Another Saturday, another Red Phone back on your door step after
chasing down caller questions, comments and concerns. Red Phone’s
been enjoying a lot of attention lately which means all is not well
in San Benito County. If you called and are waiting for Red Phone
to take your case, be patient
– the Crimson Crusader has heard your plea. Got a problem, need
an answer, call the Red Phone – always waiting, always online,
always at 635-9219.
Another Saturday, another Red Phone back on your door step after chasing down caller questions, comments and concerns. Red Phone’s been enjoying a lot of attention lately which means all is not well in San Benito County. If you called and are waiting for Red Phone to take your case, be patient – the Crimson Crusader has heard your plea. Got a problem, need an answer, call the Red Phone – always waiting, always online, always at 635-9219.
No rest for the weary
Now that the railroad crossing at Highway 25 near U.S. 101 is fixed, a Red Phone caller has another task for Union Pacific.
“Great job to all those who spear-headed the campaign to fix the railroad crossing on Highway 25. Who can I contact to fix the railroad crossing on Fourth Street? The crossing is terrible.”
An easy one, the person to call is UP’s Director of Public Affairs John Bromley, whose probably still recovering from a barrage of calls about the Highway 25 crossing repaired last weekend. Bromley can be reached at 402-544-3475 or 402-305-0838. Though the Fourth Street crossing is bumpy, at least cars don’t hit the tracks at 55 mph. Keep the Crimson Crusader posted.
No take-backs
A red phone caller is upset after learning Hazel Hawkins’ CEO’s salary after she voted for Measure L, which would bond $31.5 million for hospital upgrades.
“My call is about Measure L for the hospital. My complaint is they didn’t tell us what the CEO is making before the ballots were sent out and I do think what he gets is a little much for our small hospital here in Hollister. What I would hope is that they cut his salary and put it to better use. I voted yes before I knew what his pay was and I’m real disappointed. There’s no way to take it back. That’s my gripe for today. Thank you so much.”
San Benito Health Care District CEO Ken Underwood earns $190,979 annually (benefits are included in that sum). Though some may consider the salary package generous, to say the least, it does pale in comparison to other hospital CEO’s compensation packages. According to news reports, Nancy Farber, the CEO of the Washington Township Health Care District in Fremont, earns $408,071 with bonuses up to $80,000. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center CEO Susan Murphy was closest to Underwood’s earnings at $203,026 with no chance for bonus. Is it a lot of money? Yes. Should it affect how residents feel about improving the care in San Benito’s only hospital? You decide.
Whatever the case, make sure your mind is made up before voting because SBC’s Head Election’s Official John Hodges said once the ballot is cast there is no changing your vote.
Incidentally, the hospital was under no obligation to disclose Underwood’s or any other employees’ salary prior to a vote. They did so because another caller requested the information and the Red Phone filed a public records request for the information – an action any citizen could do on their own.
If you have problems with the hospital’s pay structure, Red Phone suggests taking it up with the board of directors by calling the board president, Beth Ivey, at 831-637-5711.
