Political Support

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The political support to our cause is heart-warming.  Joining our cause in saving and improving 'full-services'/ acute-care at Union Hospital to have a balance of physical & mental care is presented in the following timeline.

October 22, 2013, Prior to our organization...
Former Lynn City Council President Tim Phelan
Created a Union Hospital Oversight Committee "to begin an official dialogue with Partners and North Shore Medical Center regarding the future of Union Hospital and its impact on the people of the City of Lynn."  The Committee dissolved with Phelan's ending term of office on council at the end of 2013.   Members of the committee included Councilor Lozzi, Trahant and newly formed neighborhood ten-taxpayer group (Toomey).



Nov 2013 - April 2014
Silence in the region
For 5 months, from the ending of the last city elections in November 2013, up until April 2014 there was silence in the city, except for the facebook.com/SaveUnionHospital 
administered by Katerina Panagiotakis (organized since October of 2013).  After a long silence in the city, Katerina called for a citizens' grassroots meeting on April 7 to reorganize efforts.  Hope in the city had lingered at this time, that the "Deal was Done," but it was not a done deal to the Save Union Hospital advocates who formed a ten-taxpayer group to sit at the table when Partners filed for a Determination of Need (DON) with the Department of Public Health.  Awaiting for Partners to file a DON, time was extended due to Partners antitrust case in Massachusetts. 





since April 7, 2014
Lynn City Council President Daniel Cahill
Dan Cahill appeared at our 1st meeting held at the Library on April 7 of 2014. He signed our petition.  In October, 2014 he welcomed a meeting in his office called for by Katerina, for a Unity meeting to join the efforts of other groups fighting Partners and to find common ground.


State Representative Donald Wong
Donald Wong appeared at our 1st meeting held at the Library on April 7 of 2014. He attended nearly all our group meetings, and signed our petition and pledge of supporting to maintain and improve full-services at Union Hospital.  He has stated in a debate, one of his first priorities is Saving Union Hospital. He carries our sign along with his at stand outs.  Rep Wong was among the first officials, along with Saugus Selectmen to write a letter to the Superior Court in the first public commentary period stating opposition to Partners plans in removing full-services from Union Hospital.   

Letter to Superior Court:
www.mass.gov/ago/docs/partners/re-donald-h-wong.pdf









 since May, 2014

Rick Starbard for Lynn Councilor-at-Large
Since our first fundraiser at the Brickyard, School Committee member Rick Starbard appeared in support, offering a donation to help purchase signs.  Rick has attended many of our community grassroots meetings.  In September he joined the Save Union Hospital Stand-Out in front of the Superior Court in Boston, during one of the antitrust hearings for Partners.  He has also joined our stand-out in front of Union Hospital on October 15, and he has been helpful in finding meeting spaces. Rick also places the "Save Union Hospital" sign at important events.  He has been valuable in many ways and has signed the petition to maintain and improve full-services at Union Hospital.  Rick also co-signed a letter to the editor with many others, questioning Parters plans for Union Hospital.  





since May, 2014
Hong Net, Lynn Councilor-at-Large
Since our first fundraiser at the Brickyard, Councilor Hong Net appeared in support, offering a donation to help purchase signs.  Hong has attended one of our community grassroots meetings and has been instrumental in getting signatures from the Cambodian community to Save Full-Services at Union Hospital.  He has also signed the petition and pledge of supporting to maintain and improve full-services at Union Hospital.  



June 16, 2014
Lynnfield Board of Selectmen
On the agenda for a public meeting, the Lynnfield Board of Selectmen heard Save Union Hospital advocate member Katerina Panagiotakis and Mary Stewart discuss the concerns in the potential loss of full-service acute care from Union Hospital.  The Board of Selectmen took a vote to back our efforts and sign our petition.  The Selectmen also encouraged other residents of Lynnfield to sign the petition.  








since June 23, 2014
Seth Moulton, Congressman Elect
Seth Moulton and a team he assembled of healthcare & political advisors, met with a few  members of the Save Union Hospital advocates (Katerina, Peter & Mary) to listen to our concerns and also offer advice.   Since then, Seth Moulton's team members have attended our community meetings.  Seth also made an appearance at our Summer fundraiser in Wyoma Square, where he joined us for a stand-out.  He wrote an op-ed on the importance of Union Hospital in the Daily Item and he signed our petition and pledge of supporting to maintain and improve full-services at Union Hospital.  



since July 9, 2014
Richard Tisei
Richard Tisei and his team members made an appearance at our meeting at Wayne Alarm Systems.  Following on July 11, he made a press release announcement that he supports our efforts to save full-services at Union Hospital.  He has signed our petition and pledge of supporting to maintain and improve full-services at Union Hospital.  

Tisei backs ‘Save Union’ organization
www.itemlive.com/news/tisei-backs-save-union-organization/article_4dd0887c-08a8-11e4-a7fb-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=print




since July 23, 2014
Saugus Board of Selectmen
On the agenda for a public meeting, the Saugus Board of Selectmen heard Save Union Hospital advocate member Katerina Panagiotakis and Andrea Donovan discuss the concerns in the potential loss of full-service acute care from Union Hospital.  The Board of Selectmen took a vote to back our efforts and sign our petition.  The Selectmen also encouraged other residents of Saugus to sign the petition.  

The Saugus Board of Selectmen also sent a letter to the Superior Court to Judge Sanders, ℅ Antitrust Division for the hearing on Partners antitrust case.  The letter was in concern to opposition of Partners plans to remove acute care services from Union Hospital.

Link to letter to Superior Court: 

Link to article of endorsement:



August 8, 2014
State Representative Bradley Jones
He has signed our petition and pledge of supporting to maintain and improve full-services at Union Hospital.  
since September 22, 2014
Christopher Finn for State Representative
On September 22, Christopher Finn with a team person joined the Save Union Hospital Stand-Out in front of the Superior Court in Boston, during one of the antitrust hearings for Partners.  Chris has also joined our stand-out in front of Union Hospital on October 15.  One of his team members attended our last two meetings held at the First Church of Christ.  Chris has given a $50.00 donation towards the purchasing of more signage and has signed our petition and pledge of supporting to maintain and improve full-services at Union Hospital.  

since September 22, 2014
Brian LaPierre for Lynn Councilor-at-Large
On September 22, Brian LaPierre joined the Save Union Hospital Stand-Out in front of the Superior Court in Boston, during one of the antitrust hearings for Partners.  Brian has also joined our stand-out in front of Union Hospital on October 15.  He has signed our petition and pledge of supporting to maintain and improve full-services at Union Hospital.  Brian also co-signed a letter to the editor with many others, questioning Parters plans for Union Hospital.  


October, 2014
Christopher Stockwell for Congress
He has signed our petition, and made a statement of support on our facebook page.  












October 16, 2014
State Senator Thomas McGee
State Representative Robert Fennell
Both have signed our petition and have written a letter to the Superior Court in opposition to Partners plans. 

Letter to Superior Court



Other officials who have signed our petition:

Suzanne Bump, Massachusetts State Auditor
Steven Kerrigan for Lieutenant Governor
Pamela Casey O’Brien, Essex County Registrar of Probate
John Walsh, Former campaign manager for Governor Patrick
Wayne Lozzi, Lynn Ward Councilor (attended meetings & fundraising event)
Peter Capano, Lynn Ward Councilor
Diana Chakoutis, Lynn Ward Councilor
Richard Collucci, Lynn Ward Councilor
Brendan Crighton, Lynn Councilor-at-Large
Brian Field, for Lynn Ward Councilor
Donna Cappola, Lynn School Committee  (supported our fundraising events)
Maria Carasco, Lynn School Committee
John Ford, Lynn School Committee
Charlie Gallo, Lynn School Committee



 
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