Letters to the Editor 11-30-23
A flood of tax money
Dear ER:
Please Vote No on the Manhattan Beach’s unconstitutional stormwater tax increase, from $19 annually to an average of $129 annually. Over a thirty-year period, Measure W passed in 1996, will raise $7.5 billion, countywide, in parcel taxes to fund stormwater projects. Manhattan Beach property owners will pay over $30 million in parcel taxes during that period. Now, the City wants to add a second stormwater tax that is excessive, unreasonable and unnecessary. It would also be unconstitutional to do so. When the Manhattan Beach Council recently approved the ballot measure for drastically increasing the City’s stormwater tax, they neglected to include a sunset clause. The result is this stormwater tax will become a forever tax, with annual increases, contrary to the State Constitution’s requirement that any mail-in ballot tax, or fee measure be for “the right amount and the right amount of time.” Without a sunset clause, this forever increasing tax will generate far more revenue than the costs for stormwater projects, especially when you consider tens of millions of Measure W funds the City will be receiving for stormwater projects. To date, the City has already received over $25 million in Measure W grants funds. I and other Manhattan Beach property owners are appalled that the City is trying to pull a fast one by having a sham election during our holiday season, when many Manhattan residents will be preoccupied, and an unconstitutional election to boot!
Mark Burton
Manhattan Beach
Cinematic South Bay
Dear ER:
Thank you for this wonderful story (“The Center of the Universe,” ER November 23, 2023). I am a resident of Redondo Beach and love South Bay for its simplicity, and laid back style. The story read like a movie. I hope they keep the South Bay as it is. When I see those stories when developers were doing renovations in those olden times, it was for improvements. They were good-hearted people.
Suresh Bhaskaran
Facebook comment
Parking cost analysis
Dear Sir
I would like to know how much money the City of Hermosa Beach took in on the sale of parking passes in the impacted area for 2021 and 2022. And I want to know how much the city received after the new Mayor Justin Massey — Raymond Jackson system was enacted. The city council should consider any losses before making this system permanent.
Thank you
Lenny Chapman
Health mission creep
Dear ER:
No one disputes that more mental health services are beneficial. However, the allcove Beach Cities’ service area is 1.4 million residents (about 250,000 12 to 25 year olds), including Long Beach. BCHD was voter approved to service the Residents who reside in the district. Yet, BCHD is using the land, money, buildings, and resources of three small cities of 120,000 people to service all of LA County planning area #8 with allcove. Just because the egos of the BCHD Board cannot be contained in Hermosa, Manhattan and Redondo Beach doesn’t mean our tax money and assets should be funding non-resident services from El Segundo to Long Beach.
Mark Nelson
Redondo Beach