LAKEPORT — Protesters gathered in front of the Lake County Tribal Health Clinic in Lakeport Wednesday to oppose the recent firing of respected physician Tony Veletto, and to speak out against “bad apples” on the clinic”s board of directors.
The protest follows Veletto”s May 21 dismissal, reportedly by Rob Otome, the clinic”s executive director. Veletto was awarded the 2007 Stars of Lake County Humanitarian of the Year. At a recent tribal meeting, LCTH board member Priscilla Ballente, who represents Big Valley Rancheria, said Otome surprised the board with his announcement that Veletto had been fired the day after he was asked to leave.
“They demoted him and then let him go,” said protester Tina Stubbles, who has out-of-state Cherokee Nation membership. She and several others praised Veletto for his care. “This is our clinic. We want Veletto back because he listens and takes the time with his patients,” said Stubbles.
Prominently displayed were signs reading “Keep Veletto, get rid of Rob Otome,” “We need Dr. Veletto, out with LCTH board,” and “Get rid of rotten apples on board,” with the names of board members the group wanted to see ousted. The names included Richard Steward of Elem, Ronald Arnold of Scotts Valley, Raymond Brown, Sr. of Elem, Gloria Salas of Scotts Valley, Jeff Knight of Middletown Rancheria, Crista Ray of Scotts Valley and Melva Tomas of Habematolel of Upper Lake.
Board member Charlotte John was among the protesters Thursday, but did not want to comment.
Chants of “Veletto! Veletto!” could be heard as vehicles pulled past the protesters into the driveway at the clinic”s main entry from the street. Some drivers stopped to allow one or more of the group to explain their cause. Co-organizer and Big Valley Rancheria member Harmon John said some passers-by weren”t aware that Veletto had been fired, and decided not to go to the clinic when they were told.
A recent press release from the consortium stated that Veletto, formerly the clinic”s medical director, was offered a job as a staff physician and had turned it down earlier this week.
When asked where the group”s power to oust board members came from, Lakeport resident Ruth Miller, who holds out-of-state tribal membership, said that essentially money talks. “They know that their patient count is going down every day,” she said. Miller and John said they”d heard that the clinic”s daily patient count had dropped from roughly 70 or 80 to around 20, with a low of 11 on one day.
Calls to Otome”s office to confirm those numbers were not returned. Staff members at the clinic said they did not want to go on the record, either, to protect their jobs.
Among the group”s gripes was the fact that Dr. Grady Fort stayed at Tribal Health, despite action taken against his license in August of 2000 for sexual misconduct with a patient, among other findings. Although Fort completed a lengthy list of probationary requirements and his license was reinstated in 2005, sentiment among the group of protesters echoed that of Joanne Solario of Robinson Rancheria when she asked, “would you take your kids to see him?”
“You can always get a new executive director, but you can”t get a good doctor,” said John.
He added, “Anybody they hire, the community doesn”t know who it is until something like this comes up. And we should know.”
Solario concurred, saying, “Nobody wants to let us know what”s going on behind those closed doors.” She had been a patient of Veletto since he started at LCTH three and a half years ago, and said of his service, “You can”t say everything you want to say about him. He was so great with the patients. There aren”t enough words.”
The group fluctuated in numbers from five to 20 as members of various local rancherias, as well as local residents with out-of-state tribal membership, came and went throughout the day Wednesday and Thursday.
“We”re going to be here however long it takes to get this settled,” said John, who organized the protest along with Big Valley Tribal member Ben Ray, Jr.
Miller added that if Veletto was not reinstated at Tribal Health, she hoped he would start his own practice.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
