Letters 11/05/15
Dear ER:
Don’t fall for this propaganda from the city, builders and the chamber (“Mixed feelings on development in Redondo Beach,” ER 10/29/2015). They fooled the public into approving high density in Huntington Beach by lying that it was a “Commercial Revitalization” and started building 100-unit per acre buildings. The citizens rose up last November and kicked some council people to the curb and hired one that actually listens to the citizens. We amended high density and now SCAG and low income NGO’s are suing to get high density ramped up again. If you don’t want this in your town you have to fire the council people that are pushing it. A council that is responsive to the citizens is the last firewall you have.
Michael Hoskinson
Website comment
Late lesson
Dear ER:
How does a Redondo Beach City Council vote to approve the mixed use Sea Breeze Plaza on Pacific Coast Highway and then have serious discussions about imposing a moratorium on mixed use just weeks later? Councilwoman Laura Emdee spoke about “process” (isn’t a moratorium part of the process?). Proper planning comes before urgency. Urgency comes before crisis.
Everyone finally agrees that it is urgent to revamp the 23-year-old General Plan. Schools are overcrowded, traffic is horrific and we’re scraping one beachside cottage after another and replacing them with two-on-a-lots. Redondo Beach is in a jobs crisis, not a housing crisis. Our housing is growing at a faster pace than any city in the South Bay and throughout LA County. Yet, we’ve lost more jobs than any city in the South Bay. Perhaps the Redondo Chamber of Commerce should concentrate on creating jobs, instead of defending budget-draining residential development. #SavetheRiviera!
Nils Nehreheim
Redondo Beach
Respect the deadline and people
Dear ER:
During the October 20 Redondo Beach council meeting, community development director Aaron Jones alluded to the notion that the Legado team would not be ready to present a scaled version of their project to the Redondo Planning Commission as requested by that body. Enough is enough. November 19 was a date all parties agreed upon. For the Legado team, community development staff and planning commission chair to deviate from that date would be an outrage to the residents who have been overly respectful and accommodating these many months. Again as requested by the Planning Commission, a group of Redondo Beach voters from Save The Riviera have met with the Legado team and have given input into the direction the developer and the project need to go. This November hearing date must be kept and an up or down vote must be given at that time to move the outcome of this project forward. Save The Riviera will hold these officials, city staff and the developer to their word. Mayor Steve Aspel, please don’t let all the goodwill evaporate from this process. Respect is a two way street and the ball is in your court.
Bruce Szeles
Torrance
Slippery litmus test
Dear ER:
Hermosa Beach has entered a new era. Keep Hermosa Hermosa has established a political machine in “the best little beach city.” Their power is based on the defeat of Measure O. They have an ideological-purity test: Where did you stand on Measure O? Opposed it? Congratulations. You’re a member of the KHH sister/brotherhood. Supported O? You’re a pariah unfit for public service.
They divided the candidates running for city council using this litmus test. Massey and Duclos were on the “right” side so they were endorsed by KHH. Hartley and Larson were on the “wrong” side so they were attacked by KHH letter writers spreading false information.
With Mayor Pro-Tem Hany Fangary already on the council KHH is facing an unassailable, controlling majority. Fangary, Massey, Duclos. A majority based on one issue is not a good thing. Maybe you’ve noticed KHH focusing its campaign on the past, oil drilling. As I recall, that was settled resoundingly by an 80/20 No vote last March. Oil drilling in Hermosa is history. So why keep bringing it up? KHH keeps it alive (and scary) by claiming E&B is coming back to town and will somehow start drilling without a vote. Really? Who believes this? Why so much time spent looking back? Because they have nothing to offer looking forward. Hartley and Larson failed the litmus test.
Jim Sullivan
Hermosa Beach
New vision
Dear ER:
George Schmeltzer’s letter (“Reeling in Fishman,” ER Letters Oct. 29, 2015) merits a reply relating to the oil settlement document.
Parties in difficult negotiations don’t get everything they want. There is no such thing as a perfect document, especially one that underwent intense short term negotiations. Schmeltzer blames the council for not having the perfect settlement document because it does not address every detail. Is the U.S. Constitution a perfect document? It is still being interpreted and argued over.
There was no interest rate or a time for repayment as it was unknown how long it would take to get to the ballot, nor how easy or difficult it would be to raise the $17.5 million (guaranteed E&B Natural Resources if oil drilling was not approved). Therefore, we left the terms to be negotiated later. It was never contemplated that interest would be owed until the repayment obligation was triggered when the Measure lost. Neither the city nor E&B ever said the obligation would be increased for interest. The city’s legal interpretation is no additional interest is owed. The lease issue is complicated respective to drilling rights and there is a termination date. However, why would E&B reconsider drilling in Hermosa after the voters overwhelmingly voted against it?
For Schmeltzer to state there is a health, safety and financial risk due to continued threats of oil drilling is misleading, knowing full well it requires another voter ballot and drilling would be defeated. Further, he states since March 3 the city has spent tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees connected with oil. There has been no litigation and no fees to date. Where did he find those numbers?
Schmeltzer and several others continue to turn the settlement agreement into a political issue to support their city council candidate. That is no substitute for supporting someone with no qualifications and experience.
The process leading to the Measure O ballot was painful but whether people were for or against oil, the process worked and the city escaped a potentially insurmountable obligation.
Community leader (and city council candidate) Jeff Duclos recently stated, ” Now that we are free from the threat of a crushing financial obligation and we have decided against becoming an oil producing town, we have the opportunity to create and realize our own vision of what we want Hermosa Beach to become.” Well said, Jeff.
Howard Fishman
Hermosa Beach
Mahalo Nui Loa
Dear ER:
On behalf of the Committee of the First Annual Ohana Fundraiser, which took place at Seaside Lagoon on September 18, I want to thank all of our sponsors for making this such a great evening. Hawaiian entertainment was supplied by the Lanakila Outrigger Canoe Club. All of the money raised will go to educate the children of special operations personnel in the military who gave their lives in the line of duty protecting our country. It was very heartfelt that in such a short period of time, so many local businesses donated food, libations, services and other things of substantial value to make this family fun evening a fantastic success. CDR Tom Dietz, a director of the national Special Operations Wounded Warriors Foundation, said he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our South Bay community. Leave it to the Hawaiian fire dancers and the Huey helicopter to make things unique. And speaking of one of a kind, a special thanks to Redondo Mayor Steve Aspel for acting as master of ceremonies. It is fitting that his late father was a Raider Marine who fought in the South Pacific during World War II.
Please join us September 17, 2016. As we say in our Hawaiian way at Lanakila when something goes our way, Mahalo Nui Loa!
Sponsors: Hermosa Fish Shop, Al Aiona-Aka, Silvio’s, Davis Elen Advertising, Joe’s Crab Shack, Hanaharu Sake Company, Dickey’s BBQ, Cynthia’s Party Rental, Primo Beer, JN Electrical, Rock N’ Brews, Joe Lewis Co., Dude’s Brewing Co, Kit Sinclair, King Harbor Brewing Co., PrimaryColor, Kikka Sushi, Shade Hotel, Big Mike’s, Haggen, Sheraton Waikiki Beach Hotel, Coca-Cola, Sit N Sleep, California Pizza Kitchen, Crowne Plaza, Whole Foods, One Hope Vineyard.
Carl H. Ellett
Executive Director
Ohana Fundraiser Team
Strange constituency
Dear ER:
Hermosa Beach Mayor Carolyn Petty is the most anti-resident council member that I can recall in the 21 years that I have lived in Hermosa Beach. Petty supports taxes on residents such as the sewer “fee,” but refused to support an increase in our hotel bed tax because it’s allegedly bad for business. The bed tax isn’t paid by the hotels or residents. It’s paid by the visitors to our city. And there is not a shred of evidence that a hotel bed tax discourages visitors from staying in a particular city. At the last city council meeting, Petty was the only council member to oppose the 8th Street sidewalk project that is badly needed for public safety. Petty said that the city could not afford it. However, earlier this year she had no qualms about spending $70,000 for new lights for the lawn bowling field. Petty also voted to make it a criminal offense punishable by jail time for residents who leave their trash bins out after 10 a.m. on the day following trash collection. It is clear that Petty’s top priority is not residents, which is highly unusual for a council member.
Fred Huebscher
Hermosa Beach