The group launched the protest over the Jefferson Parish council’s unanimous vote to terminate the leases on the Jefferson Community Health Care Centers buildings in River Ridge, La., and Marrero, La., after 10 years of healthcare service to the poor and underserved in those areas, according to the report.
They are particularly angry with one council member: Mark Spears.
“We don’t know why we were totally blindsided,” said Shondra Williams, PhD, CEO of the Jefferson Community Health Care Centers. “We attempted to negotiate and unfortunately the councilman, Mark Spears did not negotiate, was not willing to negotiate.”
Nonprofit Jefferson Community Health Care Centers wants a long-term lease of at least five years. The organization has invested more than $7 million of federal grant money into equipment and support infrastructure for the two buildings for which its leases have been terminated, according to the report.
Councilman Spears said he wants Jefferson’s contract to match all other parish contracts with a 30-day out clause, but that Jefferson did not want that. According to 4WWL, Councilman Spears called to say wanting all parish contracts to be consistent was not an unreasonable request since the clinic was not paying rent.
Officials from Jefferson Community Health Care Centers said they are open to continuing negotiations with Councilman Spears, but in the meantime they are looking for other locations to lease.
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