Promiscuity on parade
Dear ER:
Thanks to the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce for organizing another great St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
[But] I took my two kids (9 and 12 years old) to the parade, thinking it was a family friendly event. But in the middle of the parade, the Gasser Lounge rolls a truck that has girls pole dancing. Really? Girls pole dancing on Pier Avenue, in a family friendly parade, that start at 11 a.m.? I have no idea what type of entertainment Gasser Lounge provides but to allow them to have pole dancers in a family friendly parade was in really bad taste. I urge the Chamber to be more selective of the parade participants in future years.Hany Fangary
Hermosa Beach
Brand new attack
Dear ER:
Reading Bill Brand’s comments about Measure A losing and the City Council stepping in — that is the height of arrogance (Letters, ER March 14, 2013). He’s basically saying the people of Redondo Beach aren’t smart enough to decide the “correct” vote on Measure A. Sir, you lost fair and square, get over it, don’t be a poor loser, and move on.
Dave Aurit
Redondo Beach
North south divide
Dear ER:
I was disappointed that Redondo’s Measure A was defeated. I think they had some demographic and geographic challenges that made it difficult to convince the whole city. I’m very afraid that Hermosa is developing its own Mason-Dixon line along Pier Ave and Aviation Boulevard. All of the oil company reps I’ve met live north of that line, and one of them even admitted that he would not want to live near the site. But what affects the south affects the whole city.
To give just one example, if honeycombing the south end with 30 new wells were to result in an “Induced Earthquake,” as described recently on CBS, do you think it would stop at Pier Ave? North Hermosans should not even consider sacrificing the entire southern half of the city for the perhaps empty promise of dirty oil money, which would come at an enormous expense. Don’t let the oil company split our city!
Allan Mason
Hermosa Beach
Trash this contract
Dear ER:
Hermosa Beach residents have one last chance on Tuesday, March 26 to express themselves regarding the “Pay to throw” trash contract. This will be the most expensive fee hike for city services in Hermosa history if allowed to pass.
The Green Task Force wants Hermosa to be just like Manhattan Beach, so they recommended to the city council a new way to generate cash to the city and divert more refuse to landfills. Athens Disposal in their response, gave the residents one option to lower rates and divert less trash to the landfills using the same system as we use now. Clearly the best option for the environment and residents. But the city council decided the Pay to throw scheme would be better. Now we learn that the city will receive significant income from the proposed contract with a possible five percent increase in fees each year. This is a back door tax hike.
These environmental geniuses will also add another 50,000-pound truck coming down our streets. One for trash, one for recyclables and one for green waste. Our streets cannot take any more heavy truck abuse. Please voice your opinion on this important matter
The Real Environmental Watchdogs
(Name withheld by request)
Respect for the rule of law
Dear ER:
Thank you to Mayor David Lesser and Councilmembers Richard Montgomery and Wayne Powell for their leadership in upholding the Planning Commission’s decision about 301/303 25th Street. Our community, and our property values rely on consistent application of our codes to all citizens. All Manhattan Beach residents can make investments and other important life decisions confidently, knowing that the rules will be applied in a fair and reasonable way.
Second, inconsistent application of the code and other rules would promote disputes among neighbors because the predicted outcome of even straightforward disputes like this one would be very unpredictable.
Third, contrary to the arguments of the appellants, consistent application of the code preserves the beauty and charm of our town. Applying the code fairly ensures that new or modified properties enhance and blend into the landscape of our town because such projects must stay within a set of guidelines that has been applied to others, as well. And to the extent that residents feel the code insufficiently captures our community’s goals for growth, it can be adjusted through residents’ participation in the legislative process.
Finally, I must commend the work of the Director of Community Development, Richard Thompson, and of the Planning Commission. It is obvious that they recognize the importance of consistency and fairness in rendering their decisions, and that they went to great lengths – going back 100 years, no less — to ensure that the decision made was the right one.
Diane C. Hutnyan
Manhattan Beach
A is for almost
Dear ER:
With Measure A defeated, that issue is off the table for the Mayoral race. So, I hope local media will push the runoff candidates to clearly answer two fundamental questions: “Do you, Candidate _____, want AES to gain CEC approval for their new power plant? If not, what will you specifically do to stop it?”
Both candidates Steve Aspel and Matt Kilroy previously said they don’t want a new power plant; however given their inability (or no desire) as councilmen to do anything substantively against a new plant, we need some specific answers, now.
Measure A, like it or not, was a real solution to prevent AES’ new power plant from being built within a 5-iron shot of 10,000-plus residents per square mile. But neither candidate offered any real solution of his own. One took no “official” stance on “A”, although last summer he refused to vote for a resolution against a new power plant while the public considered the initiative behind Measure A. Nice. The other candidate at least took a stand on “A” but didn’t distinguish himself with his arguments against the measure. At least not at the public debate I attended. Same with the council runoffs: we know Jim Light’s against a new power plant, but what about his opponent?
They can’t hide behind Measure A anymore.
Don Vangeloff
Redondo Beach
What would Francis do?
Dear Editor:
I was delighted to learn that the newly elected pope chose for the name of St. Francis of Assisi, generally known as patron saint of the animals. Indeed, Catholic and Anglican churches hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of October 4.
On one of his nature walks, Francis reportedly preached to the birds and is often portrayed with a bird in his hand. On another occasion, Francis concluded a pact with a ferocious wolf that was terrorizing local townsfolk, whereby the wolf would quit preying on the town’s sheep in exchange for being fed regularly. He even persuaded local dogs to stop harassing the wolf. He freed a rabbit from a trap, returned caught fish to their stream, and fed half-frozen bees in winter-time.
I hope that Pope Francis will inspire Catholics and all persons of goodwill to show non-human animals the respect and compassion they so richly deserve, particularly when it comes to subsidizing their abuse and slaughter for food at the checkout counter. Joining the Meatless Mondays trend may be a good start.
Jack Matler
Hermosa Beach
Coming back for more
Dear ER:
What an experience. I loved every minute of it. From the beginning, excitement and opportunity abounded. We came so close to our goal, coming in a strong second at both District 4 polling places — within 8 votes in one and within 30 votes in the other. 502 is not bad for “The Kid.”
I would like to thank everyone of those 502 voters who trusted that I would have been the best person to represent our district on council.
Those votes were gained by meeting you, getting to know what you cared about and what you expected of your councilman. Walking door-to-door, 40 hours a week sure does make you tired, but I never got tired of meeting people. The great people I met reinforced my desire to serve and reminded me why I am so proud to call Redondo Beach home. To thank everyone would take an entire page, you know who you are and please accept my sincere thanks. I am so proud of all we achieved. The lessons I’ve learned, the people I’ve met, and the friends I gained, I will carry with me for years to come. Thankfully, for me at the ripe, old age of 18, my career in local politics is just beginning.
Julian Stern
Redondo Beach
Fair and just punishment
Dear ER:
Are ya kiddin’ me?
So far, I’ve read citations of $197, $380, and $402 for violating bike path and Strand regulations. Is this a banking police state or a community? By what insane perversion of law and logic are these assessments justified? Seriously, this is beyond sanity. Sure, there could be a bit more enforcement, but a $50 fine would be more than sufficient, maybe even just $25. Who the hell wants to shell out $25 to enrich a buncha pajama-suited monkeys in city hall? That alone would serve to curtail what’s being portrayed as far more objectionable than it really is. We’re talking here about residents and visitors who want to be at our way cool beaches, are spending money in the city, are giving us a good name, and are out for a nice day. And we want to rake ’em should they breach some minor rule foisted by a buncha bureau-klepto-crats?
Though I catch hell for it among other leftist agitators, I have far more respect for the Manhattan Beach police than I do for the city council, having sat through a few council sessions over the last few years. So I cannot believe the cops want this. They’re friendly, mannered, professional, and very well overseen by a management structure I wish other cities would emulate. It’s just too Draconian for a unit that has demonstrated its sense of justice and fair play time and again. It’s the council, obviously.
Like all politicians, the council’s more than ready to have others do their dirty work, pocket the bonanza, and then resume pressing flesh, kissing babies, and finding photo ops, later repairing to their dungeons to formulate new ways to finagle gelt.
Mark S. Tucker
A Cheer for Children thank you
Dear ER:
Thank you to all of our wonderful supporters. Another holiday season has passed by and we are now back into our daily lives. Know that your generosity is remembered everyday in the toys the children play with, the clothes that mom dresses them with, perhaps a bike or skateboard that gets them places. The monetary donations will enable us to help families all year. Your generosity wasn’t just for one day but ongoing!
Donna Dawick
Kathryn Hansen
More art to come
Dear ER:
Torrance business district’s successful redevelopment into a well-designed downtown area is perhaps the major reason why this quaint fashionable community has been chosen to be the cultural site for the California Museum of Fine Art (“A Vision of their Own,” ER, March 7, 2013).
My husband Chuck and I, during our many romantic evening walks, with avid curiosity, have watched as the California Museum of Fine Art progressed through its anamorphic-like development. We keenly observed 1412 Marcelina Avenue’s phenomenal transition from Pillers, a once mod-hippie era women’s clothing market, into Torrance’s temple to fine art. Truly, a rewarding beacon illuminating internationally known artists and discovering their creative tempo of morality from their inner-most philosophical perspectives.
As we entered the California Museum of Fine Art on its opening day, we were enthralled, savoring its exquisite materialization while viewing its reverberating concourse of graphics; pausing only to retain intellectually into our aesthetic senses, and pleased to realize that this first splendid exhibition collected from the studios of major artists will be for Torrance’s community a cultural pleasure to host future showings for many years to come.
Dora Perez-Meyer
Torrance
