Letters to the Editor 3-28-19
Special person
Dear ER:
A lot of the character of a town comes from the people who make it special with their historical knowledge and appreciation of where we have been [“Long-time manager of Hermosa Beach’s Becker Surfboards laid off,” ER March 21, 2019]. Bobby has always been one of those people who makes Hermosa the friendly familiar small town that it should be. This change is the unfortunate result of a cool, locally owned business being swallowed up by a large corporation where metrics, not people or traditions matter most.
Paul Wolcott
Web comment
Farewell, Bobby
Dear ER:
If he isn’t there anymore, I don’t want to go. He made that place a success [“Long-time manager of Hermosa Beach’s Becker Surfboards laid off,” ER March 21, 2019].
Erin Achstein
Web comment
Stern rebuke
Dear ER:
In an Easy Reader letter to the editor last week [“Let it go,” March 21, 2019], Bob Holmes (responding to a letter from Dan Stern) gratuitously stated that my election campaign was endorsed and supported by Dan Stern, a former Manhattan Beach mayor from the early 1990s, whom I’ve never met. Holmes’ statement is patently false, as is the misinformation his unjustified opinion expressed is based on. It’s well documented that Holmes has had personal issues with other former mayors/councilmembers, including Dr. Stern, whom Holmes served with decades ago on the Manhattan Beach City Council. Among the specious letters Holmes has written recently, one letter disparaging distinguished former Mayor Jan Dennis was shameful and despicable. Holmes should stop disparaging residents who possess great integrity and have devoted countless volunteer hours serving our wonderful community.
Wayne Powell
Former Mayor/Councilmember
Manhattan Beach
Postal problem
Dear ER:
The problem has been caused by the same management that responds to carrier complaints about working in the dark with “what do they do in Alaska?” [“Redondo Beach Council told post office problems are systemic,” ER March 21, 2019]. The reason new employees quit is the poor treatment and obnoxious schedule management puts on them, not because they want to move back in with their parents. At the USPS only one group of people is held accountable — the carriers.
Matt Heavens
Web comment
Walk the walk
Dear ER:
There is no accountability at the Redondo Beach post office [“Redondo Beach Council told post office problems are systemic,” ER March 21, 2019]. Managers need to walk the floor and manage. And stop harassing the carriers who know their jobs.
Frank Orzio
(Former postal manager)
Facebook comment
Pension bust
Dear ER:
They did not anticipate an increase in packages? For years the post office complained they could not afford to deliver bulk mail because they did not have enough high margin package business [“Redondo Beach Council told post office problems are systemic,” ER March 21, 2019]. The reality is the pensions of the retiring baby boomers are going to break the postal service and state and local governments.
Susan Kelley
Facebook comment
Trail of tears
Dear ER
The post office has driven me to tears of frustration on numerous occasions [“Redondo Beach Council told post office problems are systemic,” ER March 21, 2019]. I truly hope an entire overhaul is coming.
Amy Barber Bergant
Facebook comment
Tip of the hat
Dear ER:
Thank you to Manhattan Beach residents for the privilege of serving as your mayor and council member over the past eight years. It has been an honor to work with residents, Council colleagues, and City staff on initiatives to benefit our community. They included projects to rebuild our library, refurbish the Manhattan Beach Pier and Roundhouse Aquarium, and upgrade City recreational fields; the joint agreement with MBUSD for community use of school facilities; advocacy to demand improved electrical power reliability, return our critical regional access route Vista Del Mar to two lanes, and reduce our environmental footprint; and efforts to improve earthquake preparedness, further open city government, and increase residents’ participation.
Beyond the initiatives, the most fulfilling work was helping individual residents with issues involving the City. The successes were a team effort.
Thank you to my colleague of eight years Amy Howorth for continually reminding me public service should be joyful; my current colleagues Steve Napolitano, Nancy Hersman, Richard Montgomery and Amy for moving forward with longstanding community priorities through respectful, open discussions; our dedicated City staff; residents who offered positive and critical input that improved Council decision-making; and my family who made it all possible.
Congratulations to incoming councilmembers Suzanne Hadley and Hildy Stern.
To all, I look forward to seeing you in the community.
David Lesser
Manhattan Beach
Emerald thanks
Dear ER:
The Chamber of Commerce would like to give thanks to the many people who helped make the 2019 Hermosa Beach St. Patrick’s Day parade a big hit. Traditions such as this are what keep Hermosa Beach a fun-loving town and set us apart from other cities. We had tremendous attendance and this would not have been possible without the support from our sponsors, volunteers and community. Special thanks to Francisco Rendon of Anheuser Busch, who brought the magnificent Budweiser Clydesdales. Due to their generosity, the horses remained on Pier Plaza for several hours.
Thanks also to our sponsors: Walt Disney, who had two booths on the Plaza and flew Dumbo over the ocean, Kinecta Federal Credit Union, SCE, California Water, Kiwanis Club of Hermosa Beach, Skechers, MyCharge and e3 Vehicles.
In addition, we would like to thank Maureen Hunt, Chamber President/CEO and Chamber staff Mandy Fontaine and John Farrales. Special acknowledgement to Andrea Jacobsson, co-Chairman of the Board who worked with Maureen Hunt to bring the Clydesdales to Hermosa Beach, Michael Bell of Bell Events, Corinne and Abel Ybarra, the many volunteers who helped organize the parade entrants and announcers Rick Koenig and Mark Willard.
We especially appreciate El Segundo Museum of Driving which has donated antique cars for many years. Thanks also to the City of Hermosa Beach and City Council who approved our Fiesta contract which provides funding for community events such as this. Together as a community we make great things happen!
Carolyn Petty
Chamber board member
Hermosa Beach
Respect reality
Dear ER:
Customers flock to the Fun Factory and adjacent restaurants (“Fun Factory owner Steve Shoemaker wants to extend pier lease. The city’s not playing along.” ER March 21, 2019). It’s the busiest spot on the pier. Kicking your customers to the curb by booting longtime successful business out is a sure sign of incompetence. City Councils need much more empathy for private enterprises that service retail customers. With the CenterCal development spiked and with much of the Redondo pier needing refurbishment it would be appropriate for the Redondo city council to encourage investment by humbling themselves to the realities of today’s business climate.
Trent Larson
Hermosa Beach
MBPD honors promise
Dear ER:
My son was one of the victims. (“Thieves target surfers’s cars in El Porto). I’m very impressed by MBPD for taking the time to track down the alleged thief. They followed through on their promise to catch the thief..
Patricia Cranmer Terry
Facebook comment