Measure C Soundly Defeated

(Press Democrat) Sonoma Valley residents on Tuesday soundly defeated a controversial bond measure to build a new hospital, with an unusually high voter turnout even though the hospital board had rescinded its support for the measure.

Measure C lost in a 77 percent to 23 percent landslide, with 58 percent of registered Sonoma Valley voters casting ballots in the mail election."The message is, there was strong opposition to this measure and all the aspects of it, the size of the hospital, the tax burden, and the eminent domain issue was the headline," said Bill Boerum, a spokesman for the opponents.

Measure C would have authorized a $148 million bond for a new Sonoma Valley Hospital to be built on farmland owned by the Leveroni family.The Leveronis, however, weren't willing sellers and the board would have been forced to condemn the property.

"I am relieved and grateful the voters in Sonoma defeated Measure C," Joe Leveroni said. "I'm proud we were able to get together that kind of majority.""It is just a first step," he said. "We now need to get together and work on designing and proposing a hospital we all can agree on. It is a victory, but it is also a responsibility to finish the job."

Boerum said even though the hospital board backed off on the hospital site and the ballot measure, opponents still urged residents to vote."We hope the size of the vote sends a strong message to district directors that they need to scale back their ambition if they expect to succeed, scale back the size and scale of the hospital," Boerum said.

Message from Bill

Bill Boerum
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 11:38 PM
Subject: Election On - Vote No - Keep Signs Up

Election is still on – Vote No on C
This election is still on despite the “yes” campaign folding and confusion caused by initial newspaper reports. It is important that ballots be voted “No” and returned so they can be counted and the tally certified. Please pass the word to friends, family and fellow supporters. If you are working on our telephone campaign keep working your call list and return it as indicated.

Keep the Signs Up
Since the election continues until May 2, please keep your lawn and road signs up. Voters will be casting ballots until that date. Though the other side is taking down their signs, our campaign continues while votes are being received at the Registrars Office during the next three weeks.

SVHC District Meeting – Thurs., April 13 – Make Your Views Known
The Health Care District Board of Directors meets in a special session this Thursday, April 13 at 5PM at the Vintage House - 264 1st Street East, Sonoma. At the beginning of the meeting, there will be a comment period for the public on the Board’s consideration of properties under negotiation for a new hospital on Broadway south of Napa Road. Following this comment period, the Board will go into closed session on the matter, and then reconvene with its recommendation. The comment period is a good time to voice your confidence in – or lack thereof – in the Board’s and the Administration’s ability to carry on with what may be its plan for the new site, and what is needed to reconcile with the community. Though eminent domain was a defining issue in this campaign, it was not and is not, the only issue. Other issues include the size and scope of hospital services as well as the absolute cost (including tax burden) of a new or retro-fitted facility.

Contributions Needed
Since the campaign is continuing, we need contributions. Please forward your donations to: No on C Committee, P.O. Box 791, Sonoma 95476.

Feel free to forward this message to others who have an interest in supporting the No on C campaign.

Measure C Truth Website

www.measureCtruth.com

The hospital board's scheme to railroad the voters: Last year the board paid consultants $83,000 to secretly plan an expensive campaign to pass Measure C. Their scheme included springing a special election on the community in hopes of catching any opposition unprepared. The board could have waited two more months for the general election in June. The consultants have pieced together a worse-case scenario to make it appear closing the hospital is a certainty if Measure C fails. The board has ignored all other options--they only want a big, new hospital complex!

The board's deceptive fear tactic that the hospital will close: The board's consultants are propaganda experts that specialize in scare tactics such as "the hospital will close if Measure C loses." Measure C doesn't finance the day-to-day operation of the hospital. In 2002 Sonoma Valley voters passed a parcel tax to subsidize their community hospital. If Measure C fails operating income continues and the hospital remains open.

The board's attempt to conceal the real costs of Measure C:

$148,000,000 principal (widely publicized)
$140,000,000 30 yrs potential interest (not discussed)
$288,000,000 of big debt, more taxes (that's more than 1/4 billion)

If the current small hospital is under utilized then how can we afford to operate a new hospital complex more than twice its size?

The current hospital is on 3.5 acres and the proposed complex would be on 16 acres with a larger hospital, an office complex, and parking facilities.



Please email this website www.measureCtruth.com to as many people as you can.Or print this page and distribute to your neighbors.

Help us build our email database of Sonoma Valley residents. Email or forward addresses to: provide@measureCtruth.com