Page 46 - BusinessWest January 24, 2022

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Plotkin
Continued from page 44
I’m very optimistic about my future,” he said. “I feel almost as good as I did before the surgery; I just have to watch it ... but I’m back to normal, and everything is good for me.”
While knocking on the nearest available wood, Plotkin noted there isn’t much available data on HIPEC. “And the doctors and the oncologists — they don’t have any predictions for you,” he went on. “They just say they want to take film every six months and go from there.”
Meanwhile, he said many others in his situation have not been as fortunate in their fight.
“You hear some of the stories from some of the people you meet, and their stories are not as good.
I just learned about a 28-year-old boy who had the surgery who died from complications — kidney prob- lems after the surgery.”
Such stories put more emphasis on the ongoing lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson, which, by many accounts, involve more than 38,000 claimants and nearly $4 billion in damages being sought.
At present, that fight is on a pause of sorts after a bankruptcy judge in North Carolina halted the law- suits against J&J after that company formed a sub- sidiary in Texas, known as LTL, to absorb the parent company’s asbestos liabilities. LTL promptly filed for bankruptcy in North Carolina.
The move, known as a ‘divisive merger’ as well
as a ‘Texas two-step’ (because that’s where LTL was formed) has been slammed by lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Plotkin said claim- ants in the various suits are girding for a protracted battle.
“Everyone is lawyering up, and they’re ready to have hearings,” he said. “All this is going to be hope- fully resolved, one way or another, in February.”
While the court fight against J&J is now capturing some of Plotkin’s time, he also has his work — a broad
Western Mass.
Mid-Atlantic to New England
Western Mass.
phrase, to be sure — keeping him busy.
He said he worked remotely for some time but is now back in his office at 1350 Main St., the one
with the view facing south toward MGM Springfield. And he referenced what he can see out his window when talking about the major challenges still facing Springfield.
He said that, when MGM was originally proposed,
“
I’m very optimistic about my future. I feel almost as good as I did before the surgery; I just have to watch it ... but I’m back to normal, and everything is good for me.
the thinking — if not the promise — was that the casino, with its front door on Main Street, would bring more vibrancy, not to mention additional com- mercial development, to both sides of the street and that broad area.
That hasn’t happened yet, in part because most all casino visitors have been entering and exiting through the parking garage (especially during the pandemic), leaving little foot traffic on Main Street and, therefore, a minimal trickle-down effect.
“People go right back in the garage, and they’re out of here,” he said. “And that needs to be fixed; we need to get those people into the downtown.”
Turning his attention back to Stearns Square, he said that area has seen progress on several fronts
in recent years, including the park itself, which underwent major restoration efforts a few years ago.
Gerald Jones Owner/President
Frank Fitzgerald, Vice President of Managing Properties
Mitch Salamon President
200 Triangle St., Amherst, MA 01002 (413) 549-3700; www.jonesrealtors.com
OPAL REAL ESTATE GROUP
MEREDITH MANAGEMENT CORP.
130 Maple St., Suite 241, Springfield, MA 01103 (413) 788-8066; www.meredithmanagement.com
1776 Main St., Springfield, MA 01102 (413) 726-9836; www.opal-re.com
SALAMON REALTY
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37 Harkness Ave., East Longmeadow, MA 01028 (413) 525-9800; www.perellarealestate.com
103 Myron St., West Springfield, MA 01089 (413) 736-5958; www.salamonflooring.com
SR COMMERCIAL REALTY LLC
135 State St., Suite 205, Springfield, MA 01103 (413) 459-9959; www.srcommercialre.com
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I’m feeling really good right now, so
Around it are new businesses, including Dewey’s, a jazz club; the promise of new restaurants; and pros- pects for that area once again being the centerpiece of a walkable city.
The new mural will be part of all this, he said, add- ing that it will turn back the clock in many respects.
“In one part of the mural, there’s going to be an image of what Stearns Square looked like more than 100 years ago,” he explained, noting that this look back will show how the ‘Puritan’ statue now at the corner of Chestnut and State streets near the Quad- rangle was originally in Stearns Square, with the Puri- tan facing a globe at the turtle fountain in the south end of the park.
“The narrative behind that is the fountain has a giant globe on it with fish and turtles around it, and there’s water,” he explained. “It was the Puritan look- ing at the new world, and he knew he had to cross over the water to get there.”
Body of Evidence
As he related the history of the park and spoke about his mural project, Plotkin said he’s always believed the Puritan statue should return to its origi- nal setting.
He admits he’s probably not alone with that view, but he acknowledges that such a move would certain- ly be a longshot at this point and an uphill battle.
Speaking of uphill battles ... he’s been involved with many of them lately, from his fight against mesothelioma to the drawn-out court skirmishes with Johnson & Johnson, to his campaign to revitalize downtown Springfield.
All of them are ongoing to one extent or another, and Plotkin is waging them the only way he knows how: with passion and determination. u
George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]
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