

2009-10-18T23:10:00.000-04:00

Language Is A Math Issue

For years, I protested new math programs that were on the list of approved options for Abbott districts. In the 90's, there was little interest in well known conflicts of interests between academics and publishers. Some new curriculums had to be replaced at great cost, after negative student impact.

While serving on the Board of Governors of the New Jersey Math and Science Coalition, I wrote a series of position papers on improvements that can be made using existing resources.

Deborah Dowe

2009-10-18T22:30:00.000-04:00

Core Curriculum Math Glossary

Non-standard terminology is often a feature of materials marketed as designed to make math more accessible to minorities and women, groups defined as having a different learning style than white males. If some children are learning “take-away” to define subtraction, they are not prepared to demonstrate their ability on a test that uses the term “minus”. This is one of the many reasons why we need to take a creative look at classrooms where no students make AYP (Annual Yearly Progress). In the face of wholesale failure, there is a greater likelihood that systemic changes for the better can be identified.

New Jersey Core Curriculum Math Standards need to include a glossary that is linked to a mechanism for identifying non-standard terminology in educational materials that are mandated as well as educational materials that are locally selected. Publication of this glossary on the internet can involve parents and educators in the process of evaluating educational materials and making progress towards the day when all students will be taught the same terminology that is consistent with the language and definitions used in assessments.

Language is taking on a greater role in math testing through reliance on word problems in math assessments. Math ability can be disguised by limitations in language skills. The large numbers of students with English language issues should suggest a role for a test, or portion of a test, that utilizes universally recognized symbols with as few words as possible.

If the state does not have the resources to audit the content of educational programs being used, the process can be handled by an interactive website that allows parents, students, teachers and academics to report deviations in concepts and usage that can then be officially addressed. This enables people to be constructive parts of the solution while encouraging the evaluation of educational materials, instead of blind acceptance.

Deborah Dowe

Nonprofit Mergers and Acquisitions

2009-01-26T15:36:00.000-05:00

The Muhlenberg Independents

New Jersey hospital closings have exposed a mergers and acquisitions strategy, popularized by rogue nonprofits, who remove social services and endowments accumulated over decades, while robbing all levels of government of tax revenue, as they enrich themselves personally. Muhlenberg was started 131 years ago after a train accident, beginning a tradition of bequests and endowments long before government was expected to provide for charity care. Residents upheld a long tradition of leaving bequests and endowments they expected to compensate for charity care. The Muhlenberg Independents are researchers that believe the salvation of Muhlenberg lies in the protection of those assets that include an astonishing amount of real estate outside of Plainfield. Muhlenberg exposes a fatal flaw in the protection given to endowments, after the benefactor’s death. Wall Street tactics of mergers and acquisitions have spread and redefined the practices of a new generation of profiteers. Utilizing the barely scrutinized and rarely regulated structures of nonprofit corporations, the plundering of old richly endowed facilities, like Muhlenberg Hospital, is turning into a tragic loss of history and multiple generations of philanthropy. We must honor the sacrifice of people who made provisions to care for the poor and disenfranchised or return those assets to the appropriate heirs. The Muhlenberg Independents are in possession of a small mountain of financial documents that prove the violation of donor intent and the failure of the State of New Jersey to protect the substantial donated assets of old hospitals that the state is closing. Muhlenberg remains an asset even in its current state. It does not matter if the hospital has been gutted and the cost of keeping such an old building functional are high. The only thing that cannot be replaced is the land. The community deserves a fair price and an uncompromised sale with Solaris relinquishing all control over the assets of Muhlenberg. Solaris was voted control of Muhlenberg’s substantial assets without payment or promises to continue to serve the community. Is their refusal to participate in a good faith effort to find a buyer indicative of their alternative agenda or the legal lack of standing to sell a facility that they control, but do not own? Did Solaris even have the legal standing to apply for a certificate of need to close Muhlenberg?