Democracy in Action
Dear ER:
I recently had the privilege of attending the California Energy Commission hearing on the AES application to build another highly polluting power plant on our coast. It was exciting to see democracy in action!! Anyone who mistakenly believes that AES genuinely wants to “work with Redondo Beach” and considers the long term interests of RB residents will be very interested in the outcome of the CEC meeting. The application that AES submitted was determined to be “data inadequate” in six areas. In other words, this multi-million dollar out-of-state corporation that is requesting a permit to pollute the environment in which our children will live for the next FIFTY YEARS was so busy spreading false propaganda to defeat our clean air ballot measure, that they did not find the time nor resources to complete the application in a comprehensive manner.
How can Redondo Beach possibly believe that the power plant would be safe for our city if the corporation requesting to build the source of pollution has put such little thought into the project that after several years into the project they are still unable to adequately address the points required in the CEC application? My high school daughter would never turn in a paper without reviewing the basic submission requirements.
AES was apparently hoping that their insufficient application would sneak past the CEC. Luckily it did not. I cannot help but be suspicious about their motives. If AES genuinely believes this plant is environmentally safe and necessary to meet the needs of Southern California’s energy needs, why wouldn’t they want to provide the necessary and comprehensive information? It seems that AES tried to submit a minimum of information to once again deceive the public on the true nature of the adverse impact of the new “cleaner” power plant on our Redondo Beach waterfront and inappropriately obtain the initial permit while promising to “fill in the gaps” later…
Again, I am so appreciative that our state government has a system of checks and balances that prevented such a travesty of justice. To those who erroneously believe that RB can compromise with AES, please understand that there is no compromise when the health of the entire South Bay is at stake. Compromise with AES only means that we will have a polluting unnecessary blight on our beautiful waterfront for generations to come. Please vote YES on MEASURE A to ensure clean air for our children and grandchildren.
Lori Zaremski
Redondo Beach
Railroading
Dear ER:
Last December, Hermosa Mayor Duclos ignored a decades-old established policy of “all council meetings being televised live.” Duclos callously sanctioned two 5-hour non-live-televised “goals” meetings during the holidays, utilizing a non-publicly-approved $20,000+expenses Florida-consultant. Those meetings were conducted in a back-room kitchen of the Senior’s-Center under the Community Center gymnasium.
Now Duclos has cavalierly led the railroading-through (along with Councilmen DiVirgilio and Bobko) of a law giving free use of all public residential and business parking spaces, citywide, for free unrestricted use by a private profit-making car-share rental company, where-then their rental customers may drop off or rent such cars 24/7, around the clock; cars rented by the minute for a net $22.80 per hour, with no time-limits or requirements to put money in parking meters, or restrictions that residents, business-employees/operators, and business-customers need honor.
Duclos, DiVirgilio and Bobko have ignorantly accepted as basis for this fast-tracked giveaway, a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, guesstimates that their law will somehow eliminate thousands of cars from South Bay cities located west of Vermont Ave; dubious assumptions stated by a paid employee-lobbyist of the South Bay Council of Governments (COG), and a company to be profiting from all this.
Residents and business operators need to quickly demand that this Duclos/DiVirgilio/Bobko-orchestrated parking give-away-law, not be formally “adopted” at Council’s January 22 meeting next Tuesday. Such municipal law requires real public notice, input, and far more careful thought, something Councilmen Tucker and Fishman attempted to accomplish but who were essentially ignored by the Duclos/DiVirgilio/Bobko railroading operation.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach
Safety cuts
Dear ER:
The stabbings at the Galleria and the beating death on PCH and Avenue F heightened my concerns about cuts to public safety staffing in Redondo Beach.
I know City Hall faces financial constraints caused by the past few years of economic turmoil. But police department staffing levels have fallen below the national average for communities of our size. We can’t allow this to continue.
The safety of our residents, schools, and businesses must remain City Hall’s first priority.
I attended a coffee for a city council candidate who invited RB Fire Captain Yang and RB Detective Carlborg to update us on their departments. These articulate gentlemen put a human face on the risky consequences to you and me if we fail to address staffing cuts.
They also spoke about long, exhausting shifts in downsized departments staffed by personnel who have already taken salary cuts to help the community. They explained how the departments are forced to operate on overtime shifts because of limited staffing numbers; it is not how they want to operate.
I want to thank Kimberly Fine, the City Council candidate in District 1, who invited us to meet Officers Carlborg and Capt. Yang. I hope the community will follow her lead in rebuilding the robust public safety team our city must have to thrive.
Elaine Cherlin
Redondo Beach
Breathing easy
Dear ER:
You try to eat right, exercise, wear your seat belt, and put on sunscreen all for better health. Now resolve to do the one thing this year that will keep you healthy. Vote Yes on Measure A to continue to enjoy clean ocean air in your lungs, and keep your windows open!
Krista Hayes
Redondo Beach
Grim facts
Dear ER:
Should the residents of Manhattan Beach feel safer in our homes and public places (shopping malls, restaurants, parks)? Absolutely not! Should the Manhattan Beach City Council hold itself responsible for the double-digit growth in major crimes in the city by its failure to hold the Manhattan Beach Police Department (MBPD) accountable to combat crime? Absolutely, yes!
Has the leadership of the MBPD adequately managed its use of resources to maximize law and order? Absolutely not! Should we vote for city council candidates in the March 2013 elections who demonstrate their competencies and commitment to enhance public safety? Absolutely yes!
Recent examples of major crimes include the stabbings at Marine Park last week; the attempted robbery and hostage taking in the Manhattan Village Mall; the stabbing at Baja Sharkeez; the woman robbed at gunpoint near Office Depot; the robberies from new iPhone purchasers at the mall; the cigar store robbery and attempted murder in which an employee’s neck was slashed; and, multiple home invasion robberies and residential burglaries.
MBPD Police Chief Irvine reported that between October 2011 and June 2012, burglaries in M.B. increased over 34 percent, car thefts increased over 40 percent, and grand theft auto 30 percent (Easy Reader, June 7, 2012). Assaults in M.B. increased 40 percent.
M.B. ranks near the apex in alcohol outlets that generate increased crime. For example, M.B. ranks high in alcohol-related vehicular accidents and substantial illegal sales of alcohol to minors and increases in DUI’s. Incongruently, Police Chief Irvine rejects limiting further expansion of alcohol availability. While overall crime rates in South Bay cities declined in 2011, the overall rate in MB increased.
“Just the facts, ma’am,” evolved as the catchphrase of television “Dragnet” Sergeant Joe Friday. In Manhattan Beach, the facts surrounding public safety are grim.
Edward C. Caprielian
Manhattan Beach
Loving MB
Dear ER:
Someone, anyone, everyone please stop the absurd madness of printing “I HEART” whatever instead of the work LOVE the heart visually symbolizes.
Speak the word ‘love’ when you see the symbol. I heart whatever is as senseless as telling your spouse or cat or kid or hamburger “I heart you.”
Patti Garrity
Manhattan Beach
Related:
Two teenagers stabbed at Redondo Beach Galleria, in surgery
Bartenders remember bouncer’s final moments
Manhattan Beach adopts balanced budget
‘Why I Heart Manhattan Beach’ art contest winners announced [PHOTOS]
