Incomprehensible
Is this how Geauga County treats its most vulnerable residents?
I find it incomprehensible that county commissioners, with any sense of moral decency, would close Pleasant Hill, the Geauga County Home. (But then, commissioners with moral decency would not be rude and disrespectful to a member of the public who comes to speak to them at their public meeting about the closing of Pleasant Hill.)
The reason given for the closing is “because we are permitted to do so.” I’m not buying it. Just because you can do something, does not mean you should.
I am told that there is a lower than capacity client population being served at this time. What attempts have been made to accept new residents? Or has there been a concerted effort not to allow new residents to come in?
This well-restored building has been a home for those Geauga residents who cannot afford to care for themselves but do not need the medical support of a nursing home, or are in transition between homelessness and independence. What is the plan for this property? Who benefits from this closure? Who cares for future indigent residents? Who cares at all? That is the question for the commissioners.
Barb Partington
Munson Township
Heartless Action
With everything going on at the national level, people in Geauga County may have missed the impending cruelty at the local level. The Geauga County commissioners have decided to close Pleasant Hill, the County Home.
In about a month, 22 Geauga citizens will lose their home when the County Commissioners close the facility. The Commissioners say that these people can go live in a nursing home or elsewhere. But many of these residents do not require nursing care; they live independently.
The action has been discussed for months, but the final decision took place behind closed doors. What do they plan to do with the building? How will it impact others now living on the property? Is Pleasant Hill to be used to help those in need or is there a plan to sell it and lose yet another safety net for our citizens?
The Geauga County Democrats and the Women’s Caucus are dedicated to taking action on issues that impact equality and economic justice. We hope that Geauga citizens will express their objections to this unnecessary and heartless action.
Anita Blue Marlowe, Secretary
Geauga Democratic Party
Cris Takacs, Chairperson
Democratic Women’s Caucus
