Beach Cities Health District expenditures

The Beach Reporter - 11-28-19

The BCHD board of directors assert that in the next 15 years in order to continue to provide the current level of services to the community, a new Healthy Living Campus must be developed at the cost of $530 million. But this over the top plan to keep popular programs functioning is unnecessary overkill.

When we think of BCHD, the Life Span Services are the programs and services that we see implemented in our community. They include direct grants to organizations, youth services, Blue Zones, volunteer programs, school programs, research and other community services. The 2018 cost of these programs was $4 million, just slightly above the revenue received from local property taxes. The other popular program is the Fitness Center/Adventure Plex costing $3.3 million in 2018 and which was almost entirely covered by revenue from user fees. These two programs account for $7.3 million out of a budget of nearly $14 million. The balance of $6.5 million is spent on administrative services and property operations. This amounts to 46% of the budget expenditures. The general non profit expenditure standard is a ratio of 80% expenditures on grants to the community and 20% spent on administrative expenses.

The realistic solution is for the BCHD board of directors to adopt the non profit 80/20 standard practice and reduce administrative and property operation costs to 20% of the total budget. This over-development is completely unnecessary and should be vigorously opposed by Redondo Beach residents.

—Sheila Lamb, Redondo Beach

Just say no

Dear ER:

Beach Cities Health District is planning a massive, unnecessary construction project in Redondo Beach that will negatively impact the health of community residents. It is no news that construction projects generate high levels of pollution and this project will be no exception. One such pollutant, called fugitive dust, can remain in the air for days, even weeks. This dust is known to negatively impact the health of humans and animals, causing irritation to the eyes, nose, and the respiratory system. These small dust particles go deep into the lungs and even short term exposure has been shown to trigger asthma, worsen existing breathing difficulties, and trigger heart attacks. Children and older adults residing in the nearby communities are the most vulnerable to this pollutant. Due to the unique wind patterns of the South Bay such as the Catalina Eddy and the Santa Ana winds, the health of these residents both east and west of the project will be subjected to increased levels of air pollution especially the children attending nearby schools.  The air quality of the beach cities frequently measures in the unhealthy range for these groups even without the added burden of a massive construction activity. We must say “no” to unnecessary construction projects that will harm the health of our residents, especially our children and older adults. The BCHD board is putting residents’ health at risk with this development plan and in doing so they compromise the integrity of their mission to improve the health of our community.

Sheila W. Lamb

Redondo Beach

Bluewashing seconded

Dear ER:

The letter to the editor is on target (“Blue Zone Bluewashing,” ER letters Dec. 26, 2019). The “blue washing” marketing of the Beach Cities Health District, aided by its own $1 million communications budget, won’t be enough to cover the harmful overdevelopment they are trying to push on to the South Bay. The massive, approx. 1,500 ft. long, continuous structure they are planning to build on their 11-acre property over 15 years will bring health and safety hazards, toxic airborne contaminants, traffic and congestion and yes, chronic stress, to the surrounding community. 

Ann Wolfson

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