Supervisors Oppose Creation of L.A. City Health Department

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to oppose the June 2014 ballot initiative that would create a City of Los Angeles Public Health Department. The motion, brought forward by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, states that the ballot initiative would diminish public health services while elevating costs to taxpayers.

The ballot initiative proposes to terminate the decades-long contract between the City and the County, and places management of public health services within the City. Recognizing the regional nature of public health protection, the City and County merged public health operations in 1964. The new ballot initiative would require the City to establish a new public health department to replace that of LA County’s Department of Public Health within 120 days.

On Tuesday, Sept. 24, 11:30 a.m., Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of the County’s Public Health Department, is scheduled to provide a report to the Board on the potential impacts of the proposed initiative on public health in Los Angeles County.

Supervisors Oppose Creation of L.A. City Health Department