Letters to the Editor 12-9-21
Thanks to trusted trustees
Dear ER:
My 81 year old father ,and US Army veteran has a message for the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Trustees: thank you for the protocols that stopped the spread of COVID before it got to him. My father was sitting in my living room on a Sunday morning, enjoying much needed time with his grandchildren before his scheduled cancer surgery, when the Meadows Elementary School principal called to say my daughter sat next to a child who tested positive for Covid. Too young at the time to be vaccinated, she could have unknowingly brought Covid home to the grandfather she loves so much. We all know how this could have gone. Despite testing my family for COVID prior to my parents’ visit, a recent verified exposure to COVID means my daughter’s negative test could turn into a positive test in a few days. My father, whose cancer is but one of a couple comorbidities he has that put vaccinated older people in a scary category for COVID, could have been exposed. Masks work to stop the spread of COVID, and masks stopped the spread in this case, too. No one in my daughter’s class brought COVID home to their vulnerable relatives. Never in his life did my father think a school board and its policies could have such a big impact on his health and personal safety. Thankfully, MBUSD prioritizes protecting our students and their loved ones during this pandemic. My father thanks you with all his heart, and so do I.
Madeline Kaplan
Manhattan Beach
Return the downtown
Dear ER:
As the owner of Shellback Tavern, I believe the Manhattan Beach City Council should not extend the use of public space for outside dining and drinking in the downtown. It has and is making drastic changes to the character of our downtown community. The changes are not for the better. Businesses are doing very well now. It is a shame that local families are being prevented from setting up their picnic blankets in the street for the Holiday Fireworks show because the decks still remain. When staff first mentioned the decks below Manhattan Ave needed to be removed for the fireworks, the Shellback immediately removed our patio in time for the Pumpkin races and did not put it back up. We in no way wanted to be a part of punishing residents by preventing fireworks seating, after their generous allowance of public space during the pandemic. No more extensions. Let’s put an end to the overcrowding and lack of parking. Enough is enough. It is time to return the public space to the good citizens of Manhattan Beach.
Bob Beverly
Manhattan Beach
Return local control
Dear ER:
What’s wrong with the Manhattan Beach City Council? Why won’t they fight to protect local control of our zoning and land use authority? Recently, the City Council in Redondo Beach did just that by unanimously adopting a resolution to support a ballot initiative that would change the California Constitution to guarantee local control in zoning and land use matters, thereby nullifying the State Legislature’s efforts to dictate in these local matters. Yet, our Manhattan Beach Council chooses to do nothing? Instead of taking action to fight for local control, our Council has been squabbling for almost 18 months about changing the wording on the Bruce’s Beach plaque. After creating a task force and disbanding it, they are now scheduling a study session for the entire council. Just incredible when you consider the plaque is only a few hundred words and the only truly objectionable language is the first sentence, referring to George Peck as some sort of champion for the Bruce family. Here’s a common sense idea that better utilizes our city council’s time. Let’s have a council study session on what action the council can take to the fight to protect our single-family zoning and residential character.
Mark Burton
Manhattan Beach
Keep Hahn here
Dear ER:
The Beach Cities and most of the South Bay is currently in Los Angeles County Supervisorial District 4, represented by Supervisor Janice Hahn. She’s been of great help to the South Bay over the last five years, particularly with our homelessness programs in Redondo Beach. The current redistricting map the commission favors will gerrymander the South Bay into the same district that includes the San Fernando Valley. This makes no sense and unless we speak out the fate of our future representation for the next 10 years could be determined by as few as 100 people on Zoom calls. The only redistricting map left under consideration that still has Supervisor Hahn representing our District is Map B-2. The other two maps under serious consideration will move the Beach Cities into either District 3 or District 2. They will give us a new supervisor who has zero experience with our area, and more focus on their current areas of representation. With such a large budget and so much financial assistance and other support coming from our current supervisor, this would be a huge loss to the Beach Cities, Palos Verdes and much of the rest of the South Bay
Go to the county site and cast your vote. Scroll down to the December 12 supervisorial meeting, and under public comment “Favor” Map B-2 and “Oppose” maps F-1 & G.
Lisa Youngworth
Redondo Beach
Save the electricity
Dear ER:
On Saturday, after reading Mark Shoemaker’s excellent letter (“E-bike lawsuit pending,” ER Dec. 2, 2021) regarding e-bikes on the Hermosa Strand, we observed four preteens riding gas powered bikes. They were going at least 20 miles per hour and of course were not wearing helmets. Who are the parents buying these for kids? Worse, we observed a two-year-old almost run over by a group of 10 middle-aged guys speeding through the flashing red lights on the Hermosa Beach Strand, near the pier. One man actually yelled at the child. If the HBPD is not going to enforce the laws, why not turn the red lights off,permanently? They give everyone a false sense of security.
Jan O’Neill
Redondo Beach
Hope for the harbor
Dear ER:
After fighting for six years to have a say in the future of King Harbor, now is our chance. The City of Redondo Beach has commenced a planning effort to improve public amenities within King Harbor. With improved amenities, our shoreline facilities will provide more resources for residents and visitors alike. The city is working to locate the boat ramp, and the new sport fishing pier and to improve the Seaside Lagoon. After the 2017 election, the citizens group Rescue Our Waterfront presented various options to the Redondo Beach City Council. Unfortunately, at that time a majority of council members favored stagnation and continuing to work with litigious mall developer CenterCal. Since the March 2021 election that dynamic has changed and now, we can determine the future of King Harbor and not be shut out by special moneyed interests.
The first virtual harbor planning meeting is Wed., Dec. 15, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sign up for the Zoom meeting at KHAmenitiesplan.com.
Wayne Craig
Redondo Beach
Smokescreen cleared
Dear ER:
This pretty much confirms that the Sandbox op-ed by Damien Martin is just a smokescreen (“Redondo Beach cannabis initiative proponent, 20, found by ‘cold call,’” ER Dec. 2,2021). This should serve as a red flag to all Redondo voters as they consider this initiative. The initiative is written to force the City Council to approve Catalyst Cannabis to open retail stories in Redondo and give them essentially a monopoly. The initiative includes zero revenue for the city to cover the cost of administration and law enforcement. This article demonstrates that the real proponents will tell you whatever they can to get their business license in the City. I have had three signature gatherers come to my door, and none of them painted the true picture of the initiative. The initiative is not good for the residents or the city, it is only good for their business. Avoid signing it. If it makes it to the ballot vote no.
Jim Light
Redondo Beach
Widman’s wit
Dear ER:
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of former Hermosa Beach City Council Member Lance Widman. He was a truly dedicated community leader who continued his involvement after his city council term as director of a free mediation service for the Beach Cities, wherein neighborhood disputes were settled. We certainly need more dedication like that these days. May God bless his family during this challenging period.
Stewart Fournier
Manhattan Beach
Busy, busy, busy
Dear ER:
We are just too busy. We are too busy training children; active shooter, active shooter, active shooter. We are too busy watching children killing children and adults killing children; and repeat as needed. We are too busy making guns and making caskets, and too busy selling guns and selling caskets. We are too busy to create policies to save our children when what we really want is to save 25 percent off a shiny new gun. We are too busy sending thoughts and prayers and thoughts and prayers and thoughts…who cares? We are too busy to notice another burial; tiny caskets, mom and dad in grief, classmates in therapy, homeroom teacher reminder: don’t forget kids, active shooter drill tomorrow. We are too busy because, you know, the Second Amendment, and Freedom, and America, and the Constitution. We’re too busy for kids; to stop these murders, and it’s the wrong time, and Columbine, and [insert school name here]. We are too busy doing nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing but selling weapons, selling rounds, and burying kids. Complacency. We are just too busy.
Jose Bacallao
Hermosa Beach