Jay Carson wrote:I don't see anything misleading about the poll. It is misleading, however, to suggest that Metro is still in play, after they have confirmed multiple times that they are not. The Clinic has said that they will leave. Why don't you believe them? Metro said that they don't want to take it over. Why don't you believe them? Are there any studies done by any consultants that you would believe? LHA has shown that it's losing money hand over fist. Why don't you believe them? The only answer I ever get to these questions is that everyone is lying, and there is "something more" going on, and its all part of a big conspiracy to . . . . I don't know, build a rec center or something.
Jay,
You must be speaking to the wrong people or looking at bogus documents and numbers.
Here are 2 examples misleading and false questions:
"The hospital is losing $1 million/month. Should it close?" So far the hospital has not lost that much in any one month---it netted $2.5 million last year and the investment pool only dropped about $53K per month in the for the first 6 months of 2015. The primary reason that it began losing money this year is because: 1. CCF/LHA and Summers announced that it is closing and 2. CCF is trying to make it lose money to achieve its goals. So the question is clearly false and misleading.
"If CCF doesn't stay, the hospital would end up an empty building - should it close?" This is a completely false statement with no basis in fact. Anyone who understands the Clinic and healthcare in Lakewood understands that the Clinic wants to monopolize healthcare in Lakewood. If they left, it would open the market up for competitors and would give Lakewood choices. More important is the twisted logic-based upon a false premise--IF CCF leaves we would have an EMPTY BUILDING so let's close it. That's like saying if the Browns left Cleveland, we would have an empty stadium so let's do away with the team and tear down the stadium so we can build some class A office buildings, mixed use retail/housing.
You wrote
"The Clinic has said that they will leave. Why don't you believe them?" Jay, because they have never said that and even if they did, they are proven liars. Why do you believe proven liars?
I will give you a $10,000 check payable to your favorite charity (even CCF) if you can get Toby Cosgrove to sign a written irrevocable statement that CCF will leave the Lakewood Hospital Campus location and cooperate in an orderly transition to a new buyer, lessee or manager in the event that Lakewood finds one and that they will hold harmless any party that the City engages as a prospect. Get me the statement and I guarantee that Lakewood will have more than one offer to operate quality healthcare in the heart of our city within a few months. Many parties are waiting and watching our valuable assets--surely you know that expert opinions are like wet toilet paper when compared to live prospects with the financial means that bidding against each other.
FYI, Metro backed out of their proposal after CCF's Brian Donley met with Dr. Boutros and then Dr. Boutros said he "felt used" by LHA and Summers. Why? Because Summers and his Step 2 never had a written statement from CCF that they would leave. You can call that a conspiracy, but I have multiple sources inside Metro who say that happened.
No worries Jay, many other good people like you have been misled--some choose to ignore the facts, believe what they want to believe, just don't want to "see" etc.
Let's do coffee or lunch and we can work together to truly Build Lakewood hospital into a well managed up to date facility. (I'll bring my checkbook if you can get that statement.)
