Deadline for Ballot Measure Language Looms

In order to qualify a ballot measure raising funds (in part) for the Alameda County Medical Center on the March 2004 ballot, the language must be finalized by mid-November, so that it can be heard twice by the Board of Supervisors by December 5th. It must include the wording people will see on their ballots, as well as an ordinance that will give more details about use of funds, oversight of the money, etc. A polling organization was hired to work on determining to what words voters would respond positively. It found strong support for a 1/2 cent sales tax, (bringing Alameda County's tax to 8.75%), to go to public hospitals for the indigent, elderly and children. Unfortunately, there is much disagreement among interested parties, or "stakeholders," about exactly where such revenues would go.

Vote Health has long advocated for a ballot measure which would dedicate most or all of monies collected to the county's safety net: ACMC and the community-based clinics that make up the Alameda Health Consortium. However, 60% of voters are in the southern part of the county, which has fewer county health services, and getting them to vote yes will be a challenge. The measure must receive two-thirds of votes to pass. Although national and local polls have shown strong support for taxes that would go directly to helping poor people have access to health care, some stakeholders are arguing that a tax increase must also be spread among private hospitals (for charity care), emergency doctors who can't collect on their bills, and "discretionary" money for the Board of Supervisors to spend however they chose on health care.

Considering the options is a Blue Ribbon Panel, chaired by Supervisors Nate Miley and Gail Steele, with 20-30 interested parties attending (Vote Health has a formal seat on the Panel). It has met three times as of this writing. On November 4, the group voted to endorse two principles: (1) More than 70% of the revenues will go to ACMC, and they will not replace existing funding streams that are already marked for the Medical Center; (2) The Board of Supervisors will establish an oversight committee that will regularly review and ensure that the revenues are being spent for health care related purposes, as specified in the ordinance.

As soon as specifics are hammered out for the measure, the Panel must turn its attention to the governance of the Medical Center. There is an interim CEO, Efton Hall, and a CFO, Robert Strawn, whose tenures are undetermined. A committee is examining how to conduct a search for these positions, but have said they will be evaluating the first three months of Hall and Strawn's work to decide whether to invite them to remain. The ACMC Board of Trustees, which has financial and administrative crises to deal with, still has only 6 out 11 positions filled. The Board of Supervisors has not stated when they plan to fill the remaining 5 seats.

The Panel is empowered to consider how to improve "accountability," which includes understanding better how the budget of ACMC has grown to a possible $60-70 million for fiscal year 2003-4, and how to increase clarity of communication/information flow from the Board of Trustees to the Board of Supervisors. The larger picture of the structure of the hospital as a quasi-indep- endent authority must also eventually be examined, given the meltdown that caused the county to put the Medical Center into receivership earlier this year.

The newly-named Alameda County Together (ACT) for Health Coalition meets weekly at Local SEIU 250 to respond to ACMC crisis. The Coalition has sent two letters to supervisors, the latest requesting, among other things, a better direction be given to the Blue Ribbon Panel through "hiring a consultant to bring together a team of independent experts." As members of the Coalition, Vote Health has been participating in a series of meetings with the Supervisors and Pat O'Connell, County Auditor.

Vote Health also participates in a coalition chaired by the Alameda Consortium for Health. We usually focus on the county's budget process as it relates to health care. However, we are presently focusing on the ballot measure, which the Consortium is in full support of.

Meetings and Events

• Town Hall Meeting on the Fairmont Campus Master Plan, sponsored by Supervisor Nate Miley, at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 16248 Carolyn St., San Leandro, on Wednesday, November 19th, from 7-9 pm.
• The Board of Supervisors will read the ballot measure language on Tuesday, November 25, in a morning session (time to be announced), 1221 Oak St. (County Admin Bldg.). Mandated second reading will be on Tuesday, December 2. Demonstration on the 25th to demand supes' support.
• The Blue Ribbon Panel, which is open to observers (who can speak), will next meet on Tuesday, November 18, 4-7 pm. Call Vote Health at 510-653-1626 for location.
• Open-House, tour and lunch at West Oakland Health Council, a community-based clinic; November 21, 2003, 11:30 AM - 700 Adeline Street, Oakland.
• Open-House, tour and lunch at LifeLong Medical Care; December 5, 2003, 11:30 AM - 3260 Sacramento, Berkeley.

Vote Health Annual Potluck Holiday Party at the home of Nancy Friedman and Terry Hill, 631 Vernon St., Oakland, Sunday, December 28th from 2-4 pm.

Welcome To Our New Executive Committee Members!

We are privileged to have two "activists extraordinaire" join Vote Health's Executive Committee:

Irma Swygert is an SEIU Local 250 shop steward who has been a health care worker for 25 years. After both a friend and Irma were involved in car accidents involving great physical injuries, "I felt that health care needed to be overhauled and not so driven by the money. I saw that I could be instrumental in some changes for the betterment of all people, especially those in need of adequate health care." We admire greatly how she gives of her time in these efforts.

Jim Forsyth is a retiree from General Motors, having worked on assembly lines for 34 years, and a UAW Local 1364 member. He was the second highest signature gatherer in Alameda County for Prop 186, the single payer initiative, and joined Vote Health soon after it was formed. He is currently the newsletter editor of the Hayward Demos Democratic Club, Secretary of the Congress of California Seniors Region 3, Treasurer of So. Alameda County Gray Panthers, and Secretary of the South Hayward Parish.

Newsletter committee:
Nancy M. Friedman, Kay Eisenhower
Our thanks to CA Nurses Association for their help in producing this newsletter.