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Hahn Secures $3 Million to Keep Catalina Island Hospital Open 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Secures $3 Million to Keep Catalina Island Hospital Open

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn secured $3 million of available Measure B funding to prevent the imminent closure of Catalina Island Health – the only hospital on Catalina Island. Although the hospital is vitally important as the only source of emergency medical care on the island for Catalina’s residents, workers, and over one million annual visitors, it faces serious financial challenges with insolvency predicted as early as July of this year.

“If Catalina Island Health were to close, it would not only be disastrous to the health and well-being of Avalon residents and visitors, but it would also have a dangerous ripple effect across our county’s emergency medical response system,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “This Measure B funding, approved by taxpayers to preserve trauma centers and emergency rooms, will keep Catalina Island Health’s doors open to patients while we work on a long-term solution to keep this hospital operating and saving lives long into the future.”

Catalina Island Health’s emergency room currently treats an average of 770 trauma patients each year with just 50 trauma patients requiring aerial transport to the mainland. The hospital’s closure would force more helicopter evacuations of trauma patients and cost the County an estimated $14 million each year. There would also be massive delays in treatment and could risk additional injury, harm, and even death to patients.

“The closure of Catalina Island Health would be catastrophic, creating a significant void for Catalina Island residents and visitors in need of essential healthcare and emergency care. The closure would also require a comprehensive plan to address healthcare access as well as costly medical transportation logistics to the mainland creating a financial strain for taxpayers,” said County of Los Angeles Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone. “I strongly support the allocation of one-time Measure B funds to maintain essential medical care for Catalina Island’s 4,000 year-round residents and 1 million tourists that visit the island annually.”

In addition to being the only emergency room for the island, Catalina Island Health is also the only source for primary, long-term care, and mental health services for the island’s residents, the majority of whom are low-income. It is also the island’s only pharmacy.

Supervisor Hahn with Catalina Island Health CEO Jason Paret and COO Tim Kielpinski

“Catalina Island Health and our entire island community are deeply grateful to Supervisor Hahn, her team, and each member of the LA County Board of Supervisors for understanding our need and providing this critical support,” said Jason Paret, CEO of Catalina Island Health. “This funding will allow us to continue to protect lives with 24/7 emergency care, ensure health equity for our underserved community, and avoid a potential healthcare crisis for LA County.”

Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0, with Supervisor Holly Mitchell absent, to approve Supervisor Hahn’s motion to allocate $3 million in one-time Measure B funding to Catalina Island Health. Measure B is special tax that voters approved in 2002 for the sole purpose of funding the countywide system of trauma centers, emergency medical services, and bioterrorism response.

The motion also incorporated an amendment by Supervisor Kathryn Barger directing the LA County Department of Health Services (DHS) to engage with the administration of Catalina Island Health and report back in writing within 90 days with an analysis of the hospital’s emergency room operations with a detailed breakdown of expenditures, staffing, services, and equipment. DHS will also provide technical assistance to the hospital regarding billing, reimbursement, and other administrative and operational needs related to the emergency room.

Hahn Applauds Cancellation of Plans to Shoot Catalina Deer from Helicopters 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Applauds Cancellation of Plans to Shoot Catalina Deer from Helicopters

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is applauding an announcement by the Catalina Island Conservancy that they will cancel and rework plans to eradicate the island’s deer population by shooting them from helicopters, instead prioritizing other methodologies.

The Conservancy has argued that the mule deer pose a threat to the island’s ecosystem by overgrazing and destroying native plants and habitats. However, their plan to eliminate the estimated 1,770 deer on the island through aerial shooting garnered strong opposition, including from Hahn. Last month, Hahn led the Board of Supervisors in a unanimous vote to oppose the aerial shooting plan and asked the Conservancy to reconsider several alternative proposals they had previously dismissed– including relocating the deer, extending the deer hunting season to thin the herd, and sterilization.

This morning, at a special meeting of the Los Angeles County Fish and Wildlife Commission, Dr. Lauren Dennhardt, the Catalina Island Conservancy’s Senior Director of Conservation, announced the decision. She stated, “We have heard the concerns expressed by residents and by Supervisor Hahn, and per her request, we are working on revising our plan to prioritize other methodologies.” In a separate phone call, the Conservancy told Hahn’s office that they have taken the aerial shooting proposal off the table.

“I appreciate the Conservancy for listening to the serious concerns people had about this plan, especially from people living on the island,” said Supervisor Hahn. “I heard from residents who were terrified at the thought of bullets raining down from helicopters over their beloved island and others who couldn’t stand the thought of the deer carcasses that would be left in their wake. I am hopeful that the next plan that the Conservancy puts forward can earn more widespread support from residents and everyone who loves Catalina Island.”

Hahn has represented Catalina Island since being elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2016. Besides the small city of Avalon, the majority of Catalina Island—located about 22 miles off the coast—is unincorporated, and thus directly governed by the County of Los Angeles. The Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, manages 88% of the island’s 48,000 acres.

Supervisors Unanimously Oppose Catalina Island Conservancy Plan to Gun Down Deer Population 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisors Unanimously Oppose Catalina Island Conservancy Plan to Gun Down Deer Population

Conservancy Proposes Shooting 1,770 Mule Deer from Helicopters

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn to express its opposition to a plan by the Catalina Island Conservancy to eradicate the entire mule deer population on Catalina Island by shooting the deer from helicopters.

“I understand the Conservancy’s concerns with the impact of the deer population, but I disagree that massacring hundreds of animals from helicopters is the right solution,” said Hahn, who represents Catalina Island. “This plan is extreme and I have heard from my constituents both on and off the island who oppose it. I am asking the Conservancy to put this plan on hold and reconsider several alternative proposals they had previously dismissed– including relocating the deer, extending the deer hunting season to thin the herd, and sterilization.”

The Conservancy has argued that the mule deer pose a threat to the island’s ecosystem by overgrazing and destroying native plants and habitats. It proposes eradicating the deer by shooting them from helicopters, a plan that has been met with outrage by many on and off the island. As of Tuesday morning, two petitions to halt the eradication plan have jointly received nearly 90,000 signatures.

With the unanimous support of the Supervisors, the Board will send a letter to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife opposing the Conservancy’s permit application based on the proposed methodology of eradicating mule deer through aerial shooting.

“Through this letter, the Board will advocate for the permit to be denied and if it is, the Conservancy will be forced to continue to work on an alternative solution that could be more widely accepted and supported,” said Supervisor Hahn during the board meeting.

Besides the small city of Avalon, the majority of Catalina Island—located about 22 miles off the coast—is unincorporated, and thus directly governed by the County of Los Angeles. The Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, manages 88% of the island’s 48,000 acres.