News
Your source on political action, legislation & voter info

Union says politics, not facts, dominate Closure Commission decision

May 20, 2004 - Leaders of Ohio’s largest state employee union said today that they are angered with the results of yesterday’s straw poll of the MR/DD Facility Closure Commission that indicated the Commission is currently in favor of shutting the doors of Apple Creek and Springview Developmental Centers by a margin of 4-2. The union believes the commission’s current decision is politically based and not fact based.

Facility Closure Commission member Monty Blanton, who represents OCSEA on the commission, said the decision is baffling given the overwhelming number of facts brought before the commission that indicated the dire necessity of keeping the centers open. “Over 60 witnesses came forward in support of keeping the centers open and only one witness – other than ODMR/DD department heads – came forward in support of closure – and he was paid by the department to testify,” said Blanton.

Among other findings, the Legislative Service Commission report indicates there are not enough beds in the MR/DD system for the 250 individuals who would move as a result of the closures.

Because more than two-thirds of families at Apple Creek and Springview have indicated that they want to keep their child in a state-operated facility, individuals at the other DCs will be forced to move out to make room for the individuals from Apple Creek and Springview. Where these individuals will go is a primary concern, said union officials.

“The department couldn’t offer one witness from any of the MR/DD county boards or private providers to testify that they had room for these individuals,” said Blanton. “LSC’s report indicates that even prosperous county boards, had concerns about being able to serve profoundly disabled individuals who require high-cost care.”

MR/DD county boards are already cash-strapped. Financial errors by ODMR/DD caused the federal government to withhold millions of dollars in Medicaid money. The MR/DD county boards are currently suing the state.

“The commission members who voted in favor of closure ignored the abundant data and the fact that we have a waiting list of 17,000 individuals. Now, individuals from the DCs will go to the head of the line and the people on the list will go no where,” said Blanton.

“This was not a facts battle, because facts are on our side. This was a political and philosophical battle about ODMR/DD getting out of the business of taking care of these individuals and transferring the responsibility and financial burden to the counties and local government,” said OCSEA President Ron Alexander.

For more information: 614-865-2604, 614-205-9967 (cell).

See Related

MH, MRDD & OVH News Archive