Letter: Case closed: Voters betrayed by results

Re: Local turnout exceeds 64% in Nov. 5 election, Free Lance Nov. 15, 2024

We must think like detectives solving mysteries similar to Sherlock Holmes. Many times the person who looks most innocent is a killer. Confusing ballot measures concerning the future of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital required our authorization.

Voters overwhelmingly agreed with the good idea of cooperation between Board of Supervisors and Board of Hospital Trustees by approving the concept of a supplemental management group called a JPA or Joint Powers Authority to help provide health care. This solution known as Measure B would grow our hospital.

However the same voters thought differently concerning Measure X. Measure X posed a completely different issue. In short form, Measure X presented the statement that if you want healthcare to continue then sell the hospital. Confused voters of course voted to want healthcare, and therefore to sell the hospital.

Thinking like detectives we question this contradiction. Voters approved Measure B that would improve and grow the hospital, then voted to sell the hospital in Measure X. We still wonder just what do voters want and what does the board of trustees want?

We can offer these deductions. Measure B offered solid information to help our hospital better serve the healthcare of all and to continue to be financially stable. Yet Measure X confused the issue by suggesting that taxes would be raised and that the hospital was unstable. Both suggestions were complete falsehoods.

From these facts we can now make a clarification. It seems that the Hospital Board of Trustees refuses to cooperate with the County Board of Supervisors. This cooperation needs to happen in Measure B. Furthermore the Hospital Board wants to sell the hospital and was afraid that the voters would not approve so they wrote confusing language in Measure X.

It seems that the hospital board is determined to sell the hospital to avoid responsibilities.  Instead, the hospital board prefers to permit a private business to profit from charging increased management fees and increased health insurance premiums. 

This hospital board neglects to inform voters that new ownership would increase fees for everyone. Although innocent in appearance, this hospital board has betrayed us.

Mary Zanger

Hollister