Letters February 4, 2010
Making It by Keith Robinson
Dear ER:
I work at a pet grooming salon in El Segundo, which Manhattan Beach Detective Sgt. Brian Brown frequents (“Officer of the Year,” ER Jan. 7, 2010). He always uses the self-service section to take care of the grooming needs of his dog “Buddy.” I know all of the clients – the four-legged ones and their two-legged companions – whether they come in the salon for full-service or self-service. What I noticed about Brian Brown is that there is a very healthy and strong bond between himself and his dog.
You can tell a lot about a person by looking at how he or she treats a dog. And by seeing how Brian Brown interacts with his dog, you can tell he is a good person. The key is to look at the dog’s reactions. The relationship between Brian and “Buddy” is of mutual respect, trust and devotion.
Now, that I know he is a police officer, I am not at all surprised that he was named “Officer of the Year,” and can only concur with Police Chief Rod Uyeda’s assessment that Brian Brown is a really nice guy and really humble. A person with such character and ethics is a true enrichment for any organization. How lucky is the Manhattan Beach Police Department to have one of them on their force.
Thomas Leske
El Segundo
To council or to court
Dear ER:
It seems the Redondo Beach City Council is about to steal our right to vote on big development in King Harbor. Last October, City Attorney Mike Webb stated to a packed City Hall that a proposed zoning ordinance — one that allows 3-story timeshares and 400,000 sq. ft. of new Harbor development — is already effective and does not require voter approval.
This flawed opinion is based on one sentence in the ordinance that implies it took effect in May 2008, when no public vote was required. But Webb’s opinion directly contradicts State law (Public Resources Code Section 30514), requiring Coastal Commission approval for the zoning ordinance to become effective.
Last July, the Coastal Commission actually denied such approval, and even now has not approved any amended ordinance. So it’s not yet effective, and our City Charter now requires voter approval for such an ordinance to become law.
As a lawyer and long-time resident, I fear that the Council will hide behind Webb’s incorrect opinion and deny us our legal right to vote on rezoning the Harbor. We deserve better.
Building a Better Redondo, www.buildingabetterredondo.org, is a local non-profit organization raising money to file suit if the Council ignores the law and fails to put this zoning change before the voters. I’ve donated to this cause; so have the Sierra Club and the Surfrider Foundation. I hope you will too.
Mail donations payable to Building a Better Redondo, 602 South Broadway, Unit B, Redondo Beach, CA 90277.
Dave Wiggins
Redondo Beach
New testament to reason
Dear ER:
Hey, Fred Huebscher, get thee to thine King James Version. “Judge not, that ye not be judged…Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of they brother’s eye.” Or yours, for that matter.
The race thing aside, which is the beam in his eye, is he suggesting that getting into Yosemite to just visit, camp or use a cabin or the Ahwahnee Hotel for that matter, has nothing to do with the economic status or the geographical location of a potential visitor.
But all that aside, surely Huebscher knows that limitations put on the use of Sand Dune Park will apply to locals, folks from Iowa, and even those who might visit from China
I grow so weary of self-congratulatory bleeding-hearts who think themselves so much our moral betters.
David Wachtfogel
Manhattan Beach
Sand Dune walk
Dear ER:
The dune at Sand Dune Park has been closed for five months, and will be closed at least three more. At a recent city council meeting, dozens of residents spoke of how they enjoy walking the dune for exercise. Yet some city council members seem determined to ban “workouts / exercise” on the dune. This is being proposed under the guise of preventing the dune from being a “regional workout facility,” but in fact they would seek to ban adults from walking up the dune for any reason.
I’ve lived on the plateau atop the Manhattan Beach’s Sand Dune Park for eight years. Since then, my standard morning exercise has been jogging down the hill, running along the waterline, jogging back up Manhattan Beach Boulevard, then running along the Green Belt until arriving at the bottom of the dune, where I finish my morning by walking up the dune. I’ve never once run up the dune, it’s just too dang hard. Other times, I walk to the dune and climb it several times, where I happily chat with other Sand Dune Park visitors about the city, their health and the wonderful views. There have been problems at Sand Dune Park due to over usage and a few bad apples. The solution is to address the peak usage issues and to focus on the actions of the few bad actors. The solution isn’t to ban exercise in a public park and prevent thousands of residents from enjoying a park they enjoyed for decades.
I bike on The Strand, run on the Green Belt, stroll along the beach and climb the dune. None of those activities make those places a “workout facility.” What are parks for, if not exercise? I can walk on any street or sidewalk in the city. I can walk on the beach. I can walk on the strand, the Green Belt and in any public park. Are we ready to ban walking in Sand Dune Park?
Jacob Rome
Via web comments
Apologize, then drill
Dear ER:
It is inconceivable that the City of Hermosa Beach would have attempted to “vote away” someone’s property without just compensation. A contract is the basic principle of our economic system and it cannot be broken simply by popular opinion vote.
Hopefully as a child you learned that if you unjustly take something from someone, the first thing you must do is give it back and apologize, which is where the city of Hermosa Beach should start with its negotiations.
1. MacPherson had a contract to drill for oil, so reinstate the contact and let them drill in the most ecologically, safe manner possible and make them a welcome addition to the city, not an adversary. Their facility could become a showpiece of responsible drilling and a great, high value neighbor (see their website about their green initiative and donations to charities).
2. The City of Hermosa pays the oil company a much lower negotiated settlement (for its breach) plus all legal fees. The amount of the settlement could be negotiated by the fact that the 10 year legal delay has increased the value of the oil reserve by more than 300 percent (1992 average of $19 per barrel versus $80.00 today). Additionally, part of the settlement could be paid via a scaled licensing/tax rate which would keep the city solvent and allow MacPherson to set-up operation with lower cost prior to oil revenues.
3. The City, instead of facing bankruptcy, now has a new source of revenue ($1 million to $3 plus million annually) well into future. This solution rights a serious wrong, improves the cities finances, creates local energy, lessens the need to raise taxes (from the homeowners), implements state-of-the-art green drilling, and creates more jobs thus making this a win/win/win for all parties.
Some critics might complain, but unless they have a better solution, drive electric cars, love our imported oil (from unstable countries) and want to buy out the remaining MacPherson oil contract, the City of Hermosa should do what is legally and ethically correct.
The city’s security, credit/bond rating would rise (lowering the cost to borrow), and everything from the schools, police, fire, roads and other capital improvement would all improve (in a this very uncertain economic environment) while closing a chapter that should have never haven been written by the City of Hermosa Beach!
I would start the negotiations with a genuine, heart-felt apology!
Mark Machuszek
Manhattan Beach
Stand up for the chief
Dear ER:
I was saddened earlier this week when Hermosa Beach Councilmember Howard Fishman and Mayor Pro Tem Peter Tucker placed an item on the agenda for the City Councils January 26 meeting that in essence reprimanded Police Chief Greg Savelli (“City sticks to guns with eatery,” ER Jan. 28, 2010). Fishman and Tucker attempted to get Police Chief Savelli to withdraw a letter that he had submitted two years ago to the State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board asking that Il Bocaccio, which is now owned by the Ron and Greg Newman, be prevented from serving alcohol beyond midnight.
Fishman and Tucker’s placing this item on the City Council agenda amounted to a public reprimand of the chief. Luckily, their fellow Councilmembers had more sense and voted down Fishman and Tucker’s request.
I think our Chief is doing an outstanding job and I was appalled by the conduct of Fishman and Tucker. I urge all to contact Fishman and Tucker and express your displeasure with their conduct: kkfish@earthlink.net and peter@electpetertucker.com.
Fred Huebscher
Hermosa Beach
Sand dune is special
Dear Editor,
Sand Dune park provides an exercise experience like no other. That is why it’s so popular. Anybody has climbed to the top of the hill and felt the ocean breeze on her or her face knows what we’re talking about.
There may be issues of over use. There are many ways to fix this rather than giving up before we even try.
One of the goals of any public park is to become inviting enough to attract the public to enjoy the facilities. Everybody can agree that Sand Dune park has been a big success. How can we even contemplate rewarding a vibrant and successful park by shutting it down? The city counsel should change whatever needs to be changed to deal with the issues to keep this vital park open to all users.
Closing down the hill for exercise is not like closing a quarter mile dirt track that can be built anywhere. This place is one of a kind and should be treated accordingly.
Mickey Fine
Manhattan Beach
Mozart to Jung
Dear ER,
I enjoyed “The virtual adventures of Sungha Jung” (ER Jan. 21, 2010). A 12-year-old master guitarist is a remarkable rarity, for which we must be grateful. That he is developing a career, with the wise and rich collaboration of Trace Bundy, is deserved and worthy of admiration.
The piece reminded me of another musical master whose birthday was celebrated last week, Jan. 27. At 12 Mozart was recognized throughout Europe as an astonishing performer, and accomplished composer. He had produced about 100 compositions in a wide variety of forms. And during that 13th year, in addition to composing his twelth symphony, he tackled one of the most complex and challenging forms of artistic expression – he composed an opera – “La Finta Semplice.”
I don’t know if our present virtuosos, Sungha Jung and Trace Bundy accept requests. But since they do Pachelbel’s Canon, I’d humbly suggest a two guitar arrangement of the “Queen of the Night” aria: “Hell’s vengeance seethes in my heart” from The Magic Flute.
JB Kennedy
Redondo Beach
Vote or sue
Dear ER:
Like most Redondo residents voting in the November 08 election, I voted for Measure DD because it gave me a vote on the increasing density in our city… democracy before development. In all, 17,412 of us voted for Measure DD, more than voted for any previous city candidate or issue. In contrast Mayor Gin received just 6,086 votes. Even if you combine ALL the votes for ALL five councilman AND the mayor, the combined council only received 10,684 votes. The vote for DD along with multiple city surveys reflect Redondo resident concern about overdevelopment.
Now our elected officials intend to ignore us by passing a massive harbor upzoning without the vote required by DD, which is now part of our City Charter. The Council hides behind a dubious legal smoke screen to justify this outrage. It’s bad enough that they have misled the public and coastal commission about the gridlock this will cause in our city. Now they are purposefully ignoring the will of the people.
Our Council has a moral obligation to follow the city charter and represent the will of their residents. I am disgusted by their blatant disregard of the law and their total lack of integrity. I call on all conscientious residents to attend the Council Meeting on February 16 and demand a vote.. But, more importantly, join me in donating to BBR’s lawsuit that will force the city to put this upzoning to a vote as required by the Charter. See www.buildingabetterredondo for details.
Alexander Starr
Redondo Beach
Mike’s blue ribbon
Dear ER
In a time when public schools and small businesses alike are suffering financially, the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation salutes Mike Lacey, owner of Hermosa’s own Comedy & Magic Club, for generously donating 240 tickets to the HBEF’s 2nd “Mom’s Night Out” fundraiser. The sold out event featured fantastic talent, great food and raised over $7,200 for Hermosa’s public schools. Thanks to Mike, Andrew and the rest of the Comedy & Magic staff for their support of our public schools. We couldn’t maintain our blue ribbon status without the support of local businesses like yours.
Diana Allen and Donna Cunningham
HBEF Event Co-Chairs
Hermosa Beach
False savings
Dear ER:
I see no benefit to closing a good program like Every Woman Counts if the reason is to close the state budget deficit. This is a great program, which provides mammograms to women. Why would we want to jeopardize something that helps them so much? Please get the word out that there are other ways of cutting the deficit.
Dan Esposito
Manhattana Beach