The Los Angeles City Council used an incorrect process to vote on the $180-million expansion of Providence Holy Cross in Mission Hills, a county judge ruled. Last November, eight of the council’s 15 members voted to reverse the Planning Commission’s approval of the heavily contested expansion project, but the project was ultimately allowed to go forward because 10 votes were needed to reverse the commission’s ruling, according to city law. Now Superior Court Judge Thomas McKnew has decided that the council must vote on the project once again, with a final decision expected by Oct. 2. The judge’s decision is a victory for SEIU, who has been in an ongoing labor dispute with Providence, and Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, a labor advocacy group which objected to the expansion because of environmental impact concerns. Because the hospital has already begun construction on the 101-bed expansion, it is likely that Providence will file an appeal if the expansion is not approved.
