Recent articles have painted a picture of chaos at John C. Fremont Healthcare District.
As the union representing the front line employees of this hospital, we must set the record straight: your hospital is not in chaos — it is stable, moving forward and making real progress.
For decades, JCF has been a lifeline in Mariposa. Our commitment — as staff, as union members and as family and neighbors — remains unshaken. The work being done today reflects not disorder, but renewal.
The facts the public deserves to know:
• No more travel staff: For the first time in many years, our hospital is being staffed with permanent employees. This is a direct result of union advocacy and stability. Patients are now cared for by familiar, local faces — not temporary travelers.
• Clinic improvements: With three new physicians and a new nurse practitioner onboarding, patients can now get appointments within two weeks. Access to care is improving in leaps and bounds.
• Fiscal responsibility: Under Interim CEO Fred Vitello’s immediate action, the district came in $54,000 under budget — a milestone in positive progress. Accountability and stewardship are being restored.
• New hospital build: Contrary to claims, the new hospital remains firmly on track. Both the project manager and financial advisor of the project confirm there are no issues with the timeline. We are moving toward breaking ground in 2027, meeting or beating the 2030 deadline as planned, and the suggestion otherwise is not only misleading but harmful to community trust.
• Recruitment success: Nurses and healthcare professionals who live in Mariposa are once again applying to work at JCF. Our friends, neighbors and family members are returning to their hometown hospital. This is something our community has not seen in years — proof that confidence and trust are returning.
On recent criticism
It is concerning that a former board member — who herself served on the ad hoc committee for the new hospital build and who only weeks ago endorsed our progress — has abruptly reversed her position. This sudden change in tone is confusing and harmful, and the motivations behind it should be questioned.
The reality is clear: while individuals may choose to walk away, the staff and the community continue to move forward together.
A call to unity
This hospital belongs to all of us. Its success depends on unity — not division. We ask the people of Mariposa to stand with us:
• Support your local providers. Many of us could leave for higher-paying positions in surrounding counties, but that isn’t what we want. We choose to stay here because this is our home. Caring for our neighbors is our pride.
• Remember our strength. We are Mariposa strong and we will continue to demand the changes that bring stability, accountability and the highest quality of healthcare possible.
• Stay engaged. As we build toward a stronger future, we need your voices, your trust and your involvement.
Our commitment
As AFSCME Local 2703, we will continue to hold leadership accountable while also celebrating the progress that is already underway.
Mariposa deserves stability, excellent care and a hospital that thrives for generations to come. That is what we are fighting for — and that is what we will accomplish with your support.
We stand with our allies who stand with you: the John C. Fremont Hospital Foundation, which works tirelessly to raise resources for care, and the JCFHD board members who have remained dedicated to this community and to ensuring forward movement in healthcare.
Our message is simple: John C. Fremont is not failing. John C. Fremont is fighting — and winning — because of the strength of its staff and the resilience of its community.
In solidarity:
AFSCME Local 2703 Executive Board
John C. Fremont Healthcare
District Chapter
Jennifer James, BSN, RN
– Union President
Mari Bullis, ERT/EMT – Union Vice
President and Sergeant at Arms
Stephanie Ahnen, LVN
– Union Treasurer
Victoria Crane, CNA – Union Secretary
Robert Schilling, Radiologic
Technologist – Union Board Member
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