Features

SAN FRANCISCO — A report released Tuesday shows that California HMOs fail to provide proper language access policies and procedures to those customers who are not fluent in English. 

The report entitled “California Health Plans and Language Access” is based on information collected by the Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA) from California health plans. Of 13 health plans that responded to the survey only four said they provided face to face interpreters; and only six have a written policy about how to provide services for patients who do not speak English fluently. 

Consumer advocates say that the need for language services and cultural sensitivity in health care is acute in California. 

The report was simultaneously released in Los Angeles and San Francisco by a coalition of statewide consumer rights advocates. 

SAN JOSE — People flying in and out of San Jose will have to know the way to Mineta. 

The City Council formally decided Tuesday to name the airport for Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, who was mayor of San Jose from 1971 to 1974 and a congressman from the area for 20 years. Mineta was the first Asian-American mayor of a large U.S. city. 

Current Mayor Ron Gonzales first proposed honoring Mineta with the airport name over the summer, but he said the decision seemed even more appropriate now, in light of Mineta’s post-Sept. 11 efforts to strengthen security at airports. 

The official name will be Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, though the baggage and ticketing code will remain “SJC.” 

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — San Jose expects to be the home of the world’s biggest outdoor Monopoly game board. 

The project, to be built in phases, is expected to cost $500,000, said Jill Cody, a superintendent for the city’s department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services. The first phase, a 30-by-30-foot replica of the Monopoly board itself, is scheduled to open for play in February. 

The civic group San Jose Beautiful had been trying for about nine years to secure funding, a location and licensing from the game’s maker. The process took a giant leap forward last month when the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, acting as banker, contributed $205,000 for construction costs. 

The enormous board will be located near Children’s Discovery Museum. The groundbreaking ceremony is set for Thursday in the Discovery Meadow. 

Visitors will be able to play the game can be played like the tabletop version that has sold more than 200 million copies since 1935. San Jose recreation supervisor Gina Aning described it as “shrinking yourself and putting yourself on the board.” 

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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Leonid Grin, a conductor without a performing orchestra, said Monday he wants to remain with the silenced San Jose Symphony and oversee a new concert schedule sometime early next year. 

“It’s not what I expected my 10th anniversary season to be,” said Grin, who returned to the Bay Area over the weekend. On the other hand, he said, “I think that it’s a wise decision to restructure.” 

Grin was in Europe last month when the financially drained symphony canceled performances and shut down operations to begin planning a complete reorganization. 

Faced with a $2.5 million deficit, the symphony shut down Oct. 18., dissolving its board of directors in an attempt to find new benefactors and board members by Feb. 1. Reimbursement to ticket holders for lost performances is still being worked out. 

Kristen Linfante, a violist who is one of the musicians serving on the transition team, said Grin’s trip to Europe had made it more difficult to assess his role. 

“I think we’re still establishing what’s going to be best for the orchestra when it comes back,” said Linfante. “I don’t think we’ve firmly established whether what’s right for the orchestra includes Leonid Grin or not.”