New hospital legal challenge to continue – Daily Journal

A legal challenge to a ballot measure that seeks to rebuild Peninsula Medical Center at no cost to taxpayers will continue, a nonprofit watchdog group announced yesterday. The Peninsula Guardians announced it will continue to challenge Measure V until it includes adequate safeguards to protect San Mateo County taxpayers and patients. In late July, a San Mateo court denied a request by the Guardians to stop a special mail-in election on the measure by the Peninsula Health Care District, seeking public approval for a private entity to construct and operate a new hospital in place of the District. If approved by voters in an all-mail ballot, the new proposed $488 million hospital is being paid for by Mills-Peninsula and its affiliate, Sutter Health, but requires ultimate approval by voters because it is on district-owned property. It will have about 243 beds, a new medical office building and a multi-level parking garage. Planned to be constructed just east of the 1954 building, the new medical center must be built by 2013 to comply with earthquake safety standards. In a press release yesterday, the Guardians said it decided to continue the legal action because voter approval will not eliminate many of the objectionable provisions of the underlying agreements, including a 50-year lease term for public property, which exceeds the maximum 30-years permitted by state law. The group also said it supports rebuilding the hospital. According to the Guardians, the terms of these agreements are objectionable because, among other reasons, they do not limit or prevent Mills Peninsula from demanding and receiving more public property, assets and financial support from the tax-collecting District in the future without voter approval. Proponents of the measure, however, contend the hospital will have to be shut down if the measure does not pass

– Written by Fiona