In two letters filed 10 days apart, a coalition called on residents to oppose Measure H, which proposes reopening Tulare (Calif.) Regional Medical Center, according to the Visalia Times-Delta.
Those opposing Measure H questioned the partnership deal between Tulare Regional and Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health. The organizations aim to reopen the hospital by Oct. 15, two weeks short of a year since the hospital closed.
"Reopening the hospital no matter what, without the guidance of local doctors, is irresponsible," the opposition wrote in an Aug. 30 letter obtained by the Visalia Times-Delta. "We deserve better safeguards against a multimillion-dollar corporate hospital chain that can walk away after five years. The district is locked into a long-term contract for 30 years with no way out — for a short-term fix."
However, Kevin Northcraft, president of Tulare Regional's board of directors, told the publication the opposition's arguments are, in some cases, "bold-face lies," and based on errors and misinformation.
"We just continue to have some despicable and amoral people lying to our 70,000 people, which is very unfortunate," he said.
An attorney representing the hospital told the Visalia Times-Delta officials have a plan to file a rebuttal to the opposition's arguments.
Voter approval for Measure H is necessary because Tulare Regional receives property tax revenue. The measure will be placed on the area's Nov. 6 ballot and needs a majority vote — 50 percent plus one — to be approved.
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