Sequoia Healthcare District ready to pay Unions back

The Sequoia Healthcare District should have been handed over along with the hospital when it was purchased and taken over by Catholic Charities several years ago. They could have done a much more efficient job in administering these tax dollars for the purposes that they were actually originally intended instead of all the unnecessary and wasteful bureaucracy that perpetuates itself now.
When is their next board meeting? Someone should encourage the Catholic Charities people to attend.

Next District Board meeting is next week December 1, 2010 4:30 PM
Sequoia Healthcare District Office 525 Veterans Blvd, Redwood City, Ca.

Jackie I agree with you, Jack Hickey and 2 Grand Juries 00-01 and 01-02

"The Sequoia Healthcare District should have been handed over along with the hospital when it was purchased and taken over by Catholic Charities several years ago."

It is a shame that the newspapers of San Mateo County for what ever reason misstated what Jack Hickey's slate could or would do, and they never addressed the first 2 Grand Jury reports. They have done a dis-service to the Taxpayers of San Mateo County.

I don't know the full extent of the Sequoia Healthcare District's real estate holdings but couldn't they offer their Administrative office site on Veteran's Blvd to the Sheriff for his new jail site? The location is perfect and even Horsley might see the logic in this practical use of community property exchange.

I can't believe how easily swayed some people can be after listening to Jack Hickey's mendacious biased comments. Fact: The 2004 and 2008 Grand Juries support what the Sequoia Healthcare District is doing. Fact: The incredible good the District does for the health of our community far outways the minimal amount of tax each household is paying. Fact: Jack Hickey in spite of his criticism of using "taxpayer" money, he accepts over $10,000.00 per year for his health insurance(other board members do too, but they don't demonstrate hypocracy). Fact: The people who are supporting Hickey's argument have never even attended a District Board meeting and are only hearing one side of the arguments and following like sheep without any intellegent discourse. Bottom line, the District is doing what the State Legislature intended and is doing it well.

Artur Faro states:"Fact: The incredible good the District does for the health of our community far outways the minimal amount of tax each household is paying."

I would rather make my own charitable contribution than have the non-Hospital District make them for me with my tax dollars.

Good suggestion Mr. Faro
Maybe more citizens should start attending the Sequoia Healthcare District Board meetings and start asking questions about how you distribute out tax dollars. Sounds like Mr. Hickey could use the support.

Dear Mr. Art Faro, I would like to know what your thought are about the 2000-01 Grand Jury Report.
Here is the link:
Web Link

I know you like to mention the 2004 and 2008 GJ reports but I have never heard you discuss the first one. What is your statement re: this one.

Thank You

I would like to correct a few misstatements in some posts.
1. Catholic Healthcare West (not Catholic Charities) is the owner of Sequoia Hospital.
2. Representatives of Sequoia Hospital (CHW) do attend meetings. And one cannot blame them for seeking grants from the District. They continue to receive more than $1,000,000/year from the District while Kaiser, PAMF and Stanford medical receive no grants of taxpayer money. And, Sequoia Hospital is the major employer of graduates from the District subsidized nursing program ($1,000,000/year grant). The Majority Board Members of the District are to blame for making the grants.

The legitimacy of the District is the unanswered question.
I am reviewing the "filed" version of the 2000-2001 Grand Jury report (available at the SMC Law Library) which contains information surrounding the election which formed the District. I have also obtained copies of the "Hospital District Law" as it existed in 1945 when the District was formed. I will be posting findings of my research at http://www.xshcd.com.

With its current assets and income from Sequoia Hospital profits negotiated when CHW bought the hospital, the District could operate without property taxes. An example of this is the Eden Township Healthcare District Web Link whose CEO was previously the Executive Director of Sequoia Healthcare District.

Dear Mr. Art Faro, You used the word "mendacious" in describing Jack Hickey's comments.
I had to look this word up.mendacious |menˈdā sh əs|
adjective
not telling the truth; lying : mendacious propaganda.

Let me point out a fact to you: In a joint mailer for Barbara, Faro & Shefren you published willful misstatements to the public. You used the endorsement of the San Mateo Daily Journal which had been notified (by e-mail) of the false statements.

From: Michael Stogner <michaelgstogner@yahoo.com>
Subject: False statement op-ed
To: "Editor Sanmateodailyjournal" <letters@smdailyjournal.com>
Date: Saturday, October 16, 2010, 11:08 AM

Editor,

The San Mateo Daily Journal has made some false statements in their endorsement of Barbara, Faro and Shefren for Sequoia Healthcare District.

"In this difficult economic time, it is tempting to say the district should be dissolved so there is not taxpayer money going to philanthropic purposes."

Here come the false statement.

"The money would still be collected and instead go to other governmental agencies, so the average tax bill would remain the same regardless of the district's existence."

The Grand Jury has received a legal opinion from the San Mateo County Counsel to the effect that the California Taxation and Revenue Code 96.8 authorizes a hospital district such as Sequoia Healthcare District to request the county auditor make a tax reduction in any amount down to zero for the district's taxpayers on a yearly basis WITHOUT THE REALLOCATION OF THE REDUCED TAXES TO OTHER AGENCIES.


Michael G. Stogner

San Carlos, Ca

Let me also point out that the Almanac also published false statements in their endorsement piece, but when they became aware of my challenge to the statements they contacted the San Mateo County Counsel spoke to Brenda and published the correction.

That correction being Jack Hickey's slate could reduce the taxes.

Art Faro says: "I can't believe how easily swayed some people can be after listening to Jack Hickey's mendacious biased comments."

Art, be specific. Which of my comments do you find "mendacious?

Art further states:
"Fact: Jack Hickey in spite of his criticism of using "taxpayer" money, he accepts over $10,000.00 per year for his health insurance..."

That is a bold faced lie!

I offer this link Web Link to the Sequoia Healthcare District check registers of the last few years as a starting point for the inquisitive mind. Search for "Faro" to see how much he is costing the taxpayers!

And, Art has opposed my efforts to get these check registers. I find it easier to get the check registers of Sam Trans.
In a recent e-mail in response to the monthly check register sent to all Directors, Art asks: "Does this do any good?

Yes, Art, it does. It could, and must be better if we are to acheive openness in our operation. Your most recent reimbursements, for example, are not explicit enough.
Check #4377 10/12/10 Arthur Faro 619.00
60300-01 Board Health Insurance
60300-01 Board Health Insurance
60300-01 Board Health Insurance
10200-05 Cash (WF) and,
Check #4411 11/10/10 Arthur Faro 2,435.03
60300-01 Board Health Insurance
60300-01 Board Health Insurance
60300-01 Board Health Insurance
10200-05 Cash (WF)
Oh yes, I can ask for the invoices behind these disbursements, and occasionally do, but it's like pulling teeth! As an example, here Web Link are some invoices for CalPers payments.
My understanding is that the District uses Peachtree Software for it's accounting. I purchased a copy of that (but don't know how to use it)and would like to acquire the entire file of District income and outgo.
Any volunteers out there willing to seek such a file under the Public Records Act? I need help.

One last thing,
Art says: "Bottom line, the District is doing what the State Legislature intended and is doing it well."
But, the unanswered question raised by the Grand Jury is whether the District is doing what the voters intended (or understood).

A local newspaper today reported on the goals of the union sponsored San Mateo County Union Community Alliance which went bfore the Sequoia healthcare District yesterday seeking a $50,000 urgency grant. The report stated that "The alliance intends to use the grant money to expand community participation in county policy decisions about how to improve and expand access to health care for lower income residents; advocate on behalf of poor people for improved and expanded access to health care and educate and organize San Mateo residents about the need for improved and expanded access to health care.). The operative words are "advocate" and "expand community participation". Sounds like pseudo grassroots political advocacy using taxpayer dollars. It is one thing for unions to lobby the Legislature and the Board of Supervisors with their own funds, and quite another to rally the general public to support their cause. It is highly unethical, and possibly criminal to use tax dollars in support of unions in any manner. If we do that, why not support the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer's Association in their lobbying efforts to protect taxpayers?
The Board voted 3 - 2 (Kim Griffin and I voted NO) to grant $8,000 with the balance of the request being submitted to the Grant's Committee.