This community opinion was contributed by Mary Zanger. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. BenitoLink invites all community members to share their ideas and opinions. By registering as a BenitoLink user in the top right corner of our home page and agreeing to follow our Terms of Use, you can write counter opinions or share your insights on current issues. Lea este articulo en español aquí.

With sunshine warmth, spring breaks and Easter season, we must go to the beach. At the ocean, smooth with few white caps, we see a life boat rising and falling in swells with paddlers poking the blue. The people in this life boat are not in deep water, but they are in over their heads.

We could think that the Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital Board is in this life boat at bay for help. They do not seem to see the group on shore waving. Maybe the dark glasses the boat people are wearing prevent them from seeing safety on the sandy beach.  

Some in this team of rescuers have rolled up their pant legs and are wading in the surf to get closer to the life boat willing to risk dunking in order to drag the lifeboat ashore. This team is like our San Benito County Board of Supervisors who have researched a plan to save our hospital adrift in the life boat. The supervisors plan provides the structure and management like food and water plus more skilled people and doctors like blankets, towels and dry clothes for the people in the distressed life boat.

But look what we see out in the deep harbor. It looks like a big white Princess Cruise. It appears that the people in the life boat are paddling towards this attractive ship when they could be paddling to shore and be saved. This ship is like the plans to buy and privatize the hospital. This big whiteness is a mirage. In fact, this ship appears to be steaming away.

Still, the team on shore is waving and encouraging the life boat occupants to paddle to shore. In fact, the tide is favoring the direction of shore. The paddlers only have to bravely swallow their fear and ride the breakers in. In fact, the whole county is cheering the life boat over the waves in to safety.

When the HHMH Board gets their feet on the ground, they will thank the SBC Board of Supervisors and work enthusiastically together to save our hospital.