Letters to the Editor 12-15-22
Flinn’s in
Dear ER:
I am pleased to announce my candidacy for re-election to the Redondo Beach Unified School District Board. During my first term I governed under unprecedented circumstances, and now seek re-election as the sole candidate with school board experience. My agenda has a clear, measurable goal — meet students where they are and raise them up.
- Always put children first
- Deliver the best possible education for all students
- Prepare kids for success in career or college
- Ensure campus safety
- Provide the most innovative, rigorous curriculum
- Attract and retain the most qualified educators
My service to our School District has spanned decades in several responsible roles. I am committed to making sure our schools are equipped to provide our students with the education they need to reach their full potential. I respectfully ask for your vote to continue my service to RBUSD.
Raymur Flinn
Redondo Beach
Editor’s Note: Raymur Flinn was initially elected to the RBUSD School Board in March 2019. Her term expires in March 2023.
Re enroll God
Dear ER:
After all the recent elections my mind took me down memory lane. In President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address he mentioned God at least three times. Martin Luther King, Jr. constantly spoke about God, and had a dream that he thought would come true through the power of “God Almighty.” I was mainly raised and educated in Manhattan Beach. I do not recall any of my teachers from elementary school through high school discussing their personal politics, or trying to push a “social engineering” agenda. Every morning started with The Pledge of Allegiance. I attended Aviation High School. We had a diverse student body, and we all got along, no matter our ethnic background and/or religion. There was no “bullying,” and students looked out for one another. Once in a while if we learned about a student who was ill or a family who was in some distress. We were asked to keep them in our prayers. Before a football game, and before we went on the field the captain of our football team would lead us players in a prayer. Some years have gone by, and somehow God was “expelled” from school as well as government, other institutions, and from the day to day life of many people. President Kennedy also stated in his Inaugural Address for us to, “Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.” Here is something I suggest we all can do. Maybe make it a New Year’s Resolution. Let us revoke God’s expulsion. Let us bring God back and maybe we can get on with trying to obtain, “Liberty and Justice For All.”
Louie Pastor
Manhattan Beach
Slow driving legalized
Dear ER:
At the October 18, 2022 Redondo Beach City Council meeting, it was announced that Redondo Beach will implement Assembly Bill (AB) 43. Public Works identified 36 road segments as candidates for reduced speed limits.
Alexandros Martinez
Redondo Beach
Editor’s note: Assembly Bill 43 allows cities to lower speed limits to 20 miles per hour.
Grab and gone
Dear ER:
I’m so sorry to see Frank and Roxanne Hallstein go (“Dining decks deck Hermosa Lock and Safe Shop,” ER Dec. 1, 2022). I’ve been using them for as long as I can remember. I left downtown back in January, after 29 years of being in business in Hermosa Beach. One of the main reasons I left was the parking situation. It’s always been bad but the dining decks have definitely made it worse. I don’t think the restaurants realize they’re losing business as well. I’ve tried to go to the Source multiple times to grab, and go and have not been able to find parking so I just keep going.
Becca Williams Perry
ER Facebook comment
Same in the Riv
Dear ER:
I love eating and drinking establishments, but not at the expense of fellow business owners (“Dining decks deck Hermosa Lock and Safe Shop,” ER Dec. 1, 2022). It’s hard for mom and pop, brick and mortars to stay afloat. Card stores, gift stores, dry cleaners, clothes stores, office spaces all find it hard to compete against eating and drinking places. The same thing is happening to Riviera Village.
Jeannine Ingrassia Barnes
ER Facebook
Old Hermosa
Dear ER:
I worked at the Bijou Cinema and my (ex) wife had her photography studio in the same building (“Dining decks deck Hermosa Lock and Safe Shop,” ER Dec. 1, 2022). We were friends with the owners of re:STYLE downstairs, and often got great food from the Strawberry Patch Cafe across the street. There was also a hardware store, a pharmacy, a bookstore, and a tiny video rental outlet across the street. It was a small town community which had charm. I’m sure I am not the only one who misses the old Hermosa, but those times are long gone and so are we.
Christian Klenow
ER Facebook
Shop around
Dear ER:
This is reporting with an agenda (“Dining decks deck Hermosa Lock and Safe Shop,” ER Dec. 1, 2022). There is no effort whatsoever to verify the Hallsteins’ claim that dining decks are the reason for the drop in their business, nor any effort to put the reimagined Pier Avenue’s effect on the community in context locally, or globally. Culver City and other California cities are eliminating parking requirements altogether. Condolences to the owners on the loss of their shop, but the future is one with fewer cars.
Erin Beresini
ER Facebook comment
Tilting the table
Dear ER:
This is government choosing winners and losers, just like the absolutely destructive and criminal pandemic lockdowns (“Dining decks deck Hermosa Lock and Safe Shop,” ER Dec. 1, 2022). Government is destroying the middle class, and small businesses locally, nationally and globally. Please wake up. Hermosa Lock’s Frank and Roxanne Hallstein are family. Thank you for your exceptional service for four decades.
Robb Stroyke
ER Facebook comment
Walking is beautiful
Dear ER:
The arguments here seem to be pro versus anti parking deck, but I think there’s a different solution (“Dining decks deck Hermosa Lock and Safe Shop,” ER Dec. 1, 2022). What about better public transportation in Hermosa Beach so people aren’t as car-dependent? I think the best future for Hermosa’s businesses and Hermosa’s residents is one where people are able to walk. The focus on car-specific transportation and parking is taking that away from folks all over our town. Nothing will Hermosa as beautiful as increasing ways for the community to meet and be in outdoor spaces while decreasing emissions from cars
Kris Tin
ER Facebook comment
People or cars?
Dear ER:
Lack of parking is not the reason that a key shop failed (“Dining decks deck Hermosa Lock and Safe Shop,” ER Dec. 1, 2022). You can get instant keys made at grocery stores. Outdoor dining has been shown to increase clientele. Who wants Hermosa beach to be a gross car town? Beachfront cities are for pedestrians. There’s plenty of parking in the nearby neighborhoods that require a five minute walk to get to Pier Avenue. Can you imagine if the character was removed so that an additional six people can park their cars? Two parking spots can fit 20 people dining outside. The majority of cars only have one person. Sorry their business has to close but please have some self awareness
Lily Tran
ER Facebook comment
Backside
Dear ER:
It’s very sad to hear time and time again that the Hermosa City Council, and the Coastal Commission don’t do more to support small businesses (“Dining decks deck Hermosa Lock and Safe Shop,” ER Dec. 1, 2022). We need leaders who stand not just beside, but behind our businesses to enhance the hometown feeling that everyone desires, all the while being a profitable city.
Paige Nelson
ER Facebook