Letters to the Editor 2-2-23
Old World question
Dear ER:
When I first landed here from Europe, I wondered why the restaurants were so dark inside and why there were no dining terraces, with such an incredible climate (“Restaurant royalty asks HB to keep outdoor dining. ER January 26, 2022). City Hall makes enough money to be able to allow the restaurants to keep their outdoor dining.
Rosemary Graham-Gardner
Hermosa Beach
Sunny service
Dear ER:
For the Beach Cities, with our great weather and sunshine, not to have more options to eat outside is a tragedy (“Restaurant royalty asks HB to keep outdoor dining. ER January 26, 2022).
Greg Bennett
Hermosa Beach
Long live the owls
Dear ER:
It’s not just a simple issue of wildlife versus a city bureaucracy (Hermosan wants owls to not be disturbed by city, ER January 26, 2022). Those large palm fronds can become very dangerous if they fall on someone. There is a liability issue here. Hopefully, the city will come up with a solution that takes into consideration both the owls and the safety of people walking along Longfellow Avenue. Long live the owls. . . and the passersby.
Joe Hellerman
Hermosa Beach
A house divided
Dear ER:
All the entities approved this project (‘City council denies Catalina Village project,” ER Jan. 26, 2022). Council Member Todd Loewenstein again doesn’t believe anyone with lower incomes should be able to live near the ocean. The city is going to be sued, because they had no reason to deny this project after over two years in the planning stages, and after everything had been approved. There are lots of Redondo Beach homes that have multi roommate situations and take up parking on the street. That is how many people can afford to live in the South Bay. One woman who lives in a yellow house next to this project, said there were eight people living in the house. Some of the Catalina Village apartments would have roommates, and some smaller families. Older houses in the same area have been divided, so there are multiple apartments in those houses with street parking only.
Vicky Oetzell
Redondo Beach
Don’t bully Redondo
Dear ER:
Though the plan looks pleasant, and the community would welcome back the cafe and bakery. But there were some fatal flaws that made an appeal necessary (‘City council denies Catalina Village project,” ER Jan. 26, 2022). The next time a developer comes into Redondo Beach posing as a Boy Scout, then whipping out his attorney to bully and threaten the city into bowing down to his demands, the plan should automatically be denied. Redondo Beach has been under the iron boot of developers for as long as anyone can remember: bulldozing our downtown to build view-blocking, ticki-tack condos, giving away our priceless waterfront to private businesses that paved over historic Moonstone Beach, crowding our residential streets with shoulder to shoulder condos without an inch left for a blade of grass or a tree. The time has come for City Hall to step up and set the rules. My old city of Rolling Hills Estates demanded developers meet its requirements or their developments were not approved. I remember a councilman there saying the city “will exact its pound of flesh,” meaning that the developer will give back to the city what is good for the community. Or else. Maybe that is why Rolling Hills Estates is beautiful and Redondo is overcrowded.
Barbara Epstein
Redondo Beach
What’s good for Catalina
is good for Prospect
Dear ER:
On January 26, 2023 the Redondo Beach City Council voted to disapprove the Catalina Village project at 100-132 N Catalina (“Council denies Catalina Village Project,” January 26, 2022). The Council determined it was not in compliance with various City and State codes. The Council is to be commended for its decision in overturning the analysis errors of the Planning Department staff, which found the project to be in compliance. In order to avoid another appeal situation with the PMB privately developed, owned and operated project on public, Beach Cities Health District land, the Council should provide clear guidance to the Planning Department staff regarding its review of the proposed, over 100-foot tall, nearly 300,000 square foot commercial development abutting residential neighborhoods.
Mark Nelson
Redondo Beach
Catalina living
Dear ER:
As one who has two sons about to graduate from college, I would love for them to have a living situation like the Catalina Village project (‘City council denies Catalina Village project,” ER Jan. 26, 2022). Redondo would benefit from such a development. It’s fresh and innovative and addresses a current need. There are not enough affordable living opportunities in Redondo for recent college grads. Why? Fear of more traffic? I’d rather have more cars than have buildings left vacant for a decade, which is where we’re headed with the Catalina Coffee property. Or worse, some outside developer will want to come in and erect a monstrosity like the AES “bait and switch proposal.” We need clearer heads, better qualified people, and those who have the gravitas to negotiate on our city commissions and in elected offices. No more Rescue Our Waterfront cronies who think they know what’s best for the City. They’re ruining it. Time to clean house in Redondo.
Cee-Cee Morgan Murphy
Redondo Beach
Fire away
Dear ER
I can’t say that I was the least bit surprised when the Hermosa Beach city staff and city council reported in the January 24 meeting that rooftop dining fire safety issues (e.g. ingress/egress, signage, illuminated exit signs, stairwell capacity. and so on, still have not been verified, almost two years into the outdoor dining program. And instead of ordering an immediate inspection, safety assessment and mitigation measures, the council and city staff were more focused on devising the means to avoid safety inspections to protect rooftop dining. Why, after almost two years into the Covid outdoor dining program, are fire safety discussions related to rooftop dining only now coming to light?
Anthony Higgins
Hermosa Beach
Old Chinese saying
Dear ER:
I found that Ms. X’s comment at the Redondo Beach Special Council meeting right on target. She said, “District 3 Councilman Christian Horvath was not forthright. If his intentions were for the city, he would’ve been more forthright.” A Chinese saying goes something like this: The honorable person does what is right, the lesser person seeks what is profitable. So, what is right in this situation? Horvath just speaking to his friends and neighbors about his intentions (moving the family to Torrance while he remains in Redondo Beach) falls short of being forthright. He serves not only his neighbors, but all District 3 residents as well as the City of Redondo Beach.
George Ikeda
Redondo Beach
Take another look
Dear ER:
At the Manhattan Beach City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 7, it would be prudent for our City Council to reconsider their Highrose project decision, once again. Here’s why. In a memorandum sent to the City, dated September 15, 2020, entitled “Housing Accountability Act Technical Assistance Advisory,” the State responded, Yes, to the question “Are housing developments still subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) if they quality for the protections under the Housing Accountability Act.” Jurisdictions are still required to comply with CEQA…”. The Memorandum cited Government Code Section 65589.5 (e) that provides: “Neither shall anything in this section be construed to relieve the local agency from making one or more of the findings required pursuant to Section 21081 of the Public Resources Code or otherwise complying with the California Environmental Quality Act…” The State, the City, the developer and all appellants agree that the City Council has discretion to deny Highrose. Clearly, the CEQA process with the concomitant “findings” is the only process to support such a denial. The City should reconsider Highrose and comply with CEQA. Let’s get it right.
Mark Burton
Manhattan Beach
Line in The Strand
Dear ER:
The barricades block regular bike traffic and force cyclists to walk (“Most Hermosa Beach Strand cyclists speed,” ER January 26, 2022). So if the target is e-bikes, why take out all bicycle traffic, including bike commuters. I bike commuted on The Hermosa Beach Strand for years. Very few bikes followed the 8 mph speed limit. Shoot, roller blades, skateboarders and scooters often exceed it. Anyone who has ridden bikes would know 8 mph is slow for a bike and that even if you went 8 mph the momentum would still lead to injuries in collisions. Before I blew out my knee, my average running pace exceeded 8 mph. It is dumb not to separate bike traffic from pedestrian traffic. Hermosa is the only section of the 22 mile bike path that commingles pedestrians with bike traffic for any appreciable distance. Time to address safety and separate the two. Redondo just uses lines on its Strand and it works much better than the Hermosa section. Not sure why Hermosa is so opposed to a couple of lines.
Jim Light
Redondo Beach
Ticket ‘em
Dear ER:
Increased speeds and dangers are the result of the proliferation of electric bikes on The Strand (“Most Hermosa Beach Strand cyclists speed,” ER January 26, 2022). They have raised the average speed for all traffic. Spending money on obstacles will be an inconvenience to all bicyclists, but will not stop the speeding e-bikes that travel the entire length of the Strand. The Hermosa Beach Police need to enforce the law that outlaws e-bikes and other motorized vehicles on the Strand when their motors are engaged. The tickets will be a net profit to the City.
Robert Aronoff
Hermosa Beach
Knowledge gate
Dear ER:
Light Gate at the Manhattan Beach Library is a wonderful way to capture the beauty of Manhattan Beach, while showcasing the importance of reading for children (“Huge crowd watch sunset at Manhattan Beach Public Library,” ER January 26, 2022). Special thanks to Tracey Windes and Ro Schreiner for their commitment to the Manhattan Beach Library Commission.
Myra Karas
Manhattan Beach