Editor’s note: This letter was sent to John Noseworthy, CEO  of Mayo Clinic, and was submitted to run as a letter to the editor in the Tribune.

I would like to sincerely thank you for accomplishing what no group has been able to do in my long lifetime. With one short announcement, corporate Mayo has united my town with a common cause.

Albert Lea is/was a blue collar union town that nearly tore itself apart in the 1950s. It has never fully recovered. But, with the announcement that Mayo was discontinuing inpatient services at its Albert Lea location, effectively leaving Albert Lea without a functioning hospital, the community has rebelled.

Never in my life did I expect to see hardcore union liberals sitting at a table with conservative Chamber of Commerce members, cooperating to achieve a common goal. Never have I seen the City Council and county commissioners so committed to a cause.

The Mayo facility in Albert Lea serves more than 60,000 citizens in Freeborn County, parts of two adjoining Minnesota counties and two counties in northern Iowa. I have listened to the presentations by your representatives. Quite frankly, I don’t buy the party line.

The fact that you chose to take the type of draconian action you did, without first talking to the community, is simply beyond my comprehension.

In my opinion, Mayo has betrayed its most sacred core values. I have been a patient at Mayo Rochester a number of times in my life and always felt fortunate to have such competent, compassionate care close to home. While Mayo is a nonprofit, there is little doubt, in my mind, that money, power and image now trump patients needs.

It is becoming more obvious everyday that Mayo is far more interested in attracting the well heeled from around the world to its marble halls, than caring for the rural citizens in its own backyard.

I do not believe one iota of consideration was given to the economic damage your actions will cause to our city. What business would consider relocating to a city without a hospital? What family would move to our town, knowing there is no hospital to deliver or care for their children? What retired couple would move back home when there is no hospital to care for them, as they age? The city will lose its brightest most capable citizens as they leave to enhance their medical careers.

Am I painting an extreme example of the greater Albert Lea area’s future? I don’t think so. Can the damage be repaired? I don’t believe so. Corporate Mayo has proven, by its actions, that its commitment to provide quality health care in southern Minnesota is simply empty words. Mayo has lost its most sacred value: trust.

Sir, we will fight you at every step. Should we fail, we will vote with our feet. We live in a very mobile society. There are many options for quality health care in the region. Yes, we may need to drive a bit farther, but I have talked to many who are now considering that option.

Again, thank you for uniting and energizing my community.

Please respond!

Don Sorensen

Albert Lea