Dear ER:
The failure of Beach City Health District’s proposed Measure BC was definitely not a matter of its cost to voters. Larger measures were on the ballot and all received more support than Measure BC. The rejection of Measure BC by the electorate was a clear vote of no confidence in the current BCHD Board and Executive management.
Voters have been left with no other means to influence the outcomes at BCHD except by cutting off the funding. As we just witnessed, no one will run for the Board. The general consensus amongst those qualified to run for the Board is that the mismanagement and financial problems at the District run too deep to repair. BCHD squandered $14 million of taxpayer funds on pre-development activity for the proposed 100% commercially owned assisted living. Tenants in the 514 building have had little choice but to leave or plan to leave as BCHD panics about the ability of the building to withstand an earthquake. After 60-plus years of earthquakes, the Hospital building has sustained zero damage and zero injuries. Industry best practice gives it up to 25 years more useful life.
Voters specifically rejected funding for the allcove building that comes with a 30-year obligation for LA County SPA8-wide allcove service at the financial liability of District taxpayers. Did voters reject allcove? No. Did they reject serving SPA8 (1.4 million population) with District resources and taxes? Yes. Did they reject $9 million to correct BCHD’s blunder on cost-estimation of an allcove building? Yes.
Voters also rejected preparing the campus for commercial development. BCHD proposed demolishing the Hospital, filling the resulting hole and putting sod over it, and adding more parking at a cost of $21 million. Did voters reject demolition of the Hospital on seismic grounds? Yes. Did voters reject spending $21 million on work that the developer was obligated for? Yes. Did voters reject BCHD’s Board plans for privatization of 3-acres of the campus? Probably.
BCHD has driven away nearly all public input by ignoring it. In a typical BCHD Board meeting there are anywhere from 2 to 15 attendees from the public. At the high end, that’s one of every 5,000 adults in the district. Taxpayers have the opportunity now to force BCHD to put a stop to the allcove building, and the 30-year liability to SPA8. Instead, BCHD can simply use existing space and limit participation to District residents. Taxpayers also have the opportunity to stop BCHD from spending program funds on commercial real estate development on the campus. The Hospital can be selectively mothballed for cost savings, and resident-only programs can be housed in the former hospital or in rental space. Last, the $2.4 million annually in executive pay can be cut in half by forcing each executive to have a normal span of control instead of just five employees.
This is an opportunity for positive change at BCHD. The Board and Executives have been operating from a place of fear, and they need to get on board with the recent rejection of their plans by voters. If they don’t, then the next step might be to let the cities take over the District.
Mark Nelson
Redondo Beach
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