Single family saved in Redondo
Dear ER:
The judge was absolutely right (“Redondo wins case against SB 9,” ER May 2, 2024). SB 9 ruined residential neighborhoods for no reason, giving Wall Street Real Estate Investment firms, foreign investors, developers, and random syndicates carte blanche to build wherever, whatever, they want. State Senators Toni Atkins and Scott Weiner are responsible for this crime against the American Dream. My wish is that every community in California will now be protected from this theft because of this very appropriate judgment. Deepest gratitude to our own state leader, Assenblymember Al Muratsuchi, for pushing back on SB 9, and for our late mayor, Bill Brand, for crafting the protective Constitutional Amendment that Councilmember Nils Nehrenheim is working so hard to get on the ballot.
Barbara Epstein
Redondo Beach
Why the city, not the state
Dear ER:
Wow. Redondo had one application for a single family lot split in two years (“Redondo wins case against SB 9,” ER May 2, 2024)? Chicken Little, the sky is not falling. Whatever happened to the rights of property owners? Cities argue the states have no right to tell them how to manage their cities while telling homeowners they have no right to control their own property. At least the homeowners paid for the property.
Sam Andreano
Whitier
Who’s in charge?
Dear ER:
What was abundantly clear after watching the April 18 Capital Improvement Study Session was the City Council isn’t given the opportunity to reprioritize or materially change any of the CIP projects that staff has proposed; and that was the purpose of the meeting.
City staff claimed it simply didn’t have the time to investigate other project options or change their CIP plan and still get the budget done on time; leaving us to ask was this by design or by accident?
Essentially, the council was given three Study Session choices: 1. Cancel a project, 2. Provide staff with an in-depth, on-the-spot plan to reallocate staff resources, and project funds if they wanted to make any changes during the Study Session, or 3. simply accept the staff’s CIP plan as is.
This was made abundantly clear when Councilman Rob Saemann suggested changes to the Lot D parking lot project. Then when Councilman Francois asked about prioritizing the 14th Street beach restroom project it was the same story. Staff had no time to investigate options before the budget was due.
That story was repeated when Councilman Raymond Jackson asked about the wisdom of continuing with the South Park slope repairs.
Then there was the issue of delaying the Tsunami Siren implementation by three or four years in the face of a woefully inadequate, short term Tsunami response plan. That was swept under the table. .
Things may be slowly getting better but please consider these facts:
- The Clark Building Renovation project started in FY 2018-19. Six years later we still don’t have an approved bid
- The City Yard project was also started in FY 2017-18. Seven years later we still don’t have a site design or an approved bid
- The Parks restroom project which began in 2015 was not complete until 2023.
Constituents have waited far too long for accountability in the City’s Project Management process.
Anthony Higgins
Hermosa
A little bit of happiness
Dear ER:
In Providence Rhode Island, small “unicorns” are spreading joy all over the city. Locals have spotted the tiny unicorns on window sills, sitting on steps, and throughout the commercial areas of the city. Following this example, many cruise ships are hiding little cruising “ducks” for their passengers to find. Now the same thing is happening in Hermosa Beach with “little blue dolphins.” The blue dolphins are less than two inches, making them easy to miss. But finding a Hermosa blue dolphin is intended to make our beach locals and visitors happy and maybe even bring a sense of good luck. Hermosa blue dolphins are hidden by unknown menehune amusing themselves and hoping to elicit joy and happiness for those who find them.
Name withheld by request
Hermosa Beach
Preserve Redondo’s Fire Department
Dear ER:
I do not want the City of Redondo Beach Fire Department to become the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD). Redondo would have no control over the fire services. We financially don’t need to go to LACFD. The cost would be over $14 million more during the first 10 years. The old buildings would still belong to Redondo Beach, so if they need replacing or updating, we still have that expense. LACFD doesn’t even want us and this is due to them refusing to attend our city council meeting on April 1, when they were invited to come and refused.
We have a first class fire department, so why would we want to get rid of our fire department? County would reduce the number of firefighters, eliminate a truck, and we don’t know if their response times would be as good as they are now. If you have ever had to call the RBFD, as I have, you know they respond very quickly.
Why are City Councilmembers Nils Nehrenheim, Todd Loewenstein and Zein Obagi pushing this agenda? Nehrenheim has worked for the LACFD for over 28 years as a lifeguard. He should recuse himself. If the Redondo residents want to show that they are against going to County Fire, they should attend the Tuesday, May 21 City Council meeting at 6 p.m. in the council chambers, and email all the city council members and mayor. Write to the newspapers, and post e comments on the agenda the day before the meeting. The city council needs to hear your voice.
Vicky Oetzell
Redondo Beach
