Floyd wrote on Aug 18, 2008 6:55 PM:You mean Tri-City Hospital has been able to raise over $1.8 million and didn't spend a penny of it refurbishing their facilities? Add that to their $10 million quarterly profit and the massive savings they could realize by capping administrator salaries at $99,000 (down from a half-million for the top desk jockey) and they are well on their way! They don't need this bond issue!

Gil wrote on Aug 18, 2008 7:54 PM:Why don't they take the money from the Carlsbad HS that will never be built?

Vista Watchdog wrote on Aug 18, 2008 8:27 PM:If they'd done the state mandated retrofitting back in the 1980's while doing that last big building project they could have tapped into State Bond moneys for the retrofit work and we wouldn't be in this pickle today. They've known since the late 1970's that this building needed to be retrofitted, but never did a thing to try and save up the funds to do the work. A Privately owned Hospital would have, and ALL Private Hospitals in CA DID! None of the Private Hospitals in CA have failed to complete the State mandated retrofitting resulting from the Sylmar Earthquake 9 Feb 1971. So, why has Tri-City Hospital waited so long, endangering all who have used this facility over the past 35 years since the passage of the new standards? Because they knew that in the end they could pay themselves big salaries and then hold the citizens hostage because there is NO Competition in the area! The Government Hospital is the only game in town and so the people will have to pay up or die!

Well, that is not the only option we citizens have. We own Tri-City Hospital and we can put it up for sale too! With no competition and serving an area with a few million residents private firms will be knocking each other down to take control of this facility. Granted, they will want a discount for the cost of the retrofits, but we taxpayers would still end up with 100s of millions of dollars (and probably Billions of dollars) that could be used for other much needed Emergency Services in the area. And ALL without have to pay one dime in additional Taxes!
It is time to sell our assets and use the proceeds for those things we need most! The government should never be allowed to do work that Private companies can do as well or better. And the Government certainly should not be permitted to create and build an industry that is so large that it keeps Private industry totally out of the picture. That is NOT what Government is for, and it is time we Citizens let our elected officials know!

Dave wrote on Aug 19, 2008 1:02 AM:The question I have isthis. Are all the ballots not returned counted as yes? If so all of us that are against this are royally put in a nut and bolt. If all the unreturned ballots are counted as yes votes than why have a vote at all. I voted no. I do not want any new taxes. Period. Nothing else on the issue no new taxes.

J Dub wrote on Aug 19, 2008 6:10 AM:I wasn't too thrilled by this proposal in the first place. It strikes me as a sneaky way to conduct an election. Any election method which requires additional effort of ALL voters tends to limit the vote to those who have the most motivation. Now, finding that the supporters have put in $600K only serves to reinforce my skepticism and cynicism. You would think that Tri City would have figured out after 2 failed efforts that voters are giving a message. But, those who "know better" than the average voter are insistent on shoving another measure down the throats of voters which I hope is resoundingly rejected.

lady wrote on Aug 19, 2008 6:57 AM:This makes me SICK (not going to Tri-City)they had ALL this money AND now want ours!!! Are they NUTS?? NO on A!!

Michelle Q wrote on Aug 19, 2008 7:01 AM:They have so much cash, and then they taught the cash and how they are able to raise so much of it. Why can't they go to the same sources for cash and build the hospital. Oh, and by the way, I lost my house and I am now renting a condo. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO on A

Joe B wrote on Aug 19, 2008 7:03 AM:Art G. is doing such a great job!... NOT! His consultant have not seen that the entire onslaught has been for at him, and they have done nothing to counter. I love over paid consultants.

Mia is tired of the whiners wrote on Aug 19, 2008 7:08 AM:I am a TCMC employee I am tired of people whining about the big salaries TCMC employees receive. The nurses deserve to make the money they make. Art deserves to make the money he makes. Not everyone that works there makes a lot of money. If the bond does not pass where are you going to go if you need emergency care. Guess what? You may not make it to Scripps or PPHS. I know most of you voting NO are not spring chickens, stop being so ignorant. If TCMC closes there will be over two thousand unemployed people. VOTE YES ON A

victoria wrote on Aug 19, 2008 7:49 AM:Mia,
We are not whiners. We are all struggling with salaries and costs of living right now. Just one more dollar to have to spend, in property taxes, hurts. Do you realize that even with your salary, you will end up paying yourself in the long run?? Your salary will diminish with the new taxes you will have to pay if the ballot goes through. Or, maybe you aren't a homeowner and you won't be affected?? If there are ANY "yes" votes, in likelihood it will be those that ARE NOT homeowners and thus no tax increase for non homeowners. That doesn't seem fair, does it??

Mia how dare you wrote on Aug 19, 2008 8:06 AM:Mia,
How dare you make that comment... You are saying that if Prop A is not passed the hospital will SHUT DOWN.... Stop it... We all know that most people @ Tri City do not make those outrageous salaries... However the top 10 are grossly overpaid.. But hey that's capitalism at it's finest right... I use Tri city when i need to be seen for an emergency and i appreciate everything they have done for me and my family.... But with prop A and this mail in ballot they are using the backdoor to get this done... And that's wrong.... So Mia get off your high horse and shut it... Or step up to the plate and realize what your administrators are doing... Tri city is a private hosptial that makes a profit every year. What pisses me off is that anyone and everyone can use this hospital but only a certain local areas are paying for the entire thing... That's BS and you know it.... I am tired of always paying for everyone else's issues... enough is enough.....

Joe B wrote on Aug 19, 2008 8:08 AM:I am so tired of people stating that "If we don't pass the bond, then we will have to close the hospital. That is complete bull." The hospital has so much time and all they need to do is use the same effort to collect funds as they do for the need to raise our taxes and then they would have it. Regardless of what happens in the world of the bond... the hospital will stand.

from the back gate wrote on Aug 19, 2008 8:29 AM:Make sure if you are sick or dying when there is no tri-city hosp to blame, remember your no vote on A and how stupid your really were. Maybe if we took some of the wasted money we are spending or are about to spend on our crapy school system and our sainted teachers retirements, we could probably build a new health care facility. At least we might get a little bang for our buck. Think about it, keep breathing or take spanish as a second language.

from the back gate wrote on Aug 19, 2008 8:34 AM:Brown and what ever his name is.
what an example of two of the three stooges. And for all you whiners, like victoria, nothing is fair in this life, but life is worth any cost, if you are not here, you dont have to worry about it.

Oside Res wrote on Aug 19, 2008 9:01 AM:I have a hard time grasping additional taxes when my insurance requires me to go to a different hospital unless its an extreme emergency. Also, my neighbor pays less because they bought a cheaper house but they have 3 families living in hte house?

RD wrote on Aug 19, 2008 9:28 AM:To be honest I'm not really comfortable that any of these services my tax dollars pay for are going to people that don't belong here. Especially when I look at my bank account these days and can barely feed and care for my own kids. I'm sick to my stomach with worry about how I'm gonna make my house payment and they want more bond money out of me. I really can not afford this.

OUCH wrote on Aug 19, 2008 9:30 AM:NO ON A, HOSPITAL WON'T SHUT DOWN!

GET YOUR BALLOTS IN TODAY!!!!!!!!

Riggins wrote on Aug 19, 2008 9:37 AM:I am so tired of this. This is worse then presidential elections. Once you are done... it's back.

Randy wrote on Aug 19, 2008 9:38 AM:All ballots that are not returned are not counted as "yes." All ballots that are returned are counted. If 2/3 + 1 ballot of all the ballots returned vote "yes," then Prop. A passes.

YES to Tri-City wrote on Aug 19, 2008 10:31 AM:Vote for the Tri-City Hospital.

The life they save may be your friend.

The life they save may be your dentist.

The life they save may be your son.

The life they save may be your grandmom.

The life they save may be your life.

VOTE YES for TRI-CITY

Dave wrote on Aug 19, 2008 10:42 AM:Thanks Randy, That makes sense. I have read here before that unreturned ballots were counted as yes votes. That made no sense to me. If they need 2/3+1 this bond will end up the same way as all the others. NO on A

Chief wrote on Aug 19, 2008 10:46 AM:The ballot will fail. The administrators will all vote themselves another pay hike. Because of their efforts to do the community good by attempting to rebuild the hospital at the cost to us saps that pay our property tax.

Mike wrote on Aug 19, 2008 10:48 AM:So the phone calls will stop on Aug.25.

Just The Facts Please wrote on Aug 19, 2008 11:09 AM:I read with humor the logic of the no voters. To fund the plan of finance would take around $25 million a year more in profits every year , not even the entire Scripps system makes that. Our hospital will close if we can't rebuild it and non homeowners will pay their fair share as rent increases. Don't be fooled we need our hospital for our health and our economy without it we're all in a world of hurt. It's a small price to pay VOTE YES ON A.

YES for TRI-City wrote on Aug 19, 2008 11:09 AM:TRI-City --- Vote YES

Have you or family or friend, ever needed a hospital when you were out-of-town?

Having Hospitals that will admit all is important.

Usually service is available 24 hrs every day.

Every Community needs a nearby hospital, firehouse, police station. These nearby working Public Health and Safety professionals are necessary. Most of these services are expensive.

Someone needs help every day.

When disaster strikes, the horrific emergency will impact all of us.

TRI-City - Vote YES

Floyd wrote on Aug 19, 2008 11:21 AM:Threatening closure of the hospital if Prop A fails is a great way to insure the measure will fail. Overburdened taxpayers who earn $30,000 a year see no need to support administrators who command a salary of a half-million a year or nurses who take home $80,000 a year, especially when Tri-City Medical Center charges patients about $4,000 an hour for their services. Fix the budget problem and the hospital won't need a bond issue.

no way wrote on Aug 19, 2008 11:41 AM:not another dollar until you can show your responsible. vote NO

Hellen wrote on Aug 19, 2008 11:50 AM:Mia is tired of the whiners- you need to get Bushe's red-yellow-green terrorist light flashing now.

NO means NO!!!!!!

Take your scare tactics back,the best thing that can happen is for this hospital to be sold....

Floyd wrote on Aug 19, 2008 12:11 PM:It would only cost $25 million a year and the Tri City Medical Center just reported a profit of $10 million? They're almost halfway there already! And a salary cap of $99,000 on administrator salaries would free up additional millions. With just a few more budget changes the cost of refurbishing the hospital can be fully paid from existing revenue without the need to soak the voters for more taxes.

Tri again wrote on Aug 19, 2008 12:37 PM:Tri City fails to follow up with the state regarding building inspections. Who knows when the buildings actually need replacing?

Tri City spends substantial money on areas outside the main hospital campus

Tri City spends too much money on consultants

Tri City pays RIDICULOUS bonuses

Tri City brags about giving away HUNDREDS of thousands of dollars to community groups.

And this is just the easy stuff find, imagine what we don't know?

I voted NO, NO, NO

Three Strike wrote on Aug 19, 2008 1:00 PM:How many times do we have to vote on this bond?

The hospital is still standing and is making MORE money year by year. Believe in their financial statements not scare tactics.

Vote no by a large margin so that TriCity can hear clearly this time.

Mia is STILL sick of the whiners wrote on Aug 19, 2008 1:23 PM:I am a homeowner Victoria, thanks for asking, I am prepared for my property taxes to go up. If that is what it takes to save my life or anyone else's life.

BTW those of you that want me to shut my mouth, be thankful we live in a country where we can express ourselves and GOD BLESS THE USA!!!!

VOTE YES ON A.

Believe the truth wrote on Aug 19, 2008 1:26 PM:To Floyd and Vista watch dog,
Floyd you have very fuzzy math. The profit was not quarterly, it was annual. It was also the first time Tri-City had that much at the end of the year in a long long time. Shows good managment. But even if they did earn 11 million a year and saved 1 million in salerys, it would take about 50 years to start on rebuilding the hospital. That would be in todays prices, by then it would cost at least 3 times as much.
Vista watch dog, the siesmic upgrades you are refering to were done back in the late 80's and early 90's. At that time, Tri-City brought the buildings up to the new standard. After the Northridge earthquake, the state mandated the new requirments that have caused many hospitals to close their doors already. This mandate is Senate Bill 1953. Look it up and read it. Then vote yes on Prop. A

Yes on A wrote on Aug 19, 2008 1:34 PM:I can't believe the bad information being tossed around by some of the nay sayers.

No one likes taxes but healthcare districs have limited ways to raise the type of capital necessary to fund a project such as this.

Put your petty feelings aside. It doesn't matter whether you think some people are paid too much. Like it or not, it is the community standard.

Our community needs a high quality hospital not only for the care of our community members but for the economic value it contributes.

Try to look at the big picture.

Vote Yes on A. Our families and our community are counting on it.

why I voted NO NO NO wrote on Aug 19, 2008 1:35 PM:Because when I use the hospital they want to charge me more because I pay cash. Solution, I now go to mexico, awesome care and very cheap, screw you tri city.

Voted NO wrote on Aug 19, 2008 2:51 PM:This measure, which taxes based upon assessed property value, is unfair to those persons who purchased their properties during the recent boom. The value of one's property has no relationship to the amount of bond taxes one should pay. This should be a per-capita tax based upon the size of the household within the entire geographical boundaries of all three tri-cities or it simply isn't fair. I voted NO and encourage everyone else to do the same.

tax sentence wrote on Aug 19, 2008 3:51 PM:Property tax goes up every year. TriCity bond is a 40 year compounding tax increase. When property tax goes up, the retailers rents go up, too. This means everything we buy will go up every year in the next 40 years. Higher property tax plus higher costs of living will make the 3 cities a living hell.
Even government and school bonds failed miserably to deliver what they promised, why comit ourselves to 'a 40 year tax sentence without a possibility of parole'. Vote NO. which part of the 'pay for your own serice' don't people understand?

K wrote on Aug 19, 2008 4:06 PM:Wow, TriCity has enough supporters to donate $600K in no time at all just for a campaign. It will be easy for it to raise $600M construction costs in a few years. So many people have stated that their lives were saved and they would give everything to TriCity.

Time to put your money where your mouth is. The construction will take years, just make sure you donate every year as you said you would and spare those who are struggling to pay mortgage, food and gas. Be generous, it is good karma. Prodding others to pay an unfair tax for your self-interests is evil.

Dude wrote on Aug 19, 2008 4:14 PM:Did you get my NO vote yet???

Mia -conflict of interest wrote on Aug 19, 2008 4:17 PM:So ....Mia is worried about her own job not about where people are going to go if Prop. A fails again and again and again.

Those who have skills and confidence don't worry about this problem.

By the way, Mia is getting paid by TriCity to do this. So lack of credibility is not even funny.

Yes On A wrote on Aug 19, 2008 4:29 PM:I am a Homeowner/Voter/Taxpayer and have done my homework....We need the Hospital and the Hospital needs our support! Yes On A! All of you nay-sayers haven't done ALL of your homework! Call and schedule and indepth Hospital Tour to get more information. The facility is aged, but the Physicians and Staff are among some of the finest in the nation. Again the life you may save someday....maybe your own!! You are all just too ignorant to know so yet!! Hats Off to Tri City!

No Way on A wrote on Aug 19, 2008 5:27 PM:I bought an overpriced house on an adjustable mortgage that the payment went up two thousand dollars. I have a BMW payment and I racked up my credit cards buying new golf clubs and furniture. I cannot afford the extra six dollars a month for this hospital.

to Voted nono no wrote on Aug 19, 2008 6:05 PM:So if you are not happy with the care at Tri City and now you go to Mexico with their "great Care". What happens when you get in a care accident on the 78 and need to be brought to the hospital I can pretty much say that they are not going to take you to Mexico.

I Voted Yes on A you can't put a price on a life.

Floyd wrote on Aug 19, 2008 6:57 PM:Since this upgrade is so desperately needed, you'd think they would be pouring their $10 million profit into it. Especially since they've claimed every month of delay adds $3.5 million to the final cost! They haven't been spending their own funds on the project, are making no effort to avoid the added costs caused by the delay, and haven't proposed salary caps to free up additional funds, which tells you this bond issue isn't as important as they claim. With an annual gross revenue of $1 billion dollars, the $25 million per year they'll need works out to a measly 2.5% of total income. They don't need more money from the taxpayers! Vote "no" on Prop A.

ask Mia wrote on Aug 19, 2008 7:28 PM:Mia is at least honest enough to say that she is a TriCity employee, but I do agree with the conflict of interest part.

Is it true Mia that Art Gonzolas has a mansion provided for by TriCity in La Costa while he actually lives in the Pacific NW?

Is it true Mia that potential construction companies and staff companies donated large sums to this campaign?

minutes wrote on Aug 19, 2008 8:15 PM:When you are injured and are suffering blood loss, or when you are in a serious car accident, the care that you receive in the first 30 minutes is absolutely critical.

When this happens to you in this area, you are going to the Tri-City ER. What kind of facilities and care do you want waiting for you when your life, or your child's life, is on the line?

I have kids. That hospital needs to be a better facility. I am voting yes.

Mia wrote on Aug 19, 2008 9:08 PM:I can tell you I am not sure if Art's house is paid by the hospital, but if it is that was probably an agreement made when he was hired. As far as the large sums of money donated this article is the first I have heard of this. We were informed we could volunteer to be part of the campaign. I am not being paid to blog as someone said, if the hospital closes I can find a job elsewhere that is not my concern. My concern is needing emergency care and not being able to get there in time and everyone voting NO should really think about that. Can you make it to Scripps or PPHS in an emergency? I do not know if I can, I have small children and I am not willing to take the chance. Someone said my salary will diminish if the bond passes, I will cut back on groceries, shopping if I have to but lives may be @ risk if this bond does not pass, with that said VOTE YES on Prop A.

TCMC will NOT close wrote on Aug 19, 2008 9:08 PM:Since TCMC is owned by the public it cannot close unless the public permits it to! No matter if the Bond does fail, the Hospital itself CANNOT legally close without a vote of teh People to disband the hospital District and allow it to close. In which case, I can assure you teh People would require the assets to be sold, and since it is already a fully operating Hospital Facility someone would come in a buy it and continue to operate it as a Hospital!

Therefore, ther is NO WAY that TCMC will EVER close unless all the people in this area move away and there are no more patients to be treated!

How foolish have the public become? Do you really believe the Government can provide you with the best healthcare? Just look at Sacramento today: they cant even agree on passing a state budget. And, without a State Budget a state run hosptial would soon have to shut down due to lack of fund needed to run! No, Private enterprise and FREE MARKET are the real answer here. Sell TCMC and use the money where it will do more good for the whole community!

Tri-City Native wrote on Aug 19, 2008 9:09 PM:The newcomers that have invaded North County over the past twenty years have bought properties with those ugly Mello-Roos special assesment taxes and I don't blame them for being upset. Generally, I disagree with taxes but Tri-City Hospital needs the upgrades to provide premium for the hospital district. Our health care future depends on it. I am sorry the newcomers are upset with expensive roads and fancy medians they got gouged with but this proposition shouldn't be compared to Mello-Roos. I voted yes, the extra fifty dollars a year won't hurt compared to an hour long ambulance ride to Palomar or Scripps.

kc wrote on Aug 20, 2008 6:59 AM:People,

At leat get your facts straight on the votes. ballots not cast are NOT counted as yes votes...they simply don't count for the total. If only 60,000 votes are returned, then the percentage of yes votes are taken based on those 60,000. Call the registrar of voters and they will confirm.

from the back gate wrote on Aug 20, 2008 7:36 AM:Wow. Some of the comments made by no, no, no on A are dumber than I thought people could be. Did you hear the news about the fines levied against the great PHD and Scrips for their bad care and even some deaths. You really need to go there for your care so that the rest of us dont have to deal with you.

Know the truth wrote on Aug 20, 2008 12:32 PM:Believe the truth writes, "It was also the first time Tri-City had that much at the end of the year in a long long time. Shows good managment."

The TRUTH is management paid close to $700,000 for consultants to tell them how to save money. So, in effect, management paid someone else to do their job for them. Is this what you consider good management? BTW, ask staff what that $10,000,000 has cost them in terms of workload and trying to provide safe patient care.

Believe the truth wrote on Aug 20, 2008 2:11 PM:To Know the truth, Do your math. A return on investment of 14 to 1 is extremlly good in anyones book. There are millions of consultants out there for a reason. Todays economy(especially health care) is very complicated. You can't know everything. The trick is hiring the right people. Consultants are temporary employees that get a lot of bang for the buck,that is,if managment is savy enough to get the right ones.
Thankfully, Tri-City has a savy managment team. Vote yes

conflict of interest wrote on Aug 20, 2008 6:25 PM:Talking about conflict of interest, does everyone know that Dr. Gonslaves- the m.d. who is heading the opposition (not Tri-City CEO) works as an anesthesiologist for Palomar Hospital, is an EX Tri-city employee and is set to benefit if Tri-City should close?...hmmm...

To Back Gate wrote on Aug 20, 2008 9:03 PM:Nobdoy needs go anywhere and no taxes are needed either. Ther is NO competition for TCMC yet it serves a few million people in the area (that includes many outside the district proper). so, with such a large client base and no competition, and a fully up and running facility, the buyers are litterally waiting in the wings for TCMC to be put on the block. But, the fools running the hospital continue to try and tell us that the hospital will close if we don't pass the bond. That is known as blackmail and is illegal in most other businesses.
Sell the hospital and use the money from the sale to improve the total emergancy management of the District, not just enlarge the ER. In fact, we coudl actually contract with the new owner to have a world calss trauma center built and run at TCMC. But, a bond will never provide enough for that! Teh Yes on A folls have been drinking the cool-aid and it looks like it is grape cool-aid at that!

to Mia wrote on Aug 20, 2008 9:16 PM:thank you for your honest opinions.

It is understandable why people vote yes but millions live next to Scripps or prefer Scripps and they have the right to vote No.

I wish the management team of TriCity looked inside for solutions and respected the voter's decisions in the last two elections.

Isn't this how democracy works?
TriCity is a public hospital, it can never be closed without a public vote.
Maybe a better management team will step in at that time to offer the staff a better environment.

Jertho wonders wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:54 AM:If the "No on A" group is operating on less than $1000.00, who paid for all of those professionally-printed signs I see everywhere? The cost to buy each sign is about $2.00 and it's likely a company was hired to post the signs. That would have cost much more than their claimed funds would cover. Would some of the NO NO NO believers please explain that, just with facts?

Oceanside Chris wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:45 AM:I voted no, and am encouraging others too. I don't belong to any political party nor do I support the "Vote No" crowd except by voting NO. This is a sneaky way to raise taxes especially with a general election in NOVEMBER. The hospital board will cram this down our throats/wallets until they get the money. A sad day for democracy by having a sneak attack on raising taxes. As a homeowner, I am sick and tired of hands in my wallet. I have been to Tri City four times in the past four years for operations, and there has to be a better solution than stealing an election via the Post Office. The nurses deserve better too. With the state using the threat of raising sales tax one percent, that's more money away from your wallet. This isn't democracy, it's legal theft. It has to stop. Vote No, please! Make a realistic plan.

To Jethro wrote on Aug 21, 2008 2:09 PM:We've had two previous elections. And according to the Fair Political Practices Committee, individuals desiring to spend their own money to promote or oppose can do so without having to file any paperwork. The oppostion to this bond is mostly grassroots, and so that would explain the money issue you see.

To Jethro wrote on Aug 21, 2008 5:35 PM:volunteers post the signs at no costs. This is something the rich TriCity supporters can't even begin to understand. Sad. This goes to show the fundamental problem of the TriCity - too much money, not enough heart.

Now, why do medical staffing agencies and construction contractors contributed most of the $600K campaign fund? Explain this and stop whining about the $2 signs. Pathetic.