Ken Haber - Interlocking Boards, Hospitals and Foundations

[Corey Rossen]

Was Ken Haber's Key to the City, Hospital and Foundation a Trojan Horse?

The flip side - Can Ken Haber's Key to the City, Hospital and Foundation save the City, the Hospital and the Foundation? With a community, brick & mortar, and reputation at stake?

Corey

[Brian Essi]

Corey,

The true measure of leadership is influence—nothing more, nothing less. “Being in power is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.” Margaret Thatcher.
Knowing when to lead is as important as what to do and where to go. “There comes a special moment in everyone’s life, a moment for which that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfill his mission—a mission for which he is uniquely qualified. In that moment, he finds greatness. It is his finest hour.” Winston Churchill

My sources say the Ken Haber and his wife are regularly called upon and step up when nobody else will--so he has his own history and style of leadership. I have only interacted with Ken Haber on a limited basis and find him to be a sincere gentleman. Early on Mayor Summers made a commitment get me together with Ken Haber, but after Summers knew my views, he pulled back. I know that the lawyers for LHA (and possibly the lawyers for the Clinic and LHF) have advised Ken Haber and the other LHA trustees not to speak with me. That's too bad because this whole hospital debacle is based upon misinformation and can be resolved with communication, common sense and good negotiators. Lawyers trying to control and shut down communication delays and impairs the process.

Whether Ken Haber chooses to exert his influence behind the scenes or make his views public is his choice. Nevertheless, I really wish that he would take charge of the lawyers and/or break ranks and speak with me on a confidential basis or otherwise---with or without the lawyers.

I am told that the Clinic is now pressuring LHA for changes to the LOI based upon self-inflicted losses caused to the hospital by the Clinic and LHA. They are now threatening the new foundation money, i.e. trying to extract even more from the City on a bad deal while the City expects more from them. This is actually good new as the Clinic is digging itself into a deeper hole with DeVito and Judge O'Donnell. It also underscores that it is time for true leadership at the LHA level--they need to stand up to the Clinic for the citizens of Lakewood--especially our undeserved--In my view Ken Haber is uniquely positioned to make that stand.

The hospital debacle will not be decided by leaders listening to or hiding behind their lawyers--it will be decided by leaders stepping up and truly leading in the face of intense peer pressure and public pressure. They also need someone who really knows how to negotiate with the Clinic. If they don't, Mr. DeVito will be the one that fills that void and will do their bidding for them.

[Corey Rossen]

Brian,

Thank you for the response.

Ken has shown his colors for the community. He has also shown them for his dueling roles within the Hospital. I am hard pressed to figure out what hat he wears more proudly. I think that his silence is his crutch in this situations, as he does not have to show who his true loyalty is to - the city or the Hospital.

A true leader takes control of the situation...and steps in and leads. Hiding behind his silence is too easy of a cop-out, and does not show leadership for the community or as President of his dueling roles at the Hospital.

I saw a lot of "Save the Hospital" yard signs this weekend, I wonder if there is one in his yard. If not, does Lakewood get their Key to the City back from him? If he does have a sign posted, what does that say about his decision making policies as a leader of the Hospital?

Corey

[Marguerite Harkness]

Corey,

Who is willing to call Ken Haber at his home and ask if he would like a yard sign?

(Brian can't, as explained above.)

[Corey Rossen]

Corey,

Who is willing to call Ken Haber at his home and ask if he would like a yard sign?

(Brian can't, as explained above.)

Marguerite,

As the passionate, outspoken representative of "Save the Hospital" campaign I would think it to be your duty to call him, or anyone for that matter. In fact, you should want to call him. Imagine if he is on your side and puts up a sign. That would be a great photo and lead to outstanding marketing material. Imagine, also, if he rejects your offer to have a sign in his yard - that would be some real ammo for you and your group.

I don't understand why you wouldn't call him, or anybody for that matter. After all, that is what believing in a cause is all about.

After all, it's time for you to do something PRODUCTIVE instead of just postulating defeatist ideas. Words do nothing. Action speaks. (sound familiar?)

Corey

[Jim O'Bryan]

Corey

I am more than willing to call Ken and Kathy Haber and ask the pointless question.

I have spoken with Ken very openly and honestly about both the LHF and LHA though not
in a professional role with LHA, as I think Gilbert is the only person to speak for them
officially before the big unveiling, now I think most conversation run through their lawyers.

I agree with Brian's assessment, and that of most people I know that Ken and Kathy Haber
have dedicated themselves to making this city better. Some of the things I do not agree with
but they are often better than the people just bitching.

There are a ton of reasons people are upset about this deal There are eve some for it,
which makes zero sense, as all it is is losing money, jobs, and our future, but perhaps
they see the future better than I.

So do you want me to call? I am sure he will politely decline, ask if I have any questions
ask how the family is doing, and end the call, with the class I have come to associate with
the Habers all of these years.

.

[tom monahan]

Corey:

I am a bit shocked at the tone of your epistle to Marguarite You should know that Ken Haber signed of for the Foundation to close the hospital. You should also know that Marguerite is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit to keep the hospital open and therefore she can't pick up the phone and call Mr. Haber, who is a defendant in this matter. It sounds like you know him well. Why don't you call him and ask him if he will put a sign up in his lawn?

As an aside, I was wondering if you are related to a Carol Rossen who signed a letter from Mary Ann Crampton and Pam Smith to close the hospital?

[m buckley]

It sounds like you know him well. Why don't you call him and ask him if he will put a sign up in his lawn?

Mr. Monahan, I was thinking the same thing. I would add, that I wonder if Mr. Rossen would characterize Mayor Summers as "the passionate, outspoken representative" of the "Kill Lakewood Hospital" campaign.

[Corey Rossen]

Corey

I am more than willing to call Ken and Kathy Haber and ask the pointless question.

So do you want me to call?
.

Jim,

Thank you for the response, but actually, Margarite posed the question of who will call Ken Haber, not me.

Corey,

Who is willing to call Ken Haber at his home and ask if he would like a yard sign?

(Brian can't, as explained above.)

There are a ton of reasons people are upset about this deal
.

Jim, you were so upset about the deal that you started your own investigation about it. The resource that you link is a broad scope, all I did was associate a local name with the faceless case study that you researched. So, in essence, Ken Haber is not only a name, but a symbol for what you are investigating. The "good read" that you mention may be tougher for one to read when one associates local names with the study:

I have been collecting a ton of items that have helped me understand the entire Hospital
Debacle and will start posting them, so those that care can read and understand some
of my viewpoints, which mostly deal with conflict of interest, fiduciary responsibility,
and what happens with interlocking boards.
http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/media/docs_1433306785.pdf

A look at court cases and understanding in the world on non-profits and healthcare.

It covers nearly every angle except when it comes to elected officials. I will find that, but
elected officials always default to serving the public first, then the rest.

It is worth a read, and see that even missing a meeting can find you negligent in your
fiduciary responsibility. Failing to mention Conflict of Interests is a failure.

.

You are making me the villain because I put a local name with a study that you see important enough to look into. That does not seem fair or just to me.

I have remained extremely neutral in the "hospital" discussion. Feel free to check the archives, I am very vested in immediate medical care in the community as I have stated (the discussion was about Rec Center in place of the hospital, but I do not know how to check archives). All I have simply done is asked the question, "If the hospital goes away...what is the next best thing?"

Thanks again for the response.
Corey

[Corey Rossen]

Corey:

I am a bit shocked at the tone of your epistle to Marguarite You should know that Ken Haber signed of for the Foundation to close the hospital. You should also know that Marguerite is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit to keep the hospital open and therefore she can't pick up the phone and call Mr. Haber, who is a defendant in this matter. It sounds like you know him well. Why don't you call him and ask him if he will put a sign up in his lawn?

As an aside, I was wondering if you are related to a Carol Rossen who signed a letter from Mary Ann Crampton and Pam Smith to close the hospital?

Tom,

If, by tone you are referring to my last line of the post, it may look familiar to you if I quote it like this:

Corey, it's time for you to do something PRODUCTIVE instead of just postulating defeatist ideas. Words do nothing. Action speaks.

I merely restated it without quote marks.

I do not know the details of the lawsuit, thank you for notifying me.

This Carol Rossen? Photo with ...

[Corey Rossen]

It sounds like you know him well. Why don't you call him and ask him if he will put a sign up in his lawn?

Mr. Monahan, I was thinking the same thing. I would add, that I wonder if Mr. Rossen would characterize Mayor Summers as "the passionate, outspoken representative" of the "Kill Lakewood Hospital" campaign.

I have remained neutral in the "hospital conversation." I would like to have a hospital, if no hospital then I would like a progressive future. Some people slam on the brakes and stop when the building crumbles, I do not.

In my interpretation of your thinking, then Ken Haber has also signed up for the "Kill Lakewood Hospital" campaign because he did not "Save it" while with the hospital? In fact, we have all killed the hospital because it has not been saved?

Corey

[m buckley]

Mr. Rossen, I wonder if Mr. Monahan was not only referencing your exchange with Ms. Harkness on this post but also alluding to your exchange with her on the post "If the Hospital Goes Away..." It went something like this, " I doubt you will curl up in a ball and rot away if the what if becomes a reality.... To eliminate your knee-jerk response, I will make it for you and even larger hospital with more income and more employees". Mr. Rossen tone is a subjective thing. Since you have such a fixation with Mr. Haber perhaps you should call him up and get his take.

[Corey Rossen]

Mr. Rossen, I wonder if Mr. Monahan was not only referencing your exchange with Ms. Harkness on this post but also alluding to your exchange with her on the post "If the Hospital Goes Away..." It went something like this, " I doubt you will curl up in a ball and rot away if the what if becomes a reality.... To eliminate your knee-jerk response, I will make it for you and even larger hospital with more income and more employees". Mr. Rossen tone is a subjective thing. Since you have such a fixation with Mr. Haber perhaps you should call him up and get his take.

Thank you for your response.

I can see your issue from your standpoint. To give my insight to Maragaite's response...I saw the response to my simple question this way - Margarite was stating that there was no sense in ever thinking of anything other than "the Hospital or bust." Why would I dare think outside of Margarite's box? I thought my question was not harmful, but Margarite seemed threatened by the mere idea of posing the question. Maybe the question is best not answered by people who do not see a future without a hospital and are blinded by their passions. And I do not see anything wrong with having passion.

I thought is was a simple enough question, I did not feel like I needed to be looked down upon by Margarite nor get a brow beating for posing it.

To address the last sentence of your post...You want me to call Ken Haber and get his opinion on my tone? My response to Margarite? Whether tone is subjective?

Basically, I asked a question - what, if necessary, is next. If one does not like the question then one does not have to answer said question. Simple as that.

Maybe I am wrong for considering Lakewood's future with or without a hospital. According to some, I am certainly wrong for posing the question of "what if."

Again, I am neither for or against anything, just wondering...

Thanks again for your response.
Corey

[Amanda Tabor]

For what it's worth, I think your initial question was a valid one Corey - not to say that I want the hospital to close, or that I am on board with the proposals or anything of that sort. Not that we shouldn't fight to keep it and do everything we can, but I personally don't live in an optimistic world - I plan for the what ifs, the catastrophes. If the worst case scenario happens, what options are left? I think that is a realistic, perhaps pessimistic, viewpoint to have, but also a necessity in these types of situations. I don't like having things go as wrong as they can and then have no idea what to do next. But that's just me...