LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Mayor Franklin declares State of the City “strong”
by Mark McDermott
Mayor Joe Franklin’s late-starting and very local career in politics has been premised mostly on a single quality. His downright giddy love for his adopted hometown of Manhattan Beach.
And so what was surprising about Franklin’s first State of the City address was certainly not its effusiveness but rather its brevity. For a man known for passionate but lengthy occasional soliquoys at the council dais, Franklin gave an economical speech, albeit one brimming with positivity for the past, present, and future of the city.
It began with a video of Manhattan Beach with Franklin intoning enthusiastically about what the City has recently accomplished. “This past year has been nothing short of remarkable,” Franklin said, referencing the underrated but important completion of Peck Reservoir and the construction of Fire Station #2. “These endeavors lay the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable future and provide a wide array of emergency response and support services to our community, serving our residents on the East Side.”
Franklin, himself an outdoor enthusiast, also sang the praises of the City’s recreational offerings.
Whether you’re looking to take an art or swim class, participate in an after school activity, we have a program for you,” he said. “Our city is a treasure trove of outdoor activities and events representing our community spirit and hometown feel, from the family friendly Polliwog Park with a new play structure to historic and culturally significant Bruce’s Beach Park to the Strand and bike path along the ocean and our unique three and one half mile Veteran’s Parkway Greenbelt, there’s always an open green or sandy space waiting for you to enjoy. Manhattan Beach is home to sports, recreation and iconic events….There’s an adventure for everyone.”
A video within the video showed Franklin completing the pier-to-pier paddleboard race last year, being thrown off his board by a wave just before the finish line. “I guess I’ll have to work on my dismount for next year,” the mayor said.
“There’s just one thing I have to say about the paddleboard race,” Franklin said at the outset of his speech. “Third place. [I finished in] third place. Of course, there were only three in my age group.”
Franklin spoke of the “strides we’ve made together” as a community over the past year and began public safety.
“Our first responsibility is ensuring the safety and security of all of our residents and visitors,” he said. “Over the past year we’ve strengthened our police force with additional officers, focusing on policing and community outreach. Our police department remains diligent in fighting crime, apprehending criminals, and maintaining a strong presence to deter crime. We will continue to invest in cutting edge technology to aid our officers in keeping us safe.”
Franklin, an avid cyclist, has led the charge in advancing e-bike safety as a community priority, and spoke about the progress the City has made in this effort.
“In the past 12 months, we’ve conducted extensive e-bike and bike safety training to over 6,000 students,” he said. “Hand in hand with this effort, we have approved some of the toughest ebike safety ordinances in the South Bay and conducted multiple targeted enforcement operations to ensure compliance will continue. And we do this because e-bikes can be valuable to reduce vehicle trips, automobile parking, and pollution.”
The mayor showed a photo of a bike rack at the Manhattan Beach Middle School lined with e-bikes.
“When our kids were going to the middle school, there was always a line of SUVs dropping the kids off and waiting for them,” he said. “Now you see all electric bikes with surfboard racks, and it’s really a terrific thing to see.”
Franklin also singled how city staff took over responsibility for cleaning its downtown and North End, a task formerly performed with someless less rigor (and more cost) by the City’s trash contractor.
“The City Council approved a cost effective plan to bring in house consistent pressure washing of our sidewalks,” Franklin said. “This has dramatically improved the cleanliness of downtown, the pier and in North Manhattan Beach. Our Public Works department installed 20 new big belly solar power trash cans in our business districts. And why that has a funny name — these hold more trash then traditional receptacles and compact the trash to reduce the number of pickup truck trips needed. This helps reduce trash on our sidewalks and congestion on our streets.”
Public Works employees, Franklin said, have also ramped up efforts to pick up stray trash.
“They’ve actually put me out of work because I pick up a lot of trash and now there’s nothing to pick up anymore,” he said. “So thank you very much.”
The mayor also touched on the ongoing and mutually beneficial relationship between the City and the Manhattan Beach Unified School District.
“The City Council has supported our schools for many years, and will continue to continue to strengthen our partnership,” he said. “We have committed an average of $1.9 million each year for school resource officers, crossing guards, specific projects, field maintenance, and fee waivers.”
Near its conclusion, Franklin tied the strands of his speech together, re-emphasizing the qualities that make Manhattan Beach the vibrant community he fell in love with more than three decades ago.
“As we look to the future, our vision for the city is clear,” Franklin said. “A place where safety, quality of life and excellent education all go hand in hand. The state of our city is strong. The heart of our city is its people. Your creativity, generosity to others, and community spirit drive our progress and make what is good, even better.”
“In Manhattan Beach, as evidenced by our Neighborhood Watch, and other organizations, we look out for each other…I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for making Manhattan Beach so special, and the place that we are so lucky to call home.”
Councilperson Steve Napolitano, a Manhattan Beach native who has served as mayor six times, said afterward that Franklin’s address was indicative of the new mayor’s passion for his hometown.
“Joe is a believer in Manhattan Beach, as we all are, and as anyone in our position should be,” he said. “But Joe, for sure, wears it on his sleeve, and his effusiveness is contagious to those around him. He’s a great ambassador for Manhattan Beach.” ER