DOWNEY HOSPITAL: City Council Votes To Back Open Meetings Bill
The Downey City Council voted 3-1 yesterday in favor of supporting a bill (AB 146) pending in the state Legislature that would "open Downey Community Hospital Foundation board meetings to the public." The Long Beach Press-Telegram reports that during "lengthy testimony," council members expressed opinions for and against allowing City Council members to attend all parts of Downey Hospital board meetings, an issue which has stirred debate between hospital board and city council members. Fourth District Councilman Bob Brazelton noted, "I'm going to vote for a resolution because (I want) things to be as open as possible." First District Councilman Keith McCarthy spoke against the bill, "saying he felt it would allow the 'Senate to reach into our city and micro-manage it.'" And a spokesperson for Downey Hospital "presented the council with a written statement from the hospital opposing the bill as a 'flawed piece of legislation'" (Douglas, 2/25).
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