Good Stuff’s bad deal Dear ER: Good Stuff Hermosa has had a wonderful Taco Cart Thursday promotion, which they have stopped due to a petty, unfounded complaint to the health department. Good Stuff is completely clean and within the law. In myAmerica, good, healthy competition is encouraged not forced out by crude, unprofessional thuggery. Bring back the taco cart.
Steve Shor
Hermosa Beach
Liu’s shark-infested waters
Dear ER:
I read with disgust the article on Senator Ted Lieu’s position on the ban on shark finning (“Lieu seeks middle water in shark tiff,” ER July 28, 2011).Many studies have shown that the vast majority of sharks are killed just for their fins to make shark fin soup. Often the fish is then thrown back into the water, sometimes still alive. Because of this practice the shark population, which is necessary to keep the oceans in balance, has declined dramatically. Almost all environmental groups support the proposed bill, which was sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Fong. I congratulate Assemblyman Fong for his vision and leadership on this issue. Finning is already banned under federal law, and state laws inOregon,Washington, andHawaii.California, which is supposed to be the leader in environmental concerns, is the only state with aPacific Oceanborder that does not have this law. In addition, Senator Lieu represents theSouthBayand the beach communities, who generally feel strongly about protecting the ocean. There is only one logical conclusion to explain Senator Lieu’s position.He is clearly being influenced by the “shark fin soup” lobbyists. This is just another example of our elected officials representing special interests instead of constituents. Once again, congratulations to Assemblyman Fong for introducing this bill, and let’s hope there are enough senators in ourCalifornialegislature who will vote for what is the right thing for the oceans and the people ofCalifornia, and not the lobbyists putting money in their pockets.
Russ Lesser, President
Body Glove International
Manhattan Beach
cheatPads
Dear ER:
I hope I’m wrong but I can only envision students using Facebook, email and other websites when they should be doing work (Manhattan Students to try iPads in classroom,” ER July 29, 2011). The temptations to stray away from what they’re supposed to be doing will be way stronger than most kids will be able to resist. Let’s hope they don’t allow them to be used during tests. Can you say “email cheating?”
Merna Marshall
Web site comment
cheatPad blocker
Dear ER:
It’s easy to prevent email cheating (“Manhattan Students to try iPads in classroom,” ER July 29, 2011). Shut off the router during tests. No internet access for everyone. I seriously doubt the iPads used in educational accounts are 3G capable.
Economist2011
Web site comment
Overpaid manager?
Dear ER:
Why is Steve Burrell, the City Manager of Hermosa Beach, paid more perHermosa Beachresidence population compared toManhattan BeachandRedondo Beach? Burrell is paid $200,000 base salary ($258,283.37 w/benefits [including $500/mo. car allowance]). That’s $13.20 per person for Hermosa’s 19,557, annually. Dave Carmany,Manhattan Beachcity manager, is paid $214,932 base salary ($280,425 w/benefits). That’s $8.28 perManhattanresident (population 33,852). Bill Workman,Redondo Beach’s city manager, is paid $223,462.98 base salary ($266,926.73 w/benefits). That’s $3.99 per Redondo (population 66,748).
Recently, the (Hermosa) city council voted to put a proposition on the November 8, 2011 ballot for an increase of $197,000 for business licenses even in this high recession and with the business vacancy factor we have in Hermosa Beach.
Finally, let’s getHermosa Beachemployees working on Fridays again instead of gaining four days off when there’s a Monday holiday.
Is a 10 percent reduction in pay to Burrell in this current recession asking too much? Also, Steve Burrell has taken a recent position to deter improvements on Pacific Coast Highwayand focus on Aviation Boulevard. Since 1937, the city of Hermosa Beachhas made very few improvements onPacific Coast Highway. Burrell was not helpful when the city’s automobile dealers, like Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, and Mini Cooper, started to leave the city. The BMW and Mini Cooper dealerships would have stayed with a little assistance from the city in obtaining partial vacation of30th Street.
Roger Eldon Bacon
Ralph’s Shopping Center
Hermosa Beach
Debt ceiling
Dear ER:
South Bay Congresswomen Janice Hahn says she voted against raising the debt ceiling because, “I listened to my constituents, and they overwhelmingly asked me to oppose this deal” (easyreadernews.com)
Hahn then states: “Three weeks ago, the people of my district sent me toWashingtonto protect Social Security and Medicare and get to work investing in our future and creating jobs.”
Protect Social Security and Medicare? IfWashingtonkeeps running the way it has, on fumes and beyond capacity, there will be no Social Security or Medicare left to collect.
Hahn then adds: “I cannot support a bill that asks nothing of millionaires and billionaires while asking hardworking Americans already struggling to sacrifice even more.”
Who in their right mind still believes that raising taxes on the wealthy will generate more revenue? Wealthy people will simply put more of their money in tax shelters and trusts, or hire other wealth-conscious people to secure their wealth from the prying hands of the state. With all of this capital getting locked up, where will the new businesses come from?
Despite the flagrant contradictions in her rationale for not voting for raising the debt ceiling, Hahn has managed to fulfill one promise. She has created jobs. . . for herself and her office staff.
Arthur Christopher Schaper
Torrance
Manhattan Beachkudos
Dear ER:
Congratulations to the employees of the City ofManhattan Beach. Through their dedicated service, the city has again achieved a top credit rating, one of two in the state to have a triple-A rating from all three rating agencies. Given the fiscal challenges presently faced by local governments, the employees deserve an extra round of kudos even as they are facing potential reductions in pensions, health benefits, and salaries.
The city’s Finance Department is the central nervous system towards ensuring our long-term fiscal viability and will be vital in achieving a key initiative of the Manhattan Beach City Council, greater citizen participation and engagement in the budgeting process. In addition to our Police and Fire Departments, I want to recognize the excellent work of the Parks & Recreation Department. We need the managers of Public Works, Human Resources, and Information Systems to meet the contributions of their counterparts.
The management of the City ofManhattan Beachis in a state of transition with four new key managers: City Manager, Police Chief, Fire Chief, and City Attorney. City Manager Carmany is admirably spearheading this transition trying to overcome the gap of 15 years of neglect in the required policies and procedures for the management of human and financial resources.
In addition, the Manhattan Beach City Council has taken a critical step in acknowledging the importance of promoting, developing, and implementing strategic planning as a key management tool.
Edward Caprielian, Ph.D
Manhattan Beach
