Letters to the Editor 10/16/14
Get educated, take a tour
Dear ER:
I have been a Hermosa Beach resident since 1994, have two children who recently graduated from Hermosa Beach schools, served eight years on the PTO (two as President) and six on the HBEF. For the past four years I have been employed by HBCSD. If anyone thinks our schools are not overcrowded, I urge you take a tour. Every possible space is being used; a classroom in a converted closet, teacher’s lounge cut in half, the stage in the multi purpose room is now a classroom, and there are portable classrooms in the parking lot. When did this become acceptable?
Over the years, I have seen many people come and go, but one group has stayed the same — the group that opposes everything the school board tries to accomplish (most with no children currently in the district). They claim to know more than the elected board members, the school facilities committee and the professional architects who specialize in school districts. These same vocal few have unsuccessfully sued the school district three times, but not before depleting much-needed school funds with the lawsuits, funds that could’ve been used elsewhere. They write countless letters, blaming the School Board for lack of transparency, and create websites falsifying information.
No one is hiding anything and there is no “slush fund.” It is fiscally and financially responsible for the School District to renovate a property they actually own.
Jenn Auville
Hermosa Beach
Civility check
Dear ER:
The ballot measure for the oil issue in Hermosa Beach has yet to be officially worded for March 2015, yet there are elements in this city that are at odds and splitting this city apart. Fringe elements, on both sides of this issue, have acted unethically by stealing, defacing, vandalizing, intimidating, name-calling, and trolling on social media sites. Both sides are at fault and it is time to call for civility from all parties involved in this issue. It is time for this educated community to begin the process of differentiating emotion from thought and verbalizing the later and containing the former.
Let’s be tough on the issues, and empathic of our fellow community members. We will all be living in and sharing this beautiful beach community after the campaign is over. It will be a lot easier if we are kind to each other now…rather than ask for forgiveness of each other later.
Kevin Sousa
Co-Founder Keep Hermosa Hermosa
Hermosa Beach
Another image of the proposed waterfront redesign. Photo courtesy of CenterCal
From fixer-upper to waterfront star
Dear ER:
I have lived in the South Bay for over 30 years, and have spent the last 16 years in the city I truly love: Redondo Beach. But over that time, I have watched a deteriorating waterfront and pier that few residents visit, and a parking structure that is barely safe to park on. We unfortunately own a “Fixer Upper” in our own backyard. We all know that revitalization is essential, and yet some people – I believe a small, but vocal minority — are still against a perfect solution: Private Investment. The CenterCal plan is a good example of communities with limited resources partnering with private enterprise to create a truly “Win-Win” solution.
Does everyone realize that the cost to replace the Pier parking structure is $50 million dollars. If we proceed with the CenterCal plan, they will cover this cost. But there’s more: A new Seaside lagoon with year round access, a beautiful waterfront promenade, outdoor dining by the Sea, and more. This plan will transform our “Fixer-Upper” into a dynamic world class waterfront that can rival beach cities like Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, or La Jolla. The vocal opponents like to call this project a Mall. Hogwash. It is anything but a Mall! The “misinformation” machine is out in full force. Beware. Redondo Beach will either be the envy of the South Bay (if we go forward with the project), or the laughing stock if we let the vocal minority stop it.
Thomas A. Gray
Redondo Beach
Smooth sledding on Sepulveda, briefly
Dear ER:
For a short time, everything was smooth and not a bump in the road. Until recently. Like many, I have a love/hate relationship with Sepulveda Boulevard. It improved recently when Sepulveda was repaved. Crossing Rosecrans southward it was beautiful. The new paving was a pleasure to be on and made the whole area look new and fresh. But, that new relationship is over.
Now Sepulveda is starting to look and feel like the old Sepulveda. Construction crews are cutting the new paving, digging and leaving incredibly rough patches for all of us to drive on.
It appears that whenever a road in the South Bay is repaved, within weeks, it’s a signal to tear it up again. Who schedules this work? I own a construction related company and have worked in the public right of way, so I have a good understanding of what is involved with roads and pipes. This is a true waste of money.
Maybe, a little coordination and planning could be used so we, the ones who fund these roads, could enjoy that “New Road” feeling months, not weeks!
Doug Clagg
El Segundo
Opportunity pings
Dear ER:
We finally have the opportunity to get rid of the power plant in Redondo Beach and
have something much more beautiful on our waterfront. The Harbor Village Plan is
the fairest plan I have seen presented in my 43 years of living in Redondo Beach. And
after so much angst surrounding this issue for so long, I’m amazed that there are still
a few people willing to risk keeping the power plant just to fight over some very non-
essential details. Shame on them. All of Redondo Beach should be voting YES on the
Harbor Village Initiative.
Ray Benning
Devil or angel
Dear ER:
Before you vilify E&B Natural Resources, remember that they entered the scene by offering to save Hermosa Beach from a potential $700 million legal judgment that would have bankrupted the City. As many of you are aware, E&B asked that the issue be resolved by an open and fair election of the residents instead of through a lawsuit where lawyers, judges and juries will make the decision. My view is that the offer and the request were, and still are, reasonable. The history is all there for everyone to read: E&B Natural Resources stepped in and helped settle the Macpherson lawsuit. Based on jury expert “Mock Trials,” the City was expected to face a judgment of hundreds of millions of dollars.
If voters do decide to reject the proposal in March, Hermosa Beach will be required to repay the $17.5 million loan with interest. But if the project is approved, E&B will forgive $14 million in addition to allowing for the remaining balance to be paid from the City’s royalties.Let’s remember that E&B came in to help the City of Hermosa Beach avoid bankruptcy and in return, all E&B is asking for is an open and fair election.
Shane Manning
Hermosa Beach
A fine worth paying
Dear ER:
I was disappointed to see yet another letter with incorrect facts from John Szot, fear mongering over some imaginary property tax assessment. Funds for approximately one third of the $17.5 million “fine,” as he calls it, that the city will have to pay if the oil ban is upheld, has already been set aside. His property tax calculation is exaggerated because he got the amount owed wrong. That said, I would gladly pay several thousand dollars so that I could rest assured that Hermosa Beach would not be violated by the boondoggle of oil drilling in a densely populated area.
Dale Heath
Hermosa Beach
Petty praise
Dear ER:
It must have been music to their ears when E&B Oil Drilling Project supporters Martha Logan, Jim Sullivan, Ken Hartley and others heard Hermosa Beach Council member Carolyn Petty publicly give advice to E&B Oil about how E&B could prevail in the March 2015 election. At the September 30 city council meeting, during the discussion about E&B’s development agreement, Petty interjected on several occasions saying something like if you want to persuade voters to vote for your oil drilling project, then make this change. If Petty doesn’t support the E&B Oil Project why is she giving advice about how E&B can win the election? Bravo Petty for finally taking a stand on the E&B Oil Drilling Project. At least you have the guts to take a stand, unlike two of your other colleagues.
Fred Huebscher
Hermosa Beach