On a Lighter Note
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David Tewes (with the Victoria Advocate) called me. David said that he had been reviewing a plan that Citizens Hospital has having to do with expansion. When he did this review he came across the fact that there was a city street involved with it and also that we had sold that city street to the county. He said did you discuss it in executive session and vote on it? I said we didn’t vote on it. I am sure it was discussed in executive session and more than once. I want to tell you how this situation evolved. Over two years ago David Smith, Charles Windwehen, Lynn Short, Vance riley, Judge Pozzi, David Brown with other hospital employees and Tom Schmidt and I met in Citizens boardroom. We talked about this project. We decided to start working on it, start putting it together and I was not opposed to it at all, in any way form or fashion, because right across the street is Victoria College. The Victoria College campus is larger than the Citizens complex and they control everything, all their internal streets, everything. As Citizens Hospital expanded, I saw no problem with them being in control of everything. There were some issues having to do with oversized pipes, water pressure, where to put fire hydrants, how to get emergency vehicles into the hospital, if there was a fire or something of that nature. It was an administrative thing to work out these details. As work progressed and I am talking about a period of two years, we discussed the issue and it was always what I refer to as a work-in-progress. The plans were being considered by our engineering department and the county’s engineering consultant. Other times work was being done by our legal department and the county’s legal team. When all the details were worked out, we got paid for the street and we gave a deed to the County. We made a mistake because it never came to the City Council for a formal vote. It is on the agenda now to ratify what we have already done. On a lighter note I just want to say that we have some other streets that we would like to sell to the county and we have a couple of streets that we will give to the county and we will give them some money if they will take them.
Will Armstrong it the mayor of Victoria.
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Originally County Hospitals were built to serve as a healthcare resource for the poor and the indigent. That service is long past. All hospitals have no choice but to take any patient that presents to their E.R. due to strict government fines and penalties if someone is not treated or is discriminated against because of their ability to pay. In addition the guidelines to qualify for "indigent" care are so low that even the poorest of the poor do not qualify as indigent.
It is a published fact that the private hospital in this town has more bad debt than the County Hospital. Why? Because it is the hospital of choice for some non-paying patients....they present through the E.R. and must be treated. Additionally, in an emergency, the patient must be taken to the nearest hospital and it seems the Private Hospital gets more patients this way.
The County Hospital in Victoria is like no other. It is expansive and the Health Center.....or as some people call it the Northside Taj Mahal represents a phenomenal amount of county money invested in a business that really the county has no business being in.
Why you ask should the County not have a large fancy hospital and a super deluxe health center. Simple....the County pays no taxes. By building and operating these businesses they are in direct competition with businesses that do pay taxes. When that happens all you fine citizens out there pay even more taxes because the county hospital and the Northside Taj Mahal is not paying their share.
Additionally the County Hospital is not plagued by problems that private hospitals are. Their liability for malpractice is limited by law....a good thing back when they only took care of the poor....not a good thing now. They are not required to be self-sufficient so your tax dollars go to take up the slack. As a result they are staffed above and beyond what is required to the point of excess in some areas. All of this makes it difficult for private tax paying healthcare businesses to compete with Victoria's unique and opulent County Hospital. Think about it people. Is this a good thing?
May 9, 2008 at 10 a.m.Thanks, Mayor. You've helped me make up my mind about the next election already. Here's a hint: It ain't gonna be YOU!
May 9, 2008 at 8:04 a.m.I think what's lost here is the fact that this incident is part of a larger, more troubling issue. The multi-million Citizen's expansion project is going forward with what seems to be little, if any, public oversight or input. I realize that the hospital is doing a good job. But come on guys, it takes a long time to earn the public's trust and a very short time to destroy it. And this is the kind of thing that happens when public officials forget who they answer to. I hope that there are no more surprises looming.
May 9, 2008 at 6:48 a.m.There is nothing funny Mr. mayor about violating the public's trust. I am so pleased that the Victoria Advocate published your letter so that the people of our good city can see exactly what kind of person we have put in office as our leader. In addition to highlighting your lack of communication skills, your letter also highlights you total disregard for the rule of law. Count your days as Mayor, as they are numbered. When election time rolls around , we will not forget how you tried to make the citizens the bad guys in this situation rather than take responsibility and apologize for your misdeeds.
May 9, 2008 at 1:16 a.m.To the Alcalde: What a bunch of "boolsheep". Try to sell your explanation to somebody a lot more estupido than you think we are.
May 8, 2008 at 2:54 p.m.This was an incredibly stupid column. Mr. Mayor, you alienated even more people with your words. You think this is a joking matter?? Tax dollars are at stake here. You should have taken the opportunity to apologize. Instead, you showed what a totally useless and incompetent individual you really are.
May 8, 2008 at 2:16 p.m.And he is a Mayor? Gee I speak as eloquently as he does! Where did he go to school, VISD?
I guess this was his way of splaining to us commoners about what happened. Gee, golly, gosh....it was 2 years ago (shrugs)!! Thanks for the explanation mayor...your bad....no biggie.....it's all good.
Maybe he can give those streets to Mr. Smith!
(I am also way more amusing!)
May 7, 2008 at 9:03 p.m.