Letters to the Editor 7-20-23

You get what you vote for

Dear ER:

Nobody wants more density (“Residents urge the council to nix St. Cross plan,” ER July 13, 2023). The argument against it and proposals to move it elsewhere are completely NIMBY. I find it ironic that Hermosa Beach is mostly Democratic and the same governor and legislature they help vote in are backing large projects like this.

Stephen Taenzer

ERNews comment

 

Who’s counting?

Dear ER:

Tuesday night July 11 Hermosa Beach council meeting was another huge disappointment. The only good thing was the Council’s decision not to decide. Saint Cross Church tried to backpedal as much as possible, though too late in my opinion. The report by Community Development Carrie Tai was succinct. My takeaway was that this is a tough slog. Why are we willing to twist ourselves into a pretzel to secure 558 additional “affordable housing units” in an already densely populated city. And not 559 or 560 units. How was this seemingly arbitrary, and in my opinion, capricious number arrived at? What is the definition of affordable housing anyway? What expert, from afar, came up with this number? Certainly not Sacramento legislators Scott Wiener or Toni Atkins, though they are responsible for SB9 and SB10. Next, the threats of our “overbearing” and some might say, tyrannical government threatening us with fines and other penalties. If this weren’t enough, our city council seems willing to kowtow to these threats. Councilman Dean Francois was willing to make phone calls to residents. Councilman Rob Saemann seemed to be there to second  any motion that might be required. Let me suggest “boldness” in our defense. We have a new young attorney to put together our case. Let’s question how Sacramento arrived at these conclusions. Let’s join Redondo and any others willing to take a stand against this outrageous grab for power. Where is our Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi? Senator Ben Allen? My last thoughts are: Hermosa becoming a Charter City and “part time State  legislators.”

Gary Brown

Hermosa Beach 

 

Bike-abilly

Dear ER:

Redondo Beach Council PTA supports the Beach Cities Health District’s efforts to revitalize the Diamond Street and Flagler Lane Bike and Pedestrian path. The mission of the California State PTA is to positively impact the lives of all children, and any effort that allows our children to move about the community in a safer way is truly welcome. Many Redondo Beach students use the current alleyway in their commute to school. By utilizing a grant from LA County Metro, BCHD will be able to create infrastructure, provide improved lighting, and install bicycle video detection sensors at the traffic signal. The Redondo Beach Council PTA fully supports a project that promotes walk-ability and bike-ability and thus offers healthier lifestyle choices for our community.  

Sondi Kroeger Foley

President

Redondo Beach Council PTA

 

Gone in 13 seconds

Dear ER:

It appears Beach Cities Health District’s Flagler Alley bike path plan will still use $1.8 million in Metro grant money, in spite of the plan’s reduction by one third. I bike the Diamond to Flagler pathway from my home just west of Prospect to see friends who live on Tomlee Avenue. The ride takes me 40 seconds end to end on a regular bike. So the $1.8 million is now applying to about 13 seconds of a bike path? Some allege the existing route is unsafe. I disagree, but admit that it could stand some improvements. The current path is perfectly functional, but needs to be resurfaced and needs some lighting. These lights should be low and path-specific so as not to shine into surrounding homes. The concrete barricades at the north (Torrance) end are not pretty, but they work well to keep cars out while allowing access to bikers, skateboarders and walkers. The same goes for the south end, which has a fence to keep cars out (an aesthetic improvement could be wood or vinyl instead of chain link). Both ends allow safe points of entry and exit.

The steep green belt adjacent to the path could be replaced with native plants to prevent erosion. This swath of land provides an important visual and sound barrier between people’s homes and existing medical offices, and a parking structure. These suggestions would cost far less than the $1.8 million BCHD intends to spend on what will now be a partial path, without the City of Torrance’s participation. Shouldn’t such a project be city-initiated anyway? This isn’t BCHD’s first attempt to spend excessive amounts of our tax dollars on public land without the people’s consent. BCHD does a lot of good for the beach communities, but unfortunately their recent forays into private over-development on public property have tarnished their reputation. As letter-writer Geoff Gilbert put it, “Why the opposition from Torrance residents over this [bike path] project? Maybe it’s because it’s sponsored by BCHD, for which they have no trust.”

Lara Duke

Redondo Beach

 

Good News flash

Dear ER

If you lived in Manhattan Beach in 2002, 2003, 2007, 2015, and 2016 you lived through the highest crime periods of the last 20-plus years. Crime decreased by nearly 40 percent from 2016 to 2020. Robberies declined 35 percent in the previous five years ( MBPD Website). It is important to note that when critics selectively present statistics only from one year to one arbitrary other year to instill fear of venturing out at night, it does not contribute to a comprehensive understanding of how the MBPD Police have and are effectively addressing crime. Yes, there are justifiable concerns that we all have considered, given that our current DA has refused to prosecute misdemeanor cases that, in the past, were not rejected. However, the Manhattan Beach Police Department (MBPD) has displayed unwavering determination by disregarding the District Attorney’s stance and continuing to fulfill its duties. There is no question that criminals have taken advantage. The Police Chief, command staff, and at least 6 Officers addressed these specific concerns by breaking down the reality of increasing crime in property and vehicle thefts in a town hall meeting and, in complete transparency, made such meetings a matter of policy. They advised that an overall increase in crime is greatly attributed to a significant rise in vehicle thefts, as modern vehicles are relatively easy to pilfer or steal without expertise. “Just the facts, ma’am,” a title not chosen by me, was perfect. The reaction of those who refuse to believe that despite a change in criminal behavior, overall crime flow has not been exacerbated anymore than usual by a comprehensive assessment of the last 20 years in Manhattan Beach is understandable, given the national and regional cacophony of crime news coverage 24/7. It’s time the very local media play its objective role in addressing local crime rather than hyperbolic, politically based newsletters that need to shock and personally attack others who offer other points of view to increase circulation. News flash — the nation is sick of it.

Stewart Fournier

Manhattan Beach

Missing ‘Big B’

Dear ER:

Lifelong friend Brian Sisson, who grew up a few blocks from us in North Hermosa Beach, will be truly missed (“‘Big B’ set the beat, and the scene for life at the beach,” ER July 13, 2023). Those remarkable parties at his home and the parades in the neighborhood are lifelong memories. My condolences to the huge and wonderful Sisson Family and their friends.

Dennis Noor

Manhattan Beach

 

Missing ‘The Guild’

Dear ER:

I remember The Guild Drug Store in downtown Hermosa fondly. It was the only drugstore within walking distance, and my mother didn’t have a car, so we were there frequently. A lot of shops, like The Guild, evaporated in the seventies, when shopping centers and new roads drew customers out of the beach towns.

Vienne Felix

 

Blessed

Dear ER:

Our community has been blessed by the talents and kindness of the Guilds.

Lynn Pope

Hermosa Beach

 

General agreement

Dear ER

Everyone loved Guild Drug Store.

Mary Campbell Ralls

 

The perfect gift

Dear ER:

The Guild was the most beautiful place to shop (“Don Guild’s gilded life,” ER July 13, 2023). I always found the perfect gift there.

Beelee Tobin

ERNews comment

 

Mom’s place

Dear ER

Loved learning all this about Don and Barb Guild  (“Don Guild’s gilded life,” ER July 13, 2023). Their store was somewhere my mom and I always went.

Cindy Whitehead

ERNews comment

 

Memories are made of this

Dear ER:

Incredible! I have so many childhood memories of shopping at The Guild on Artesia.

Dawn Miller Fulton

ERNews comment

 

Paint it orange

Dear ER: 

Keep repainting it orange (“LA County paints over revered volleyball ‘Orange Court’”). The petty officials will eventually go away, but the orange sentiment never will.

Bob Mirabel

ERNews comment

 

White monster

Dear ER

This is the most ridiculous thing  I have ever read (“LA County paints over revered volleyball ‘Orange Court’”). Los Angeles County should realize the only public safety issue is the stress and mental anguish that otherwise happy and composed people go through when they see white poles where there should be orange poles. How much money is the County spending each time they repaint the poles for no reason? What a waste. Boston is lucky that Fenway’s Green Monster hasn’t been whitewashed.

Phil Gregory

ERNews comment

 

Tradition

Dear ER:

Traditions should not be ignored (“LA County paints over revered volleyball ‘Orange Court’”). Or painted over.

Steve Endom

Torrance

 

Knickered up

Dear ER

This is why we can’t have nice things. Some petty bureaucrat gets her knickers in a twist and plays despot.

Edmund Purcell

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