Laguna Hospital Prop D opponents
cite measure as land grab

Laguna Honda Hospital doctors and nurses, on the steps of City Hall yesterday, hold a placard representing their opposition to Proposition D.

A lone Proposition D proponent attended
the high-noon press conference, organized by opponents.
Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

May 26, 2006

A June ballot measure framed as protecting frail Laguna Hospital seniors from combative mental patients cloaks its intent as a land grab by developers, Prop D opponents charged Thursday.

A number of Laguna Honda nurses and doctors made the allegation on City Hall steps maintaining the measure also would force patients into more expensive outside care.

Prop D would take "care decisions away from the medical professionals and puts it into the hands of the Zoning Administrator's Office, which has no knowledge of medicine or experience with patient care," said Dr. Hosea Thomas, Laguna Honda chief of staff.

"Proposition D... proposes changing San Francisco's land use laws to ban patients with mental and behavioral illnesses including Alzheimer's and AIDS-related dementia, from getting treatment at Laguna Honda.

"Backed by power building and development interests, Proposition D also would open up 1,600 publicly owned properties including parks, hospitals and schools to potential resident development.

Thomas asserted Prop D violates legal statues.

"The measure is so poorly written that it violates 9 federal and state housing and antidiscrimination laws," stated Thomas.

"The proposition would immediately evict and estimated 300 patients from Laguna Honda relocating them to far more costly programs here and outside the City and sticking San Francisco taxpayers with the estimated $27 million bill."

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