Off balance act

Dear ER:

The Beach Cities Health District indebted district taxpayers to a $172 million in off-balance-sheet debt when it wanted to get $6.3 million from the State to build a shiny new allcove building. How did BCHD do that? BCHD agreed to provide allcove for a minimum of 30 years to all 12 to 25 year-olds in the LA County SPA8, a 1.4 millionM population area. The 30-year cost is estimated at $172 million and only 9% of the service area is District taxpayers. 

Vote No on Measure BC to stop the $172M District taxpayer debt. BCHD underestimated the allcove building cost by $9M. If BCHD is denied the Measure BC funding, then BCHD can’t build the allcove building and the 30-year obligation to service all of LA County SPA8 ends. The allcove program for District residents can continue as needed for a small fraction of the $172 million cost. 

Off balance sheet debt is how Enron built its house of cards. Stop Measure BC and stop BCHD from being required to provide allcove for 30 years to LA County on the backs of District taxpayers.

Mark Nelson

Redondo Beach

Fiscal health questioned

Dear ER:

Beach Cities Health District Board of Directors wants Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach  taxpayers to say yes to a $30 million dollar bond measure on November 5. They reason that without this infusion, their health programs risk reduction or elimination. So much just doesn’t add up with this measure. Demolishing the  514 Prospect building due to seismic concerns makes little sense when it actually meets seismic standards for existing buildings and a demo would be purely voluntary. Currently the gym is there and it’s where many of their fitness classes take place. 514 is also where Silverado is located. Where is the talk of what will be done with those residents if this building is demolished, or where the torn down gym will go?

The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce recently announced their new digs at 514. Where is their fear that the building is any more doomed than any other building the same age? Yet this measure frames the need to demolish it as dire. Is it irresponsible to be renting this suite to the Chamber of Commerce? What seems irresponsible is BCHD use of taxpayer money, and then asking for more in the form of this measure, with weak justification and no solid plans other than piecemeal building notions that likely portend even more bonds going forward.

All homeowners are supporters of BCHD. BCHD receives $5 million a year from our property taxes, half of which goes toward executive pay. It’s indisputable that BCHD provides great programs, from Zumba in the Park to Dementia care support groups. What’s in question is the logic of what they want to do and whether their plans make fiscal sense. So far on paper and in theory they do not. We taxpayers should vote no on Measure BC.

Lara Duke

Redondo Beach

BCHD's Deceptive Campaign for Measure BC