“A Call for Justice”

EL PASO, TEXAS – The No Voice/No Justice Coalition calls for the resignation of the top managers of the State Supported Living Center due to the intolerable conditions that consumers and dedicated employees are experiencing each day. What the press thus far has reported should shame our community.

The coalition was created to represent the voices of the consumers, as well as concerned families and employees. Some of them have already experienced reprisals for speaking out, many have been terminated and others are in fear of what may follow.

The El Paso State Supported Living Center's current managers are Laura Braly, interim director; Melissa Gongaware, assistant director of programs; Mario Gutierrez, incident manager; and Dr. Eugene Chavez-Rice, chief psychiatrist; Susan Acosta, contract physical therapist; Martin Bombach, assistant administrators of director; Joanna Alferez, residential director; Guadalupe Azzam, day programs coordinator.

The coalition is also asking U.S. Federal authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into why residents are dying, and who is allowing, through commission or omission, the abuse and neglect of the consumers (also known as residents). The center has not always been a prefect place, but conditions have not improved in the slightest even with these new administrators.

Although each group and each individual in each group has/have separate concerns (employees, families and consumers), the coalition is acting as a vehicle to communicate their overall concerns about the center to the public.

The innocent consumers must be protected from further abuse and neglect, and be able to live in a safe and protected environment, which is their right.

Sylvia Irma Burgos, spokesperson for the No Voice/No Justice Coalition; Contact info (915) 856-1748 or novoicenojustice@aol.com