CHAPTER 1: Introduction
BCHD’s predecessor (whose actions BCHD is bound by) acquired an enormous amount of land situated in the City of Redondo Beach, which BCHD now occupies. But, what can that BCHD land be used for?
All of us understand that when you remodel your home, you can’t replace your current structure with a six-story building. We aren’t allowed to bulldoze our house and build a casino. Why not? It is our land, and we can do with it whatever we like, right? There are no restrictions at all on what we can do with our own land, correct? Wrong.
Yet, during many of BCHD Board of Directors meetings, we have heard the phrase: “We follow our own rules”. As we learn more about how BCHD operates, and what they have planned to build on the land they occupy, we know that is very true. BCHD does not seem to ask themselves, but what are the rules we all are required by law to follow?
Land use rules can be complicated, but it appears BCHD ignored even the most basic of those rules which apply to their proposal for a “Healthy Living Campus” proposed massive expansion project.
BCHD acts as if it has no restraints on its power. That should frighten you. BCHD is a government entity, and the power of government is vast. But, it is not unlimited. The entire history of our nation was built around making sure that government power is never abused, but used wisely. As a governmental entity, BCHD has all of the powers of taxing and spending that go along with that designation.
Along with the power to tax and spend, governments have the power of what is called “eminent domain”. That is a fancy way of saying, the government, including BCHD, can take any property they want in the cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach.
Therefore, if you live in those cities, BCHD can take your home. They can take the land your business sits on. They can take away your favorite restaurant or store. And, there is nothing you can do to stop them.
This is the story of how BCHD ruthlessly took the land upon which it now sits. But, because we cannot stop the government from taking what is ours, the law creates a “trade off”. Land can only be taken if two promises are kept by the government, including BCHD. Our Constitution requires that these promises be kept.
The first promise is that the land taken be used only for “public use”. The second is, before the land is taken, the government must tell us exactly and specifically what that public use will be. And, crucially, the government must promise to use it in that specified manner forever.
In coming chapters, you will see that BCHD used the power of taking, the power of eminent domain, to obtain the land on which it proposes to build their “Healthy Living Campus”. By using this power, the law required BCHD to keep their promises. BCHD promised to use all of the land for a “hospital”. And, only for a “hospital”. Forever.
_____
Please “tune in" on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. for Chapter 2: BCHD wants to build a hospital for the community.
