Today in city council, the mayor presented his first proclamation, and a very important one.
February 7th is proclaimed as Chester’s Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
The proclamation was beautifully written and presented by Mayor Linder to representatives from Crozer and ChesPenn.
But, how did Ms. Ruby Benson, manager of the Ralph Moses House get left out?
Located right behind Community Hospital, the beautiful ranch style home comprises homeless adult men living with HIV and AIDS whose medical condition allows them to live independently, but lack the necessary life skills to attain optimal levels of self-sufficiency.
The men generally remain in the facility for 9-12 months during which time they receive intensive medical case management and other services specifically designed to help them address their individual needs.
The Ralph Moses House allows men with HIV/AIDS to transition back into the general population in the most dignified setting you’ll find anywhere in the country.
Shame on you mayor for leaving them out of today’s presentation. I hope you correct this oversight.
People are so quick to point fingers. The Mayor did not forget Ralph Moses House. The Mayor just read the proclamation.He did not write it nor bring the two agencies together. Get your facts straight before you start posting NEGATIVE comments about the mayor.
ReplyDeleteThe clerk read the proclamation.
DeleteThe mayor signed it. The mayor presented it.
Who should be responsible for nixing the Ralph Moses House? Help me with my facts.
Shame on you? Give him a break, he made a mistake in a presentation. Big deal. Not dismissing the mistake, but a "shame on you" is a little much.
ReplyDeleteOk. Shame on the entire staff for their oversight. To me, Ralph Moses House was too obvious to miss. Somebody should have caught it. By default, the mayor takes the blame. That's what he signed up for. I doubt if he believes he deserves a break on this one.
DeleteAs I said in the post, it is a very important proclamation. I'll never argue that. He just left one of his best players on the bench when presenting it.
Agree with you Stefan. Real leaders stand up and admit they made a mistake.
ReplyDeleteIf you were in the room when the oversight happened why didn't you bring it up then. I'm sure the Mayor would have appreciated it. Why wait until after the fact to even bring it up. It seems as though you pride yourself in highlighting anything negative with the new Mayor.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been more tasteful if you did an article or piece on "one of his best players on the bench". The Mayor's oversight could have been your featured highlight and a positive for you.
Let me get this right. I should have made a public comment at city council that The Ralph Moses House should have been represented during the proclamation ceremony? And the mayor would have appreciated it?
DeleteWouldn't that have ruined the moment?
Is that really what should be going on in the public comment portion of city council.
Actually, I usually leave at that time of the meeting because much of what is considered public comment doesn't seem relevant. I'm personally only interested in the resolutions.
I did a feature story on The Ralph Moses House in the Chesterspotlight in 2006. Unfortunatley, it's not saved electronically, but I do have a few issues still on file if you'd like to read it.
I didn't get the feeling that the story was a positive highlight for me. But it was a good news story.
Stefan do you know the order of how a proclamation get read in the meeting?
ReplyDeleteI know for certain that this proclamation was presented and written by other agencies. To me those agencies wants to educate, test, and provide much needed services to the community. The agencies presented the the proclamation along with other agencies who will be providing services on this speacial day. The mayor just agreed that it was an important proclamation to be proclaimed in the city of Chester. It is the manager of Ralph Moses house at fault for not already proclaiming this special day? No all agencies in the city of Chester should work closley together. You should stop trying to separate agencies that ARE TRYING TO BRING MUCH NEEDED AWARENESS TO THE CITY!!!!!
I'm trying to separate agencies?
DeleteThis proclamation was written by other agencies?
The agencies presented the porclamation along with other agencies?
The manager of the Ralph Moses House is a fault for not proclaiming this special day?
I'm sorry, but I really cant' respond because your comment is confusing to me.
This mayor has brought in OUTSIDE people to work in our city with living in our city, he fired people just bc of politics, he tried to cut Darren Alston pay by 20,000.00, he made a mistake on the 100,000.00 for the library, he has done nothing to help the school district so far and all you guys say is give him a break. By the way he just gave another job to an outsider
ReplyDeleteWe must give change a chance, no matter how drastic the change.
DeleteI think that's that lesson our new adminstration is teaching us.
Like someone said earlier, give it 6 months then come back and see where we are.
When will we get the "big picture," it is about community; we can't have a foundation, if we keep cracking it!!
DeleteNEW CHESTER WROTE;STAFAN PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE EYES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CANT SEE,AND THE VOICE FOR THOSE WHO CANT SAY.IS IT ME OR DOES IT APPEARS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS STAGED,LIKE THEY HAD A MTG.PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL MTG.WHERE THEY ONLY GIVE SELECT INFORMATION.JOHN ONE-AND-DONE,ONLY BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE DOING THE SAME THING THEY DID
ReplyDeleteStaged seems a tad too dirty of a word.
DeleteBut I do believe council meetings are rehersed, and they should be.
It's really a meeting for them, not us.
They have to officially finalize their voting in a public forum but we should expect that their decisions are made prior to coming to the meeting.
We have the right to know what it is they are deciding on and have access to the supporting documents.
They should also be prepared to answer questions from the citizens in the meeting on the resolutions they vote on.
The meeting is not designed for us to help them decide how to vote on an issue, therefore, there isn't a lot of information presented.
THERE IS NO BLACK AWARENESS IN REGARDS TO AIDS/HIV WITHOUT INCLUDING THE DIRECTOR OF RALPH MOSES HOUSE. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS BATTLE FOR A LONG TIME. I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT STEFAN.
ReplyDeleteI THINK THEY HAVE A LONG LIST OF FAVORS TO GIVE.
I ALSO THINK THEY ARE MOVING A BIT FAST. THE LAST DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN CHARGE MADE THAT MISTAKE.
WHAT ABOUT THAD. KIRKLAND FAMILY ON STAFF.
ReplyDeleteI PRAY THAT THE PEOPLE THE MAYOR SURROUND HIMSELF WITH ARE GOOD PEOPLE AND NOT POLITICAL PIMPS. I AM TRYING TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE. I AM LEAVING A TOWN THAT I LOVE AND I WILL NEVER VOTE HERE AGAIN,BECAUSE THIS ELECTION WAS VERY STRESSFUL.
I know that change, stinks, to some, but let us see how this flower blossoms!!
DeleteNot only was the Moses house forgotten. There is a site on the corner of 9th & Highland Ave, run by a sect of nuns that has provided comfort and housing for female AIDS victims before the Moses house was built. They care for these women up until thier time of death. No one ever commends them!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I figured there were more spots in the city caring for HIV/AIDS folks. Someone should know where they are. They all deserve mention.
Delete