Posts by Kevin Cody
Prosts ring out through Hermosa Beach Oktoberfest
German folk dancing, wiener dog races, and yodeling, stein hosting, and beer chugging contests, as well as craft beer consumption took over the streets of downtown Hermosa Beach Saturday and Sunday, September 2, and 29. The occasion was the second annual Local 90254 Oktoberfest, sponsored by the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Read MoreFriends surf for fun, funds at Jimmy Miller Surf Fiesta
by Kevin Cody photos by Steve Gaffney @stevegaffney Local surfers formed five-member teams to compete for bragging rights, and to raise funds for the Jimmy Miller Foundation last Saturday, in El Porto. Many of the participants were friends of Jimmy Miller, the foundation’s namesake, who succumbed to mental illness 20 years ago. Miller was a…
Read MoreSix Manhattan Beach Council candidates vie for three open seats
Manhattan Beach Council candidate Joe Franklin, Manhattan Beach Council candidate Brenda O’Leary, Manhattan Beach Council candidate Joe Marcy, Manhattan Beach Council candidate Steve Charelian, Manhattan Beach Council candidate Karen Komatinsky, and Manhattan Beach Council candidate Nina Tarnay.
Read MoreHermosa Beach Council Candidate Detoy takes a quiet approach
by Kevin Cody Prior to each council meeting, Councilmember Michael Detoy posts a summary of the council agenda on his social media platforms. During his rotation as mayor in 2022 Detoy held monthly “Conversations and Cleanups” throughout the city. His Mayor’s State of the City that year was not the traditional, mind numbing PowerPoint presentation…
Read MoreHermosa Beach Council Candidate Worner cites journalism work
by Kevin Cody At the start of the crowded November 5, 2024 Hermosa Beach city council race, Elka Worner had, arguably, the lowest name recognition of the five candidates. Though raised in Hermosa Beach, her work as a newspaper reporter, and television news producer, and being a single mom left little time for community involvement,…
Read MoreHermosa Beach Council candidate Sheil wants homeless helped
by Kevin Cody Brian Sheil pulled open his sports jacket to show he was wearing a black and white referee’s shirt when he introduced himself at a recent Hermosa Beach City Council Candidates Forum, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. “If you saw the last council meeting, you know the council needs a referee,” he…
Read MoreHermosa Beach Council candidate Keegan wants course change
by Kevin Cody One of the most intractable problems in city government, and not only in Hermosa, is agonizingly long city council meetings. Council candidate after council candidate has promised to end meetings by 10 p.m. only to fail. Hermosa Beach City Council candidate Michael Keegan, a 38-year resident, and founder of Manhattan Bread and…
Read MoreHermosa School Board candidate Shah stresses creativity
by Kevin Cody Vasudev “Dev” Shah grew up in Bombay, India. At 19, he received a scholarship to attend Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He received his doctorate in mathematics and computer sciences at the University of California, Riverside. Shah currently oversees a $200 million website division of Amazon. He is running for one of…
Read MoreHermosa Beach Council Candidate Lange brings Hermosa ‘cred’
by Kevin Cody Shortly after being appointed to the Hermosa Beach Parks and Recreation Committee 10 years ago, Jani (pronounced Yani) Lange took on “re-envisioning” the Hermosa Beach Surfers Walk of Fame induction ceremony. He invited 40 leaders from the surf community to bring their ideas to a meeting in the Hermosa Council Chambers. The…
Read MoreLetters to the Editor 10-10-24
Taxes for bricks Dear ER: I’m a 27-year resident of Manhattan Beach, and I am in favor of Measure RLS for our public schools. RLS is a $200 million bond measure. Unlike parcel taxes, which fund teacher’s salaries, bond measures can only be used on “bricks and mortar,” such as school facilities. RLS replaces existing…
Read MoreNorth Redondo Beach Business Association (NRBBA) Dine Around Artesia 2024
Letters to the Editor 10-3-24
Fire department rescue Dear ER: In April 12, 2024, Citygate Fire & EMS delivered a “Deployment and Organizational Analysis” of the Redondo Beach Fire Department to the City Council. Taxpayers funded this top down, inside-out evaluation of our fire department in response to resident calls to preserve local control over RBFD. In a 125-page report…
Read MoreLetters to the Editor 9-26-24
Fuel on Measure Dear ER: Redondo Councilmembers Zein Obagi and Todd Loewenstein are deliberately minimizing the average yearly property tax lien assessment on my home for the unknown cost of two new fire stations and a new police facility. Getting re-elected in March 2025 has entered their head space and they want voters to pass…
Read MoreHermosa Beach 9-11 Wreath Laying Ceremony
photos by Kevin Cody
Read MoreLetters to the Editor: HB press policy, bonds away
Personal politics Dear ER: At a recent City Council meeting, Councilmembers Raymond Jackson’s and Justin Massey’s behavior took a regrettable turn during a debate over the City Communications Plan, a policy that aims to streamline how Hermosa Beach handles media relations. Their critique wasn’t just directed at the policy itself but devolved into personal attacks…
Read MoreElection 2024: Measure HB sales tax increase divides current, former leaders
by Kevin Cody Current and past political leaders are taking opposing positions on Measure HB, on the November 5 ballot. The measure would add a 3/4% local sales tax to the current 9.5% sales tax. In February, the City Council voted, four to one, to ask voter approval of a 3/4% Transaction and Use Tax…
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