Letters to the Editor 2-3-22

Strong stats

Dear ER:

From 2017 until the end of 2020, violent crimes in Manhattan Beach decreased by 39.6 percent.. Property crimes decreased by 12.1 percent. The 2021 statistics are not reported yet. So when an organization that labels itself Manhattan Beach Strong and reports the incorporated City of Los Angeles crime statistics to reflect a crime increase in the City Of Manhattan Beach to allude to the record of our current and past Chiefs, it makes your blood boil. Chief Eve Irvine and Derrick Able delivered nothing but outstanding results to the community and should be recognized as such, and we will be lucky to promote a new chief within our excellent Police Department. There is nothing “strong” about the group mentioned above, other than its need to report inflammatory approaches at the expense of needlessly scaring the public. Don’t believe me? Just check the published crime stats on the Police Department’s web page. If you are a conspiracy theorist, I am sure you think that the police reported false statistics to the public and FBI, which by the way, is a Federal offense. Boston, and other cities bravely incorporated the “strong” label to show unity within the community. “MB strong” needs to change its name since unity is not its mission, especially regarding perceptions of the Manhattan Beach Police Department. Respectfully, stop embarrassing the citizens of our wonderful town.

Stewart Fournier

Manhattan Beach

 

Astroturfing

Dear ER: 

I live in Manhattan Beach. Two people came to my door in the last month, asking for petition signatures. Both quickly lead with how horrible the crime is here now, and will be as long as cannabis is delivered instead of being available locally. And pot shops are the solution. It seems like just the opposite to me. Local weed shops would generate more crime than just having it delivered. I asked the petitioners where they were from. I would be very sympathetic about any crime in their neighborhoods, and I would want to know. Tree section? El Porto? East Manhattan? No. One was from Van Nuys. The other was from City of Industry. I call that “astroturfing.” The campaign seems disingenuous to me, using paid outside petitioners with breathless phony scare tactics. Why do they need to do that? Aren’t the real ‘benefits’ enough? From what I’ve learned, I don’t want this business in my city.

Rick McQ

Manhattan Beach

 

Permit me, not

Dear ER:

So if Hermosa Beach’s plan is to increase the cost of resident parking permits while gifting well over a million dollars in COVID  relief funds to Hermosa Beach businesses by the end of this fiscal year, in terms of suspended outdoor dining encroachment fees, lost parking meter revenue, raffling of $10,0000 gifts and the like; well then I must object to increasing parking fees.

If you need to make up for lost revenue from the business community due to the COVID pandemic, I get that. But don’t do it on the backs of the residents. How about cutting some costs? I also suggest raising parking meter fees for non residents, especially in the business district. Anyone who can afford to shop in these luxury priced restaurants and shops can afford to pay a little more for parking. Also the city might look at raising the fees on downtown events and movies and god forbid, dare I say it again, cutting some fat out of the budget. Might i also suggest canceling the $80,000 per year contract for a public relations firm to help the city manager put a positive spin on her programs, which might be great for the golden slipper society, great for property values on Pier Avenue,  but run roughshod over quality of life in neighborhoods vulnerable to the noise and pollution that comes from forcing commercial and commuter traffic off of Pier Avenue and into residential neighborhoods. 

Anthony Higgins

 

Let us laugh

Dear ER:

Speaking for myself and everyone I know, a giant hoorah to the reopening of our very own world famous Comedy & Magic Club. My friends and neighbors have been lamenting for a couple of dozen months now, and rumors of permanent closing spread through our small beach town like wildfire a few months ago. A destination location and source of revenue and entertainment for one and all. There is a reason owner Mike Lacey was a Hermosa Beach Man of the Year.  He deserved it for all he has done for our community. Planning Commissioners and City Council, do the right thing.

Rick Koenig

 

Tonight show, Hermosa 

Dear ER: 

The Comedy and Magic Club is the coolest venue Hermosa beach has ever had. Jay Leno every Sunday night. Are you kidding me? 

Von Cannon

Hermosa Beach

 

Starbucks roasted

Dear ER:

When I moved to the South Bay from New York City in July 2019, I was wholeheartedly disappointed with the coffee options around my new office in downtown Manhattan Beach. Sure, we had Starbucks (second largest American fast food chain), Pete’s (German conglomerate owned), and the (now defunct) Coffee Bean (Filipino conglomerate owned), but aside from the Two Guns locations, which are outside the downtown, there were really no, non-cookie cutter coffee options. Fast-forward to today. While I don’t think I would equate the vibrancy of the coffee scene in Manhattan Beach with say, Brooklyn (yes, I’ll be unapologetically cliche), it’s refreshing to see an abundance of options emerge. Since July 2019, these have included Hi-Fi Espresso, goodboybob, Verve and the newly opened Bluestone Lane (in addition to the aforementioned Two Guns new location). While the footprint, or “localness,” of these coffee purveyors ranges broadly, from South Bay based (Two Guns, Hi-Fi), to LA based (goodboybob), to California based (Verve), to a larger chain (Bluestone Lane, which is still roughly 1/350th the size of Starbucks), none of these will appear on any list of “largest fast food chains” or are owned by international conglomerates (at least for the time being). I think as coffee drinkers this is something we should embrace. While the pandemic has brought the idea of consuming “locally” top of mind, what this really means is that when you spend your hard earned dollars, you’re essentially casting a “vote” for the food, products, services and yes, coffee options, you want to exist in the world we inhabit. I’d encourage Manhattan Beach residents and visitors alike to shy away from the familiar green and white Siren next time they are looking to get their caffeine fix and instead “vote” for something with at least a sprinkle of “localness”. I promise you, Starbucks isn’t going anywhere.  

Sean Bright

Hermosa Beach

 

Home brew

Dear ER:

Horrible idea.(“Hermosa Beach Residents agitated by plan for fourth Hermosa Starbucks,’ ER Jan. 13, 2022). This location is residential. It is insane to propose Starbucks here.

Raisa Belyaeva

ERNews.com comment

 

Taster’s choice

Dear ER

I like the coffee over at the Gitana Cafe on Hermosa Avenue, at 26th Street. Good coffee (“Hermosa Beach Residents agitated by plan for fourth Hermosa Starbucks,’ ER Jan. 13, 2022). Friendly people, and supporting local biz.

Dennis Sanchez

ERNews.com comment

 

Java’s the man

Dear ER

Java Man YES. Charbucks NO. Stay in Seattle.

Joe Hellerman

ERNews.com comment

 

Drive on through

Dear ER:

No. That is the worst strip on Pacific Coast Hwy. (“Hermosa Beach Residents agitated by plan for fourth Hermosa Starbucks,’ ER Jan. 13, 2022). It could not be more congested. We certainly don’t need another Starbucks. The best coffee is close by, at HiFi Espresso.

May Gordon

ERNews.com comment

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