Politics and Tobacco Funds

* Re “Nader Brings His Message to Ventura,” Aug. 23.

I was sorry your coverage of Ralph Nader’s standing-room-only address at Ventura College failed to mention that the presidential hopeful voiced opposition to Community Memorial Hospital’s tobacco initiative, Measure O, which will appear on the Ventura County ballot in November.

Nader, the consumer crusader whose classic book “Unsafe at Any Speed” has helped prevent many unnecessary automobile-related fatalities, can be trusted in warning against the unnecessary hijacking of taxpayer funds by this “unsafe at any price” tobacco initiative.

If some taxpayers are mad at the Board of Supervisors for spending some of the settlement money to pay off penalties, I can’t blame them. Nonetheless, it makes no sense to punish all taxpayers and our poor and underinsured neighbors by handing the settlement money over to a private-interest group where the money will have even less accountability and where not so much as one dime will be spent on county health programs.

Your vote in November can create the positive change that is needed in county leadership. No one should be duped into voting for Measure O as a way of teaching the supervisors a lesson.

This year Supervisor Susan Lacey--a proponent of the failed merger and the use of tobacco settlement money to pay off the penalties--will be replaced by either Steve Bennett or Jim Monahan, both of whom say the settlement money should be used for health care.

In addition, Supervisor Kathy Long--another proponent of the failed merger and the use of the tobacco settlement money to pay off the penalties--is being challenged by Mike Morgan. Morgan is a likable, well-qualified candidate whose fiscally responsible leadership on the Camarillo City Council played a key role assisting the city out of a financial crisis and restoring it to unprecedented prosperity.

I recommend a “no-confidence” vote against Kathy Long for her brinkmanship decision-making, obstructionist leadership style and insistence on minimizing the financial impact of the merger and her role in it. A vote for Mike Morgan will create responsible change.

SUSAN VINSON

Ventura

* Re “Hospital Launches Radio Ads for Tobacco Funds Measure,” Aug. 22.

The radio spots pushing Measure O on the Nov. 7 ballot and sponsored by Community Memorial Hospital really worry me. Slick products of a professional Sacramento-based consulting firm, they are meant to manipulate and scare the voters of Ventura County into allowing the seven private hospitals in Ventura County to stick their hands into the county treasury and grab $260 million that belong to us.

That money was awarded to Ventura County for joining the state in a lawsuit against Big Tobacco. It would pay us back for the cost of treating victims of tobacco in our Ventura County Medical Center. But Community Memorial wants to get our money.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed on July 25 to devote the repayment money to health programs. The board has to account to us for spending public money. Its book are open. If Measure O passes and the money goes to private hospitals, we are not likely to know how they spend the money because they are not obliged to tell us. Their books are closed to us.

I plan to vote no on Measure O. And I pray that the voters see through those radio spots and vote no on Measure O also.

LILLIAN GOLDSTEIN

Ventura