Mulcahy's Measure A endorsement bypasses basic city planning principles

Valley Medical Center. Image by Cristiano Tomás, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

SJ CM Michael Mulcahy sang the praises of the impact of bankrupt county hospitals in his district as he endorsed the "bait-n-switch" Measure A. Problem is: Mulcahy ignores the negative impact big hospital developments can (and do) have on local residents. Experts and National Community Reinvestment Coalition daylight what Mulcahy doesn't see.

Mulcahy comment: “You have to consider the surrounding small-business ecosystems that support it, like the Bascom corridor in D6 that serves Valley Med's massive main campus and the soon-to-open 160,000-square-foot clinic down on Bascom Avenue right near Hamilton Avenue, or the generational medical community on Forest Avenue around O'Connor.”

Analysis: Here's what Mulcahy misses:

Hospitals can have a negative impact on nearby residential neighborhoods.
Mulcahy turns a blind eye to how county hospital growth can lead to displacement of long-term residents. There can be rising property values and living costs associated with new, upscale medical facilities can displace existing, lower-income residents. The stress and instability from displacement can negatively affect health outcomes and create a less stable market for local businesses.
Negative traffic and parking impacts can be substantial on residents.
A large hospital generates significant traffic and requires extensive parking, which can create congestion and disrupt surrounding areas. While commercial zones are often the best fit, hospitals in residential or mixed-use areas can be particularly disruptive

Mulcahy's Measure A endorsement bypasses basic city planning principles

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