editor's - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-29T10:10:06Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/editor%27sEditor's Note: Delray commission owes taxpayers the truthhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/editor-s-note-delray-commission-owes-taxpayers-the-truth2020-07-01T15:56:18.000Z2020-07-01T15:56:18.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p>On Feb. 4, the city of Delray Beach was told by the Florida Health Department that it must implement a citywide boil water order after receiving complaints that the city’s drinking water had become contaminated with reclaimed water. <br />The order was avoided only by an agreement to shut down the reclaimed water system while the problems were identified and repaired.<br /> Move forward to late June. About 90% of customers are back on line, and the cost for fixing the system is nearing $1 million. <br /> Yes, you saw that right: $1 million. Add that to the $8 million budget shortfall already facing the city. <br /> Taxpayers have a right to know who is to blame for this expensive debacle. After all, they are going to pay for it.<br /> City Manager George Gretsas did the right thing in his first few months on the job by contracting with a consultant to analyze what went wrong, and hiring a highly respected director for fresh oversight of the Water Utilities Department. The DOH supports these decisions.<br /> Then, on June 24, city commissioners voted 3-2 to suspend Gretsas and file a notice to terminate, even before an independent counsel released results of an investigation into a personnel matter that alleged bullying, gender bias and emotional abuse by Gretsas. <br />According to one complaint, Gretsas was irate over how the reclaimed water project repairs were being managed.<br /> Is that a surprise? <br /> Management failures have long plagued City Hall. There have been five city managers and three interim managers since the water project began in 2006. <br /> That leadership void at the top allowed a revolving door in the department overseeing the project. Mismanagement and a lack of oversight were the result. <br /> Whether anything criminal occurred has not been determined.<br /> At press time, it was not clear if Gretsas’ termination is warranted, but there’s little doubt it would be dramatic, divisive and expensive for the city. <br /> The residents of Delray Beach have had their health jeopardized by systemic mismanagement.<br /> The truth must be known. Investigations begun by Gretsas must not be abandoned because of his suspension, and Hassan Hadjimiry, the new Water Utilities director, must be retained and given authority to assure confidence in the water system. <br /> Elected officials owe taxpayers that much, and more.</p>
<p><strong><em>— Mary Kate Leming, Editor</em></strong></p></div>Editor's Note: Drug rehab industry should shed more light through veil of privacyhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/editor-s-note-drug-rehab-industry-should-shed-more-light-through-2016-02-04T16:30:00.000Z2016-02-04T16:30:00.000ZChris Felkerhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChrisFelker<div><p> When someone you love takes his own life, it leaves a large aching space packed full of questions. I know, because I lost a brother to suicide. He was 51. This is why when I learned of Tod Abrams’ death at the Caron Ocean Drive facility in Delray Beach I thought of his family and all the questions they must have. <br /> I also thought of the neighbors who live near the two facilities in this neighborhood and all the questions they’ve been asking for several years now about the houses next door. <br /> Through our reporting, I learned a little about Tod Abrams and was struck by how well this handsome and accomplished man would have fit into this coastal Delray Beach neighborhood. I also learned a lot about Xanax and its dangers. <br /> These things made me wonder how many others living along the beach are struggling with mental health issues or addiction.<br /> I hoped that by putting a human face on addiction and the growing number of drug-related deaths in our area, we might all be able to find a few answers to our questions. <br /> I didn’t really expect full answers. With addiction treatment and mental illness there is a heavy veil drawn to keep questions out. And with suicide, there are always more questions than answers. But if local media don’t try to lift this veil, who will? <br /> Mental health agencies work diligently to educate the public while struggling to find funding for these efforts. In the meantime, the addiction treatment industry has lagged far behind in opening its doors to help educate the public about what first responders say has become a public health crisis.<br /> I understand why Caron and other treatment facilities work diligently to protect the privacy of their clients. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be doing educational outreach to the community, and yes, even to their neighbors. Why not hold an occasional open house to let the folks next door see the facilities and learn about treatment methods? Why not work with the city to hold a series of educational programs?<br /> The city of Delray Beach is being proactive about educating its residents about drug addiction. It’s time for the drug-rehab industry to step up, pull out the checkbook and pull back the veil to answer questions. <br /> There won’t always be answers, of course, but sometimes healing can begin just by being able to ask the questions.<br /> <br /> <em>— Mary Kate Leming,</em> <br /> <em>Editor</em></p></div>