Schooling the sup
Dear ER:
Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent Mike Matthews wrote in his “Welcome to the 2016-17 School Year Newsletter that “All of our schools are based on semesters now. And the first semester ends before Winter Break. That means that our high school students will not be studying for finals over the break, and should get a true break from school. We think that is healthy.”
What Matthews doesn’t mention is that the first semester has only 77 days while the second semester has 103 days a 26 day difference. Don’t believe for one second that this change was made with the student’s emotional wellbeing in mind. This change was made because that’s what the teachers union wanted. Previously, Mira Costa usually had finals after the third of fourth week of January. The new schedule means the high school students will have to jam a full semester of work into 25 percent less time. December is usually full of choir and band concerts, plays and holiday events. These will all take place while the students are supposed to be studying for finals. Nothing about this decision was done in the best interest of the students! Just like having the students in school until December 22 of this year, taking finals was not in the best interest of the students.
Name withheld by request
A name is a name
Dear ER:
This Arestia Boulevard name change saga is laughable (“Artesia name change moves forward,” ER August 18, 2016). North Redondo businessman John Gran tried his best to salvage what was left of the North Redondo Beach Business Association’s credibility but failed during his address to the city council. There is no interest in this project save the handful NRBBA members who don’t even operate businesses on Artesia. Only one Arestia business owner spoke in favor at the council meeting. Let’s just drop it before anymore time is wasted.
Here are the reasons the NRBBA says a name change should occur: Creates a distinctive “Sense of Place; creates a recognized brand; capitalizes on Redondo Beach’s positive images and marketing efforts; fosters business development; refocuses public and private financial resources to the boulevard.
All of this can be done, no matter what the street is called.
David Hill-Harden
Redondo Beach
No need
Dear ER:
We all want a waterfront upgrade. But do we have to sacrifice our unique, historic harbor to large, crowded buildings that block dozens. Why can’t we have a smaller, beach style development that reflects the history of the waterfront. We don’t need massive buildings and massive traffic
Pam Hughes
Redondo Beach
Where were you then?
Dear ER:
Opponents of The Waterfront like to talk about the economic feasibility of The Waterfront and costs to taxpayers and the City of Redondo Beach. This is a concern that I share. But unlike the opponents, I trust the multiple, impartial economic feasibility studies and endorsements from current business owners at The Waterfront. I also trust Measure G, which residents came together and passed. Those residents include the same people who now want to put a “refined” version of the measure on the ballot, which will undo the entire Measure G and ensure the waterfront is never more than a giant parking lot.
Behavior like this is what has led to decades of pier neglect. Each step forward cannot be followed by a step backwards. Running a ballot initiative to overturn six years of progress and a popularly supported measure, drawing out the political process to be as long and painful as possible, and suing the City surely seems like a contradiction to me.
If the initiative supporters prevail, there will be no Public Market, beautified boardwalk with enhanced views, or improvements to the buildings that are home to our popular business tenants. And we can’t forget about Seaside Lagoon, which costs the city thousands of dollars per year in water quality fines and is at risk of being closed. Failing to embrace The Waterfront will cost Redondo residents severely.
If the opponents were actually concerned about what is best for our city, they would have raised their issues before Measure G was passed, and certainly not have been supportive of the measure. If they have their way, we need to be prepared to not expect a revitalized waterfront in our lifetime – again.
Steve Goldstein
Redondo Beach
A-framed
Dear ER:
Am I getting this right? Other cities have A-frame ordinances to unclutter sidewalks and improve access for pedestrians and the disabled. Hermosa has an A-frame ordinance to make money (Rules on A-frame signs rile up Hermosa Business owners,” ER August 25, 2016)?
Hawk Granville
Website comment
A-frame compromise
Dear ER:
Wouldn’t it make sense to try various compromises before just dumping a $535 price tag on A-frames (Rules on A-frame signs rile up Hermosa Business owners,” ER August 25, 2016). Perhaps as a licensed business owner in good standing I could get 15 to 30 free signage days before I’m fined the $535. It doesn’t cost $535 of administrative work to apply for this signage. Let’s be an adult oriented city. If I abuse my privilege, sure, bill me, or bully me, as the case is now.
Karl Grossman
Hermosa Beach
Smokers’ shamer
Dear ER:
Smokers are not fined (“Panelists smoke out possible impacts of broader smoking,” ER July 7, 2016), Hermosa’s ordinance is not enforced. Police officers see the smokers and don’t issue citations. I have spoken to the lifeguards and they are not responsible for enforcing this ordinance or letting visitors know about the ordinance, even when they are smoking on the beach. In theory, this ordinance is a strong calling to protect non-smokers rights, but it is really only a political maneuver. Unless it is enforced it means nothing and will not bring forth results.
If you doubt what I have written, stop by The Strand on any given day and you will see people strolling and smoking. I politely tell them that there is a ban on smoking on The Strand and I would hate for them to get a ticket. Sometimes the smoker will thank me and then put the cig out and toss it on the ground. I then go and pick up the stinky cig and place it in the rubbish. Many others just keep on smoking so I of course walk away to avoid a confrontation. I have now started to enjoy snapping photos of people smoking right by the no smoking signs. It’s ironic and simultaneously sad. Maybe I’ll start a blog and start posting the pictures?
Vicki Gutierrez Isaacson
Website comment
Trailblazer
Dear ER:
I was happy to see the responsiveness of Hermosa officials to the accessibility efforts of Geoff Hirsch and others (“A Hermosa for everyone,” ER letters, August 25, 2016). I don’t find this focus in Manhattan Beach. In fact, two of its newer developments are particularly unfriendly to persons with mobility difficulties, including strollers and wheelchairs. The Shade Hotel’s parking plan was allowed by city planners to push pedestrians out into the car lanes in front of the hotel. The sidewalk is nice and wide on the east side of Metlox Plaza, but then it narrows and ends at a curb where Shade Hotel has erected large, sawhorse blockades. Cars are always parked there. “Wider” groups, such as one person supporting another or pushing a stroller can’t get by without going into the car lanes to get past the double sawhorses.
The new Police/Fire facility also has a nice sidewalk, part way along Valley Drive. But then it narrows and inset trees block the walkway so that a single stroller may fit but not a double stroller or two “connected” pedestrians. The curved sidewalks between Valley Drive and Ardmore Ave at 15th Street are also impossible to access for more than one person. A person going in the opposite direction has to step into traffic coming around the bends there. I have seen many pushing single- and double-wide strollers out into the street to cross.This is a blind corner for cars entering the intersection. Manhattan Beach also does not keep the hedge there trimmed back. The thicker bushes narrow the sidewalk even more. It would not be difficult to remove the hedge and create much safer passage between Valley Blvd and Ardmore Ave. It would make a nice connection to the city’s Veteran’s Memorial, which is adjacent.
More compassionate thought in the planning stages by able-bodied officials could have greatly helped even mildly disabled persons access the city without the dangers that now exist.
- Davisson
Manhattan Beach
