Letters to the Editor 6-2-22

A for more ‘A’s’

Dear ER:

I am proud of our Manhattan Beach schools and the community that supports them. But their standards are not easy to uphold. I have seen the detrimental impact of inadequate, and inconsistent state funding from the state. Each year we work hard to positively impact the student experience in our schools with donations. But it is not enough. With Measure A, we have the opportunity to take control of our school outcomes with critical funding to support the level of education we strive to provide our children. The Measure A parcel tax is not a new concept – highly respected and informed education leaders have been working towards a sustainable source of local funding to ensure the long-term success of our district for decades. The fluctuations of state funding does not support our needs. The funding from Measure A, a 14 percent increase in the MBUSD budget, will move us beyond a cycle of reactive cuts, and  towards consistent support of the critical core functions of a high-performing district: current curriculum and textbooks, personalized learning with smaller class sizes, professional development for teachers, common assessments to encourage excellence for all students, opportunities for exploration, and a welcoming and safe environment for learning. We have the opportunity to support teaching and learning in our district with  local funding under our control. Vote Yes on Measure A by June 7.

Hilary Mahan

Manhattan Beach

Editor’s note: Mahan is the executive director of the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation

 

F on A

Dear ER:

It was with a heavy heart that I decided in early May to oppose the Measure A Parcel Tax. I found it troubling how it circumvented the time-honored tradition of requiring a two-thirds majority to pass. It circumvented a robust discussion, and vetting of all residents by appearing on an off-cycle election, where voter participation is known to be lower. At 12 years, and adjusted for inflation, it’s far too long to tax our residents during these uncertain times. There is no detailed plan or budget for how the money is to be spent. It erodes confidence over how $156,000,000 of residents’ tax money would be well and wisely spent. Equally disturbing is that our schools’ enrollment has dropped from 92 percent of Manhattan Beach school-aged children in 2010, to 74 percent today, even though the U.S. Census Data confirms the number of school-aged children in Manhattan Beach has increased by 9 percent. At the same time staffing at our schools increased 24 percent. These troubling trends require a much needed and respectful conversation between parents of enrolled students, parents who removed their children from MBUSD schools, residents who will be taxed, the School Board and school district superintendent. An honest and transparent conversation will uncover the causes of the problems and encourage buy-in from everyone to find a balanced, sustainable, and equitable solution. That cannot be done with Measure A. Measure A, too much, too rushed and too vague.

Joe Franklin

Manhattan Beach

Editor’s note: Joe Franklin is a Manhattan Beach City Council Member

 

‘A’ democracy

Dear ER:

Thank goodness for our Founding Fathers. Among the many ideas they came up with was this great one: A free people can govern themselves by majority rule. King George and the aristocrats liked minority rule. They liked it when a small group rode the backs of the rest of society for their own benefit. America was founded on the principle that King George got it wrong. When the majority votes for or against something, that is self-governance. That is the American way. The opponents of Measure A are opposed to majority rule. One of their arguments is that this parcel tax should have to pass by a two-thirds majority. Meaning minority rule, because just one out of three voters could block it from becoming law. Why on earth should that be the case? Patriots died in a revolutionary war over 200 years ago to establish the principle that we can govern ourselves through a majority vote. I think that tells you all you need to know about the opponents of Measure A. They don’t have a plan to fully finance our public schools. If you read their materials you can see they have no alternative to address the bizarre funding system in California that puts Manhattan Beach at the bottom. They aren’t for anything. Except minority rule. I was the person who originally proposed Measure MB, the current parcel tax. I can tell you that I didn’t conceive of it as a one-time emergency measure (another false argument of the opponents). We were stuck with a supermajority vote requirement back then, and that’s why it was such a small amount. Now the law has changed, as it should have. Let the majority rule. It’s called democracy.

Christopher O’Brien

Manhattan Beach

 

Premature exemptions

Dear ER:

On May 17, I received a letter from “The Committee To Support MB Citizens for Schools.” The envelope read: “Measure A Senior Exemption Form Enclosed.” Measure A has not passed. The election process has not been completed. The aforementioned committee may support schools, but they do not support the democratic process. Is that something they are passing on to the students of Manhattan Beach?  Think again Manhattan Beach voters.  

Louie Pastor 

Manhattan Beach.  

 

PTA foundation

Dear ER:

Every Child One Voice. For 125 years, PTA has advocated for children, and their education. Those who came before us donated their time, resources, and leadership. They shaped the community into a place where we are delighted to watch our own children learn and grow. I am incredibly grateful they cared enough to value public education, and made sure our schools remained stellar, despite years of budget cuts and fiscal uncertainty. For decades, PTA leaders have been pushing lawmakers to correct the structural and cyclical financial burdens schools face. Our state funding is tied to the LCFF (Local Control Funding Formula). Funds are allocated based upon foster youth, low income families, second language learners, and low academic performers. The number of students who fall into these categories is low in Manhattan Beach. In 2003, our community said no to a $98/month parcel tax. Measure MB in 2018 was the first step in securing stable funding. It was a band-aid when we needed surgery. Now, with our citizens led initiative, we have a chance to ask for what our students actually need for an adequately funded education. MB Citizens for Schools wants to say thank you for laying the groundwork to those who came before us. You have done your part. Because of your work, we may finally get over the finish line to secure funding for the next generation. Vote Yes on A by June 7. 

Wysh Weinstein

Manhattan Beach

 

A perspective

Dear ER:

I hope Manhattan Beach residents will indulge me in one last letter in support of Measure A. There are a few points I want to emphasize. First, although MB schools are public, we are competing with expensive, private schools that provide small class sizes with personalized attention. And MB parents of today, and tomorrow, want small class sizes with personalized attention. Second, the State will continue to underfund MB schools, with our schools always needing additional funding to provide the MB schools that parents want and expect. Third, to be successful, to be a high performing school district, our MB schools desperately need a stable source of adequate revenue, the locally controlled revenue that Measure A provides for our next generation of children and families. Measure A funds will keep our MB schools great for another generation.  A few might argue that it’s just not the right amount, or it’s for too many years. I believe Measure A solves our MB schools historic state underfunding problem, once and for always. That stability and certainty goes a long way in guaranteeing high performing, competitive MB schools for our next generation of children, and their families. I am willing to pay for that. And I believe you will be too.

Mark Burton

Manhattan Beach

 

Gives us back our town 

Dear ER:

Ever notice when a resident of Hermosa Beach alerts the city to a problem, the city manager writes a letter explaining why there will be no change. Who does she think she works for? Same goes for the Justin Massey-controlled council which is totally unresponsive to residents. The council believes they know what’s good for us more than we do ourselves. We know they love the local bars. We know they love the volleyball tournaments and bicyclists from Westwood. We know they love the crowds vomiting on our beach over the fourth. We know they love the disruptive and destructive tourists from Los Angeles. But remember the property owners pay more taxes into the city than bars. Property owners want the laws enforced, the short term rental abolished, the streets restored, and the parking returned. 

Sal Palmero

Hermosa Beach

 

Follow the money

Dear ER:

BCHD is touting its “allcove” mental health program, with a service area that is 91 percent of non-Beach Cities residents. Mental health services are obviously needed, but why is BCHD setting up a permanent facility for 1.4 million people instead of the 120,000 people who own and fund BCHD? The district told the voters it was established for the benefit of the residents of the district. The district was not founded by, or for, the residents of Long Beach, Palos Verdes, etc., who are included in BCHDs allcove.

During public discussions of budgeting, cost-effectiveness and other fiscal discipline issues, BCHDs Board members claim BCHD is not a business, and shouldn’t be judged by those metrics. But how does expansion to 91 percent non-residents with BCHD’s taxpayer funded staff, and facilities providing permanent services not a business? And what about the 80 percent of tenants in the BCHD $12,000 per month assisted living who will be non-residents, according to BCHD studies? About 40 percent are projected to be from Palos Verdes. How is that not a business? And how can BCHD not adhere to business principles, such as serving those who pay the bills? What about management focus? Are we expecting the BCHD executive payroll to swell above its current $2 million annual cost to taxpayers to oversee more than a million new “customers?” 

The District was formed with the vote, bond funding, and ongoing property taxes of the residents of Hermosa, Manhattan and Redondo Beaches. It was not formed for the benefit of Palos Verdes, Long Beach, and 20-plus other cities. BCHD consumes $14 million of our taxes, and rents from our properties annually, yet claims it’s “not a business” when it’s asked hard questions about fiscal discipline. The District needs to provide 100 percent of its focus and services inside the three Beach Cities that founded, own and fund it. Let Long Beach and Palos Verdes  serve their own residents. Visit the Get Informed at StopBCHD.com for details.

Mark Nelson

Redondo Beach

 

Easy Healthy Living

Dear ER:

Beach Cities Health District has partnered with schools to teach healthy habits; provided free COVID testing and vaccinations; run errands for those in need; and helped people find services such as health insurance and mental health care. Parade Magazine named the South Bay as one of the healthiest places to live in the country, thanks to the Blue Zones project, which BCHD championed. We all benefit when unsightly, decades-old structures are improved. Redondo has watched our neighboring cities build/rebuild libraries, grocery stores, malls, offices, recreation areas and schools, all to the benefit of the community. I sense a prevailing myth by some in Redondo that new construction (outside of townhouses in North Redondo, which are abundant) is bad, when clearly our neighbors are reaping the benefits of improvements. I hope the Redondo Beach City Council and Planning Commission move forward with BCHD Healthy Living Campus. I love Redondo, but it is disappointing to see our outdated pier, mall, bike path, and the AES power plant wither year after year while surrounding cities upgrade. The Healthy Living Campus is a benefit for so many. This project should be an easy yes

Marie Puterbaugh

Redondo Beach

 

Neighbors will pay

Dear ER:

I attended Beach City Health Campus meetings regarding the proposed Health Living Campus even before their summer scoping meetings. These were contrived meetings with heavy-handed promotion of their project. I spoke at one, citing how their overdevelopment ambitions would affect surrounding communities, in particular, the five neighboring schools, two of them elementary schools, Beryl in Redondo Beach, and Towers Elementary School in Torrance. Parras Middle School, and both West and Redondo Union High School students, also, would have to navigate traffic on Prospect to get to school. So this “healthy” living campus only adds to their vulnerability. There was never an adequate needs assessment to justify this private takeover of public land, only a statistical market analysis based on the increased number of seniors living longer than their predecessors. AARP’s statistics of the overwhelming number of seniors choosing to “age in place” did not deter BCHD’s claims. Their stated target market are those who can afford $12,000 to $14,000 a month, whether they live in the beach cities or not. The median income in the beach cities is $65,000. That means the majority of the campus will be nonresidents of the Beach Cities – in fact, a largely white, privileged class. Yet taxpayers in the Beach Cities are already subsidizing the BCHD through their property taxes.Granting even a conditional use permit to a for-profit entity is not a fair exchange.This use of land zoned P-CF, for public community usage (a school, a hospital, or police/fire services), justified the 50 year leasing of the school district  property where the Kensington Senior facility is. It had some merit because that revenue went directly to the Redondo School District. You can now review that decision based on how much it has cost the city in infrastructure costs. The surrounding neighborhoods have paid the cost through traffic noise.

Mary R. Ewell

Redondo Beach

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