Mayor Villaraigosa's hospital triple-header

Antonio Villaraigosa just might score a fundraising three-peat this week –- at least when it comes to some delicate healthcare politics in the San Fernando Valley.

Just as a Superior Court judge is taking aim at a $180-million hospital expansion project in Mission Hills, L.A.'s mayor held three different fundraisers for his reelection campaign involving people on each side of the hospital fight.

The mayor appeared Friday at an event hosted by Mayer Brown LLC, the law firm that represents Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in its effort to complete a 101-bed expansion. He went Sunday to a fundraiser hosted in part by members of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, a pro-labor group that waged an active campaign against the expansion, arguing that it needs more review.

And today, Villaraigosa is scheduled to appear for a fundraiser hosted at the offices of the powerful Los Angeles Federation of Labor. That group’s executive secretary-treasurer, Maria Elena Durazo, lobbied council members last year to reject the hospital expansion and force it to complete more extensive environmental review. Durazo is seen as an ally to Service Employees International Union, which represents healthcare workers and played a major role in the challenge to the hospital expansion.

All these events are leading up to Thursday, when Superior Court Judge Thomas I. McKnew is expected to make final his decision on the hospital project. McKnew dropped some cinder-block-sized hints that he wants an environmental impact report on the project, which would add emergency room beds at a time when other medical facilities are closing or scaling back their operations. McKnew is almost certain to demand a new vote from the City Council on the project.

-- David Zahniser

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Timothy Germann M.D.]

I was once a member of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Medical Staff and have been a neighbor of the Hospital since 1963 living just across Mission Hills Road from the Hospital. I was one of the appellants to the LA City Council, asking that an Environmental Impact Report be performed before starting a very needed expansion. The City ignored my appeal and allowed the Hospital to begin Construction despite an 8-5 vote in favor of an EIR. The Hospital Expansion will now be stopped and an EIR will be performed. This will be a very costly and time consuming delay. This delay is not the fault of me or the other appellants but the fault lies with the Hospital itself which arrogantly began very expensive construction despite knowing that a suit had been filed . As Judge McKnew states “This is a very sad situation”.

[Timothy Germann M.D.]

I was once a member of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Medical Staff and have been a neighbor of the Hospital since 1963 living just across Mission Hills Road from the Hospital. I was one of the appellants to the LA City Council, asking that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)be performed before starting a very needed expansion. The City ignored my appeal and allowed the Hospital to begin Construction despite an 8-5 vote in favor of an EIR. The Hospital Expansion will now be stopped and an EIR will be performed. This will be a very costly and time consuming delay. This delay is not the fault of me or the other appellants but the fault lies with the Hospital itself which arrogantly began very expensive construction despite knowing that a suit had been filed . As Judge McKnew states “This is a very sad situation”.

[Timothy Germann M.D.]

Construction will stop today! PHCMC will appeal to The Second Appellate District to stay Judge Thomas McKnew's order but there are plenty of CEQA cases that say "The Developer who builds before all legal challenges are resolved is rolling the dice and must pay!" PHCMC will roll the dice but will they win? Stay tuned!!