by Jordan Baer posted without opinion, bias or editing
Local activist Jordan Baer has started an online petition to bring back the low income dental clinic that was closed last year. In the petition, Baer cited several reasons for the need to reinstate the clinic with the most notable being the need for the community to take care of its indigent residents. Baer is petitioning the Vanderburgh County Council and Commission, the Evansville City Council, and Deaconess and St. Mary’s hospitals that began the clinic in 2006.
Baer noted the recent bipartisan progress on repairing the two local city cemeteries as well as the tremendous community progress made towards fighting the city’s blight as examples as to how both Vanderburgh County and the City of Evansville can come together to find a way to reopen this clinic. “If you look at how both the City-County Observer and the Courier & Press rallied together to fight the blight, I really don’t see a reason why anyone can’t sign this petition and help get it out in front of the local residents to sign it as well. †said Baer.
Baer also stated that both the public and private sectors will have to come together if the clinic is to reopen its doors. Baer estimated that it would probably cost a little under $300,000 a year but said that this figure could easily be reached if the public, private, and non-profit sectors were willing to come back together to jointly fund the operation. Baer said he is willing to meet with both sides to work out a plan that is viable for all interested parties.
When asked why Baer chose the City-County Observer to debut his petition he said the following: “I am truly grateful for the support the CCO has given me. They have allowed me to accomplish things I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to accomplish due to the city’s closed door politically mentality. Hopefully other media outlets will follow in their footsteps like we saw with the housing blight issue.â€
You can sign Baer’s petition at the website below:
https://www.change.org/petitions/vanderburgh-county-council-commission-reinstate-funding-for-the-low-income-dental-clinic-recruit-additional-private-funding-sponsors