Your SOUTH SUBURBAN Co-Moderator Weighs in on Howe

[Guest guest]

I AM A RESIDENT of the SOUTH SUBURBS! I have been working, off and on, to

close Howe for the past five or so years.

Let me make this clear, I WANT HOWE CLOSED! I badger my state rep, AL Riley,

about his support for the union at Howe so much--and have ever since he took

office--HE RUNS WHEN HE SEES ME at social events. In the past several weeks, I

have spoken to officials of Homewood (my neighboring village) and Olympia Fields

(another neighbor)about how happy I am Howe is closing. I am happy to know my

new mayor-- Braun of Flossmoor--is not on the list. We spoke to him several

weeks ago and I hope it " took " as far as Howe is concerned. We have a

relationship with Jr. and will be contacting him within the next day or

so.

My husband, who is a physician, goes to Howe, once a month to care for the

residents ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat)needs because NO OTHER ENT takes Medicaid in

the South Suburbs. He is paid less than minimum wage to see people no one else

will tolerate--and closes his private practice once a month to do so--we are

losing money for him to do this. The people he works with in their clinic are

doing the best they can are as compassionate as anyone of us. Since I actually

know someone on the inside, I can say this for a fact--most parents and

caregivers are happy with Howe, at least, if it seems good for THEIR loved one.

Many of the parents didn't have the options we have for our children and are

afraid of change--most folks in their 70s and 80s are afraid of change. I would

never presume to make decisions for other people's children and I believe those

parents will come around.

Make no mistake, I know the union is behind the petition but you must

understand several things before you go further-- I know this petition is to

cover their own behinds. What you don't know, being outsiders to this

community, is that Howe is on a prime bit of real estate--on 183rd street

between Harlem and 80th avenues--and is in the " land of the retail malls " , as we

call it. The Tinley Park Mental Health Center was also on that campus--actually

Howe was on their campus--as is an Easter Seals School for those with

autism--I'm not sure if they have left or not but if Howe goes, I'm sure the

school will. The Mental Health Center closed about two years ago and developers

are chomping at the bit for Howe to leave. And if the developers and the unions

that will provide the manpower to develop it have their way, Howe will close in

July as scheduled. Lots of unions will be involved with developing that real

estate so we ALL BELIEVE down here, almost nothing will stop the closure of

Howe. It was never about the good of the residents--it's been about developing

that land.

Make your calls, sign petitions but I really believe it's about the land. And

having lived in the south suburbs for almost 20 years--and I worked in Tinley

Park for 9 years, myself, I think Howe will finally be closed, no matter what

anyone else does.

Marie, co-moderator of IPADDUnite!

[Guest guest]

I AM A RESIDENT of the SOUTH SUBURBS! I have been working, off and on, to

close Howe for the past five or so years.

Let me make this clear, I WANT HOWE CLOSED! I badger my state rep, AL Riley,

about his support for the union at Howe so much--and have ever since he took

office--HE RUNS WHEN HE SEES ME at social events. In the past several weeks, I

have spoken to officials of Homewood (my neighboring village) and Olympia Fields

(another neighbor)about how happy I am Howe is closing. I am happy to know my

new mayor-- Braun of Flossmoor--is not on the list. We spoke to him several

weeks ago and I hope it " took " as far as Howe is concerned. We have a

relationship with Jr. and will be contacting him within the next day or

so.

My husband, who is a physician, goes to Howe, once a month to care for the

residents ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat)needs because NO OTHER ENT takes Medicaid in

the South Suburbs. He is paid less than minimum wage to see people no one else

will tolerate--and closes his private practice once a month to do so--we are

losing money for him to do this. The people he works with in their clinic are

doing the best they can are as compassionate as anyone of us. Since I actually

know someone on the inside, I can say this for a fact--most parents and

caregivers are happy with Howe, at least, if it seems good for THEIR loved one.

Many of the parents didn't have the options we have for our children and are

afraid of change--most folks in their 70s and 80s are afraid of change. I would

never presume to make decisions for other people's children and I believe those

parents will come around.

Make no mistake, I know the union is behind the petition but you must

understand several things before you go further-- I know this petition is to

cover their own behinds. What you don't know, being outsiders to this

community, is that Howe is on a prime bit of real estate--on 183rd street

between Harlem and 80th avenues--and is in the " land of the retail malls " , as we

call it. The Tinley Park Mental Health Center was also on that campus--actually

Howe was on their campus--as is an Easter Seals School for those with

autism--I'm not sure if they have left or not but if Howe goes, I'm sure the

school will. The Mental Health Center closed about two years ago and developers

are chomping at the bit for Howe to leave. And if the developers and the unions

that will provide the manpower to develop it have their way, Howe will close in

July as scheduled. Lots of unions will be involved with developing that real

estate so we ALL BELIEVE down here, almost nothing will stop the closure of

Howe. It was never about the good of the residents--it's been about developing

that land.

Make your calls, sign petitions but I really believe it's about the land. And

having lived in the south suburbs for almost 20 years--and I worked in Tinley

Park for 9 years, myself, I think Howe will finally be closed, no matter what

anyone else does.

Marie, co-moderator of IPADDUnite!

[Guest guest]

Back to the land: WHO will get the money from the sale of the land? DHS or

GRF?

Your SOUTH SUBURBAN Co-Moderator Weighs in on Howe

I AM A RESIDENT of the SOUTH SUBURBS! I have been working, off and on, to

close Howe for the past five or so years.

Let me make this clear, I WANT HOWE CLOSED! I badger my state rep, AL Riley,

about his support for the union at Howe so much--and have ever since he took

office--HE RUNS WHEN HE SEES ME at social events. In the past several weeks, I

have spoken to officials of Homewood (my neighboring village) and Olympia Fields

(another neighbor)about how happy I am Howe is closing. I am happy to know my

new mayor-- Braun of Flossmoor--is not on the list. We spoke to him several

weeks ago and I hope it " took " as far as Howe is concerned. We have a

relationship with Jr. and will be contacting him within the next day or

so.

My husband, who is a physician, goes to Howe, once a month to care for the

residents ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat)needs because NO OTHER ENT takes Medicaid in

the South Suburbs. He is paid less than minimum wage to see people no one else

will tolerate--and closes his private practice once a month to do so--we are

losing money for him to do this. The people he works with in their clinic are

doing the best they can are as compassionate as anyone of us. Since I actually

know someone on the inside, I can say this for a fact--most parents and

caregivers are happy with Howe, at least, if it seems good for THEIR loved one.

Many of the parents didn't have the options we have for our children and are

afraid of change--most folks in their 70s and 80s are afraid of change. I would

never presume to make decisions for other people's children and I believe those

parents will come around.

Make no mistake, I know the union is behind the petition but you must

understand several things before you go further-- I know this petition is to

cover their own behinds. What you don't know, being outsiders to this community,

is that Howe is on a prime bit of real estate--on 183rd street between Harlem

and 80th avenues--and is in the " land of the retail malls " , as we call it. The

Tinley Park Mental Health Center was also on that campus--actually Howe was on

their campus--as is an Easter Seals School for those with autism--I'm not sure

if they have left or not but if Howe goes, I'm sure the school will. The Mental

Health Center closed about two years ago and developers are chomping at the bit

for Howe to leave. And if the developers and the unions that will provide the

manpower to develop it have their way, Howe will close in July as scheduled.

Lots of unions will be involved with developing that real estate so we ALL

BELIEVE down here, almost nothing will stop the closure of Howe. It was never

about the good of the residents--it's been about developing that land.

Make your calls, sign petitions but I really believe it's about the land. And

having lived in the south suburbs for almost 20 years--and I worked in Tinley

Park for 9 years, myself, I think Howe will finally be closed, no matter what

anyone else does.

Marie, co-moderator of IPADDUnite!

[Guest guest]

Back to the land: WHO will get the money from the sale of the land? DHS or

GRF?

Your SOUTH SUBURBAN Co-Moderator Weighs in on Howe

I AM A RESIDENT of the SOUTH SUBURBS! I have been working, off and on, to

close Howe for the past five or so years.

Let me make this clear, I WANT HOWE CLOSED! I badger my state rep, AL Riley,

about his support for the union at Howe so much--and have ever since he took

office--HE RUNS WHEN HE SEES ME at social events. In the past several weeks, I

have spoken to officials of Homewood (my neighboring village) and Olympia Fields

(another neighbor)about how happy I am Howe is closing. I am happy to know my

new mayor-- Braun of Flossmoor--is not on the list. We spoke to him several

weeks ago and I hope it " took " as far as Howe is concerned. We have a

relationship with Jr. and will be contacting him within the next day or

so.

My husband, who is a physician, goes to Howe, once a month to care for the

residents ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat)needs because NO OTHER ENT takes Medicaid in

the South Suburbs. He is paid less than minimum wage to see people no one else

will tolerate--and closes his private practice once a month to do so--we are

losing money for him to do this. The people he works with in their clinic are

doing the best they can are as compassionate as anyone of us. Since I actually

know someone on the inside, I can say this for a fact--most parents and

caregivers are happy with Howe, at least, if it seems good for THEIR loved one.

Many of the parents didn't have the options we have for our children and are

afraid of change--most folks in their 70s and 80s are afraid of change. I would

never presume to make decisions for other people's children and I believe those

parents will come around.

Make no mistake, I know the union is behind the petition but you must

understand several things before you go further-- I know this petition is to

cover their own behinds. What you don't know, being outsiders to this community,

is that Howe is on a prime bit of real estate--on 183rd street between Harlem

and 80th avenues--and is in the " land of the retail malls " , as we call it. The

Tinley Park Mental Health Center was also on that campus--actually Howe was on

their campus--as is an Easter Seals School for those with autism--I'm not sure

if they have left or not but if Howe goes, I'm sure the school will. The Mental

Health Center closed about two years ago and developers are chomping at the bit

for Howe to leave. And if the developers and the unions that will provide the

manpower to develop it have their way, Howe will close in July as scheduled.

Lots of unions will be involved with developing that real estate so we ALL

BELIEVE down here, almost nothing will stop the closure of Howe. It was never

about the good of the residents--it's been about developing that land.

Make your calls, sign petitions but I really believe it's about the land. And

having lived in the south suburbs for almost 20 years--and I worked in Tinley

Park for 9 years, myself, I think Howe will finally be closed, no matter what

anyone else does.

Marie, co-moderator of IPADDUnite!

[Guest guest]

It isn't clear--I actually thought it was the state but you could be correct in

believing it's DHS. There is much that is " fuzzy " .....but you knew it would be.

If you noticed, the mayor of Tinley Park (whom I know because I worked for the

Tinley Park-Park District for 9 years)wasn't on that list.

Marie

[Guest guest]

It isn't clear--I actually thought it was the state but you could be correct in

believing it's DHS. There is much that is " fuzzy " .....but you knew it would be.

If you noticed, the mayor of Tinley Park (whom I know because I worked for the

Tinley Park-Park District for 9 years)wasn't on that list.

Marie