Hit the ground running
Dear ER
I was looking through some old Easy Readers and came upon a letter I had written titled, “Kiss My Benz.” Well, I’m back with the same thoughts. I live at 7th Place and Prospect Avenue in Hermosa Beach. School starts next week. For me and my grandkids it means walking to school. Prospect has a 25 m.p.h speed posted all over. There are several stop signs between 190th Street and Aviation Boulevard. Any morning between 7 and 9 a.m. I can guarantee that 90 percent of the cars on Prospect will 1. never come to a complete stop at any stop sign and 2. never go below the posted 25 mph.
Prospect with its speeders and non-stop traffic is only one example of a huge problem in “Our Best Little City.” Pacific Coast Highway is posted 35 m.p.h. That’s a joke. No one goes the speed limit. I saw a message posted on the City’s website that says “people walk safe in Hermosa.” I don’t walk across any street in Hermosa. I look and hit the ground running. How many parking police officers does Hermosa have? Why doesn’t the council put them on the streets where the cars are speeding and blowing through stop signs. Meanwhile, “Kiss My Benz” as I stop and go 25 m.p.h. on my way to a calm, safe, nice day in “The Best Little City.”
“Grandma” Ginny Shoren
Hermosa Beach
Apple map it
Dear ER:
Manhattan Beach opposes the proposal to rename part of Artesia Boulevard. as Redondo Beach Boulevard because it would be “confusing for the public.” It already is (“Redondo Beach’s Artesia name change moves forward,” ER Aug. 18, 2016). If you use Apple’s digital maps, the part of Artesia west of Redondo Beach Boulevard is already labeled Redondo Beach Boulevard. I can’t be the only person who has gotten lost because of this. Artesia Boulevard is a straight road that runs east-to-west from Sepulveda Boulevard to Buena Park in Orange County. To have one stretch of the road renamed Redondo Beach Boulevard will cause even more confusion. The better plan is to leave Artesia Boulevard as it is. Now, if only someone would correct Apple Maps.
Kay M. Gilbert
Manhattan Beach,
It’s the infrastructure, stupid
Dear ER:
While CenCal continues to try to dazzle us with visions of a luxury hotel, an upscale movie theater, a fancy farmer’s market, a drawbridge and dancing fountains, what the people really need are parking and traffic solutions, and a suitable place in the harbor to launch their watercraft. In short, it’s the infrastructure, stupid!
Brian Hittelman
Redondo Beach
Respectfully declined
Dear ER
Several months ago Rescue our Waterfront offered to debate The Waterfront crew, with proceeds going to charity. They declined. The Mayor was asked to have a voter referendum. Declined. Financial Due Diligence? Vetoed. Serious safety concerns over a little studied boat ramp option not included in the original EIR and a request to have a public hearing? Declined.
I wonder about the impact lobbying has played on these decisions.
Eugene J Solomon
Redondo Beach
Time to cast off
Dear ER:
August 8 was a long night at the Harbor Commission meeting, but as a result, the Waterfront has finally been approved (Redondo Beach Harbor Commission okays Waterfront EIR,” ER August 11, 2016.). Since the passage of Measure G in 2010, I’ve been eager to see our waterfront redeveloped, and since CenterCal first presented their vision after being chosen in 2012, I have been looking forward to this project. It’s been a lengthy process to say the least. Four years, dozens of community meetings and an entire environmental review process later, we have reached a key milestone, a milestone that we deserve for all of our hard work. We worked side by side with CenterCal and have created a great project. It’s aesthetically pleasing, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial. Even with this step forward there’s still plenty of hard work ahead. Let’s continue to show the decision makers how much support The Waterfront has in the community and make sure this project becomes a reality.
Mac Maki
Redondo Beach
A harbor for the 90 percent
Dear ER:
I enjoy walking in the harbor area at least once a week. This Saturday I did a survey of exactly what type of uses there are in the Redondo harbor. I found 84 businesses in the proposed Waterfront revitalization area. Of those, only eight are actually harbor dependent. That’s less than 10 percent. The other businesses are office, restaurant/bar, retail and entertainment. I also noticed that of the thousands of people who enjoy the pier, 90 percent or more are there to walk around, look at the water and eat. That is their access to the ocean and their recreational use of the harbor. This 90 percent is largely not represented by anyone in the current debate over the Waterfront revitalization. They are the people contributing to the local economy and using the pier and harbor the most. The Waterfront proposal creates many more opportunities for those who do not have boats or paddle boards. They just walk and enjoy the ocean and fresh air and they get a free Seaside Lagoon to boot.
Paul Moses
Redondo Beach
Heavy appeal
Dear ER:
This past week it was my honor to deliver a 439 page appeal detailing city and state violations of the Waterfront project. This document was given to both CenterCal and the City clerk for an appeal to the city council. The work was a monumental task to complete in 10 days, and my heartfelt thanks to those working so hard to make this happen.
With this process the people of Redondo Beach will now be heard by the city council. This after the rubber stamp from the harbor commission, whom our mayor said would “tear it up” with scrutiny.” Sadly, only two commissioners had the courage to ask questions on obvious safety and design problems with this retail plan. My thanks to commissioners Vicki Callahan and Kari Keidser. They actually fulfilled their responsibility to the people of Redondo Beach by voting against this plan. Both stated they couldn’t vote for this project as the EIR is incomplete and the positioning of the boat ramp is dangerous.
I’m hoping the council votes their true conscience and not because of the financial contributions from CenterCal. If not, the battle will continue.
Wayne Craig
Redondo Beach
Waterfront launch
Dear Editor:
After much deliberation, The the Redondo Beach Waterfront has been approved. I would just like to say thank you so much to the Harbor Commission for their countless hours put into making this project perfectly reflect the community. They were appointed to the Commission because of their expertise, and it is exciting that they have as much faith in the project as the community does. It’s been six years since this process started, and while we do indeed have a long while until it nears completion, this approval is a monumental achievement that should not be taken lightly. I have to give credit to CenterCal. They have been diligent and patient and have been more than happy to adjust their plans and lengthen the process to suit community needs and desires. From the inclusion of the pedestrian bridge in the beginning of the process to the addition of the sportfishing pier recently, they have adapted their project thoughtfully.
Alice Murphy and Brandon Villalobos
Redondo Beach
