Letters to the Editor 11-5-2020
Show me the study
Dear ER:
The Beach Cities Health District claims that they are “one of the leading preventive health agencies in the nation,” yet there is little evidence to show they are a national leader in this area. When asked, BCHD provides the example that in 2016 the US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy stated, “We tend to believe that America’s health problems are too big and intractable. You (BCHD) have proven that communities can take charge and reverse the trend.” This is a statement of commendation or praise but not evidence of national leadership. What national awards have they received for preventive health? Can they reference a national ranking where they are listed for exemplary programs in preventive health? Has the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified BCHD as a national leader? If BCHD believes they have national leadership ranking in preventive health, they must show the public clear evidence of this ranking. The line can be thin between accurate information designed to inform and marketing infomercial designed to influence.
Sheila W. Lamb
Redondo Beach
Crossing the line
Dear ER:
Hermosa Beach’s Hall Monitors again put an Anti-Business, negative commerce “emergency ordinance” proudly in place (“Hermosa bans outdoor dining lines,” ER Oct. 29, 2020). This is a micro management of what’s already in place, Social Distancing. These busy “leaders” need to be trying to save local business and employment, not looking for ways to make it more difficult. A suggestion to go back to the car and wait for the restaurant to call you? Right. The Pier was mentioned. Restaurants on Pier Plaza are more spur of the moment lunch, dinner, not high end, reservation type venues. Some words like banning, gleefully threatening fines, “my observation” some folks are not following distancing so we will make up something to punish both business and residents. If I was on the council I would have advocated and hopefully passed by now, more positive support for business to help them to be successful and not increase their pain as they are trying to adapt. Pro rate fees, forgive monthly business and or liquor license payments. Create a positive emergency ordinance, allowing all of the temporary outside eating areas to remain open permanently.
Brian Hilgers
Hermosa Beach
To open schools, shut down COVID
Dear ER:
I agree with Redondo Beach resident Renee Sorgen (“COVID-19 priorities, ER Letters Oct. 29, 2020). Schools need to reopen and that is why it is so important everyone wear masks and social distance so we can reduce our cases and move to the State’s next reopening tier. In the meantime, here is what we are doing to get kids back in classrooms: In LA County, all schools can reopen with up to 25 percent of their student bodies so that special needs students and English learners can get back in the classroom. On top of that, any elementary school in the County can apply for a waiver to open for all students pre-K through second grade. A few South Bay schools have already applied and had their waivers approved. More than 35,000 students and nearly 20,000 teachers and staff are now back in schools throughout the county. We have more work to do to get all kids back in classrooms. Keep wearing your masks and practicing physical distancing so we can get there sooner.
Janice Hahn
Los Angeles County Supervisor, Fourth District
San Pedro
Trumping fun
Dear ER:
I found some of the letters in support of President Trump really embarrassing (“Trump’s parade of letters,” ER October 29, 2020). It sounds like they just want to have “so much fun,” without any concern for serious issues that affect large numbers of people in our country — a country that we all love, by the way, whether left, right or center. People who are “pro-life” should be respectful of, and compassionate towards, all life.That includes those who disagree, those who are justifiably angry, those who have “gloomy” faces — because maybe they have a legitimate reason to be sad. Maybe it’s not all about “me-me-me.” Maybe this country is still a “melting pot,” where the poem on the Statue of Liberty is still meaningful. Maybe we still have a heart and a soul. Are only those who are cheery and comfortably off and “having so much fun” worthy of respect?
Marilyn Boussaid
By Email
Bruce’s Beach Hotel
Dear ER:
What is meant by the word “reparations?” I’m not quite sure, as it has become a politically charged phrase. But it seems clear that one form of reparations is vehemently opposed by some folks: taxpayers paying for discrimination that happened generations ago, not perpetrated by them, and which may be vaguely defined (in some minds). It is fortunate that we may correct the injustice of Bruce’s Beach without ever engaging in this form of reparations.
In Bruce’s Beach, the crime is defined, the perpetrators are known, and the victims’ families are identified. And the means of righting the wrong of Bruce’s Beach is under our feet: the land. We don’t need taxpayer money. In fact, I have proposed two solutions that would actually generate funds for the city. The first would be to build the Bruce’s Beach Hotel and Conference Center. This would be a shining example to the country, a physical location in which to have difficult but necessary conversations about racial reconciliation. And it would pay a royalty to the Bruce family for the use of something they indisputably own, their name. Such a property would generate millions of dollars of revenue to the city in perpetuity.
Hotel too intrusive for you? Okay, then sell the land to a developer to create homes, like every other stretch of land in town. I would favor building from the Strand to Highland. But even just the middle third, which would have no impact on views and would still allow for a park in the upper third, would generate tens of millions of dollars that could be used for educational programs and a royalty to the Bruce family for the use of their name on the Bruce’s Beach development.
These solutions require no taxpayer dollars, and would generate millions for the city. These are not reparations, but simply trying to right a horrible wrong done in the name of our city.
Christopher O’Brien
Manhattan Beach
City as Resin catalyst
Dear ER:
Hermosa Beach should not be in the business of choosing winners. So I assume that any business that wants to stake out a place in the street would be welcomed by the city. Correct? Restaurants are not “more equal” after all, are they? Having said that, I saw that Resin Gallery is closing. Operating a gallery is very difficult but the owners seemed to have a very good plan to thrive. Then along came Covid. I postulate that galleries such as this, that engage the community with shows, classes and everything else, are a cultural benefit to the community writ large. There are many types of businesses that our city has a lot of. Galleries with community involvement not so much. Instead of cracking down with heavy enforcement they should be given a bit more leeway than the average business. And maybe even have reduced yearly fees and special event fees. I know it seems it’s not fair to other businesses but the city needs to decide that art and culture are good for its citizens. They need to encode the benefits so people wanting to open such a culturally beneficial establishment know what to expect. With school arts programs the first to be cut the need is emphasized. This is not a new or far-fetched idea. I have enjoyed the plays at the Odyssey Theater in L.A. The city gave them a yearly lease of $1. I would like to see the city make the arts a priority. The benefits of art to expanding people’s viewpoints and enriching their minds and thinking abilities is well known.
Gary Kazanjian
Hermosa Beach
Shared Teddy Bears
Dear ER:
I was saddened to hear of the passing of my longtime friend Joanne Purpus. As artists, we shared many good times together. I helped with Joanne at the Hermosa Beach Summer School programs in the ‘70s and she introduced me to the LA Natural History Museum, where I was a docent for over 10 years. We shared a love of Teddy Bears. I was always amazed at her diversity of interests and her prize winning rabbits. She was a charming lady, though I did not see her often after she and her husband Tom moved to Encinitas. She has a special place in my heart .
Pat Woolley
Manhattan Beach
Healthy accountability
Dear ER:
It has become increasingly clear through the Beach Cities Health District’s responses to California Public Records Act requests that BCHD has no apparent interest, experience, nor expertise in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of taxpayer expenditures on its primary research or programs. Just as South Bay Hospital was not a research hospital, BCHD is not, nor should it be, a research facility. BCHD has wasted approximately $400,000 on its Healthy Minds Initiative. BCHD has authorized another approximately $200,000 of funding after the failure of the first $400,000. The CDC has had a Healthy Brain Initiative for over a decade, and it provides true evidence based programs for use. BCHD spends $14million annually of taxpayer funds, based on anecdotes and hunches. BCHD has no systematic processes for evaluating the public health benefits of its expenditures. I am providing BCHD with CDC guidance for cost effectiveness review. BCHD management and Board are malfeasant for 27 years of failure to evaluate program cost effectiveness, wasting approximately $200M of taxpayer funding over the period.
Mark Nelson
Redondo Beach
Florence of Torrance
Dear ER:
I enjoyed reading about how different artists, most being friends, are coping with the lock-down and isolation (“As in Florence, so in Torrance,” ER Oct. 29, 2020). I compare their stories with my own and feel a communal connection, although in thought only as we work in our private studios, exploring and explaining our emotional responses. I look forward to seeing exhibits with the varied results.
Barbara Nathanson
WWII stories
Dear ER:
It’s so important that hero’s like Martha Cohn come forward and tell their stories (“Palos Verdes resident Marthe Cohn kept secret her work as a World War II spy behind German lines,” EasyReaderNews, October 24, 2020). The humble attitude of what has been called the “greatest generation” needs a bit more light shed on it so we can all experience the education of what true sacrifice is. If you’re an unknown hero, and you know who you are, it’s time to share your stories. God bless this incredible patriot who’s courage is insurmountable and who’s sacrifice we all benefit from.
Stewart Fournier
Manhattan Beach
Trap saved lives
Dear ER:
I met this special lady when she gave a speech at Chabad of Palos Verdes (“Palos Verdes resident Marthe Cohn kept secret her work as a World War II spy behind German lines,” EasyReaderNews, October 24, 2020). As a German nurse, she took care of an SS officer. As she nursed him back to health she complained to him about the German army not being more aggressive, that they should lay a trap for the Americans and free French forces. He confided in her that they had laid a trap. She got to the Allied lines and revealed where the German panzers were hidden and saved thousands of lives.
Terry Chodosh
EasyReaderNews.com