No takers for MLK hospital

Who would want to take on the responsibility and cost of re-opening the doors of  Martin Luther King-Harbor hospital? Well, the only viable candidate pulled out of the running today, leaving Los Angeles County to find another group to run the South L.A. Hospital, reports Garrett Therolf.

Many said that Pacific Hospital of Long Beach was not prepared to run a giant public health facility. But no other major institution, private or public, has stepped up to the plate.

"I'm eager to find out if there is anything that can be done to bring them back to the table," said Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke, who represents the district that includes King hospital in Willowbrook. "At this point, I have no reason to think that there is anything that can be done."

--Jesus Sanchez

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[WylieD]

Pacific Hospital apparently has better judgment than Burke and the other supes, who seem eager for any resolution that will get the MLK mess off their plates. Shame on them and especially on Knabe, with his conflict of interest.

After decades of squandering taxpayer money on King-Drew and looking the other way as the hospital became a death house mired in incompetence and greed, the supes are ready to do it again.

For anyone who doesn't remember just how bad things were, read The Times multipart report on the hospital, from 2004. It's a fine piece of investigative journalism, lifting the rock and exposing muck to light:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-kingdrewpulitzer-sg,1,4721261.storygallery

The conclusion of the experts: "County board must give up its control of King/Drew"

Fat chance that the supes will put the welfare of the community above their own political power.