Letters to the Editor 8-20-20
Park and split
Dear ER:
Parking has always been one of the most difficult hurdles for businesses in Downtown Manhattan Beach and it’s further complicated by COVID.
Our restaurants cannot welcome guests indoors and are surviving by serving outside. Locals embraced outdoor dining with overwhelming enthusiasm, and we are thankful! It does, however, further reduce our precious parking. Add beach-goers to that, and retailers & service providers are left with very little parking for the customers they so desperately need to survive.
In response, our community is making compromises. At the request of Downtown MB’s retailers, the City changed all street parking meters to one-hour maximum. No, it’s not long enough to dine and shop; it’s also not long enough to go to the beach. Parking lots still offer 2-8 hours of parking for those visits, but we need street parking for customers, and this was the most practical compromise.
Our businesses were recently surveyed about local versus visitor sales and locals are currently responsible for 90% of the spending in Downtown MB—thank you!! Please also help us by preserving parking for those who truly need it and we will save more of our businesses by allowing people to quickly drop into their favorite store, salon or grab a to-go meal.
If you can walk or bike, please do. We know the shortened parking isn’t convenient, but we’re in survival mode and we hope you’ll support us in our efforts.
Jill Lamkin
Executive Director
Downtown Manhattan Beach Business & Professional Association
A Lyon for council
Dear ER:
From Grand View to Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach is my home. I grew and learned in this city for which I care deeply. I learned to ride a bike near Sand Dune Park, play soccer at Begg Field, and think critically in MBUSD schools. Now I’m running a historic campaign to be the youngest member of our City Council. I’m running to ask questions, engage new voices, and encourage conversations to benefit our whole community. This historic period of transition is the perfect time for a fresh voice in City leadership. I am that voice. My campaign will not be “business as usual.” Unlike recent councilmembers and most of my fellow candidates, I don’t come from the long-time city power structure. While I value experience, we also need new ideas.
I’ll seek input from overlooked residents: newcomers, renters, young people, seniors.
You won’t see glossy mailers from me. My campaign will be streamlined and efficient because money should not buy influence. On council, I will improve city-wide communication, engage underrepresented groups, and extend a welcoming atmosphere to all. Currently, council has its first female majority. As a young woman I will continue that legacy. Let’s look to the future and build on what makes Manhattan Beach special. I invite you to join the conversation at phoebeformb.com.
Phoebe A Lyons
Manhattan Beach
Editor’s note: Lyons is a Manhattan Beach City Council candidate
Be nice to the Census people
Dear Editor,
Please fill out their US Census forms. Census worker “enumerators” are out knocking on doors to help you submit your information. They are in the field seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. They will be wearing a government issued photo ID and carrying a satchel marked, “Census” and a government issued I-phone to record your info. They will ask some personal questions, but will not ask your citizenship status or your social security number. They may come to your door even if you have already submitted it online. The census bureau is stressed by underfunding and a new, shorter deadline, and your information may not have yet been recorded.
Please be polite. Being counted in the U.S. Census will increase your community’s funding, representation and electoral votes for the next 10 years.
Sharon McCarthy
Redondo Beach
50 years of Chutes and ladders
Dear ER:
Thanks for all you have done and given to the community for over half a century (“Easy Reader anniversary: 50 years of Chutes and Ladders,” ER Aug 13, 2020). I remember when Easy
Reader started and my dad’s furniture store SC Coleman (presently Jack’s Surf) was an advertiser, as was I. Also, thanks from the community for your efforts in putting on the Mama Liz Thanksgiving dinner for so many years. Held anually at the Hermosa Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, Easy Reader and all of the volunteers led by Donna Dawick have fed thousands of people for free for over 30 years and given hundreds of people a place to go to and be with others on this holiday. So much selfless work to make others feel good. Easy Reader has been a vital link to the identity of the community.
Jonathan Coleman
Manhattan Beach
Mail solution
Dear ER:
Good grief. Redondo Beach Councilmembers Christian Horvath and Laura Emdee trying to fix the USPS? Maybe they could offer another $9 million (the amount of the Fun Factory early lease buyout) of city funds that the city does not have (“Politics suspected, OVID blamed for slowdown in local mail delivery, ER Aug 13, 2020).
Bruce Szeles
Redondo Beach
Correction: Last week Easy Reader mistakenly reported that the Redondo Beach Lobster Festival will home deliver “lobster kits.” The meals must be picked up on Saturday, Aug. 22 at Critic’s Choice, 2806 Phelan Lane, Redondo Beach. Or call (310) 545-1144. ER