ETHD Commits up to $20 Million for SL Hospital

With only a short hesitation that left the audience biting its nails, Eden Township Healthcare District (ETHD) Director Ronald Hull cast the deciding vote for the District to raise up to $20 million to keep San Leandro Hospital operating.

The motion passed 3-1, with Lester Friedman voting against and Vin Sawhney abstaining due to conflict of interest from his 30+ years of continuing medical practice at our hospital.

This vote will give Alameda County Health Services leverage needed to finalize its negotiations for the hospital with Sutter Health.

Mayor Stephen Cassidy praised the ETHD Board of Directors and their many years of effort to keep our hospital open. “You’ve saved the lives of residents of my city and throughout Alameda County. . . You spent so much to keep it open, now is not the time to back out.” Mayor Cassidy reiterated the City’s commitment to $1 million annually over the next three years. “We don’t have the money to do it, but we’ll dip into our reserves. That’s a solid, unanimous commitment."

ETHD Board member Friedman voiced concern that the Healthcare District might have to liquidate about half of its assets to raise the money (though Board Chair Carole Rogers said that was speculation) and he chided the County and the City of San Leandro for not stepping to the plate with funds earlier to help when the District sued Sutter. But Mayor Cassidy said the City spent $10-$15,000 in filing an Amicus Brief supporting ETHD and in petitioning Attorney General Kamala Harris to also file a supporting brief.

Vice Mayor Jim Prola also spoke at the meeting, encouraging the ETHD to commit to the financial operations of San Leandro Hospital. “It took me 25 minutes to drive here (across the street from Eden Medical Center) in rush hour traffic. If you have to borrow the money, I hope you can do it.”