Letters to the Editor 4-13-23
Snared by the law
Dear ER:
We are disappointed to hear Manhattan Beach has chosen to embrace trapping in its coyote management plan (“Coyote management plan to include trapping,” ER April 6, 2023). We want to advise the community there is no place within the city limits to conduct trapping legally. Regulations prohibit the setting of traps within 150 yards of a home without that person’s written consent. We highly doubt neighbors will agree to setting snares and the killing of coyotes using a gas chamber. This law applies to private and public property and state and federal trappers.
California Advocates for Wildlife
ERNews comment
Unintended consequences
Dear ER:
Cities will have to expect an increase in opossums, raccoons, skunks, rats, mice,ect. since the removal of the apex predator will be eliminated (“Coyote management plan to include trapping,” ER April 6, 2023).
Shannon Davey
Hermosa Beach
Coyote team
Dear ER:
Kudos to Manhattan Beach for jumping on the urban coyote problem quickly (“Coyote management plan to include trapping,” ER April 6, 2023). Torrance laid the groundwork years ago and now with Manhattan on board we need to get Redondo and other neighboring cities involved. A multi-city approach is necessary to alleviate this public safety issue.
Cee-Cee Morgan Morphy
Redondo Beach
Close the book
Dear ER:
Is Los Angeles County seriously exploring building a second public library in Polliwog Park? Do they really want to build a “Polliwog Pavilion” library with a 3,564 sq. ft. and a 1,633 sq. ft. courtyard that looks down on the pond, all right smack in the middle of Polliwog Park? Why in Polliwog Park with no dedicated parking? Do we even need a second LA County public library?
Let me state the obvious. Polliwog Park is the last place to build a second LA County Public Library, especially when a second LA County library building already exists in Manhattan Heights with dedicated parking. Years ago, LA County owned a second LA County Public Library in Manhattan Heights, at 1560 Manhattan Beach Blvd., across from Polliwog Park. They sold that library building to the City in 1993. If the County now wants to reopen a second library, the City should sell that library building back to LA County, generating revenue for the City. LA County can remodel and repurpose that building for library services, historical documents display and storage and an art gallery. Importantly, this second library building already has the necessary parking. If LA County builds a second library in Polliwog Park, the safe, quiet and pedestrian character that we have known for years will be forever lost. As we know, LA County libraries may become havens for the homeless. Let’s protect the safe, quiet and pedestrian character of Polliwog Park and keep our precious open space, open.
Mark Burton
Manhattan Beach
The right thing to do
Dear ER:
Thank you Manhattan Beach Mayor Richard Montgomery and Councilmembers Amy Howorth, David Lesser and Steve Napolitano for apologizing on behalf of our City for the 1924 Manhattan Beach City government’s racially motivated decision to force Willa and Charles Bruce and other Black families to sell their properties to the City. As Napolitano said, it was the right thing to do. Formal governmental apologies for past wrongdoing are a prerequisite for reconciliation and healing. I am glad these four councilmembers are leading us away from the divisiveness of the last Council. Councilmember Joe Franklin was the lone dissenter, saying he opposed apologizing because he worried about City liability flowing from an apology. The City Attorney made it clear that no other government apology has resulted in monetary liability. Howorth correctly called out Franklin’s explanation as pretextual, reminding him that not long ago Franklin advocated a position on another matter that would have cost the City millions of dollars in damages and attorney fees, apparently without regard for the potential hit on the City treasury. Franklin just didn’t want the City to express regret for that ugly incident in our history. Franklin’s position is out of sync with the majority of our residents. It is clear that he is not a leader for a welcoming, caring and united Manhattan Beach.
Michael Jenkins
Manhattan Beach
Power play
Dear ER:
| A grotesque municipal power grab of Redondo’s city attorney’s office was on display at the April 4, 2023 council meeting. While Mayor Brand is out sick battling cancer, councilmembers Nils Nehrenheim, Todd Loewenstein and Zaine Obagi are quietly orchestrating the elimination of the City Attorney’s elective office. For nearly 100 years, Redondo Beach’s Charter has specified what the voters insist remain at city hall — a city-wide elected, full-time city attorney, and prosecutor who is directly responsible to the voters. If voters become unhappy with their elected city attorney, they can recall him or vote him out at the next election. In less than two years, Nehrenheim, Loewenstein and Obagi will leave office because of term limits or voter dissatisfaction. But, before leaving in 2025, these three members want to destroy a long established city charter law that guarantees voters the right to elect their independent, accountable to the people” city attorney. These three rouge council members have no voter mandate to abuse the city charter, or the city attorney’s office. Voters have never suggested a lame-duck, three vote majority of the city council appoint the city attorney themselves and ignore voter scrutiny. The power to vote for Redondo’s full time city attorney, and prosecutor is fundamental to the safety and financial well-being of the city. No voter should tolerate this elimination of their right to vote. This sneaky conduct smacks of a coup and political abuse of power. What’s next from these three council members — appointing their own Mayor who then gets to appoint all five council members from each district? Voters should not tolerate this disrespect for the Charter, the residents, and the fundamental right to vote. If it isn’t broken, please do not fix it.
Steve Colin Redondo Beach |
Cell science
Dear ER:
People concerned about radiation from cell towers need to educate themselves in real science, not conspiracy theories (“Hermosa neighbors protest against Five Corners cell tower,” ER April 6, 2023). Looks like they did a great job on the concealing enclosure. You’d never know it’s there.
Brian Hawkins
ERNews comment
Good riddance
Dear ER:
Glad to see it go (“Sport Fishing pier to be torn down“,” ER January 26, 2023). The dilapidated and condemned fishing pier was an accident waiting to happen. The epic swells of the winter did us a favor by beating the fishing pier to the point that it was a threat to the public. Redondo was issued an emergency demolition permit. The fishing pier is a legacy of decades of deferred maintenance, going back to the 1980s. It will not be missed. There is no desire from the local community to replace it, much less pay for its replacement. Once the view is opened up, no one will want to block it.
Paul Moses
Redondo Beach