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Commission approves Laguna Honda gift fund budget amid public concerns about unsafe call‑center conditions and gift‑fund spending
Summary
The Health Commission approved Laguna Honda Hospital’s Resident Gift Fund expenditure budget for FY 2025–26 while public commenters raised safety concerns at Laguna Honda call‑center Unit E3 and disputed the transfer of some gift‑fund expenditures to the hospital operating budget.
The San Francisco Health Commission on Sept. 22 approved the Laguna Honda Hospital Resident Gift Fund expenditure budget for fiscal year 2025–26, while members of the public used the meeting to press the Department of Public Health on alleged unsafe conditions at the Laguna Honda call center and on how gift‑fund money is being used.
Gift fund budget approval Leo Palacios, gift fund program manager, told commissioners the gift fund provides donations for the general benefit and comfort of Laguna Honda patients. He said FY 2024–25 revenue was about $440,500 and that total spending in the prior fiscal year was roughly $306,700. For FY 2025–26, Palacios said the Resident Gift Fund Committee approved a more conservative expenditure plan that reduces the overall budget by about $140,000 to preserve a finite fund while restoring some purchases to the hospital operating fund where appropriate.
The commission called for a motion and, after a second and public comment, approved the gift fund expenditure budget. (Vote recorded as aye; motion seconded; no recorded dissent.)
Public comments on safety and gift‑fund use Several public commenters raised concerns during general public comment and during the gift‑fund item. Kerry Dahl, a union representative for SEIU Local 1021 who represents Laguna Honda nurses and eligibility workers, described unsafe conditions at Unit E3 of the call center following a return‑to‑office directive. Dahl listed concerns including “lead exposure, asbestos, seismic safety, and vermin,” and said workers received belated testing showing lead levels above state limits but were not given alternate workspace. “It’s 82 degrees inside this office today,” Dahl said during her remarks.
Remote commenter Manette Shah raised concerns about the gift fund itself, alleging low spending rates in some gift fund categories last fiscal year and questioning reductions in proposed line items for the new fiscal year. Shah told commissioners the “gift card money incentive for patients is being routed to the LHH operating budget” and asked for updated charts and explanations. The meeting record shows commissioners heard those comments and that the budget was approved after public comment.
What the commission decided and next steps Commissioners approved the gift fund expenditure budget after discussion and public comment. Commissioners did not adopt follow‑up directives on the record at the meeting beyond the standard approval; public commenters asked the commission and Laguna Honda leadership to review gift‑fund policy and to confirm that donated patient funds are being spent for patient benefits.
Ending Public commenters asked the commission to place a review of Laguna Honda’s gift‑fund policy on a future agenda and to provide updated spending charts. DPH staff and commissioners indicated they would follow up outside the meeting record.
