Taxes, Charity and the Downtown YMCA

As a small businessman, I can well understand the desire of Michael Talla and other owners of for-profit health clubs to eliminate or at least lessen the competition wherever legally possible. This would permit them to make more money.

What I cannot understand is the willingness of the Los Angeles Times to provide a forum for the health clubs’ attack without at least commenting on the obvious public policy question that is being raised. Namely, should the state and federal governments subsidize through tax policy charitable organizations that compete with for-profit organizations?

For example, I did not see any mention on the part of your reporter that the Music Center is in direct competition with a large number of for-profit theaters and concert halls. Or that the Hospital of the Good Samaritan is competing with for-profit hospitals. And surely no one would suggest that these venerable Los Angeles institutions cater only to the poor and the homeless. Or that their facilities are less than first class. In fact, they are an important part of the fabric of this city. They set standards in the arts and medicine, just as the YMCA has in family programs and fitness.

As a businessman I am embarrassed by Talla and his associates’ efforts to improve their profits at the expense of a charity that is as important to our community as the YMCA. As a citizen, I am concerned about the real public issue that is being raised. For if the health club operators are successful in their attack on the YMCA, then not only is that institution in jeopardy but so are hundreds of important social and public service charities throughout our great city.

STEPHEN F. HINCHLIFFE JR.

Los Angeles

Stephen Hinchliffe is a director of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles and a past chairman of the board of directors of that organization.