NORTHAMPTON — Emergency care for patients will be compromised if Question 1 on the Nov. 6 ballot is adopted, according to officials at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
“Mandated staffing requirements will eliminate the fluidity among nurses that allow us to be effective at our jobs,” Sara Mckeown, nursing director for the emergency department, said in a statement. “It’s not a black-or-white answer to staffing ratios. It’s a gray area that can’t be pinned.”
If the initiative passes, specific nurse staffing ratios would be required at all times at all medical facilities.
Cooley Dickinson estimates that Question 1 would decrease patient visits to emergency departments by 15 to 29 percent, while increasing wait times, even for time-sensitive and live-saving work.
Dr. Khama Ennis, chief of emergency medicine and the medical director of emergency services, said in a statement the initiative is not helpful.
“It doesn’t just come down to money, it comes down to helping patients,” Ennis said. “I am certain that Question 1 will not improve patient care.”
AMHERST — Mindy Domb, the Democratic nominee to become the next state representative for the 3rd Hampshire District at the Nov. 6 election, will hold several “Common Grounds: Coffees with Mindy” events in the coming weeks.
The coffee hours, at various cafes and restaurants, are opportunities for constituents to meet Domb, share their issues of concern and discuss the upcoming legislative session.
Domb said these events, all at 8 a.m., could supplement office hours if she elected to the position that represents Amherst, Pelham and Precinct 1 in Granby.
“I hope to be able to maintain a schedule of monthly Common Grounds during the legislative season,” Domb said.
The next coffee hours will be Oct. 24 at The Black Sheep, 79 Main St., Amherst; Oct. 31 at Jakes at the Mill, 68 Cowls Road, Amherst; and Nov. 2 The Earlee Mug, 337 East State St., Granby.
AMHERST — Candidates for Town Council in Amherst are largely supportive of the arts as a way to keep downtown thriving, based on responses to a survey issued by the Public Art Commission.
All but five of the 26 candidates responded to the three questions, which included what role the arts can play as an economic driver for downtown businesses, opportunities for arts and culture that have yet to be realized and how to attract more arts and culture tourism to Amherst.
Public Art Commission Chairman Eric Broudy said the answers provide good ideas for the Public Art Commission and the downtown Cultural District. He observes that a group has been studying converting the Central Fire Station into such a venue.
“I was struck by how many mentioned the need for a performance center, something that has been talked about for some time,” Broudy said.
The responses will eventually be published at the Amherst Arts Night Plus website at www.AmherstArtsNightPlus.com.
AMHERST — A candidate seeking one of two seats on Town Council for District 1 is declining to participate in answering questions from a survey by Amherst Forward, the new political action committee formed in advance of the Nov. 6 election.
In a response posted publicly to her campaign’s Facebook page, Sarah Swartz described the latest questionnaire as redundant to one she completed prior to the Sept. 4 primary.
“What I have found in talking to voters in District 1 is that they are severely divided after the recent charter vote. I believe that a PAC, given that one of its main purposes for organizing is to promote a single political agenda, creates more of a division. Therefore I would rather not participate in activities created by a PAC,” Swartz wrote.
The Town Council, which will be seated in December, will have 13 members, three elected at large and 10 from the five districts.