Wealthy Living Campus

10-15-20, Easy Reader

Dear ER:

Investing public assets in a risky for-profit business is poor public policy. Yet, the Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) seems determined to do just that, in its ravenous hunger for revenues. The cities (Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo) that BCHD supposedly serves must “tighten their belts” to fund essential services. Meanwhile, BCHD runs a surplus and spends wantonly on consultants and self-promotion. BCHD is not a business. The private sector is perfectly able, on its own, to “address the growing need for assisted living.” The market BCHD has targeted – seniors who can afford $12,000 per month – does not need government subsidy. Public comments (disregarded by BCHD) overwhelmingly oppose this wealthy living campus, that primarily benefits private investors. Keep private hands out of the government cookie jar. Public land and tax revenues have better uses. In the current BCHD board elections, please endorse transparency and accountability – vote for none of the incumbents, all of the newcomers.

Michael Martin

Redondo Beach

Health District Housecleaning

Easy Reader - 10-8-20

Three Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) Board seats are up for election. None of the incumbents deserves your vote. BCHD directors have enjoyed an entertaining hobby watching the obscure BCHD bureaucracy promote itself at public expense. But, with obscurity has come arrogance and lack of accountability for how public assets are used. The public has registered massive outrage at BCHD plans to branch out into an enormous, publicly subsidized, for-profit development on public land. Keeping a public agency like BCHD in check is more than a longstanding hobby, it is a job description. Retire the incumbents and bring in new voices to the BCHD board.

Michael Martin Redondo Beach https://easyreadernews.com/letters-to-the-editor-10-8-2020/

BCHD Board Performance

Beach Reporter - 10-8-20

Taxpayers rightfully expect elected officials to hold public agencies such as Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) accountable. BCHD directors have botched that, and none should be re-elected.

The South Bay Hospital District failed long ago, renamed itself BCHD, and continued merrily along on the public dole, including renting out the public land set aside for the hospital, Now BCHD wants to subsidize a risky private real estate development on public land (originally set aside for a hospital), in hopes of satisfying their insatiable thirst for revenue. The Board arrogantly ignores massive public opposition, and needs to face voter accountability. Their job is to keep the agency in line, not be its puppet. Replace them with new blood in this election cycle.

—Michael Martin, Redondo Beach