By: Gerrie Schipske, Author of “Historical Hospitals of Long
Beach”
Before everyone gets too excited over the announced possibilities
of a new operator of Community Hospital, taxpayers need to be aware that the
City of Long Beach owns the deed to the property on which Long Beach Community
Hospital sits.
The actual deed has a restrictive covenant that only allows the
property to be used for a “public hospital.” This is because the taxpayers paid
for the land and then raised millions of dollars through bonds to pay for the
construction and expansion on several occasions. Also, the City even gave money
directly to keep the hospital operating. The City holds title to the property.
Historically, the hospital has been operated by the Long Beach
Community Hospital Association and then Healthwest, UniHealth, Catholic HealthCare,
the Community Hospital Foundation and most recently Memorial Medical.
Memorial is ending its lease because it cannot (or will not)
retrofit the hospital to meet state e…
