State attorney general appeals Redondo SB9 suit
California State Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a notice of appeal June 21 against a judge’s ruling that ordered the state of California to no longer enforce Senate Bill 9 in charter cities, and to grant attorney’s fees to the five cities which brought a winning case against the bill.
Redondo Beach is one of the five cities.
“It is a shame that the Office of the Attorney General is wasting taxpayer dollars to bring this appeal instead of fixing the constitutional mistake they’ve made,” said Redondo City Councilmember Nils Nehrenheim. “Taxpayer dollars would be better spent if the State complied with its constitutional mandate.”
In April, Superior Court of Los Angeles Judge Curtis Kin ruled the state housing law was unconstitutional in charter cities, such as Redondo Beach, a petitioner in the case.
SB 9 obligates California cities to approve residential lot splits, unless they violate public health and/or safety or the environment. It requires an owner to live on the property at least three years after the split.
The five cities in the lawsuit were Carson, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Whittier and Del Mar.
The central question of the lawsuit was this: is Senate Bill 9’s goal to create affordable housing defined sufficiently to override the authority of the five California charter cities that sued the state?
Judge Kin found “SB9 is neither reasonably related to ensuring access to affordable housing, nor narrowly tailored to avoid unnecessary interference in local governance.”
Riviera Village Summer Festival arrives
The 46th annual Riviera Village Summer Festival returns this weekend in Redondo Beach.
Starting Friday afternoon, June 28, the carnival – and its “Kids Zone” inflatables – the International Food Court, beer garden and entertainment run from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
The first band is a Doors tribute act, The Garage Doors, followed by Barley (with an hour break in between).
On Saturday morning, vendors open, including high end arts and crafts booths among more than 300 exhibitors. The Festival runs from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday, starting with a morning performance by the band Sea Shift and the Overtimers, a rock act made up of Redondo Beach firefighters.
Next on stage is South Pasadena Transit Authority — a Chicago tribute — Max80s and Tres Hombres. Sunday’s music includes The Zavalas, Crow Hill Band and Feed the Kitty.
Free parking and a Summer Festival shuttle bus is available at South High School Saturday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
For more information, call (424) 453-7880.
Police bike rodeo safety event Saturday
Redondo Beach Police will hold a free bike safety rodeo Saturday, June 29, at 200 North Pacific Coast Highway. A morning session from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. is for kids in Kindergarten through fifth grade, followed by a session for kids sixth to 12th grade from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Participants should bring their own bike and helmet. To register for the event, send a message to bikerodeo@redondo.org.
CORRECTION:
In the June 20 Easy Reader article, “Fiscal 2024-25 budget passes, averting city charter crisis,” a comment attributed to City Attorney Mike Webb was in error.
He told the city council that a motion to resume budget discussions – after they already passed a budget earlier on a 3-2 vote – would vacate the previous vote.
(The article stated the city attorney said that resuming discussions would not vacate the earlier vote). Easy Reader regrets the error. ER
