Coachella Valley Legislators Issue Letter to Governor to Prevent Closure of Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe

SACRAMENTO –Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) and Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio) released the following statement today regarding their letter (attached) to Governor Newsom requesting a budget allocation to prevent the closure of Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe:

“Palo Verde Hospital is the only acute-care facility within a 100-mile radius, serving Blythe’s 18,317 residents, the 2,600 inmates at Ironwood State Prison, and thousands more in the surrounding rural areas who depend on the hospital’s emergency department. The nearest hospitals are approximately a two-hour drive away – too far in case of an emergency.

We cannot let Californians lose access to critical services and we urge the State use any available tools and resources to keep this hospital operational. However, the continued mismanagement of the District has placed communities in peril of losing the most basic of healthcare and that cannot be ignored. As such, we most explore the possibilities for Palo Verde to go into receivership.

As we consider a change to more responsible management, it is vital this historically underserved region of our state maintains its access to life saving care.”

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Steve Padilla represents the 18th Senate District, which includes the communities of Chula Vista, the Coachella Valley, Imperial Beach, the Imperial Valley, National City, and San Diego. Prior to his election to the Senate in 2022, Senator Padilla was the first person of color ever elected to city office in Chula Vista, the first Latino Mayor, and the first openly LGBT person to serve or be elected to city office. Website of Senator Steve Padilla: https://sd18.senate.ca.gov/