Letters to the Editor 5-14-2020
Pandemic humor
Dear ER:
In this time of mostly bad news and uneasiness, we have to enjoy the humor when we can get it. While walking in my neighborhood last week I went by an elementary school that had a Beach Cities Health District sign on the fence. It was a very helpful banner promoting their services to help fight cyberbullying, stress, anxiety — very real things that many parents and their kids battle. The sign showed a mom smiling down at her young daughter, standing by her side. Someone had added a word bubble from the mom that said, “If you get this close to me one more time, you’ll be sleeping out in the garage with Billy.” Now some might think that’s pretty awful, but I laughed out loud. Yes, it’s graffiti, but it’s a sign of the times and for the comic relief it offered, it was a stress-reliever.. In no way did the clever tagger mar the other important messages the sign provided—in fact it may be bringing more attention to it.
Lara Duke
Redondo Beach
Unintended consequences
Dear ER:
Here we go again. Another bright idea created by shutting down The Strand and beaches. Every problem has a solution, but not every solution requires a hammer. These problems were caused by “your” poor decisions. Hermosa Beach traffic patterns evolved over the last 100 years, not by edict. Changing patterns in one area is bound to produce more problems in an adjacent area. It’s like trying to change the flight pattern of migratory birds or worse, putting giant windmills in the path of migratory birds and assuming there won’t be unexpected consequences. As far as “temporary” traffic changes go, I remember the “temporary” sales tax increase of 10 percent about 10 years ago that we’re still paying. Now California wants a trillion dollars from the Feds to make up for more bad decisions. We have a High-Speed Rail system hopelessly in the red. Hermosa has unfunded liabilities. Storm water runoff needs to be solved; the sewer system isn’t finished; businesses aren’t solvent; hotels may never open! Hermosa is in financial turmoil. All this and city officials intend to spend more money for new signs, and probably consulting fees, and unknown other expenses for a temporary situation.
The simple solution is to open things up and get us back to work, continue to protect those elderly citizens confined in facilities, continue safe distancing, but forget “safer at home.” Where do you think this virus is hiding?? It isn’t outside.
Gary Brown
Hermosa Beach
Unintended consequences II
Dear ER:
Several weeks ago the City of Redondo Beach closed the west side of the Esplanade and the beach bike in an effort to force social distancing to stem the spread of Coronavirus. The immediate consequence has brought hordes of joggers, walkers, bikers, dog walkers and visitors to the east side of Esplanade, Catalina Ave, and all the streets from Knob Hill to Ave I. As a result, I go out daily and pick up a tremendous amount of discarded trash in this eight block area, enough rubbish to fill a couple of bags each day. The trash mostly consists of used face masks, gloves, hand wipes, “to go” food orders, and alcohol containers. If everyone could just follow the simple rule of “do not litter,” then everyone could enjoy this beautiful neighborhood. It would also be greatly appreciated that if your dog poops on the ground, please pick it up.
Pete McCoy
Member/Volunteer “Keep the Esplanade Beautiful”
Redondo Beach
It ain’t over yet
Dear ER:
As L.A. County began reopening Hermosa’s beach and all the County’s beaches this week, we wanted to remind everyone to continue to follow public health recommendations that have helped slow the spread of COVID-19. Please continue to physically distance, wash hands, avoid ill people, wear cloth face masks in public spaces where physical distancing is not possible and stay home as much as possible. Also, please observe the limitations the County set for beach activities: surfing, swimming, running and walking are permitted. Sunbathing, picnicking and congregating in groups are not. In Hermosa Beach, the Pier and the Strand remain closed for now because physical distancing can be challenging there. However, people can cross The Strand to access the beach.
The County has outlined a plan to expand beach activities, over time, to include sunbathing and beach volleyball. The Strand and Pier also will be reopened in the future. But the timing will depend on how the public manages the current restrictions and the number of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Hermosa Beach’s non-essential businesses also began reopening, and we are working with them as they do. I have spoken to several local business owners during the County-ordered closures, and the City Council enacted a moratorium on evictions to protect businesses and tenants.
The health of these businesses and our community depend on all of us. Please work with us so we can safely reopen our local economy and the beach and Strand.
Suja Lowenthal
City manager
Hermosa Beach
Virus loophole
Dear ER:
I am a man in the high risk category regarding the novel coronavirus. Thus I have been sheltered at home in Hermosa Beach for eight weeks. My wonderful neighbors buy my groceries and help me, but they are always properly masked and gloved. The Strand and the ocean are closed. Our hotels, shops and restaurants are closed. On May 1, however, the short term rental next to me has become occupied and the partying has begun. How can the city allow people from other cities and states to come in and disregard all of the preaustions set in place? They have many visitors, additional families, hanging around, drinking on the patios, and partying. As a result, the spread of the virus is inevitable. There should be no short term rentals until an antidote is found. I have done my part, but the city council of Hermosa Beach has not done their job.
Richard Ross III
Hermosa Beach
Field commanders
Dear ER:
I know Kathy Welch well, and if anything the article understates what the nurses go through (“The pandemic in the ICU,” ER May 5, 2020”). Doctors visit the ICU, but nurses are there for a 12 hour shift, which seems to stretch to 13-14 hours by the time they can get through shift change briefings and final daily charting. Charge nurses like Welch may work 14-18 hours — assigning nurses to patients (in the ICU most on a 1-to-1 ratio), calling in backup staff if nurses are sick, keeping on top of supplies, talking to families, sometimes assigned patients themselves , plus taking over for others during breaks and lunch. The charge nurse has to be aware of the status of every single patient on the ward and if anyone loses breaks and lunch, it’s the Charge Nurse. I have visited during “normal” times and it’s the most amazing combination of quiet, yet with the activity level of an NBA game and skill of nuclear scientists. My son Mike Sliff is a Nurse Anesthetist. He’s not working in an ICU but is still daily in a hospital environment, and I’ve been very frightened, praying daily for both of them to be protected from this pandemic. I am most fearful for Welch and her “posse” of RN’s, administrators and others in the ICU who are exposed to this deadly virus more than half of each day they work. Thank you all for your courage, dedication, the kindness shown to patients and families of the afflicted, and for helping educate us regarding protective measures.
Jim Sliff
EasyReaderNews.com
Beach local
Dear ER:
I think this is a great plan (“Limited beach reopening,” ER May 2, 2020). Keep The Strand, bathrooms and parking lots closed for now. Locals can walk to the beach or go home to use their own bathrooms. If they open everything at once you will have a lot of people coming down and the city needs to protect the residents too.
Daniela Giselle Raudales
ERNews comment
It’s not a liquor store
Dear ER:
Does anything scream arbitrary and bizarre, Orwellian control freak more than this line: “Beaches countywide will be open from dawn to dusk.” Why dawn to dusk (“South Bay to reopen beaches. ERNews.com)? Am I more in danger or more of a danger if I walk out on the sand pre-dawn with my coffee?
Raymond Dussault
Keep it simple
Dear ER:
Thank you Pastor Dan Brandford for this insightful article. You always seem to speak to the simple, important truths
Bobbi Greco Newman
Hermosa Beach