Politics & Government

  by Garth Meyer Top leaders of Continental Development Corp. and Mar Ventures, Inc., sent a letter to the Redondo Beach city council June 25, offering a rejoinder to the May vote by the Beach Cities Health District that chose another proposal to redevelop its campus. Continental Development/Mar Ventures was the original choice by the […]

By Garth Meyer A talk by L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman in the South Bay June 3 turned into a question-and-answer shout-down by Black Lives Matter protesters. The contentious moments made up the last few minutes of the event, effectively shutting out any further questions. Hochman came to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center […]

by Garth Meyer BeachLife 2026 featured two sellout days, a new record for single-day attendance, and a late Sunday night finish because a bomb threat at the nearby Pier cleared the festival grounds and delayed fans’ entry by two hours. “Overall, a continued success, we executed on all of our new operational goals,” said Allen […]

by Garth Meyer Questions of engineering and finance met one of philosophy Jan. 22 in Los Angeles, and the latter took precedence when, by unanimous vote, the Metro board of directors chose Hawthorne Boulevard for the path to extend light rail to the South Bay. A total of 172 people gave public comment at Metro […]

by Kevin Cody “Pardon my metaphor,” Hermosa Beach Planning Commissioner commented following a review of Hermosa’s Housing Element by Community Development director Alison Becker at the Tuesday, November 18 council meeting.  Housing Elements are the part of a city’s General Plan that identify city housing policies. “But I feel like I’m driving 80 mph on […]

by Garth Meyer Redondo Beach has disbanded its public safety commission. Formed in 1996, it was one of 17 city boards and commissions. It did not have oversight power.  Police Chief Joe Hoffman and Fire Chief Patrick Butler said the commission had become obsolete in the new era of easier contact with public officials. City […]

State Senator Ben Allen looks to the future as he nears the end of his third and final term representing Beach Cities   by Garth Meyer Four years at Harvard, two years in Cambridge, two years at Berkeley, and a four hour-dinner with Bill Brand at Captain Kidd’s.  All part of the education of State […]

by Garth Meyer Chanting and pounding drums were heard on the waterfront Saturday, Nov. 23, as food and beverage workers at Sonesta Redondo demonstrated around the perimeter, and at the hotel’s front entrance, in the latest display of an effort to reach a new contract agreement. The Local 11 union workers voted Oct. 25 to […]

by Mark McDermott  Measure RLS, the $200 million school bond intended to upgrade local schools, and Measure MMB, a half-cent sales tax increase that will provide the City of Manhattan Beach with $5 million in revenue annually, both succeeded at the ballot on Tuesday.  Though votes are still being tallied, each measure won enough support […]

by Kevin Cody Measure HB, a .75% sales tax increase meant to offset projected city budget shortfalls, was rejected by voters on Tuesday, by a margin of 3,199 (43%) to 4,269 (57%). The measure was supported by four of the five councilmembers, but opposed by five former councilmembers, among them Michael Keegan.  Keegan served on […]

by Kevin Cody Wednesday morning, preliminary voting results indicate Hermosa Valley School will get  $6.8 million for classroom modernization, including two new science labs to be built next to the gym. Valley will also get $6.2 million for new athletic facilities, including a $3.9 million athletic field, and running track. The funds will come from […]

by Kevin Cody Hermosa Beach City Treasurer Karen Siemensma maintains a low political profile, though her position has greater financial power than any single councilmember. During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Siemensma’s investment of the city’s $58.7 million portfolio generated $1.8 million in interest, making interest one of the city’s largest sources of revenue.  Siemensma (formerly […]