Letters: April 15, 2010
by Keith Robinson
Get those workers some java
Dear ER:
First of all, I am totally behind the entire Pier Avenue Renovation Project. As owner of Java Man I look forward to all the wonderful improvements on Upper Pier.
I am severely disappointed with the snail-like progress on the construction. Parking, already a premium, has been taken away for days at a time, while little is done. Last Friday the contractors had a crew of three working on Pier, from Valley Drive to Hermosa Avenue…all with hand shovels. Maybe the rest of the workers just needed another long weekend, but the Pima Corporation seems to be using a skeleton crew for this huge project.
Public Works Manager Rick Morgan is doing an incredible job with the project, but he can’t do it alone. Obviously this has greatly impacted my business, as well as other businesses on Upper Pier. One only has to drive, or attempt to drive down Pier Avenue, to see the lack of customers either walking, driving or trying to find a parking space.
Is there any guaranteed time line that the City Council can enforce? Banners are great but they certainly don’t hurry along the project, which promises to be a dragged out affair lasting to early fall at best.
Rick Hankus
Java Man and Ocean Diner
“It’s the beach, what do you expect?”
Dear ER:
For years I have wanted to move here. Coming from the Pacific Northwest where people love all shades of green and find rain enjoyable, I was ready for a little blue sky and beach. Paradise! Or so I thought.
Don’t get me wrong, I am happy here, but lately I am met with a growing concern. Each day I walk on The Strand and without fail there is someone who crosses the line of decency. I feel as if I am risking life and limb with numerous out of control canines. Those who hold the choke collars seem to be even more oblivious to their animals’ derangement then to where their own belts and their butts should meet. On numerous occasions I have watched people urinate on private property. Once, late at night, I witnessed a young couple having sex just a few feet from The Strand wall. I could have been spared the experience had they not decided to plop down under a street lamp. If I was more freakish I might have enjoyed searching for some element of good in their alcohol-induced hookup, but unfortunately I’ve seen better intercourse on a dairy farm in Ohio.
Maybe no one cares. Maybe I am the only one who is no longer entertained by this gross state of disrespect for others and the planet. That’s fine. After all, I have nothing to prove. No one will change their behavioral course due to my choice of words. Nor will an article be published that might send the Chamber of Commerce scurrying into a dark corner only to drop into a fetal position and madly pluck out their eyebrows. No, this is for my own benefit. Something like a bookmark by which I can look back and remember how I once recognized respectable behavior and what it feels like to be kind and courteous to others.
Why don’t I keep my mouth shut, you ask? Mainly because I believe it would not take much effort to change this playground for derelicts. Or maybe residents have become so sand eroded that they are no longer bothered by human indecency, but have instead decided to focus on seawalls and things that are controllable…at least until the next storm. I hear often, “It’s the beach, what do you expect?” As if that catchall phrase rationalizes bad behavior.
This once paradisiacal playpen was a dream of mine. A place to relax, kick back, and enjoy its beauty. For those who are old enough to remember those glorious days when people picked up after their dogs and never once had to listen to an owner utter the words “leave it” when referring to a smaller breed, I hope your memory stays intact. For those who have never seen an off-leash Pit bull bolting down the Strand, followed by a saggy-pant, skateboarding punk about to knock you over…you are one lucky dude. And for those who have never been woken up at some ungodly hour by the sounds of inebriated, trash-mouthed youth stumbling down the street…my hats off to you.
Sad to say, but the illusion of paradise appears to be gone. It seems that many have decided to adjust to new levels of defeat. What I am left to contemplate are distant memories…a time when this wonderful little beach town was one hell of a place to hang your hat.
A. Boreson
Hermosa Beach
A soldier to the end
Dear ER:
Your article on my best friend of over 71 years, Gordon Evans, reminded me of the many times in their special garden that our families had great wine paired with an excellent dinner, prepared by his wonderful wife Betty (“Artist, activist Gordon Evans remembered for his passions,” ER April 8, 2010).
I also remember our trips together with him and Betty. They were a special treat. For those who did not know Gordon very well, they should be aware of the fact that as a 17-year-old Marine during World War II, he was in the Guadalcanal Campaign. That experience, where he saw many of his comrades killed or wounded resulted in a different person than the one I first met at Mount Veron Junior High School in Los Angeles.
Although he became a better artist and a very loving husband father because of his war experiences, he also knew he had to challenge in as strong a manner as he could the establishment and the conventional thought that many of us sometimes tend to follow. Although I disagreed with him many, many times, I have to admit that he was often right. For our family, the art we have in our homes will always remind of what a great friend he was and we will always miss him and Betty. Our country needs men like Gordon Evans, and not just to fight our wars. Without them, we would have more of our individual rights and resources taken away from us.
Les Guthrie
Redondo Beach.
Passionate enabler
Dear ER:
O, the pervasive culture of victimhood (“Parishioners express outrage over Passion Play photo caption,” Letters, ER April 8, 2010). All of the pious letter writers were evidently victimized by a caption next to a photo. It is mystifying that not a single one of them thought to thank the caption writer for enabling them all to become American martyrs.
That they choose to commemorate a singularly grotesque execution is their business, but the fact that they feel threatened by a caption in a secular publication exposes both the desperation and the superficiality of their piety.
James B. Kennedy
Redondo Beach
Ex communicant
Dear Editor:
Why would I find it hilarious that the area’s knee-jerk masochistic abnegators (Xians) would howl about a rather humorous April Fool’s issue ( take a hint, idiots) caption upon The Passion yet remain completely silent re: the same issue’s ad for Gasser’s “Welcome Back, Jesus,” showing one of history’s three enduring anarchists (Thomas Paine, the Christ, Ikkyu) holding a cigarette, wearing shades, and sporting tattoos (“Parishioners express outrage over Passion Play photo caption,” Letters, ER April 8, 2010)? Then, of course, there’s the Bernaysian beckon to Burgie-esque boisterous drunknaciousness, adverting “Bitchin’ He-Brews” “Burning Bushmills,” and “Shots of Jesus Juice.” Driving the nail into the crown of thorns, Gasser’s is the old Rebo’s, where gunplay was pretty much a staple. Too rich for words. As an ex-Catholic, ex-choirboy, ex-altar boy, ex-catechist, and (if I could get the goddamned Church to do it) excommunicated scofflaw, I laud the unnamed caption blurbist and encourage more of the same, despite the howls of the monkeymass from its High Holy Monkey Mass in the baobob moneytree forest of South Bay and its collection plate mentality.
I’m not sure I could adequately express my admiration of the Christ while simultaneously finding a vituperative enough vocabulary for the braying scourge that sullies His name — not just the Catholics I once dwelt among but all the billion and one business splinters off the Holy Roman Farce. Suffice it to say, however, that if He ever does come back (and I’m not sure why the hell He’d bother), the first bunch Jesus will go after will be the ocean of Constantinians making a mockery of His name and work, Catholics and their hideous pederastic history most especially: pious, hypocritical, prigged-up, solipsistic, smarmy, smirking, feverish, pathetic, bilious, involuted, tedious, vile, obnoxious, weekend monk and monkette wannabes wallowing in suffocating delusions and self-deception. They’re pissed off? Screw ’em.
Oh, and editor and publisher Kevin Cody waxing sheepish and contrite — well, that rather puts the lipstick on more than one baboon, doesn’t it? Paging Cardinal Mahoney, your hand basket is ready. Board at Gate 666, American Martyrs Air Express.
Mark S. Tucker
Manhattan Beach
Little big man
Dear ER:
Terrific story on Wee Man (“Wee Man’s chronic adventure,” ER April 1, 2010). How often do you get to read a story that actually makes you feel good? My compliments to reporter Mark McDermott.
Ivan Goldman
Rancho Palos Verdes
Health care gone to the dogs
Dear ER:
With all the controversy about health care during the last year, I feel compelled to point out one provider in the South Bay who is clearly exemplary. But unfortunately, he will not be taking you on as a patient unless you have four legs and either bark or meow. We know first hand because, for the last 30 years, Dr. Steve Liebl at Hermosa Animal Hospital has been resisting fervent pleas from my husband and me to join a family plan with our dog du jour. In our opinion, since he already was expert with at least two species, why not take on one more?
But alas, we were rejected — something about a license. We were not as fortunate as our two basset hounds, Petunia, a beautiful tri-colored female, and as of late, Annie, our little orphan with enough irresistible personality quirks to weigh down her long, floppy ears. As of March 22, she made her departure and moved on to her heavenly home after completing a 16 year stint on planet earth.
During the last 2-1/2 years, Annie was gradually going downhill, suffering the typical ravages of old age. But she didn’t battle them alone. Dr. Steve and his staff were always there to provide attentive care for Annie, including constant fine-tuning of medications and diet, and timely responsiveness to my SOS calls for advice and help. I especially liked the way we all collaborated as a team. Especially during the hard times, when Annie had us very worried, it was so reassuring to know that Dr. Steve would be there for us, which he was, all the way to the end. Hmm, like a family doctor, after all.
Sylvia Welner
By email
Council spin
Dear ER:
Redondo’s Council ignored the will of their residents and passed a massive harbor upzoning without putting it to a vote of the people. Our Council states they now have the tools to ensure 400,000 square feet of new development does not occur. Why zone our harbor for 400,000 square feet of additional development if they never intend to use it? Compare this stance to their rhetoric during the Pearl Plaza project: in casting their votes, councilmen Steve Diels, Matt Kilroy, and Pat Aust all stated they were forced to vote for this abomination because the project complied with the zoning.
These same councilmen are saying that because Building a Better Redondo (BBR) opposes the upzoning, we support unlimited development. This is just a ludicrous scare tactic. See www.buildingabetterredondo.org for details.
Our Council has now approved a total harbor development cap of over 1.3 million square feet, more than South Bay Galleria’s 995,000 square feet of commercial space. Recently, Dana Point Harbor was upzoned. This harbor is twice the size of Redondo’s yet its total development limit is 375,000 square feet. Dana Point doesn’t need 1.3 million square feet, why does Redondo?
BBR has raised over $30,000 to file a lawsuit forcing the city to put this upzoning to a vote of the people. We will need more funds as this suit goes forward. If you care about our harbor, we need your support. Join the people of Redondo in forcing our city to do what its residents want and what our City Charter requires.
Jim Light
Building a Better Redondo
Redondo Beach
Dune plan Greek to him
Dear ER:
Certainly you have figured out that the Manhattan Beach city staff solution to the Sand Dune Park problem is profoundly anti-children. First off, the matter of the green space south of 31st Street: I think it is mapped as part of the park. Thus, were the proposal accepted as offered, there would be little if anything going on down there except walk throughs. It is a now grand piece of open space where kids and parents interact in all sort of activities. Certainly a technical error was made, which will be corrected.
But the serious problem centers on the notion, perhaps not intended, but so in fact, that kids will be able to use the dune only during those times when adults are not on the dune by reservation. Certainly that was not what folks said they wanted. Nor what you really intended?
Now let us say I want to reserve an hour on the dune for myself and four other members of my family. Assuming that I could get the time, it would cost me/us $25 for the privilege of using that for which I already pay. There is, of course, no guarantee that I could get those reservations because email makes it possible for the whole world to compete with me for dune time. That may sound good to the county but it sure doesn’t sound all that good to me.
A reservation system is the proverbial can of worms: Pandora’s box if you will. Certainly not Solomonic.
Again I suggest that the adults who in the past used the dune but now have found other ways to “walk at a reasonable pace” (have you tried walking down the dune at a reasonable pace) should be allowed to continue in their post-dune activities. Make the dune a kids-only haven where the young can use the dune in its entirety during the entire time that it is open unbothered by the activities of adults. Kinda like a big tot-lot.
Keep it simple. Occam’s razor rules.
Dave Wachtfogel
Manhattan Beach
Tangled Webb
Dear ER:
Redondo Beach City Attorney Mike Webb has expressed the fear that, if the City Council were to let the people vote on the new harbor rezoning (as Measure DD requires), then the City might be faced with lawsuits by developers who feel they are somehow entitled to develop our harbor area under the new proposed zoning.
With all due respect, Webb should be less concerned with theoretical lawsuits by developers and more concerned with the very real lawsuit that will be brought by his own constituents to force the City to uphold our voting rights.
Webb persists in the legally mistaken notion that the zoning took effect back in 2008, before the voters overwhelmingly enacted Measure DD. As I’ve pointed out to him and the City Council, California state law and the very terms of the City’s proposed zoning changes mandate that the changes take effect only after final approval by the California Coastal Commission. That hasn’t happened yet, and our City Charter clearly gives us the right to vote on major zoning changes at this point.
It is a disgrace that the City Council, on Webb’s advice, won’t let us vote on the zoning. If the voters must sue to protect this fundamental right, then so be it. The shame lies solely with our leaders.
Dave Wiggins
Redondo Beach
Photo correction
Photos accompanying the story about Manhattan beach builder Daniel Salzman’s “green home” in the April 8 issue of Beach magazine, were by Goli Judge. We apologize for omitting her photo credit.