Generosity of strangers
Dear ER:
When I was five years old, people I never met paid for my first kindergarten classroom. In fact, they paid for the whole school. It had a big auditorium where I took my first steps on a stage. It had a large grassy field where you could run and run, and never bump into another kid (unless, of course, that’s what you were trying to do). School was a place where we learned to read and write, but it was also a safe and welcoming place where we grew as individuals and made lifelong friendships. Back then, several somebodys decided that kids were a good investment for the future… They decided that I was a good investment for the future.
In 1966, Hermosa Beach had six schools for its 1,400 children. Fifty years later, we have just two serving 1,400. It’s time we build schools again. Great schools, schools of which our community can be proud. It’s time to vote Yes on Measure S. Somewhere, now in the City of Hermosa Beach, is a five year old child who is a great investment in our future.
James Scott
Co-Chair, Yes on Measure S
Hermosa Beach
Respect the contract
Dear ER:
I grew up in Hermosa and have fought for years to reopen the former Pier Avenue School (now the Community Center) for students. The reopening of Pier Avenue would preserve our history, avoid the risk of protracted litigation, and save our city from the crushing debt burden proposed by school bond Measure S. The students of Hermosa Beach already have access to a school that can serve 300 students. At Pier Avenue School, 12 classrooms, a gymnasium, an auditorium and play fields were built to serve students, and the school district has the right to lease these premises rent-free for school purposes. The school district has never sought to enforce this provision of the contract and the city has not honored its responsibility to return Pier Avenue to the school district, either. The school district’s failure to pursue re-entry into Pier Avenue School is a violation of the Government Code and the Taxpayer Waste Act, according to lawyers who have reviewed these issues. These violations open the city and the district to a lawsuit to stop the waste of taxpayer funds. The lack of cooperation between the city and the district represents the real issue with our schools. The city has refused to study what it would cost to repair or upgrade the facility to make it appropriate for student use. It surely would cost just a fraction of $59 million Measure S. Save North School. Reopen Pier Avenue School. Vote No on S.
Chris Miller
El Segundo
Special K
Dear ER:
Redondo Beach Measure K allows the Redondo Beach Unified School District (RBUSD) to rezone its property on 320 Knob Hill, deemed surplus back in the early 1980s, and potentially pay for additional teachers and staff by leasing it out as an assisted living facility called the Kensington. I was a member of the RBUSD school board when we solicited bids to lease 320 Knob Hill, so I can personally attest to not only the financial benefits of the proposed lease — $614,250 per year with escalators for inflation — but also the integrity and professionalism of Fountain Square Properties, the co-sponsor of Measure K and the developer of the Kensington.
Since 2012, when the original lease agreement was signed, Fountain Square and RBUSD have met with the property’s immediate neighbors and have made significant modifications to their project based on residents’ feedback. Their efforts are a model of how development should be a collaborative, not a combative, effort in our city. My organization, R4, encourages responsible revitalization. In my opinion, the Kensington fits the bill of a project that Redondo’s seniors and families need, providing a boost to the local economy, and a higher income stream for our schools. I will be voting Yes on K.
Todd Loewenstein
Former President, RBUSD Board of Education
Redondo Beach
S for signal
Dear ER:
Measure S is the third attempt to rally our community to invest in improving Hermosa Beach schools. It’s well understood that Hermosa View and Valley schools are terribly overcrowded and badly in need of renovation. Measure S is an excellent plan resulting from months of work and dozens of meetings between school leaders and the community. If our community fails to pass Measure S, we send a message to Hermosa Beach families that we not concerned with the education of our children. Families will be forced to choose private schools or move to neighboring communities like Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach that have demonstrated a commitment to their schools. My husband and I put down roots in Hermosa Beach five years ago and we hope to never leave. Please join with us in investing in our community, in our schools, in the families of Hermosa Beach. Vote YES on S.
Christine Shultz
Hermosa Beach
State standards
Dear ER:
Was CenterCal required to provide performance bonds along with the credit ratings of the bondholders for its proposed Redondo Beach waterfront project (Redondo Mayor Aspel vetoes motion to open Waterfront developer’s books,” ER May 19, 2016).? For state construction contracts, developers are typically required to provide these documents, along with information about the source of funding, to reduce the risk to the State that the developer will be unable to complete a project. If they fail to complete the project the bond kicks in and the State is not on the hook for the remainder of the project. Some type of assurance is reasonable, either in the form of providing financing information or bonds, to protect the City.
Stephen Sammarco
District 4 City Councilman
Redondo Beach
Republican feels the bern
Dear ER:
I received a mailer from Hermosa Beach Councilmember Carolyn Petty asking me to vote Yes on School Bond Measure S, the largest tax increase in Hermosa Beach history. It’s most interesting that Petty has supported every tax increase for residents since she was elected in November 2013. You might think that Petty was a Bernie Sanders supporter given her proclivity for increasing taxes. But no, get this, she’s a Republican. What’s even odder is that Petty was the only member of the Hermosa Beach City Council to oppose an increase in the city’s hotel tax, a tax not paid by residents of our city, but by visitors to our city I hope Petty’s fellow Republicans will remember her love of taxes the next time she’s on the ballot in 2017.
Fred Huebscher
Hermosa Beach
A business friendly tax
Dear ER:
As Chairman of the Board for the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, I am proud to announce the HBCCVB is officially supporting Measure S. This $59 million bond is necessary to renovate facilities within the Hermosa Beach City School District, which includes reopening North School to address severe overcrowding. The Chamber Board of Directors does not often take a public position on ballot measures, but this one resonates with many of them. The strength of the school system correlates with secure and long-term residency, which contributes to a healthy community, economy and infrastructure. It’s unacceptable for our students to continue learning in portable classrooms and outdated schools because the idea to make improvements was defeated by only 32 votes when the HBCSD previously asked for help. The tax rate of $29.50 per $100,000 of assessed value for 30 years is a fair request to ensure the children of Hermosa Beach have access to the same quality resources that were available to previous generations. Maintaining the magnificent reputation these award-winning schools possess is vital. It’s our responsibility to guarantee that future Hermosans are prepared to excel at the next level in their education. It’s clear the benefits of approving Measure S are infinite.
Michael Goergen
Chairperson
Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce
Room for improvement
Dear ER:
Hermosa Beach has expedited final reading and passage of an ordinance prohibiting rentals of less than 30 days, citywide, including the Coastal Zone. Why would the Coastal Commission “provide (Hermosa Beach) financial assistance for development of a Local Coastal Program” when the City is so arrogantly refusing to acknowledge the Coastal Commission’s letter of May 9, 2016 informing the city that passage of such an ordinance prohibiting Short Term/Vacation rentals in the Coastal Zone is unlawful. The City Council even challenged the Coastal Commission’s purview and authority over the coastal zone. Are our city officials that arrogant, incredibly stupid, or both. Just what we need — another costly lawsuit that we are guaranteed to lose.
Shirley Wright
Hermosa Beach
