Our network of supporters continues to expand. Please keep sharing our petition link far and wide!

Here is an update on the Mickelson therapeutic pool closure:

A contact on the San Mateo City Council has been communicating with Sutter Health Mills-Peninsula CEO Janet Wagner. Unfortunately, Ms. Wagner has yet to respond to any requests for financial information pertaining to repairs and operating costs for the facility.

Our volunteers have sent numerous letters to Ms. Wagner; the group coordinators sent a certified letter on July 16, 2021 requesting an in-person meeting. After several months of effort, we received a response from Ms. Wagner on July 21, 2021. We were frustrated that she ignored our request. Instead, she continues to point to the pandemic as the cause of the permanent closure, emphasizing “the unpredictable nature of COVID-19, the realities of infection controlled requirements, and to effectively manage expectations of our staff and patrons, we are considering the therapy pool permanently closed at this time.” Our volunteers find this reasoning to be nonsensical, and we are in the process of forming a response.

The therapy pool issue was also raised at the recent meeting of the Peninsula Health Care District (PHCD) where Ms. Wagner gave a quarterly report to the PHCD board of directors. We understand that the therapy pool closure generated pointed questions to Ms. Wagner and a Board request for specific financials. On a bright note: That PCHD meeting agenda included two of our front page articles from the San Mateo Daily Journal!

Our spirits remain high, and we continue to move forward in our resolve to S.T.O.M.P! (Save The/Our Mickelson Pool!)

Check out our three letters to the editor that were published in the SMDJ this week:

Relieved pain, extended lives by Glenn Barnhill

Open the Mickelson pool by Cathleen Sandberg

Save the Mickelson pool by Nancy Phelps

If you would like to be a part of our advocacy effort, please email us at savethemickelsonpool@gmail.com to join our Google Group.