Letters to the Editor 2-13-25

Palos Verdes Blvd. Freeway

Dear ER:

It’s 4:05 a.m. The windows rattle, the rumbling grows louder. I shake my wife awake. “Joyce, get up, we’re having an earthquake.” But no—it’s just another 18-wheeler barreling past our house. Like a wave, its noise ripples down Palos Verdes Boulevard until it reaches Pacific Coast Highway, serving as an unwelcome alarm clock for the entire neighborhood.

At 6:25 p.m., my wife and I try to enjoy a quiet dinner. A fully loaded tractor-trailer car carrier stops at the red light, its brakes screeching like a thousand fingernails on a chalkboard. The hair on my neck stands on end. As the light turns green, it roars to life, sounding like a hundred marbles tumbling in a dryer.

Day and night, heavy trucks dominate Palos Verdes Boulevard and Prospect Avenue—clogging traffic traveling side by side and forming caravans of three or more. Cement mixers, dump trucks, double fuel tankers, and tractor-trailers haul massive loads, their grunting engines polluting our streets with noise and exhaust. Worse, many drivers blatantly ignore traffic laws—blowing through stop signs and even red lights at school crossings.

It has now been over 320 days since the Redondo Beach City Public Works Department last addressed this issue. In that time, we estimate that over 40,000 heavy vehicles—exceeding half a million tons in total weight—have traveled through our neighborhood. 

Palos Verdes Boulevard and Prospect Avenue were never designed to support such an immense load. As residents, we are fed up. This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a serious issue affecting safety, air quality, infrastructure integrity and our overall Quality Of Life.

The root of the problem seems to be poor coordination between cities. If Torrance designates certain streets as truck routes, but those routes dead-end at the Redondo Beach border, the burden unfairly shifts onto our community. This should have been resolved months ago. The lack of meaningful action speaks volumes about the failure of leadership.

What we need is real commitment from city officials. Half-hearted enforcement efforts and temporary signs are not enough. Stronger regulations, consistent enforcement, and cooperation between neighboring cities must be prioritized.

With election season approaching, it’s time to hold our leaders accountable. The residents of Redondo Beach deserve better—we need officials who will fight for our Quality Of Life, not just talk about it.

John Perchulyn

Redondo Beach

Sound neighborhood

Dear ER:

Last Saturday, February 8, a majority of the neighborhood on the busy section of Prospect from Beryl to Diamond met with Mayor Jim Light, Councilmember Paige Kaluderovic, and members of the Redondo Public Works Department to search for solutions to improve safety for residents. You might have noticed that the dying oleanders along Prospect Avenue have been removed, leaving the houses at the mercy of loud exhausts, powerful bass subwoofers, and other amplified noise from vehicles. You’ll also be able to see just how easy it has been in the past for speeding cars to blast through the oleander and end up in the street and yards of residents.

Neighbors went to the Council in search of a soundwall — basically a concrete block retaining wall. That would reduce the noise, provide protection from vehicles flying off the road into homes, and also increase neighborhood safety from gangbangers and van thieves who have been coming to the street in recent years. It’s good to see the City being responsive and committing to conducting safety analysis of speed, wrong way traffic, and noise. The neighbors look forward to continuing collaboration with the City and removing the negative health impacts of excessive noise and gaining some protection from speeding vehicles at all hours of the day and night on Prospect.

Mark Nelson

Redondo Beach

Greenbelt to the sea

Dear ER:

Thank you Easy Reader for bringing us this good news (“Park confirmed for Redondo Beach land near AES power plant,” ER February 6, 2025). As Redondo Beach Mayor Jim Light says, this could be the start of the “green belt to the sea,” connecting with Hermosa and Manhattan Beach, then all the way up the power line corridor into Columbia Park in Torrance. Imagine all the neighborhoods connected some day, with bike paths, urban trails, delightful play and rest areas, and healthy green space. So many other cities in America already have done this on former rail and other easements. Great cities have great parks. We can too.

Barbara Epstein

Redondo Beach

Park it

Dear ER:

So, the residents get no input (“Park confirmed for Redondo Beach land near AES power plant,” ER February 6, 2025)? I guess that’s a thing of the past with Mayor Jim Light at the helm.  He’s the guy who sues the City, and while residents are still paying for those lawsuits, he wants us to fund a park at the AES plant to realize his one and only “vision” for the City. No doubt his friends will get the contract to landscape the park with City money that goes through South Bay Parkland Conservancy (Jim Light founder and President). When you see behind the curtain, it is all very self-serving.

Margaret Healy

Redondo Beach

Light on his feet

Dear ER:

Last year, after the passing of former Mayor Bill Brand, I was one of two Redondo Beach City Council Members who voted “No” on appointing Jim Light as Mayor Brand’s successor.

However, fast-forward one year, and I’m humbled to say that Mayor Jim Light has proven me wrong. He’s shown himself to be a unifier who’s committed to serving the entire City, giving both North and South the attention and respect they deserve. Although Mayor Light did not want or plan to run for election, I, along with many others, personally requested and encouraged him to reconsider his decision because of the excellent job he has done. I’m pleased, with the blessing of his wife Pat and daughter Alli, he made the decision to become a candidate for Mayor and make the sacrifice of time and effort to serve us.

Although there are other capable candidates in this race, after careful consideration, and weighing all options, I’ve concluded that Mayor Jim Light’s track record of dedication, results, and leadership has earned him my first choice vote for Mayor of Redondo Beach.

Scott Behrendt

Redondo Beach City Council Member – District 5

Nils nails it

Dear ER:

Nils Nehrenheim has worked since 2017 as Redondo Beach District 1 councilmember. He has vision and love for our city and he has done the work. Before his council terms, he was immersed in keeping our pier a pier and not a sprawling mall benefiting a developer. He is a straight shooter who refuses to accept money that may be seen as quid pro quo. On character, Nehrenheim is genuine and does that rarest of things these days, actually listens. I saw him on the Esplanade and asked his view on something and we spoke for a while on a range of topics. He has a curious mind and appreciation for all views. He has looked to studied residents for their research and knowledge on topics under city consideration, giving credence to the notion of it taking a village. Conversely, the character of our current mayor is compromised. He’s gone back on his word and also discouraged public comment in a council meeting. His defenses in both cases were flimsy.

What sets Nehrenheim apart from the others is his experience, passion for Redondo and its people, and his boundless energy. He has fostered important relationships within the city, and at a state level. He is the guy who has and will continue to work for things like e-bike infrastructure, but will drop everything to head to Sacramento to win state support on local endeavors. 

Lara Duke

Redondo Beach

Keep Brand’s brand

Dear ER:

Mayor Bill Brand (2017-2024) was truly a treasure. A man whose word was as good as gold. His unquenchable spirit and zest for life were infectious. His passion for human connection and love for nature were unparalleled. As the finest mayor Redondo Beach could ever hope for, he brought boundless energy and unwavering dedication to his role. Mayor Brand cherished his friendships and held deep respect for everyone he met. Integrity was the cornerstone of his character—he never wavered once he made a promise. He will be forever missed and always remembered. Mayor Brand’s wish was to have Nils Nehrenheim, 8 year Redondo Beach City Councilmember as his successor as stated by his widow Deirdre Brand. Nils experience, track record of success, vision for the future and established relationships is what we need to lead Redondo into the future. Let’s make Mayor Brand proud and preserve our beach life culture.

Jamie Pagliano

Redondo Beach

Character reference

Carissa Robinson

Redondo Beach

He’s done it before

Dear ER: 

I have lived in Redondo Beach for over 40 years. Steve Colin was elected twice as my District 3 City Councilman. I voted for him each time. His family has lived in this city for 115 years. When I have questions about city issues, I walk over to his house to ask questions. It is that easy.

In 2017, Redondo voters passed Measure C that protected our harbor from over-development. Mayor Bill Brand was sued because he supported the people’s choice. Bill Brand chose attorney Steve Colin to defend him and the voters’ choice to protect our city. For over seven years Colin Colin defended Bill Brand, and our Measure C decision, in court. He won at trial, in the Court of Appeals and at the California Supreme Court, with Brand at his side. When the developer tried to sue Brand for attorney’s fees, Colin won that motion for Bill just days before Brand died, in 2024. Colin’s legal representation of Brand saved city taxpayers nearly $1 million dollars. 

Redondo is under attack by politicians in Sacramento who want to ruin our neighborhoods. The closed AES powerplant is within our reach and can be replaced with Bill Brand Waterfront Park. But, these important fights require a talented, aggressive and experienced attorney. I trust Colin with that responsibility. He’s done it before; he’ll do it again for us.

Andrea Burchell

Redondo Beach

Built Ford tough

Dear ER:

Joy Ford is by far the best candidate to serve as the next Redondo Beach City Attorney. For the past decade, she has dedicated herself as our Quality of Life Prosecutor, taking on the toughest issues facing our city. She is prepared to start on day 1. Ford has already tackled the #1 problem for most cities — homelessness. She was instrumental in Redondo Beach becoming the first city in LA County to achieve functional zero homelessness. The program is now being recognized throughout the county as a model for success. She is a doer not a keyboard warrior. She is focused on public safety and quality of life issues and the only recent candidate to be supported by both “factions” in Redondo Beach. How many issues have Mayor Jim Light and former Mayor Steve Aspel agreed on? How many issues of this magnitude have Councilmember Zein Obagi Jr and former Councilmember Laura Emdee agreed on? This is the kind of leadership we need, someone who unites us in our common commitment to public safety and quality of life. Please join me in voting for Joy Ford on March 4th.

Paige Kaluderovic

Council District 4

Redondo Beach

Getty by the Sea

Dear ER:

I am running for Redondo Beach Mayor. I have been a resident for 44 years, a homeowner, and my children graduated from Redondo Beach schools. Serving as a City Commissioner for two terms, I have been a regular at City Council meetings, speaking on numerous issues affecting our community. For two decades, I ran and owned a successful payroll company. I decided to use my education in the arts to give back to our community. I was President of the Redondo Beach Art Group for three terms and produced The Power of Art that put our city on the map. 

I believe we can control overdevelopment and preserve the character of our small beach town while maintaining civil dialogue. I will strive for a high level of public safety, responsive city services, local businesses that serve our community, and work together with the City Council to complete capital improvement projects in a timely manner.

Since the Mayor does not have a vote, I see my role as a facilitator who sets the agenda and conducts productive meetings, with cooperation and better communication. I will respect the will of the voters by listening to the council members they elect and work with them to meet the needs of our residents.

The City and the Cultural Art Commission have dedicated a sizable budget to install public art and vitalize Artesia Boulevard. This community will now have the potential to thrive with galleries, shops, and restaurants unique to our city. The AES Power Plant property remains an important issue. My vision is to refurbish the main building into an art center and public meeting place, surrounded by open green space that includes recreational areas and a natural habitat. Imagine the feel of the Getty Center with a gateway to our shoreline.

However, the most important vision for Redondo Beach is yours. You have my promise that I will listen to you and work to make our city an extraordinary place.

Georgette Gantner

Redondo Beach