Posts by Mark McDermott

by Mark McDermott  When Nina Tarnay announced her candidacy for Manhattan Beach City Council, it surprised some of the people who know her. She’s a practicing attorney, a very active mother of three kids, and a heavily involved volunteer in everything from the Jimmy Miller Foundation to the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation.  But to those…

by Mark McDermott  During candidate forums that tend to be long on verbage and short on actionable plans, Karen Komatinsky likes to remind herself of something outgoing Councilperson Steve Napolitano once advised her.  “Remember,” he told her, “you’re going to govern very differently than you’re going to campaign.”  This doesn’t mean Komatinsky’s campaign promises are…

by Mark McDermott  The Manhattan Beach City Council Tuesday night rejected a proposed pilot program that would have extended the sidewalks outside three downtown restaurants. Later in the meeting, the Council also approved the demolition of Parking Lot 3 and the creation of 90 temporary parking spaces throughout the downtown area.  The two issues were…

by Mark McDermott  The six candidates vying for three seats on the Manhattan Beach City Council in the November 5 election squared off for the first time Monday morning in a forum organized by the Rotary Club.  The candidate forum, which took place at westdrift Hotel, was moderated by outgoing Councilperson Richard Montgomery and resident…

by Mark McDermott Sand Dune Park will receive several renovations, including new playground equipment, bathrooms, and an artfully designed iron mesh fence. But the development of the new Sand Dune Park Master plan approved by the City Council Tuesday night most emphatically will not include a new concrete bike path running through the wilds of…

by Mark McDermott  A nine-room, 4,494 square foot hotel, developed by longtime local property owner Tony Choueke and designed by architect Louie Tomaro, will replace a real estate office in downtown Manhattan Beach.  The Planning Commission unanimously approved the hotel, located at 1145 Highland Avenue, at its July meeting. Tomaro told the council its inspiration…

by Mark McDermott  When the Manhattan Beach Unified School district last proposed school bonds, nearly a decade ago, the pitch was easily digestible, because Measures C and EE included funding for gleaming new athletic facilities at Mira Costa High School and a sparkling new music room at the middle school.  The pitch for Measure RLS…

by Mark McDermott  The Manhattan Beach City Council has over the past two years taken several significant steps aimed at the City’s long term financial sustainability.  Some were financially arcane maneuvers, such as the issuance of pension obligation bonds that took advantage of low interest rates in order to cover ballooning employee retirement costs in…

by Mark McDermott  A Navy helicopter pilot, a local political legend, an interfaith boundary-breaking rabbi, an under-40 influencer and pandemic hero, and a physicist known for his investigations into the dawn of the Big Bang are the five the Mira Costa High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame later this month.  The five new inductees…

by Mark McDermott  One of the City of Manhattan Beach’s key downtown parking structures will require immediate demolition after engineers discovered failing steel columns within its concrete. Parking Lot 3, located on 12th and Morningside, contained 146 metered parking spaces, including many used by downtown businesses.  The City Council on Tuesday night authorized the demolition…

by Mark McDermott  Six candidates filed nomination papers to run for the Manhattan Beach City Council in the upcoming November 5 election.  Three seats on the council dais are up for election. Councilmembers Richard Montgomery, and Steve Napolitano are termed out, and Mayor Joe Franklin is running for a second term. The other four candidates…