Letters to the Editor 2-20-25

Mayor for everyone

Dear ER:

It’s true I voted against the appointment of Mayor Jim Light last year. And if I had to go back, I would still vote no because the process was rushed and not done properly. I believe the first thing I told him was, “Remember, you must be a representative for the entire city.”

Mayor Light is not new to Redondo Beach or its politics. He has been a vocal and passionate advocate for the harbor. As an advocate, his laser focus on one, specific goal could upset those with differing priorities. But to my surprise, over the course of his time as Mayor, I have seen him evolve from a local advocate to a policymaker deeply invested in the health and quality of life for the entire city.

He spends far more time addressing critical issues and listening to the concerns of all Redondo Beach residents than he does sitting behind the dais. Mayor Light has demonstrated he is no longer the singular advocate of the past. He is a leader who has grown into a role that requires a broader perspective to find solutions that benefit the whole city. We cannot afford to allow the divisiveness and stagnation that have plagued our politics to continue. It’s time to move beyond dysfunction and tribalism.

This time around, I’m voting for Jim Light for Mayor, and I hope you will join me.

Paige Kaluderovic

District 3 Councilmember

Redondo Beach

Mayoral check list

Dear ER:

I wholeheartedly support Nils Nehrenheim as my #1 choice for Mayor of Redondo Beach. For eight years as a twice-elected Councilmember, Nehrenheim has been an incredible force for positive change, accomplishing many critical improvements including: 1. Effecting City Charter change for good governance, 2. Record City revenue growth bolstering our financial stability, 3. Streamlined online permit processes, 4. Keeping Redondo in the forefront with County and State officials, 5. Advocating for the Metro C-line, Hawthorne-Elevated option, 6. Enhancing our waterfront experience with the King Harbor Amenities plan, 7. Secured $2 Million for crucial improvements to Artesia Blvd., 8. Modernized Riviera Village and the Pier with new lighting and pavers, 9. fast-tracked new bike path lanes, 10. Saved $100 million in pension debt costs.

Nehrenheim is the visionary leader we need as we approach the monumental opportunities presented by the 2028 Olympics and 2026 World Cup. His ability to see over the horizon and effectively communicate this vision to both local residents and statewide stakeholders will position Redondo as a prime destination for visitors and participants alike. Nehrenheims’ ethics and character shine through in his grassroots campaign. He declines endorsements or donations from City employees and contractors, ensuring he is solely accountable to the people. I’m proud to vote for Nils Nehrenheim and invite you to join me.

Lezlie Campeggi

Redondo Beach

Mayoral DQ

Dear ER:

In my time as President of the Redondo Beach Police Officers’ Association, I worked with many of the current mayoral candidates, both formally and informally, and have come to know them well. This experience leads me to conclude that Nils Nehrenheim is unfit to be the Mayor of Redondo Beach. There is a reason why he says he won’t accept endorsements from employee groups. They are never offered. From the time he took office, Nehrenheim has been a supporter of defunding the Police. A quick check of his website for Mayor does not mention any public safety plans he has, nor a commitment to ensure that Redondo Beach continues as one of the finest Police Departments in Southern California. Last year, during budget negotiations, Nils tried to shrink the authorized size of the Police Department and use the money for some pet project. Thankfully, the other members of the council stopped him. 

Recently, residents approved a bond measure to build new Police and Fire stations. The bond passed, and over 70% of you voted yes to this critical infrastructure project. I was intimately involved with this at every step. Nehrenheim was against this project from the beginning, until the very last Council vote, and it was clear what the residents wanted. Even after he cast a vote, he did nothing to support it, and a group outside the City that he is associated with tried to come in and speak against it. Fortunately, after they met with Police and Fire representatives, they decided not to oppose. When it comes to Police and Fire, Nehrenheim does not care what the residents want.

Nehrenheim championed (and repeatedly voted for) commissioning a study to disband the Redondo Beach Fire Department and turn operations over to LA County. How many thousands of dollars did he waste on that study? Redondo Beach residents here have a long history of supporting Police and Fire and deserve a Mayor who believes the same thing and not someone who will cut public safety at every turn. 

Residents have many choices for Mayor of Redondo Beach. I urge you to vote “no on Nils.”

Robert Carlborg

Retired Police Officer 

Former President of the RBPOA

Voter endorsements

Dear ER:

How does one decide on the best qualified candidate for Redondo Beach Mayor? Endorsements sound nice, but isn’t consistently winning elections more impressive. I prefer the path that our last three elected mayors followed. Bill Brand, Steve Aspel, and Mike Gin all were overwhelmingly elected twice as city councilmembers in their districts and served out their two terms. They worked hard to earn the trust, respect, and votes of the citizens in their respective districts before running for mayor. The only one of the five candidates for Mayor who will follow that same path and brings eight years of city council experience is Nils Nehrenheim. He was overwhelmingly “endorsed” by earning the votes of citizens in District 1 for two terms. That’s why Nehrenheim has earned my vote as First Choice.

Tim Charles

Redondo Beach

Job well done

Dear ER:

Zein Obagi has performed his duties as District 4 councilperson very well. He has brought many helpful changes to North Redondo to improve traffic and pedestrian safety, improve safety at playgrounds and parks, and beautify the Artesia corridor. He supported the fire and police department personnel in bringing Measure FP to a successful vote for upgrading the fire stations and police headquarters. His opponent has no apparent history of volunteering or participating on behalf of Redondo, and has barely filed any campaign information. District 4 residents should not hand over our district to a total stranger with unproven capabilities to perform the duties of a councilperson. Obagi has performed his duties on behalf of our district diligently and deserves to be re-elected, regardless of an outside personal matter that does not preclude him doing so.

Nancy Skiba

Redondo Beach

Moral dilemma

Dear ER:

While working on Redondo Beach City Charter updates, our committee faced an intriguing challenge: what constitutes reasons for an elected official to be removed from office during their term? For years, the Redondo City Charter required a person convicted of a crime of moral turpitude to be removed. The committee’s conundrum was what would happen if a person admitted the required acts but was not convicted of them.

This past week, Redondo Beach faced a version of this conundrum. District 4 Councilman Zein Obagi entered into a “Deferred Prosecution Agreement” (DPA) with the United States Attorney’s office for the Central District of California. This agreement differed from the one reached with the State Bar months ago, which caused him to be suspended from practicing law. This DPA includes accepting all the facts in the case. However, it does not require him to plead guilty.

This brings us back to a “crime of moral turpitude.” Had this gone to trial, a negative result for Obagi would have been sufficient to trigger his removal. However, this DPA may not meet that threshold despite his agreement with all the facts.

Actions by his colleagues on the Council, who can remove him if he does not resign, will indicate how they treat the apparent breach of societal norms this DPA represents. We hope that they will do the right thing.

Bob Pinzler

Redondo Beach

Participation matters

Dear ER:

Rolf Strutzenberg is the person for the job of District 1 councilmember. He has been a dedicated, involved resident for many years, serving on commissions and on the Redondo Beach Unified School Board, as well as attending council meetings regularly. He is aware of the issues Redondo Beach faces and is committed to serving the residents, not outside interests. As for his priorities, he has many resident-focused goals. Of particular importance is he has addressed something many others do not: increasing tree coverage in the city. With the tendency of the city and developers to wantonly remove trees, his aim of protecting and increasing them is vital. Further, the true test of someone seeking office is if they show up and participate in city matters. Strutzenberg has done that, whereas it seems like the other candidates for District 1 have emerged only now that it is election time.

Lara Duke

Redondo Beach

Eyes wide open

Dear ER:

When Rolf Strutzenburg served on the Redondo Beach Planning Commission, he was the lone vote against blindly approving the single largest construction project in Redondo Beach History — in only one meeting. The South Bay Galleria development or South Bay Social District was so large and complex it demanded much more careful scrutiny to ensure it was successful for Redondo Beach Residents. 

Due to Strutzenburg’s astute advocacy, both on the Planning Commission, and later to the City Council on appeal, residents ended up with a vastly improved result over what the commission blindly approved. 

These improvements included critical design upgrades, millions of dollars towards traffic mitigation, a bike path extension, and public art that would have never been considered had he not intervened.  

Strutzenburg has the best interests of Redondo Beach at heart and would make an excellent City Council. 

Wayne Craig

Planning Commission Vice Chair

Redondo Beach

Charlatan claims

Dear ER:

Redondo Beach voters have the opportunity to flip the script policies of hubris-heavy leadership that is unqualified to do anything more than preside over a HOA. Their mantra of low-growth is in reality, no growth, which has 1. reduced City revenue growth, 2. taken Redondo out of consideration for any meaningful development and 3. increased taxation. Nowhere in these United States exists significant infrastructure and commercial improvements without public-private partnerships or tax levies. Because of libelous, vicious ad hominem attacks, lack of vision, and ignorance of business and economic development, commercial developers will avoid Redondo as long as Mayor Jim Light, and Councilmembers Nils Nehrenheim and Todd Lowenstein occupy any position of power in our city. These charlatans’ only claim to fame is to put a full stop on needed progress and lay blame on their predecessors.

Councilmembers Paige Kaluderovic and Scott Behrendt have demonstrated an unbiased willingness to work to resolve issues facing Redondo residents. Mayoral candidates Joan Irvine, Georgette Gantner and Jeff Ginsburg, along with District 1 council candidate Brad Waller, have the best interests of residents at the forefront of their agenda — not their own egos. The March 4 election will determine how much longer Redondo will suffer from incompetent leadership.

Arnette Travis 

Redondo Beach