Oak View money in jeopardy

Andrew Wainer

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The Oak View Family Center is set to receive $80,000

from Proposition 10 tobacco tax revenues, but the well will dry up if

Proposition 28 passes Tuesday.

Oak View is one of six sites in Orange County to receive Proposition 10

funds totaling more than $1 million. Proposition 10 was approved by

California voters in November 1998. It added a 50-cent tax on each pack

of cigarettes sold in the state to support health programs for children

and infants.

But the money, which will be used in the city to attend to the basic

health-care needs of low-income families, is in danger of being

eliminated by Proposition 28, which seeks to repeal the tax.

“Prop. 28 would eliminate the tobacco tax and the opportunities community

centers have to receive much-needed funding,” said Dan Pfeiffer,

spokesman for the No on 28 campaign.

Family center coordinator Tessa Charnofsky said Oak View plans to use its

Proposition 10 funds primarily to staff programs for families with young

children.

“We will use the money to hire a full-time public health nurse and to

offer seminars and workshops,” Charnofsky said.

Services will include home visits to help residents of the low-income

neighborhood cope with issues such as diabetes and teenage pregnancy,

Charnofsky said. Educational programs on nutrition, exercise and child

development will also be offered.

She said the program will begin as soon as the staff positions are

filled.

“We are hiring right away,” she said.

Oak View’s money is part of a $48-million Proposition 10 package approved

by the Orange County Children and Families Commission late last month.