Our town
Dear ER:
I want to thank all those who participated and attended the State of Manhattan breakfast (“Mayor Burton wants more public/private developments,” ERNews.com). I am so very proud of the Manhattan Beach Schools and our businesses who help make Manhattan Beach such a great city. I am very proud to serve with our city council members whose dedication and commitment are exemplary.
Mayor Mark Burton
City of Manhattan Beach
Our town, whoa
Dear ER:
Mayor Mark Burton states, “The council has an obligation to examine development opportunities that will provide fiscal sustainability” (“Mayor Burton wants more public/private developments,” ERNews.com). But what continues to be ignored is that fiscal sustainability also requires significant improvements in cost control. With 70 percent of our city budget’s rapidly escalating General Fund continuing to be spent on runaway employee compensation, merely chasing new revenue sources is a woefully inadequate fiscal plan. Doing so is certain to place the final nails in the coffin of our much ballyhooed “small town feel.”
Gerry O’Connor
Manhattan Beach
Put up or shut up
Dear ER:
If Build a Better Redondo wants their ideas implemented, they should develop a plan and raise the capital. The AES property is for sale. Here’s their chance to make their ideas a reality.
John Mirassou
Redondo Beach
Dear ER:Campaign calculation
Redondo Beach Mayor Steve Aspel seems to be hanging his re-election campaign on CenterCal’s plans for King Harbor, which include: building a 700-seat theater when only about 4 percent of Americans see movies in theaters anymore; constructing yet another hotel when South Bay occupancy rates stay at around 75 percent; adding an expensive drawbridge and rounding off the whole project with an unnecessary new road running thru the whole mess.
Quality Seafood and Naja’s Place seem ready for relocation and Tony’s and Capt. Kidd’s reportedly think they will be grandfathered in, but will they have anything in writing? Sounds like only Kincaid’s will have anything on paper. Of course smaller businesses won’t have to worry about not being able to afford the 3rd Street Promenade-like rents as they’ll probably go out of business during the years they’re closed for construction.
While the mayor wants you to believe it’s just a few malcontents against this project, Fun Factory owner Steve Shoemaker seems unlikely to close his business for a new hotel anytime soon and no one likes the proposed location for the boat ramp, including The Portofino Hotel. And all we have to do to get all of this in our harbor is to turn it over to CenterCal for the next 30 years.
I’m looking forward to the mayor’s campaign slogan.
Ross Yosnow
Redondo Beach
Go positive
Dear ER:
I have been impressed by the energy and dedication of the Rescue Our Waterfront (ROW) group, which seeks to prevent or delay the Waterfront redevelopment. While I believe this effort to be misguided and destructive, I am hopeful that these energies can be redirected towards a positive use.
ROW seeks to raise $30,000 for legal and promotion costs. The median personal income in the United States is $26,989/year, as of 2012. This means that they would like to spend more on fees than most people in the United States make in an entire year.
Imagine the good that could be done with that funding. It could be used to help our schools, plant 200 trees in our city (assuming $150/each), or sponsor a homeless family or child.
The vision for the Waterfront has been shaped by public input and is a good one (if you haven’t yet, watch Centercal’s video). Afraid of insufficient parking and traffic? Then help establish a bike share (which Centercal is doing). ROW could buy 200 bicycles with their fundraising target, or make sure that parking fees go to support a bike share program. ROW could support ridesharing services and ensure a place for them to pick up and drop off people; or lobby to improve public transportation.
Perhaps some are afraid of missing out on the profits (if any) that the developers might make in return for their investment and effort? Good news. This improvement to the waterfront will help homeowners’ property values and will provide higher tax revenues for schools and public services.
There’s a power plant just up the street that’s waiting to be removed. ROW and other groups could raise funds and contribute to the Waterfront’s improvement. Lastly, research has been shown that, across time and distance, when a city’s population increases, the residents’ average incomes increase by an even greater factor (“The Laws of the City”, The Economist, June 2012). 1 plus 1 really is greater than 2 when we work together, and the more vibrant we can make this area the better off we will all be.
We can fight amongst ourselves and stand paralyzed, like a deer in headlights, as the Waterfront decays and the future passes us by. Or we can rise to the challenge, work together constructively, and build a better future. ROW has the creativity, courage, and ability to achieve great things, and I implore them to use these powers for good.
Jason W. May, Ph.D.
Redondo Beach
Who do you trust?
Dear ER:
Rescue Our Waterfront (ROW) appears to argue that we should not allow a developer to invest in revitalizing Redondo, but rather entrust our Waterfront to a small opposition group with no credentials, merit or experience for such a complex job? Let’s stay aboard the current process, which allows for proper sizing and coastal protections and for maintaining healthy dialogues and mitigated modifications. As it stands it’s been a decade in the making.
Please don’t disrespect the voice of the people. Measure G was a citizen led initiative that passed. CenterCal was selected 4 to 1 by the city council to develop the waterfront. This process still means the plan will go before the Harbor Commission, City Council and Coastal Commission.
Stay on course Redondo Beach. Visit Facebook: Revitalize Redondo
Lisa Rodriguez
Redondo Beach
PLAN for more traffic
Dear ER:
I feel that I must respond to the Hermosa Beach’s draft plan, PLAN Hermosa.
I have a master’s degree and have worked in private industry for 40 years and I have had a very difficult time understanding what PLAN Hermosa means for Hermosa’s citizens. Most Hermosa citizens will just give up when they try to understand PLAN Hermosa. Letting elected officials decide what’s best has not proven to be in the best interests of ordinary citizens.
PLAN Hermosa will definitely increase the population of Hermosa. Traffic will become horrendous with no way to improve the flow of vehicles due to the increase of bicycle lanes and walk only areas. Hermosa’s elected officials and city administrators will have increased powers to implement their interests, not the citizens of Hermosa’s interests.
PLAN Hermosa should be rejected if the citizens of Hermosa want to keep their freedoms and their city.
JJ Johnson
Hermosa Beach
Correction
The website for tickets to Adrienne’s Search for a Cure to Children’s Cancer was incorrect in last week’s Beach magazine. For tickets call Adrienne at (310)940-9200 or visit womansclubofhermosabeach.org.
