Measure O Campaign

I have been a resident of Ventura County for more than 32 years and I retired in 1996 from one of the largest public hospitals in America, Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. I have watched the public debate about Measure O but chose not to comment publicly until learning that its supporters--primarily Community Memorial Hospital under the direction of Michael Bakst--have spent more than $1.6 million in their attempts to convince the electorate to pass this self-serving, misleading and outrageous initiative.

The mission of the county of Ventura, and its hospital and clinics, is to serve children, the elderly, the poor and the uninsured by providing preventive care and treatment. Measure O would rip off millions of dollars intended to pay for the county’s health care programs and deposit them into the pockets of Community Memorial and two other hospitals.

This is public money and it belongs to the people who live in this county. If this misguided and devious measure passes, the money would be lost forever into an unaudited chasm of special private interests.

Imagine how much health care could have been provided for the $1.6 million already spent for slick, misleading mailings and paid advertisements. Bakst surely sees this as a wise investment, for the payoff will be in untold millions if his shameful scheme is successful.

HARVEY D. KERN

Oak Park

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As citizens and taxpayers, we have to consider seriously the precedent that will be set if Measure O is passed. This measure gives control of Ventura County’s tobacco settlement money to private hospitals.

It was designed by a private group with lots of money to pay for collecting signatures and for slick advertisements. If it passes and is upheld by the courts, it would set a new precedent for raiding the public treasury.

Think about it: Any private group with deep pockets willing to spend big money would be able to get on the ballot to grab our money. Big business could try to privatize the Sheriff’s Department, Fire Department or county roads with no public oversight or control over how our money is spent for years to come.

No government agency could use government funds to try to explain what is wrong with such a measure, just as the county is not allowed to spend money to counter Measure O.

Is this really what the people of Ventura County want?

Do we want our government funds controlled by big business interests out of the public’s view?

BARBARA RICHARDSON

Camarillo

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I am writing to voice my strong support of Measure O. Community Memorial Hospital provides great care to the citizens of our city. A yes vote on Measure O would make sure that the money always stays in health care.

I do not understand how the Ventura City Council could not be in favor of Measure O. Having a strong community hospital will only benefit the citizens of Ventura. This is not the time to play politics or to prove a point.

No money will be taken away from the county hospital. It already receives about $42 million each year, and the Board of Supervisors did not allocate any of the tobacco settlement funds to its own county hospital. In fact, our elected supervisors used the first allocation to pay a federal fine for Medicare fraud. More than $3 million of our money was used to cover up the mistakes by our county government. What else are our elected officials going to keep from us?

I urge everyone to please get the facts, then vote yes on Measure O.

TYLER W. LILJEKVIST

Ventura

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What organizations should receive funds from the tobacco settlement?

Measure O seeks to have the money distributed to private hospitals in Ventura County. A recent letter to the editor said Measure O would reimburse private hospitals for care already provided to the uninsured and indigent. This is not the case--allocations would be made on the basis of bad debts written off, and charity care is not classified as a bad debt.

The Ventura County grand jury reported earlier this summer that Ventura County Medical Center provided about 90% of the inpatient care countywide to poor patients who do not qualify for state or federal insurance programs; St. John’s Regional Medical Center had the next highest percentage at 4.8%; Community Memorial Hospital, 1%. A prior grand jury report, in 1996, similarly reported the county hospital serving far more indigents than all other hospitals combined and also far more of the working poor.

So it would carry out the intent of the lawsuit to have this taxpayer money go to the county. But Measure O says no tobacco settlement money can be used for county health programs--no money for Ventura County Medical Center or the clinics, where more than 90% of the medical care for the poor and uninsured is actually provided! Is this fair?

The Ventura County Medical Assn. has voted to oppose Measure O, saying the initiative would direct the money basically to three hospitals: Community Memorial, Los Robles (a for-profit hospital) and Simi Valley. No money for St. John’s, which provides a higher percentage of indigent care than those three, or for some of our struggling smaller hospitals such as Santa Paula and Ojai Valley Community. Is this fair?

Vote no on Measure O.

PEGGY YORK

Ventura

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I am a fourth-generation Ventura County resident and a health care provider, and I feel very strongly about Measure O.

The intent of Measure O is to keep the tobacco settlement funds in health care. Measure O does not have provisions to pay off Medicare fraud debt, shore up the county budget or grant the supervisors raises.

The supervisors have to use a windfall of funds to meet the county’s budget. I am glad they are not responsible for my household budget.

The Board of Supervisors has not earned my confidence. Measure O gets my vote.

LISA LARRAMENDY

Ojai