Land Transfer Threatens the Future of DC General
by Crystal Sylvia

February 2002
volume 39 number 1

The struggle over DC General Hospital sharpened at the January 15th City Council hearing held to discuss the transfer of jurisdiction of the DC General Hospital campus from the Federal government to the City. The resolution would transfer 67 acres from the Federal to the District government, giving the city jurisdiction over use of the land, although the title would remain with the Federal government.

This latest maneuver by Mayor Williams and the City Council exposes the true motive behind the hospital's closing just seven months ago. At that time the mayor, backed by the DC Control Board, claimed that closing the hospital and privatizing the remaining services would improve the quality of healthcare for district residents. However, a coalition of healthcare workers, patients, DC residents, and clergy saw this as the first step in facilitating the development of DC General land, which sits near the waterfront. The land transfer resolution before the Council demonstrates that opponents' warnings about the mayor's ulterior motives for closing DC General were not groundless accusations. In fact, the mayor recently admitted that the DC General land is under consideration for the 2012 Olympics and/or for a baseball stadium.

One might ask, what is the danger of transferring the DC General land from the Federal government to DC? Wouldn't it be good for DC government to have jurisdiction over land that is used for City purposes? Unfortunately, in this case, the answer is NO!

Under current Federal jurisdiction, the DC General land must be used to provide health care for the poor. However, if transferred to the City, the land could be used for municipal purposes, which potentially includes nearly any intent such as the Olympics, a baseball stadium, or luxury condos. There is no guarantee that the land must continue to be used to provide health care for the poor.

The land transfer would further limit the possibility that DC General Hospital would ever re-open, even though the privatization of hospital services has meant that many District residents can no longer obtain the health care they need. The District of Columbia Healthcare Alliance, the network of private healthcare providers that replaced DC General, is ill equipped to handle the needs of the City's nearly 100,000 uninsured. Greater Southeast Hospital, the private contractor primarily responsible for replacing DC General Hospital, is not obligated to provide care for everyone regardless of ability to pay. Instead, residents must meet restrictive enrollment criteria or have their own health insurance.

Many DC residents must now travel further for medical care due to the closing of DC General Hospital. That extra distance can be life threatening when it adds time to an ambulance ride. The closing of DC General has also put stress on emergency room services around the city, which endangers the lives of anyone who might need emergency care in DC. Council member Catania's office compiled compelling statistics that compare the "blackouts" (i.e., when emergency rooms are closed to receiving ambulances) - of area hospitals from 2000 to 2001. Comparing December 2000 to December 2001, blackouts increased at Greater Southeast Hospital by 477%, Howard University Hospital by 373%, PG County Hospital by 840%, and Washington Hospital Center by 48%.

The problems with the closure of DC General Hospital also stem from a lack of oversight and accountability. Greater Southeast Hospital has not opened a Level 1 trauma center as promised, yet the eastern half of the City desperately needs this service at the site of DC General. The City's healthcare oversight committee, which is responsible for ensuring that the Alliance operates in the best interests of the City's uninsured and underinsured, is not living up to the task, according to a recent City Paper investigation.

Closing DC General is just the latest in a string of privatization efforts. One of Mayor Williams' first acts was an attempt to develop the University of the District of Columbia land by moving the institution to Southeast DC, which failed only because of a Federal stipulation that the land must be used to provide education for the poor. He has also contracted out food stamps, parking meters and red light cameras to Lockheed Martin, and has increasingly privatized public school services. It is also reported that the mayor intends to develop the St. Elizabeths' land, rather than provide mental health services for City residents.

Although the City Council voted unanimously to keep DC General Hospital open, their support was generally passive, with the exception of council members Chavous and Catania. The Council also supports the $800 million convention center, the proposed baseball stadium, and the 2012 Olympic bid. And year after year, the mayor and City Council vote to increase corporate welfare - tax breaks and land grabs - while underfunding vital city services.

The message is loud and clear - if you're poor or cannot afford skyrocketing housing costs that result from gentrification - this city government does not want you. We must step up the fight to reclaim our city by demanding that elected officials serve our interests and not those of the corporate elite.

Crystal Sylvia is a member of the DC Healthcare Coalition and the DC Statehood Green Party.

Public meetings are scheduled to obtain input on the proposed transfer of the DC General land to the City for February 20 and March 20. A master plan for use of the DC General land will be presented for vote to the Council by March 31.