After five leaders of The Metropolitan Organization (TMO) spoke in support of placing Harris Health’s $2.5 Billion bond proposal on the November ballot in November, Harris County Commissioners unanimously voted in support of the proposal. 

“This bond election represents a critical investment in the future of our community. It is not a burden, but an opportunity to invest in our future. We all benefit from a strong and expanded Harris Health.” said Linda Hollins of Trinity United Methodist and TMO.

“Ben Taub and LBJ Hospitals are the backbone of our health care system in Harris County. Over half of our current physicians have been trained there,” said Ron Cookston of First Unitarian Universalist and TMO.

Over the previous week, TMO leaders met with the Commissioners to express support for placing the bond proposal on the November ballot. “We applaud the County Commissioners for their unanimous vote today,” said Minister Jaqueline Hailey of New Hope Baptist Church and TMO.  “Now we all have to go out and educate our family, friends and neighbors about why they should vote YES on the bond to improve our critical healthcare facilities.”

Approving the bond will result in a Level One Trauma Center at a new LBJ Hospital, three new, full service clinics in Northwest, Southwest and East Harris County and improvements to several other clinics; a refurbishing of Ben Taub and converting the existing LBJ hospital into a facility for out-patient and mental health services. 

“New clinics further out in the County are essential to build” said Patricia Cabrera of St. Jerome Catholic and TMO. “Many Latino working families must move further and further out into the county to find affordable housing but they are then far from health care facilities. Our essential workers need access to high quality clinics near where they live,” said Cabrera.

County Commissioners Approve $2.5B Bond Election for New Hospital, Harris Health Upgrades, Houston Chronicle [pdf]