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South suburban, Chicago officials ask Quinn not to close Tinley Park Mental Health Center

By Ashley Rueff TribLocal reporter Oct. 6, 2011 at 2:23 p.m.

More than a dozen elected officials from the south suburbs and Chicago signed a letter sent to Gov. Pat Quinn Wednesday asking him not to close the Tinley Park Mental Health Center.

The facility is one of seven slated to be shutdown as part of Quinn’s plan announced last month to close the $313.5 million budget shortfall. The closures would lay off 1,938 state employees, including about 200 from the Tinley Park facility, and cut about $55 million fr om the budget, according to information released from the governor’s office.

In the letter, officials said the Tinley Park Mental Health Center was the only public psychiatric hospital in the area, the facility’s closure would remove an important piece of the mental health system serving area residents. (Read the letter)

The Illinois Department of Human Services has said patients served in Tinley Park, about 2,000 a year, would go to other state mental health facilities. Private community-based facilities would be expected to provide more of the services currently provided by the state. The letter also cites the expected economic impact to the region that would come by shuttering the facility.

“According to the department’s own analysis, 207 employees at the Tinley Park Mental Health Center would lose their jobs, resulting in $50.5 million in lost economic activity and a further loss of 158 additional jobs to the local economy,” the letter states.

John Cameron, political affairs director for the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 31, said the union for state employees has been working closely with elected officials who oppose closing the center.

“At this point, the governor has not told them that he’s changed his mind, but obviously they’re weighing in,” he said. The letter was signed by the following elected officials:

• Sen. Maggie Crotty, D-Oak Forest

• Sen. Toi W. Hutchinson, D-Olympia Fields

• Sen. Edward D. Maloney, D-Chicago

• Sen. Donne E. Trotter, D-Chicago

• Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi, D-Joliet

• Rep. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago

• Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago

• Rep. William Davis, D-East Hazel Crest

• Rep. Mary E. Flowers, D-Chicago

• Rep. Constance A. Howard, D-Chicago

• Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City

• Rep. Jack McGuire, D-Joliet