Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe yesterday delivered his annual State of the County address at the Long Beach Convention Center in front of more than 1,000 guests, stressing the need for improved healthcare, new economic approaches and increases in public safety. The event was hosted by the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and chief sponsor Wal-Mart.
Knabe was particularly concerned with the recent closures of hospitals that lie in his District, which includes Long Beach. The closures affect even those with the best health coverage, he said, for one reason.
“Capacity capacity capacity,” Knabe stressed. “Less than two decades ago, there were over 100 emergency rooms in Los Angeles County handling 911 emergency calls. Today, there are 73. We have lost 11 emergency rooms just in the last six years. Tomorrow, there will most likely be even less.”
Knabe challenged the state and federal governments to provide enough funding to stop any more closures, and called for a frank and open discussion about healthcare before hospitals are pushed further towards their limits. Knabe also called public safety his number one priority and outlined plans to improve the juvenile justice system.
Knabe also spoke against the passage of Measure R, calling it “a subway costing a billion dollars a mile to build for a few people in one small part of the County.” He endorsed synchronization of County intersection stoplights as a cheaper and better alternative.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor
Disclosure: lbpost.com co-founder Shaun Lumachi is under contract with the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerc and the Office of Supervisor Don Knabe.
