Months after the deep-in-the-background owners of Brotman Medical Center filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, hoping to buy time to reorganize their mountain of debt, City Council candidate Jeff Cooper staged a march this past Sunday to call community attention to the plight of Culver City’s lone and historic hospital.
Rumors of the 84-year-old hospital’s impending demise have been circulating longer than those a century ago about Mark Twain.
Speculation over whether Brotman will eventually meet the fate of Mr. Twain has been circulating across the community with increasing intensity, but without even a hint of the nature of the denouement.
Brotman’s doctor-owners have been publicly silent throughout their four-year tenure, further fueling the mostly dark rumors.
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Candidate Jeff Cooper and marchers call attention to Brotman’s plight.
Brittle Brotman
Meanwhile, Mr. Cooper, engaged in a nine-way race for three open seats on the City Council in the April 8 election, hosted the march to remind Culver City voters how tenuous Brotman’s predicament is.
How can Brotman be saved? Mr. Cooper was asked.
“By digging in, working with the owners, coming up with creative solutions,” he said this morning.
“Without being privy to inside information, as a businessman I would like to know where they are losing money the most.
“Then I would enhance the areas that are most profitable.”
Non-Profit?
With that, Mr. Cooper ventured into what some would consider a daring suggestion.
“Maybe we could explore the possibility of allowing Brotman to go to non-profit status. Basically, that would save a lot of money they pay in city taxes.
“Obviously, that would mean money out of city coffers.
“But we could lose a lot of tax dollars anyway because many Culver City people are employed there.
“Since Brotman is privately owned, I can’t pay their bills. But Brotman should be high on our agenda.
“All I want to do is look for creative solutions,” Mr. Cooper said.
Family Emergency
“Brotman has served our community for over 80 years. They come in handy when there is a true emergency.
“Two years ago, my daughter Alyssa cut her need badly. I wrapped a towel around her knee and rushed over to Brotman. Thank goodness it was close, and I knew she could get emergency care.
“People should look at Brotman this way,” Mr. Cooper said. “Maybe they won’t be using Brotman today or tomorrow. But if your child is hurt, don’t you want a local facilty? In a true emergency, 10 minutes can make a big difference.”
Silent on Candidacy
During Sunday afternoon’s march, no mention was made of Mr. Cooper’s campaign for a City Council seat.
“That is how strongly I feel about this crisis,” he said. “I would have done this even if I weren’t running for office.”
Raising Funds
Last Saturday night at the Culver Events Center, the air was filled with the sounds of strolling mariachis as about 150 residents turned out at a fundraising event to salute Mr. Cooper’s candidacy.
During the evening, several partygoers rose to voice their support for the candidate, among them newly elected School Board member Scott Zeidman and City Councilman Scott Malsin.
Mr. Zeidman, a co-chair of the campaign, told the crowd that in walking “over the last several weeks, I have walked door-todoor with Jeff. I have seen the type of connection he establishes with people. Jeff genuinely listens. He doesn't just tell folks what they want to hear. I respect his thoughtful approach to problem- solving, and I believe he will add civility to our City Council.
“In a town where the School Board and City Council need to pull in the same direction, I believe that Jeff will reach out so that these two essential institutions can work in tandem to elevate our community.”
Of Mr. Cooper, Councilman Malsin said: "Jeff always is there, whether or not he's in the spotlight. In my view, an ethical man is a man who does the right thing when nobody else is looking. Jeff is that man … and I am confident that he will make a valued addition to our City Council."
For information: 310.487.5214 or http://www.cooperforcitycouncil.com/
For more information contact: Laura Stuart (310) 487-5214 or Visit Jeff's Election Website at: http://www.cooperforcitycouncil.com/
