Watertown Council Discusses Advocating BCBS Severance Over ADL

By Andy Turpin

"The Armenian Weekly", Volume 74, No. 32, August 16, 2007

WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)—On Aug. 12, the Town Council of Watertown resolved during to draft a letter, attached to a resolution, requesting the attendance of a Blue Cross Blue Shield representative at their next meeting to discuss severing town employee coverage under Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) because of its affiliation with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

Town councilor Stephen Corbett recounted to those in attendance the Town Council’s nationally publicized severance with the ADL’s No Place for Hate (NPFH) program last summer over its refusal to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.

“It was approximately one year ago that this Town Council took the bold step to sever from the ADL-NPFH program,” he said.

The resolution, titled “Requesting Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts to Sever Ties with the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place For Hate Program,” states: “Whereas: the Council believes that taxpayer funds which are directed towards Blue Cross Blue Shield should not be spent on a program affiliated with an organization that diminishes the factuality of, and works against recognition of, a widely acknowledged genocide. Now Therefore Be It Resolved: The City Known as the Town of Watertown hereby asks BCBSMA to expeditiously sever all ties with ‘No Place for Hate’ and similar ADL programs; and that the Council shall send to BCBSMA’s chief executives and members of Board of Directors a letter, with this Resolution, that asks for such severance and requests a prompt and positive response; and the council shall take due notice of, make public, and discuss BCBSMA’s response.”

Corbett said of the resolution , “This is not meant as any kind of threat or ultimatum to drop all support for BCBS. That would be unrealistic.”

However, he continued, “The ANCA has officially requested the national BCBS office to stop funding the ADL-NPFH program—though so far the only response has been, ‘We’re thinking about it.’”

Council president Clive L. Younger said he’d like a BCBS representative to be present to state his/her case and position before making a final decision on the matter, perhaps with the founding of a council subcommittee to investigate the matter further.

Councilor Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney responded, stating, “We have never done that in the past and I myself have written a letter to BCBS noting all the national organizations, including the Sons of Italy in America, and European countries that stand together against the position of the ADL and the NPFH program. The vote should be taken this evening and does not call for a subcommittee.”

Younger responded, “I respectfully disagree. I believe as an American that a person has a right to be heard. I’d like to at least hear what their [BCBS] intensions are… I do not like to make decisions in ignorance and I think the Armenian-American community in Watertown has seen in more than one meeting me support them in the past.”

Corbett explained of the resolution’s purpose that, “What we’re doing as a town council is going on record demanding from BCBS a response. Because to my knowledge and conversations, leaders of the Armenian community have approached the president of BCBS numerous times with no response.”

Councilor Mark Sideris then presented a compromise. “I advocate that rather than creating a subcommittee, we draft a letter, attached to the resolution, requesting the attendance of Mr. Mead or a BCBS representative to this council next meeting,” he said.

District A councilor Angeline B. Kounelis stated in agreement with Younger and in clarification of the resolution that “We [as a council] always give both parties the chance to speak…This resolution would only be to bring this conversation forward to the public and would not give authority to any change.”

District D councilor John J. Lawn, Jr. added, “Acknowledging the Armenian Genocide is a matter of basic justice. I think the Council should make clear in the letter its position on the Armenian Genocide.”

Younger noted, “We will make unequivocal reference to the position the Council has taken in the past. You know that I have been there for the Armenian community and I will continue to be as long as I’m alive.”

The motion to draft the aforementioned letter to be attached to the BCBS resolution was approved unanimously by the Town Council.