by Garth Meyer
Final election count to be announced Thursday
Concluding city election results come out Thursday at 2 p.m., including any needed ranked-choice runoff.
The March 4 election night count of 4,556 ballots, all received by the Friday before, showed Jim Light leading the race for mayor, Joy Ford had a strong lead for city attorney and all measures were passing by high margins.
District One city council candidates Rolf Strutzenberg and Brad Waller had the closest race, Strutzenberg with a narrow lead.
All races will be resolved Thursday, since mail-in ballots postmarked by election day have been received.
Light, the appointed mayor seeking a full term, led City Councilman Nils Nehrenheim in the first count 1,816 votes to 1,190.
Redondo Beach has 44,491 registered voters. To win a race, a candidate must reach 50% plus one vote. As of now, Light has 44% of the total and Nehrenheim 29%.
Council approves final cannabis storefront ordinances; public layers on opposition
The Redondo Beach city council voted 5-0 Tuesday night, March 11, to adopt three ordinances, preparing the way to bring two retail cannabis shops to town. The final decision to permit stores is still to come.
Public input Tuesday was again heavily against allowing cannabis stores in Redondo Beach. Online comments counted 64; 61 people opposed, two neutral and one in support.
One woman on Zoom asked, “Why? Why do we need to this?”
The council has said in the past that the ordinances are to protect the city from outside operators potentially setting local retail cannabis rules themselves through a ballot measure.
Councilman Scott Behrendt prefaced his vote Tuesday by saying he is against cannabis stores in Redondo Beach but had previously offered his support to other councilmembers in exchange for an agreement to keep stores off of a stretch of Artesia Boulevard.
Councilmember Paige Kaluderovic stressed in February that the ordinances are not the decision to seek applications from cannabis operators to open (two) stores.
That decision will, in all likelihood, be made by a new city council, after councilmen Todd Loewenstein and Nils Nehrenheim complete their eight years on the council April 1.
Springfest set for March 20-23
The 42nd annual Springfest Redondo returns March 20-23 to the parking lot of the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. This year marks the debut of the Teen Talent Competition, with judges including Luke Swinney, casting producer of “America’s Got Talent.”
Presented by the North Redondo Beach Business Association, Springfest includes more than 20 rides and games, food and live entertainment. Admission is free.
Muratsuchi to hold E-bike Town Hall
State Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi will hold a Beach Cities E-bike Town Hall and Community Ride Saturday, March 22, from 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Parras Middle School gym, 200 N. Lucia Avenue, to learn about “the latest in e-bike education, infrastructure and enforcement happening locally and across California.”
Representatives from South Bay Council of Governments, South Bay Bike Coalition and local officials will give input.
The bike ride starts at 12:30 p.m. – for regular bikes or e-bikes.
Week’s wrapup:
Crowds gathered at the Pier Sunday for the 51st annual “Festival of the Kite.” On Saturday, more than 400 people demonstrated at Catalina Ave. and Torrance Boulevard, for International Women’s Day, beginning at Veterans Park. King Harbor Yacht Club was the site of filming Tuesday, March 4, a one-day shoot at the club, as well as a scene on the sand of Redondo Beach. The permit was granted to producer Jackie Shenoo and “Future Street Productions.” ER
Kudos to Joy Ford and Brad Waller for a deserved win!