Beware the Ides of March
Dear ER:
How very disappointing to see the Manhattan Beach City Council manipulated by former council members (“Manhattan Beach modifies upcoming council elections,” ER July 21, 2016). It was not a pretty sight to see the Council dancing around the subject of extending terms. How could they so easily slide into having elections in March, when it has clearly been shown that is the worst decision they could have made. The turnout is barely 20 percent for March elections. The point of Senate Bill 415 is to encourage larger voter turnout with elections consolidated. Yet, the Manhattan Council turned away from the best decision they could have made, to hold elections for our own Council in November 2017 rather than in March. That would put Manhattan Beach on track to have elections with the best voter turnout. Manhattan Beach has been a leader in many good causes – blazing the trail for better health and the environment. Why is Council being so cowardly and controlled in this matter? Where is the strong leadership we need? It is not too late to choose to extend the terms of our Council to make a better turnout at the polls in November – not March 2017. I urge Council to stand up for what is truly right and best for all Manhattan Beach. Extend the terms of council and hold the elections in November 2017.
Janet Murphy
Manhattan Beach
Principled decision
Dear ER:
I was edified to learn that the Manhattan Beach School Board supported its superintendent by voting to approve his plan to rotate four principals for the coming school year. Having been a school principal for 34 years and now a school leadership coach for the county, I know superintendents usually look for principals who possess, as described in “Blended Coaching,” the essential “interpersonal and communication skills, cultural proficiency, and emotional intelligence” in effective school leadership to meet the needs of any school. To put it plainly, the superintendent is the man with the master plan, and principals, more often than not, have the skills to pay the bills for moving schools forward for all students.
Tom Kaminski
Redondo Beach
Ramp up for boaters
Dear ER:
As a 40-year resident of Redondo Beach, I write on behalf of all avid boaters who are older and/or physically challenged. Only King Harbor Mole B (where Moonstone Park and the Lanakila Outrigger Club are located), currently being considered by the City Council and the Harbor Commission, adequately addresses the needs of the full spectrum of boaters using the harbor. It retains both the ramp, easily maneuvered by the young, and approved ADA-compliant hoist accessible for those of us boaters who need more assistance. Let’s revitalize our waterfront but let’s keep all that makes our harbor inclusive and welcoming. It only makes sense to keep the harbor accessible to all boaters, young and old, challenged or not, who long for the sea. Mole B is inclusive of our entire boating community and allows us to continue to be the model of health and the shining example for all the South Bay.
Sam Elder
Redondo Beach
Hoist the ramp
Dear ER:
So many of the letters to the editor touting the CenterCal Waterfront project sound as though they were filtered through a PR department. I wonder how many of those writers actually use the harbor for its intended purpose — getting on and off the water. I will admit to a selfish desire to keep our harbor as it is, relatively peaceful and quiet. Adding the boat ramp that the Coastal Commission is forcing on the project will diminish the quality of the experience for everyone else, adding air, water, and noise pollution, as well as safety concerns. We do have a choice, however, to not affect any of the other access points. I’m guessing that far more human-powered and wind-powered craft use our harbor than power-boaters and they have no impact. The hand-launch dock is a unique resource in Santa Monica Bay and must be protected.
Allan Mason
Hermosa Beach
Another waterfront way
Dear ER:
Redondo Beach profits $1.7 million a year from the pier parking structures. The city should have protected that income by reinvesting in regular maintenance, but instead let the parking lot deteriorate. The city hired engineering consultant Walker Restoration in 2012 to investigate repairs. Walker recommended urgent maintenance to repair the garages and prevent further detonation. After the city ignored the 2012 recommendation, Walker came back to City Council on August 2, 2016 to report the pier had deteriorated by another 10 percent, but that maintenance costs had increased by 15 percent due to inflation and neglect.
Infrastructure repair in the harbor ranges from $37.5 million for the basic “Ford” approach to $108 million for a “Cadillac” upgrade. The city’s financial consultant, KKN Public Finance, noted on January 19, 2016 that the city could finance $54.2 million worth of infrastructure improvements by leveraging the annual $3 million in net operating income from the Harbor Tidelands and Uplands Funds. At that meeting I noted that given our financing range, “CenterCal is not our only option” and if the city paid for infrastructure we could balance the project. Mayor Aspel responded “We know that, thank you.”
Thankfully the city finally committed $153,720 to Walker Restoration for “Band-Aid” maintenance. For $18.3 million we can maintain the parking structure for 15 years as we find a balanced solution to harbor revitalization. CenterCal is not our only option, but the city likes it because CenterCal will pay $50 million to rebuild harbor parking structures, covering up the sins of city neglect. The $400 million risky business plan will leave taxpayers on the hook if CenterCal fails.
Martin Holmes
Redondo Beach
Referendum redux
Dear ER:
Rescue Our Waterfront (ROW) has filed an initiative to halt the proposed Waterfront development of the Redondo Beach pier. Contrary to the popular meaning of “rescue,” this opposition group is attempting to overthrow voter-approved Measure G, which Redondo residents agreed and supported by referendum. The majority of residents have spoken. We do not need to revisit this issue. If the obstructionists are successful at their signature gathering efforts, they will halt development as they have for the past 25-plus years – with nothing to show. Don’t be fooled by misguided and fraudulent statements in their attempt to gain enough signatures to derail necessary repairs and improvements. They have no alternate plan. They have no funding. They have no environmental, market or any other study that supports their negative views.
I urge residents to stay engaged in the process along with our Harbor Commission and City Council to ensure that Redondo gets the revitalized Waterfront that the majority Redondo Beach residents need and want. Do not let the noisy few dictate our future and direct Redondo into decline.
Arnette Travis
Redondo Beach
More waterfront time
Dear ER:
I’m a Redondo resident who loves our waterfront area. I like to go there every so often for dinner, or spend an hour walking along the pier. However, I’d love a reason to spend even more time there, and for our waterfront to finally live up to its potential. I’ve always enjoyed the beach, and additional accessibility for walking and lounging is always welcome. Also, we’ll have unique shops and restaurants that I’ll love to frequent, especially knowing that I’ll be stimulating the local economy, too.
I can see myself there not just for an hour every few weeks, but for a couple of hours every week. That’s what our waterfront should be – a place for residents to come together and enjoy often as a community. That is possible with the approval of The Waterfront, and that’s why I am in full support.
Michelle White
Redondo Beach
3D reality
Dear ER:
CenterCal’s 3D model of the “Great Wall of Redondo” should have been shown to residents months ago. We knew this mall was going to be bad…but it’s even worse. This generic, view-blocking wall of concrete represents a total lack of vision for our city, strips away all that is great about our waterfront and vastly diminishes our one-of-a-kind open harbor.
Kathy McLeod
Redondo Beach
Picture the future
Dear ER:
I am writing to express my support for The Waterfront as a space for our community to gather.
Even though we have great places like Riviera Village, there is no central space for residents to gather together as a community. The Waterfront is the solution to that. We’ll get to look forward to even more festivals, outdoor activities like yoga and movies by the beach, local art exhibitions and other events beyond what we already have. Rather than happening monthly or weekly, events could happen daily or even hourly, meaning that there is always something new and exciting to do. With 11 acres of open space included, I can picture coming with friends to sit on the grass and listen to live music on a Saturday night, after spending the day at the pier and even grabbing a bite to eat at the new public market.
Nancy Campbell
Redondo Beach
