Democratic Party Endorses FOR Issue 64 In Landslide Vote

A major endorsement was delivered recently in support of the FOR Issue 64 position when the Lakewood Executive Committee of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party backed the issue in a landslide vote. A 60 percent majority was needed for endorsement, and the FOR Issue 64 position actually received a majority of greater than 88 percent. The vote means that the Democratic Party officially recommends that Lakewood voters vote FOR Issue 64 on this November’s ballot.

Councilman Tom Bullock said it was an honor to receive the endorsement with near-unanimous support from an organization that has long-championed social justice, the needs of senior citizens, and expanded healthcare access for working families and the uninsured.

“The Democratic Party has fought for decades to improve healthcare access for people of all income levels, and it’s a fitting honor to receive their endorsement,” said Bullock. “Their vote recognizes that the best way to help Lakewood patients is to continue dozens of high-quality healthcare services at the same convenient downtown location for decades to come, with uninterrupted emergency care 24/7/365, at no cost to taxpayers by voting FOR Issue 64.”

Background on Issue 64:

Last year, city government voted unanimously for an agreement to build and operate a brand new, state-of-the-art medical center in Lakewood at no cost to taxpayers. This agreement ensures that Lakewood will have high-quality healthcare for many years to come.

On November 8, Lakewood will have the chance to affirm this agreement by voting FOR Issue 64. This agreement is clearly the best option for Lakewood’s future:

• The now-closed Lakewood Hospital was losing significant funds – more than $1 million each month, with at least $90 million in maintenance and renovation to make it competitive with today’s hospitals.
• Without the agreement, the City would have eventually been responsible for hospital losses, requiring huge tax increases, or the hospital would have simply closed, with no healthcare options in sight.

Voting FOR Issue 64 will protect all of the benefits that Lakewood receives:

• The agreement guarantees that the Cleveland Clinic will pay for and build a new, modern medical center with uninterrupted emergency care available 24/7/365. There is no cost to taxpayers.
• The healthcare experience for Lakewood patients likely won’t change. Lakewood will still have:

         - Primary care and specialty outpatient programs, like geriatrics, cardiac care, and diabetes care.
         - Nearly all of the same medical services (94 percent) needed by patients at the old hospital will                                            continue to be available at the same convenient downtown location.

• The Clinic will pay Lakewood almost $19.6 million for transition costs and to help Lakewood redevelop the old site, and $32.4 million is being put into a Lakewood foundation to improve the community’s health.