Mailbag:

Regarding the Huntington Beach Senior Center issue (“Seniors want new center,” Oct. 8):

I’m still not convinced that the most effective way to provide for the needs of seniors is to consolidate all services into one huge building.

Our city covers a large area. Other cities of comparable size have provided services for seniors from several “branch” centers. Some services like Meals on Wheels could also be provided from low-cost industrial locations. In fact, that service might be most effective if consolidated on a regional level with other cities.

The consultants retained by the city did not explore the most expeditious ways to service seniors, only options for a pre-conceived “senior center.”

Remember that the needs of the senior population (like the rest of the population) will change over time. As life spans lengthen, there will be greater need for adult day care, caregiver assistance programs, senior employment and housing assistance. The baby boomer generation will be less likely to have defined benefit pensions and will retire later. Fitness programs will be in greater demand.

The original consultants were not asked to advise the city as to what services would be needed by tomorrow’s seniors. I think that needs to be the first determination before any decisions are made regarding the provision of buildings for the provision of those services.

A careful needs analysis may indicate that we need one central senior facility or several facilities for various purposes. In tough economic times, we do need to be pragmatic and utilitarian in our decision-making process and discard the notion that monument building will attract the uses for which it was built (“If we build it, they will come?”).

Whatever is built, leased or otherwise acquired should not be doomed to “white elephant” status because it was designed for the last generation instead of the next one.

Make mayor accountable to voters

The editorial “Mayor need not be elected” (Oct. 29) neglects the issue of the will of the voter. The closer the bone, the sweeter the meat, and the closer to the will of the people, the more likely they will be held responsible.