Letters to the Editor 11-18-2021
It’s complicated
Dear ER:
Thanks for your excellent contribution to the public’s growing awareness of SB-9, zoning, and local control of Land Use issues (“The Brand Initiative,” ER Nov. 11, 2021). Housing in California is and has been for many years a very complicated subject. Your piece captures much of that complexity. As I read your article I frequently reflected on Hermosa’s many efforts over many years aimed at getting a handle on density. (Our current population of 19,000 versus the formerly projected 29,000 shows we weren’t completely unsuccessful.) But in the end our efforts may simply end up affirming the old adage about no good deed goes unpunished. Thanks for shedding some light on the current state of affairs.
George Schmeltzer
Hermosa Beach
It’s about local control, stupid
Dear ER:
I want to commend Easy Reader for the truly exceptional analysis by reporters Ryan McDonald and Mark McDermott of the housing crisis in California, focusing on the impact of SB 9. Two key elements of that crisis: Number of units needed to be constructed and the affordability of those units. SB 9 may indeed provide the opportunities for construction of needed units, but this would happen with the loss of an extremely important value in our political game: Local control. Such units would be built to state standards, ignoring the desires and regulations of our local city councils. More importantly, there is nothing in SB 9 that I have found that requires the units to be affordable for the consuming public, just that there may be more of them. Higher density does not make housing more affordable. This issue is way too important to be left to the smoke and mirrors of Sacramento politicians.
Lance Widman
Hermosa Beach
California, here we come
Dear ER:
The entirety of the quoted number of California homeless (130,000) does not only reflect those who cannot find or afford apartments to rent (“The Brand Initiative,” ER Nov. 11, 2021). When the La County Sheriff embedded reporters in his teams interacting with the homeless, they learned that many of the working-aged men had moved to Venice from other states, lured by the favorable weather and freedom to feed their drug and alcohol addictions while camping on sidewalks. When housing is offered, the men insist it must be located in Venice. As far as overcrowding in housing in the LA basin, there are newly-arrived migrants released by ICE daily and many have relatives in LA with whom they are invited to share housing.
Jacqueline Zuanich-Ferrell
Manhattan Beach
Exit interviews
Dear ER:
Ed Sarmeiento seemed quite competent as a Hermosa Beach City Clerk (“City Clerk leaves for home,” ER Nov. 4, 2021). I’m sure many residents will be sorry to see him go. Under the current city administration, we’ve lost our Parks and Recreation Manager, two public works directors. and an Environmental Analyst. I hope the city council and respective city commissions including the Parks & Recreation Commission, the Planning Commission & the Public Works Commission have taken a look at exit interviews of these key staff members to see if we can better retain competent help. Second I hope the City Council revisits its decision to have the City Clerk report to the City Manager. The City Clerk is critical to transparency and accountability in that he/she ensures the public has access to non-exempt records. The City Clerk used to be an elected position and this served the objective of transparency and accountability in city government.
Anthony Higgins
Hermosa Beach
Housekeeping
Dear ER:
It is unfair that Hermosa Beach’s public workers have to clean the debris of the man who lives outside the bathrooms at 2nd Street, and The Strand. They cannot clean the area properly because he is always there. People are hesitant to use those bathrooms.
Maria and Xavier Haase
Hermosa Beach