With Pishkur forced out at Forum Health, the Mahoning Valley is at the mercy of outsiders

EDITOR:

I had to write about the resignation of Walter “Buzz” Pishkur. I think it’s a travesty that this man was forced to step down. I know Buzz and I know the time and effort he put in trying to save Forum Health, and he would never have willingly quit.

What is really disturbing is that the politicians and leaders of the communities in the Mahoning Valley did little or nothing to help. Everyone concentrated on saving General Motors and Delphi Packard, but one of the largest employees in the Valley was totally ignored. The outrageous comments made by Mr. Connelly demonstrate his ignorance and lack of concern for the Mahoning Valley. The loss of 1,400 jobs will be devastating to this area. Obviously it means nothing to our congressmen too. Where is their support? Why haven’t they tried to help Forum get funding to save these jobs? Where is the board’s public support for Buzz Pishkur and all his efforts?

The only thing the lenders want is their money. They care nothing about the people in the Mahoning Valley. They are in control now and the fate of this Valley and all the people who live here are in the hands of people whose only investment is monetary. Why should we believe anything they say? How foolish we were to let them get control. Not only is Northside’s fate in question, but Trumbull and Hillside hospitals have reason to be concerned too. What will be their fate when the reorganization begins? The last two CEOs where outside this area with medical backgrounds, and all they did was take their very large salaries and run Forum into deeper debt. Bringing in another outsider will only make matters worse. That was the problem when Buzz was hired to take over as CEO. He’s lived here most of his life and shares a common bond in seeing that Forum survives. Forum was fortunate to have someone with his impressive business record.

Another reason that Northside is in debt is because it is a nonprofit entity. They treat the people in the Valley that have no health insurance. Because of the Valley’s high unemployment rate, especially in Trumbull County, the amount of people without health care and needing treatment is staggering, and if this facility closes it will only get worse. The trickle down effect of this will be devastating to this area and all who live here, not just the people that work at Forum.

I appreciate Buzz Pishkur’s tireless effort to help this Valley and I hope that he is kept on as a consultant, because we still need him.

MARY SNAREY

Girard