Forde Shorts

H is for hospital -- Measure H, which sought approval from residents of the Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District (TVHD) to affiliate with Adventist Health and OK a 30-year lease of all district properties, roared to a victory June 7 with 5,521 "yes" votes (89.02 percent) and 681 "no" votes (10.98 percent). As it was not a tax measure, it needed only a simple majority (50 percent plus one) to pass, and the voters were not taking any chances. The people of the district have fought hard for the new Replacement Tehachapi Critical Access hospital, voting to tax themselves to the tune of $65 million for the project. When it looked like there would not be enough money to finish the $92 million hospital, Adventist Health responded to the district's Request for Proposal, offering $27 million to complete the state-of-the-art facility in return for the long lease. Residents who were not sold on the affiliation idea felt they would be losing local control of a hospital for which their tax money was paying. Adventist Health will be operating the district properties in its own way, and they have pledged to support the community. The district's Board of Directors, will no longer be in the business of running a hospital, and will re-focus their community health responsibilities. The hundreds of district employees are a little nervous about the transition. District CEO Eugene Suksi, who steered the ship into safe harbor, is looking ahead. "I'm very pleased to see the election results and the margin of victory on Measure H," he said in a released statement. "I believe it shows the level of community support for our efforts to partner with Adventist Health and give the area's residents, and our employees, the facilities they deserve. It's a good day to take a few minutes to celebrate on how far we've come and catch our breath before we get back to work. The real victory and real cause for celebration is still a few months away and there is still much to be done to bring the New Hospital online. It's been a long time coming and we're in the home stretch."

Well, dang it! – Voters split down the middle on Measure F, which would have provided much-needed funds for Kern County libraries, with 43,710 in favor (50.69 percent) and 42,517 against (49.31 percent). Tax measures require a 2/3 vote to pass. It's possible that taxweary voters are not aware of the great services that contemporary libraries provide – like video workshop rooms for teenagers – and what crucial community hubs they are.