| Advocacy in Action: Executive Director Ryan Grau addressed the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on February 25th. He raised concerns about bias in the County’s Ambulance Services RFP process. County Fire is one of the bidders. He called for a balanced, transparent Evaluation Committee with community involvement to ensure fairness. Taxpayers musn’t ignore the cautionary tales of costly EMS missteps in Santa Barbara County. Full speech regarding our concerns here: VC EMS RFP
Meanwhile, on February 26th, our Membership Manager, Adrienne Coryell urged the City of Ventura Planning Commission to reject a proposed rental registry and its fees. She argued that it’s a hidden tax burdening landlords and tenants. It duplicates state laws and wastes public funds. She proposed enforcing existing state protections and funding rental assistance instead. As a result, the Commission tabled the item for re-evaluation. Full letter to the Ventura City Planning Commission here: Tenant Protections
Lastly, on February 28th, members of our Board addressed the Ventura County Medical System’s (VCMS) Oversight Committee to voice ongoing concerns about unaddressed financial oversight issues. Highlighting a 2018 audit that flagged 42 internal control weaknesses. One weakness was management’s failure to produce timely monthly financial statements despite promising to do so by July 1st, 2019. Our Board Members criticized the inconsistent and delayed reporting. They also pilloried management’s practice of providing a VCMS balance sheet annually and the absence of cash-flow statements entirely. They pressed the Committee to authorize a follow-up audit and enforce stricter financial accountability, warning that inaction threatens taxpayer trust in the $700 million hospital system’s integrity. Full letter here: VCMS Letter |
