The Hospital Issue in a Nutshell

[Michael Deneen]

For anyone looking for a snapshot overview of the Hospital situation and how to move forward, I recommend Dennis Kucinich's letter from Friday.
As many of you are aware, history has proven Dennis right about major votes in his career such as Muny Light and the Iraq War.


Dear Friend,

As you know, with your support, I served Lakewood for 16 years in the United States Congress. Throughout my
career in politics I have challenged the misuse of corporate power and stood up against corruption in government.
I have been chairman of a key investigative subcommittee in Congress.

I have studied the Lakewood Hospital case extensively. In my research of the events surrounding Lakewood
Hospital, I was surprised at the extent of underhanded tactics, subterfuge, betrayal and thoroughly dishonest
conduct of certain Lakewood public officials who have worked with a hospital monopoly to try to close Lakewood
Hospital. As a result of my own, independent research, I filed an 80-count, 21 page complaint with the Federal
Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. asking them to take legal action to stop the closing of the hospital.
viewtopic.php?t=22172

As you prepare to vote in Tuesday’s election a few facts are necessary to consider:

1. Cleveland Clinic holds a binding lease on Lakewood Hospital until 2026, making the Clinic, AND NOT LAKEWOOD TAXPAYERS, responsible for Lakewood Hospital’s debts.

2. The Clinic has a legal obligation to protect the assets of Lakewood Hospital as a going concern. It cannot convert those assets to its own use, without violating the law.

3. The Lakewood Hospital Association was supposed to protect the interests of the people of Lakewood, but signed an agreement making Cleveland Clinic its sole member, meaning that LHA not only represents Cleveland Clinic, but IS Cleveland Clinic. So it’s no surprise LHA wants to close Lakewood Hospital.

4. The LHA wanted to build a 194 bed community hospital in 2008, which the Clinic rejected, because the Clinic was already taking secret measures to shut down Lakewood Hospital.

5. The Mayor of Lakewood, who also sits on the LHA board, was privy to secret information about the closing of Lakewood Hospital, but failed to communicate it to the people of Lakewood. While serving the interests of the Clinic, the Mayor failed to protect the people of Lakewood.

6. If the present Mayor is re-elected, the Hospital will close. If Michael Skindell is elected, the hospital will remain open for full service to Lakewood.

7. A YES vote on Issue 64 protects your right to make a final decision on Lakewood Hospital. Those who oppose Issue 64 are the same people who concealed their intentions to secretly close Lakewood Hospital, without the people having any choice or voice!

I appreciate the support you have given me in the past. I care deeply about Lakewood. I served it in the state senate and the US Congress. Lakewood was my district headquarters, with an office many could walk to within minutes. The thing I remember most about the people of Lakewood is their ability to know when a fast one is being pulled by special interests. That’s why Save Lakewood Hospital came forward with a law suit to protect the community’s health…and wealth.

Tuesday, November 3, is Election Day. This is your chance to demonstrate your power to bring to a reckoning those who violated the public interest, and tried to close your community hospital. Two votes. First, please vote for Mike Skindell for Mayor, to save Lakewood Hospital and secondly, Vote YES on 64, to give the people the final say!

Thank you.

Dennis Kucinich.
Paid for by Kucinich Action
DennisJ. Kucinich
For more information, reach me at contactkucinich@gmail.com