Teacher’s lesson
Dear ER
There are a few issues to address here (“Manhattan Beach Unified teachers reject district’s offer of six percent pay increase,” ER May 25, 2023). First, any “double digit” increase is in reference to a two year contract, and would be the combination of sequential single digit increases. Second, it is hard to imagine an human resources manager (even one with such a short tenure in the district) not knowing teachers are leaving for higher paying districts. Third, we have heard the threat of looming layoffs before, but conveniently they only arise during negotiations, and then go away as soon as a contract is signed.
Olie Smith
ERNews comment
Taken for a bike ride
Dear ER:
The Beach Cities Health District is spending $1.2 million of our tax money on a 200-foot long section of bike path on a one block dead end on Diamond Street that goes past a total of six homes. That cost is about $6,000 per foot, when the California Policy Institute states that adding a freeway lane is just over $500 per foot. How can BCHD charge taxpayers 12-times more for a bike lane on an existing road and alley than Caltrans would charge to add a lane to the I-5 on the way to San Francisco? Thankfully Torrance had the common sense to deny BCHD’s attempt to extend the bike lane all the way to Beryl Street. That’s 12-times as long, and we can’t afford another $12 million of BCHD overcharges to taxpayers.
Mark Nelson
Redondo Beach
No bluff bluff
Dear ER:
Thank you Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand, South Bay Parkland Conservancy’s Jim Light, and all their founders and leaders since 2004 for their vision of a more healthy, beautiful South Bay. (Weeding, planting the Redondo Beach Bluffs,” ER May 25, 2023). Thanks also to Bill and Barbara Ailor and other leaders from the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for their inspiration.
Barbara Epstein
Redondo Beach
Costly defense
Dear ER:
This is a big win for our rights to hold public officials accountable (“Appeals Court reverses legal fees ruling on mayor, councilman,” ER May 25, 2023). Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand, Councilmember Nils Nehrenheim and their political associates have consistently avoided the rules and ethical standards that are there to protect the public.
Maggie Tephany Healy
Redondo Beach
Costly karma
Dear ER:
Plaintiffs Chris Voisey, Arnette Travis may have lost their case but karma is a bitch (“Appeals Court reverses legal fees ruling on mayor, councilman,” ER May 25, 2023).. Being forced to pay their legal bills is well deserved punishment for Redondo Councilmember Nils Nehrenheim, and Mayor Bill Brand, who have both wrought damage to the City and Waterfront in more ways than anyone can count or prove in court.
Bob Atkins
Redondo Beach
Who really won
Dear ER:
Plaintiffs Chris Voisey, Arnette Travis Voisey and Travis did not win the case against Redondo Mayor Bill Brand and myself, Councilmember Nils Nehrenheim. They lost. The Appellate Court as well as the State Supreme Court affirmed the trial court ruling that we were the prevailing party. Voisey and Travis lost their lawsuit and still owe court fees that have been accruing annually at 10 percent interest annually since 2017. Voisey and Travis put their name on a lawsuit in June of 2017 funded by Redondo Beach Waterfront. They alleged we violated the Political Reform Act of 1974. Travis and Voisey also claimed they were filing the lawsuit on their own. That was not true. The day before trial, they offered to settle the lawsuit if we paid them $500,000 along with an admission that we broke the law. We told them no. At trial, Voisey and Travis stated they did not have knowledge of who was paying for the lawsuit. They also could not recall signing a retainer agreement with CenterCal’s attorney Bradley Hertz. The judge at trial then allowed our lawyers to put CenterCal’s lawyer Bradley Hertz on the witness stand. Hertz stated Redondo Beach Waterfront (aka CenterCal) was paying for the lawsuit all along. If we had learned prior to trial who was paying for the lawsuit, it would have been dismissed on the basis of it being a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP). That’s against the law. Bottom line: Two disgruntled residents fronted a deep pockets developer’s lawsuit to try to financially ruin innocent people, protecting the will of the people.
Wayne Craig
Redondo Beach
All good at allcove
Dear ER:
On behalf of the allcove Youth Advisory Group, I’m excited to announce that Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) has been awarded a $6.3 million grant to build the permanent location of allcove Beach Cities from the California Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS) Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) (“State grant to fund allcove,” ER May 25, 2023). This means that young people ages 12-25 will be able to continue accessing mental health services, substance use prevention, physical health, peer and family support and supported education, and employment in a space designed by and for us. Since we opened the doors to allcove Beach Cities in November 2022, more than 1,300 young people have participated in its services. In talking with our peers, we know that it can be hard to ask for help. Having allcove as a safe place is making mental health more accessible. It’s been an honor for me personally to be a part of something like this. For over a year I, along with the other Youth Advisory Group members, put in a lot of time towards the opening of the allcove center. It is incredibly humbling to see the progress that is being made. We are so grateful to receive this grant money. I feel like I am part of something greater than myself and proud of the direction the community is headed regarding the issues that surround mental health.
John Hooper
ERNews comment
