Thank you Richard and the EasyReader team for the article about Paul Martin’s. I believe our phone number is incorrect in this article? It should be 310-643-9300 and I believe it’s missing a digit. Thank you again and we are proud to be part of the South Bay community!
Regards
Mark Evensvold
I have never met Mr. Horrell, however, after reading the article I would consider him a good man. If and when Mr. Horrell ever meets his disgruntled neighbors I have a line for him … “Sir, it is obvious that living in this city is too much drama for you … perhaps you should move to a new community where wildlife doesn’t exist!”
1) How could this lawyer ever pass the state exam?
2) How could he not know that the LA Municipal code has no bearing on this case?
3) Would it really cost $12,500 to repair a small Redondo Beach lawn? Good Grief …. sand and grass seed is not that expensive
4) Is this publicity going to help the Averas’ business?
By far, this is the most rediculous lawsuit I have seen in a while … but from a comic relief standpoint … I cannot stop laughing.
Good luck with winning the lawsuit … having snow fall in Redondo has greater chance of happening.
I am amazed by Mr. Hory’s unethical suggestion that Manhattan Beach Mayor Ward should make decisions for the City based on his supposed personal aspirations to represent a more broad constituency. Mayor Ward is man of integrity who would never do so. But more broadly, Mr. Hory’s comment reinforces my conclusion that those few who advocate that this City spend huge dollars during this recession — the worst since the Great depression — to create each month a man-made river of sand so that non-residents many have their “preferred free workout,” are not grappling with priorities, any of the opposing points, or even reality. They just want what they want. How many teachers could Manhattan Beach hire if the City just left the dune alone, without the monthly cost of sand relocation, park workers, and police presence necessary to create this dune-workout-facility for these duners in a neighborhood wholly unequipped for this use? A little knowledge, context and perspective go a long way. Mr. Hory’s letter lacks each.
Hello,
I do not live in Manhattan Beach anymore, but grew up all over the South Bay area and now reside in Illinois. But everytime I come here, I am amazed at all the history of these neighborhoods that have been lost, and now Sand Dune park, that as children we have so many memories sliding down, and crossing through the paths to get to the ocean, it was a pretty site on the way to another beautiful destination, our beaches. I have lived at the bottom of Sand Dune park and above it as well. I am oppossed to the loss of this beautiful park that also harbors the home of many beautiful parrots that have made their home there as well, what will happen to them? Please leave the park, I hope the next time I come to Los Angeles, I will still get to visit “Sand Dune Park” and I am sure there are others that grew up here, that want it to still be here when they come as well!
Toni, No one has proposed closing the park, or the dune. The park and dune will remain, and the children will be permitted to play on the dune. At issue is whether the City should spend huge amounts of resources in a recession, deploying enormous, noisy and polluting trucks to create a river of sand on the face of the dune each month. This is a rather recent development, caused by tremendous spikes in usage by atheletes that have destroyed the dune by scraping sand from its face and pushing it to its bottom. To maintain that usage, huge trucks are deployed each month to scoop up sand from the bottom, transport it through the neighborhood to the top, and then dump it at the top, each month. This erodes the underlying dune, pollutes, and costs a fortune. We should save the dune, and stop turning it into a wholly unnatural manmade work out facility, in a neighborhood totally unequipped for this usage. That manmade usage is destroying the dune, and the neighborhood. We need teachers, and books, not this expensive and polluting “facility” which robs us of our park, dune and enjoyment of it and out neighborhood. Sand Dune Park will be waiting for you when you return.
Just to be clear, no one has proposed “closing” the park or the dune. The park and dune will remain, and the children will be permitted to play on them. At issue is whether the City should spend huge amounts of resources in a recession, deploying enormous, noisy and polluting trucks to create a river of sand on the face of the dune each month, and additional sums for an elaborate reservation system. This is a rather recent development, caused by spikes in usage by atheletes that have destroyed the dune by scraping sand from its face and pushing it to its bottom. To maintain that usage, huge trucks are deployed each month to scoop up the loose sand from the bottom, transport it through the neighborhood to the top, and then dump it at the top, each month. This erodes the underlying dune, pollutes, and costs a fortune. We should save the dune, and stop turning it into a wholly unnatural manmade work out facility — a river of sand — in a neighborhood totally unequipped for this man-made marvel. To create this dune facility is the antithesis of Manhattan’s admirable “green” pledge, not to mention a mis-prioritization of limited financial resources. Just read any of a number of articles in this paper. We need teachers, and books, not this expensive and polluting “facility” which robs us of our park, dune and enjoyment of it and our neighborhood. Sand Dune Park, with the real dune, will remain, without creation of this manmade river of sand. Once the issue is understood, the answer is obvious. Let the dune be, and don’t try to change it into something unnatural huge trucks, expense and pollution, to create a “regional sand-river work out facilty.”
Hello Mr. Kemple,
Mayor Ward’s integrity has never been in question. However, you are free to spin the letter however you would like. The simple point was to express how South Bay is a community and that the majority of residents frequent various parks and beaches in adjoining communities. Accordingly, yes – local issues can be evaluated with this idea in mind.
Moreover, since we all agree on that something needs to be done to reduce usage – there have been plenty of ideas offered that do not cost any additional funds (reducing park hours and establishing a quota are just two simple, zero cost ideas). Since there already is a park attendant desk there, all that is required is actual enforcement. With the resulting reduced usage, all other legitimate grievances also decrease
Using Mr. Kempler’s own numbers of peak usage, this still only averages to 21 people per hour and I am not so sure that justifies total closure.
It sounds like this may be a rare thing referred to as Secondary Drowning. It’s not common, but a small amount of inhaled water has been known to lead to a series of events that can cause pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and haemoptosis (coughing up blood).
When people have water in the lungs and try to breath it will often cause a froth/foam.
First off, you must be unaware of the very large amount of money provided to Manhattan Beach Park & Recreation by Los Angeles County in a grant “to maintain and operate in perpetuity the property developed, rehabilitated or restored”. A significant portion of that grant was used on the dune at Sand Dune Park. South Bay residents are clearly part of Los Angeles County and therefore those residents have a legitimate financial vested interest in that park. Actions taken by Mayor Ward most certainly reflect his commitment to an obligation to them. A suggestion by Mr. Hory for South Bay residents to hold Mayor Ward accountable is totally ethical and appropriate even if Mayor Ward had no further political aspirations.
Second, the money spent at Sand Dune Park has never been shown to be disproportionate compared to that spent at the other major Manhattan Beach parks. Even so, the answer to the question “How many teachers could Manhattan Beach hire” if any monies were saved by dune closure is exactly zero. The Manhattan Beach School District is an entirely separate and distinct entity from the Manhattan Beach City government. Any savings from park operations would not belong to the school district.
Third, the park workers are there whether the dune is open or not and the police get paid whether they are on a call or not. So the extra cost for that is zero. As far as the sand replenishment cost, how does that compare to the analogous event of mowing at Polliwog Park. How does it compare to the millions of kilowatt-hours of electricity used to provide park night lighting? The reasonableness of the maintenance costs at Sand Dune Park can’t be determined without such context.
Finally, I find it ironic that residents who chose to live in the Sand Dune Park neighborhood, that is just a few hundred yards from the noisy and toxic spewing El Segundo oil refinery, would complain about the noise and smog from some sand replenishment trucks six or seven times a year.
I am impressed by the way you treated this topic. It is not often I come across a blog with intriguing articles like yours. I will note your feed to stay up to date with your hereafter updates. I like it and do maintain up the complete work.
Just imagine I read it twice. While I am not as accomplished on this topic, I concur with your closings because they make sense. Thanks and goodluck to you.
I know Maison de Lumiere well, and I want to commend you on this article. It is an excellent and engaging account, and the photos are superb. You point toward something I have found to be true — when you experience God’s love as vividly as it shines at MDL, you are never the same.
Hey, this is my first visit to your blog… We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. good job
Un-Cuff the Cops rebuttal –
Before I dissect and dispute the authors letter, I would like to say that I truly am sorry to hear about your friend who was brutally attacked, and I am disgusted by this, and I can only offer my condolences and hopes for a full recovery…….. That being said, I truly believe that you’re wrong in your assumption that the demographic responsible are tattooed, drug addled skateboarders. Believe it or not, the one respectable trait that they all have, is a love and respect for this city that is equal (or sometimes greater) to the love they have of their own flesh and blood. I’m a 3rd generation member of this beautiful city. Born and raised in a home my family has owned since the late 20’s/early 30’s. Believe it or not, these kids on the pier w/ their skateboards and tattoos thwart more incidences that your friend fell victim to, than do they provoke or incite. Most of the fights and crimes committed around here are not from the locals– it’s the out of towners and transplants who have no respect for our beach community……..
Which if you agree or can believe that, I know exactly what your next argument is. If it’s the out of towners, lets not give them a reason to come here — blame it on the bars (as usual) shut down the promenade, close down the beach on the 4th of July, and for “GOODNESS GRACIOUS SAKES” can we please put an end to the 4th of July IRONMAN!!……. The correct answers for all of the above are NO-NO- and HELL NO!! This is what hermosa beach is. If you truly hate this fact, you should have chose residence in Manhattan or Redondo…..
As passionate as I sound about all of the above, what really bothered me the most about this letter is the whole “Un-Cuff the Cops” headline. In case you haven’t noticed, the negligence of the HB police department has cost us 2 embarrassing lawsuit settlements in 2009, one of which was a settlement to an off duty LAPD officer who was harassed and arrested by our fine police force. But really, I don’t wanna hammer the HBPD on this — that’s not my intention here. My concern, is that you’re stereotyping/profiling the wrong people. That was me 15 years ago, and I never bullied anyone, especially the locals. And I was a straight edger in those days, and I know for a fact some of this generations pier rats are too….. so be careful who you call drug addicts w/out any proof. You would probably be surprised at how many yuppie/middle class/average joe drug addicts there are out there…..
Good article, Robb. Any help Hermosa can get is good. I still would never surf during or after storms despite the water quality being better than when I was growing up
I have read this story to my third grade students, not without tears. and they are inspired to send cards and words of love to all of you. Not only is your story inspirational and touching, but an important reminder to us all that we are interconnected to each other. This is a good time to remember that we are all God’s children and each of us is responsible for and to each other. God bless each and every one of you and may God’s grace be with you. Cathy (Teacher)
I am leading a “Cycle for Haiti” Spin Class at the South Bay Spectrum Club this Saturday, January 23rd from noon-2pm to raise funds for this very same orphanage, Maison de Lumiere. If you would like to participate, (you don’t need to be a Spectrum member) please contact me, sue@yourpromoplace.com. $100 a bike, you can ride for the entire 2 hours or split the time with a friend or two. God Bless the Manaserro family and all who help those in need!
It’s so inspiring and touching to see how one child’s dream impacts the lives of so many beyond anyone could possibly ask for or imagine. I met the Manasseros long time ago at a family retreat. I know God will continue to bless the Manasseros and their work as they continue to bless so many.
What up Buttercup? Anytime I come across the name Mike Purpus I gotta check it out. Been a number one fan since I was 16 years old. You and Duke as well brought fame to surfing’s beginnings. Email me it’s been to long…..WIth much Respect and Aloha your friend Sandy Leilani one of the twins…..
I am deeply moved by this story. How great is our God? How great is His Name? Our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask,think or imagine. He deserve all the glory, honor and praise. We serve a mighty God!!!
To fall in the hands of a mighty God is a beautifull thing. When you think you are alone , well your not. When you cry out to Him, well He’s always there. When you think everyone has given up on you, well He hasn’t. He uses people who love Him to show His unfailing love ! I have seen it throu this beautiful family.
Finally, I have been able to read this story that I’ve heard about. So much that I didn’t know. I thought I understood my daughter’s love for the Haitian people, the Manasseros, and the mission, but now I really understand. Thank you, God, for opening my eyes wider. Cindy’s mom.
Great article, but you have an error in your last line. 10 year old IAN Irish took top honors in the 1k race. If you could change it, he would be very happy! If you can’t, no worries, there will be more races and more articles!! haha.
btw, Miles is his dad and Miles III is his brother…
Hermosa is art, thru its rich history of music, surfing, skateboarding, Paddle boarding, art galleries and creative loving people. We are ART. What better way to celebrate our history.
Dear Susette,
Now I know why your health was spared, for this important work and more, in Haiti. You and your family are profound works of faith in action. Continue to empower those around you with your elegant love of Christ and His path.
Love to your growing family,your sister in Christ.
Martha
Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained! I’m sure you had fun writing thx
I thought this was going to be another long boring blog post, but I was pleasantly suprised. I will be posting a backlink on my blog, as I am quite sure my readers will find this more than interesting.
Hello,I love reading through your blog, I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wishing you the best of luck for all your blogging efforts.
Great concept. And i would like to take it to the next level:
We could conduct guided Mural Tours using an electric car to be PC. And we could attach trailers that seat people on the back. Dignitaries from around the world would sit in the front seat.
Hermosa would be credited for causing a renaissance, a resurgence of art that would affect the entire world. We could have artists set up around the city just like they do on the left bank of on the Seine in Paris.
Artists from Hermosa would soon be contracted to do wall murals and ceilings of cathedrals at the Vatican and throughout western civilization.
Money from the tour and a 10% agent fee from the artists would go to fund the historical society, and would go to fund the Hermosa Arts Foundation to preserve and encourage the performing arts.
Hermosa would be the Mecca for art and art enthusiasts. Our artists would be treated like royalty.
We could have a permanent home for artists where they could display their art actually live off the proceeds. With the money that comes in we could buy up part of the strand and turn it back to an artist colony. Hermosa would flourish once again.
We could right books and documentaries. We could consult other cities and countries on how we expand this Renaissance. As for me, I ask for nothing except a small plaque at the bottom of my statue thanking me for my inspiration and imagination.
Hi. I just noticed that your site looks like it has a few code errors at the very top of your website’s page. I’m not sure if everybody is getting this same bugginess when browsing your blog? I am employing a totally different browser than most people, referred to as Opera, so that is what might be causing it? I just wanted to make sure you know. Thanks for posting some great postings and I’ll try to return back with a completely different browser to check things out!
Love our article. I know Sash and love her. She is a gifted, talented, human being and is giving back her gifts on a platter. I always hold her dear to me. Wonderment should be her given name. See you at your exibition. Love you, Barb
Being someone who was blessed to watch them in action two weeks ago and for the last three years, I concur that this is an amazing family that honors God by living out His calling in humbleness and submission. I feel priviledged to call them heroes of the God’s servants. I also thank them for opening all of our eyes to see the truly gracious nature of the people of Haiti.
Thanks as well to the Mr. McDermott for the well written article.
The dune at Sand Dune Park has been closed for 5 months, and will be closed at least 3 more. At a recent city council meeting, dozens of residents spoke of how they enjoy walking the dune for exercise. Yet some city councilmembers seem determined to ban “workouts / exercise” on the dune. This is being proposed under the guise of preventing the dune from being a “regional workout facility,” but in fact they would seek to ban adults from walking up the dune for any reason.
I’ve lived on the plateau atop the sand dune for 8 years. Since then, my standard morning exercise has been jogging down the hill, running along the waterline, jogging back up Manhattan Beach Blvd., then running along the Green Belt until arriving at the bottom of the dune, where I would finish my morning by walking up the dune– I’ve never once run, it’s just too dang hard. Other times, I walk to the dune and climb it several times, where I happily chat with other Sand Dune Park visitors about the city, their health and the wonderful views. There have been problems at Sand Dune Park due to over usage and a few bad apples. The solution is to address the peak usage issues and to focus on the actions of the few bad actors; the solution isn’t to ban exercise in a public park and prevent thousands of residents from enjoying the park they enjoyed for decades.
I bike on the strand, run on the Green Belt, stroll along the beach and climb the dune. None of those activities make those places a “workout facility.” What are parks for, if not exercise? I can walk on any street or sidewalk in the city. I can walk on the beach. I can walk on the strand, the Green Belt and in any public park. Are we ready to ban walking in Sand Dune Park?
This is one of the greatest articles I’ve read in the ER. It paints a fairly vivid picture of what Hermosa Beach was like in 70’s. It sparked some nostalgia towards the record shops and bookstores which unfortunately seem to both be a thing of the past.
What’s even more tragic is that Keith is absolutely right about his assessment of current day Hermosa.
It’s a sad thing to read someone who grew up in Hermosa and has enjoyed a fair amount of success say “When I think about what they’ve done to the city, I wouldn’t want to live there — and I couldn’t afford it.” That quote made me cringe.
It’s time for parents and a concerned community to realize great public schools need funding by the residents and businesses of their city. On a yearly basis. The volunteer parents and teachers of the Redondo Beach Educational Foundation are working hard to mobilize themselves with the local PTA’s, civic leaders and community and to rally around this ongoing budget problem. We need to all step up and help financially where we can. To be part of the solution, help our students and keep property values high, please consider donating to http://www.rbef.org
Great article. Hermosa Beach is arguably the birthplace of so-cal punk rock. So many great punk bands came out of the south bay, and more continue to pop up. South Bay punk rock is one of the few things they Yuppie Invasion will NEVER be able to get rid of!!
The relevant word is “thousands.” And that is just residents. There are multiples of thousands who used the dune who came to us from across the county, the country, and even the world. For that you can thank the LA Times, other media, and the internet.
Jacob Rome will suffer no harm if he eliminates the dune from his daily regimen. On the other hand, the neighborhood will benefit greatly from his not doing so, along with the thousands he mentions. Controlling adult dune traffic and use is more easily said than done, and is a rather costly. The gentleman who walked the dune many times a week with his backpack on was, though walking, certainly exercising and training.
The dune should be reopened as a kids only facility. As noted before, adults can take their pleasures elsewhere.
BIG SHOUT OUT TO: Song, Alex, Ki, and the rest of the crew at GU GU! hands down, best sushi/rolls in the south bay and surrounding areas.. also, great handicap access.
This is sad, we need to save Old Hermosa. We have been saying it for years. Now is the time to act before all the good stuff is completely replaced by these cold lifeless monstrosities. There is more to life than money. When I returned to California twenty five years ago, I purposely chose Hermosa over Manhattan because of the character of Hermosa. My son also listened to the music outside the Lighthouse, he is still playing music and it has been a savior for him. Don’t let them take this history and throw it away, it means so much to so many.
Hermosa was home so long ago but I havn’t been there in ages and it sounds sooooo different now. Too bad. But just like Keith, I’ll never pass up the chance to just walk on the pier when I’m down there.
Great article from Don Waller, who has managed to collect the exact essence of life in the South Bay at that very moment in time. I would just like to add that my Dad took me to the Insomniac one night. We watched from the doorway, as a man rode a tricycle – wheels soaked in color – over a huge canvas on the floor. Lights were blue and red and there was jazz playing in the background. If I’d been a little cool, I may have caught the name of the artist. I was a child, so I had my eye on that trike.
As a teen, Either/Or Bookstore, Greeko’s Sandals, Rubicon & Manhattan Beach’s Platypus Records was where the tidbits of my after school job’s wages were spent. It was it’s own universe for a minute – giving birth to such a wide range of artists.
Took a trip there last March after my Mom passed out of this life. Yeah, it’s missing a chunk of its soul – traded it for higher priced, under-inspired shops full of shit.
The salty air & morning fog still feels really good, though.
Who knew that the Black Flag seed was sown from going to see Thin Lizzy and Journey? Great stuff… Love the quote about “Knucklehead Beach”… I get that.
They kicked out the Westside Burrito connection in Bremerton, WA, too. The reason we had so many places to play music there was the town was a ghost town. The civic economy was completely destroyed with the invention of the mall (another great Seattle export)
Music tends to be pretty viral, so don´t get in a huff when the town becomes yuppieville. The scene will move on and start eating fresh meat somewhere else just down the road where the rent is cheap and there´s burritos by the plenty. It will ache and people will bitch but that makes the tunes better in the end anyway.
What a fascinating time-capsule article. I was there during part of this history, having been close friends with record store owner Michael Piper. Like Keith, Michael turned me on to a lot of great music, and together we went to more legendary shows on the Strip than I can count. I would see Keith around back then, usually at Michael’s shop, but like most of us at that time, he was into the progressive rock stuff like Genesis & Gentle Giant. When punk started to happen & I heard that Keith was involved I could fathom it! I used to attend services at the infamous church- when Brother Ritchie was pastor- long before it was shuttered and eventually became the squathouse for the local punk brigade. One day a good friend of mine Bobby Blotzer, drummer for Ratt, said “I wanna take you to see a friend of mine. You’re not gonna believe this.” This was early 1980s. We went to the church, which at that point had been closed for some time, and made our way to a room where Ron Reyes was living…in a cupboard! It was an overhead storage cupboard, large enough to sleep in. And there he was! We hung out for awhile & I reminisced about what it was like going to church there back in the day. The So Bay’s transformation from a progressive-rock stronghold to one of LA’s punk epicenters was a strange transformation to watch, and the Smokestack/Fleetwood was a big part of that evolution. Then you have the local metal thing too, which began developing about the same time, with Ratt, Dokken, and Great White. Lots of history there, and its great to see that Keith is still going strong.
Thus far, HB has exceeded its conservation goal VOLUNTARILY.
It is typical when conservation efforts increase, costs go up.
Reportedly not related to conservation, however, Cal Water is requesting rate increases of 16.75%, in Jan. 2011; another 5.04% in 2012 and another 4.79% in 2013.
Thanks girls! We are getting really excited. We just had a taste testing/product development night and everything is just looking great. Next week. Tuesday we think. Cross your fingers!
Very nice article…I know you are all working very hard. I know there is a lot of talent, experience, artistry, persistence, expertise, hard work and sheer will going into this pursuit and God-Willing you will make a mark in El Segundo and big waves at the Beaches!!!
Thanks all for the drive and sacrifices. I am excited to see it all and I live in West LA!
Very nice article…I know you are all working very hard. I know there is a lot of talent, experience, artistry, persistence, expertise, hard work and sheer will going into this pursuit and God-Willing, you will achieve your goals in El Segundo, and create big important waves of culture at the Beaches!!!
Thanks for all of your determination and endless sacrifices. I am excited to see every production and I am willing to drive from West LA!
Thank you JoAnne. What a nice surprise to see your words of encouragement after our first performance tonight. It was a remarkable evening and I encourage you and your friends to make the drive. You will not be disappointed. One of our patrons this evening came up to me to complain – because she wanted an encore to the applause and felt we had not given the actors their due. That won’t happen again.
All the best, Jeryll Adler, Executive Director, Pacific Stages
First off, Mark Mach….k – you live in MB, so when you vote in favor of approving speculative drilling in your beloved city, then maybe I’ll spend more than 2 minutes considering your lame argument before I completely take you to task on McPhearson oil’s bogus lawsuit. There was an excellent non partisan article in the easy ready a few months back that detailed the ongoing battle between the oil speculators and what is now the city of Hermosa Beach dating back to the days of the Biltmore (which is something you’re probably scratching your transplant head @). Shell oil foot the bill for a ballot initiative to drill — It was shot down by the residents in the 50’s. They spent a lot of $$ on this, but it was @ their own expense. McPhearson 30+ years later rolled the dice as well, but they did so thru the city council rather than thru a resident vote — knowing damn well, that despite what the local government was ok with, didn’t necessarily mean that the HB citizens would be ok with. That was a stipulation in the original agreement. The citizens – taxpayers – locals….rallied together and shut the project down. And sure, maybe these people were a bunch of tree hugging hippies, but regardless, it stated in the original contract, that the residents of Hermosa retained the right to overturn the allowances granted by the local government…. Before I go any further, this proposed angle drilling technique, was from my understanding, a crapshoot @ best anyway. The oil company invested pocket change to aquire these drilling rights — they gambled and lost. Just like the the Big Banks who gambled on the Housing market and sent us into the 2nd great depression. I personally feel like greedy corporations who care only about themselves have taken enough of my hard earned tax dollars – McPhearson is no different. They gambled and lost — they can get their bailout from some other sucker. But not me….
What a GREAT idea! I love it! “Go Green HB and share the road!” My daughter and I walked the strand every morning and as much as we love the bikes (and of course the cyclist themselves) it’s hard to walk and ride at the same time. This will help to alleviate the traffic on the strand, and also help to promote an already “walking town” to ride their bikes to and from any destination. Couldn’t be happier!
Sounds very interesting…I just moved from the Manhattan Beach area and might not have moved had i known about this! I founded and presented “Sing! Sing! Sing!” at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City for 15 years and I am always looking for a nice venue for my performances. I am watching your project with great interest and admire your energy and tenacity! Put me on your mailing list on email. Mailing address is 11343 1/2 Cashmere St. Los Angeles, CA 90049 310.990.2405
Joe Carducci’s New Vulgate blog linked over to this interview. A great interview. I saw Black Flag with Keith singing at I think the Hong Kong Cafe in ’79 and it was one of the greatest shows of my life- he didn’t dress punk – corduroy pants and a J.C. Penney’s print shirt. – but was completely hypnotic onstage.
Anyhow I loved the article. I have seen the Circle Jerks and Black flag many times.
On a health note, please someone get ahold of Keith and ask him if he was ever tested for hemochromatosis – I have it and it put me in a diabetic coma and afflicted me with cirrhosis. His comments about managing diabetes are right one.
It is CRUCIAL he gets tested for HH (hereditary hemochromatosis). It’s a common genetic disease and it treatable but left untreated it causes diabetes, cirrhosis, and even death.
Hello, Michael’s sister and old friend of Keith’s here in NYC,
I had long since moved to Santa Cruz, where Michael came to live with me and then to NYC where he also relocated by the time Keith started doing music. If anyone knows how I can reach Keith, my H.S. friend, I would be indebted. email: brannan.piper812@gmail.com. The music world is so small that I imagine that those of you young enough to have had the “Michael experience” are aware that he passed away on April 18, 2008. DEVASTATING. I want to thank Keith for keeping his spirit and contributions alive in his references to Mick in his interview. Michael went on to become a leading rare international record dealer, record producer, and continued to be a seeker of new and unusual musical talent for his entire life. I miss him everyday.
Keith, just so that you know, I always thought that you were not only super intelligent but also very hip in an understated way……. which is the only way I like it. Very proud of you.
Michael would want you all to know that he believed keeping the spirit of music alive and most importantly, circulating it, sharing it and connecting through it is a positive and passionate undertaking. I made sure that his passing was full of love and peace. I never left his side.
would love to hear from any old friends. Best to all, Brannan
The Hermosa Beach Neighborhood watch administrator is using fear mongering to defame recyclable collectors.
In an email send to many Hermosa households he states that these recyclable collectors are involved in ID theft and other crimes. No scientific method/statistics for this deep insight was given.
The people who go out early in the morning to collect recyclables probably don’t have a choice and that this is their only livelihood. To take this last opportunity to make a living through (hard) work away is not only unChristian but will drive them to alternate ways to make money.
Another aspect is the amount spent on police hours for trash protection /enforcement. My wild guess would be about 10 calls a month minimum. Each call takes approx. 15 minutes or more.
This makes at least 150 minutes a month (10 x 15) or 1800 minutes a year (12 x 150). This comes up to 30 hours a year at about $50 an hour per officer (incl. benefits etc.) or $ 1500 a year (minimum) to protect our trash. How about having specially marked bags put out for recyclables collectors. It is our property after all, so we should be able to decide who we give it to.
To Ray Devore (Letters, ER Feb. 11, 2010): Don’t worry, duuuude. No one is threatening your boring little life. Pacific Stages will simply add some interest to South Bay for those who appreciate more than surfing, volleyball and lowest common denominator entertainment. So go down to the bar, order a pitcher and “fuhgeddaboudit”.
Mary Leath
Redondo Beach
This is terribly sad news. Can’t say I knew Blue other than on a casual basis when I’d visit Shellback or Ercoles and he was manning the door, but he was a fixture at those bars, and took his responsibilities seriously. A friendly face, always a nod of recognition, an all-around good guy who helped define the MB scene. I am stunned by this news, RIP Blue. Seriously, I am without words to learn of this news, and wish it weren’t so.
Hey Steve,
Knowing you I know Cancer must have thought twice I am sure you are gonna get by it. Well look at the positive side you get to spend more time with beautiful nurses now;) God Bless!!!!
Linda is a life long friend of mine. She is an amazing and caring person. I hope that others, including myself can take this class and help out others in need.
It was a thrilling evening indeed! Now we music lovers don’t have to hop on the 101 Fwy to hear music of absolute world class caliber. Don’t miss this chance to hear stunningly great music in an intimate setting featuring my friend Yana Reznik and her hand picked virtuosos. Let’s hope this concert series is here to stay!
S.J. Pettersson
owner
Manhattan Beach Music & Voice
Hi there! Eden, I was soooooooo surprise that you didn’t make a Cut to compete here in Canada,
as we were so happy when I saw you on the Web. What happened???
Take care,
Wow! This is an Olympic record – a quadruple cover up.
To wit (allegedy, of course):
1. The drunk cop drove away, to cover it up.
2. The cops who responded wrote no report, to cover it up.
3. The brass hid it from the press, to cover it up.
4. The brass is still hiding the names of the officers involved, to cover it up.
All that’s missing is a back flip – but that is coming. Wait for it.
Linda Cunningham is an exceptional person. She deserves a tremendous amount of credit and respect for what she does to help people in her community. As well as all the other volunteers who are helping too. Thanks to them we are a very lucky community!!!
I was in the Baptist congregation at the church. I was one of several unruly young teens who would run through the church discovering these great hidden places, running around the roof with all of the dead pigeons and ditching church to go down and hang with the ‘hippies.’ The year was 1967-1970. The place was a magic land of funky madness. It was a small congregation which put the bigot into bigotry…..I played The Doors for the pastor, Avery Richie, who summerized his impression like this…’it’s one thing for a “Nigger to sing like a nigger, but another thing for white man to sing like a nigger.” This was my spiritual leader…..but, instead, I follow Morrison, Hendrix and Dylan…..The church’s fate becoming a mecca for So Cal punk and the place where Black Flag was born seems somehow fitting.
We have enjoyed the CLOSBC for many years and especially enjoy the high quality of the set designs. As dog lovers we purchased tickets with no expectations other than high quality as usual.
However we were very disapointed in the mak-up, sets and the story line, especially the second act. Why no make-up? Some ears and tails at a minimum would have been nice. How did the dogs go from Doggy Day Care to the park without their humans? Why are they singing show tunes?
Pages will be a very special place to stop and get a lift for the day, the week, or the month.
The three wonderful owners are an inspiration to the community.
I wish them great success and send my love always.
Mom/Barbara
Pages will be a very special place to stop and get a lift for the day, the week, or the month.
The three wonderful owners are an inspiration to the community.
I wish them great success and send my love always.
Mom/Barbara
As a result of the CARD Act reforms that went into effect on February 22, credit card companies are projected to incur $12 billion in annual losses. But we all know that credit card companies are far too imaginative to let this happen. The reforms require the credit card companies to give you 45 days notice before rate increases, and those increases cannot be applied to existing debt unless you miss payments for 60 days. In addition, there have been new restrictions placed on how they can market to college students under 21 years old. This all translates to nothing more than a bump in the road for card companies. Old methods of revenue generation will be replace by new ones in the form of lots of fee
“You’re doing What?!!”
“A book store in this economy? “Are you crazy?”
“The future is online book selling, don’t you know that?”
So said the safe seekers, troubled by this way audacious risk taking.
The three were polite. They did not argue.They planned, calculated risk..and set sail onto uncharted waters, holding precious cargo destined for a community starving for its life affirming treasures.
Godspeed you three, you brave…you book moms.
To Mr. Devore AND Mr. Kennedy, I have a few quotes too. I am not sure who said them.
1. actions speak louder than words
2. all sound and fury signifying nothing
3. put your money where you mouth is
Simply, before you judge my taste or where I come from and “who is this Jeryll Adler Chick”, please know this. I am not saying there is something wrong with what is already here culturally. I am simply saying it is largely not my taste and rather than simply complain about that I want to add something to the mix that appeals to me personally. I also believe I am not alone in wanting other choices.
Mr. Devore, I respectfully suggest that perhaps you should have read the entire article before you commented. Considering that with Pacific Stages very first production we have already been singled out for a prestigious O! Recommends from the LA Stage Alliance I think this Jeryll Adler chick is someone who knows quality theatre and has the ability to make things happen. I did not know that makes me an interloper out to destroy a quiet Hamlet by the sea. That was certainly not on my to do list when I set out to do a good deed, but here is another anon quote ‘no good deed goes unpunished.’ I do all of this as a volunteer and I am no rich dilettante, just a very hard working woman who cares and believes strongly in community service and the power of the arts to enrich our lives.
We are all carpetbaggers from points East, West, North and South unless we are American Indians. At some point in history many of us moved some place we or our families had not been before. And all around us EVERYWHERE is evidence that the world changes regardless of our attitudes. Most probably migrated from our roots – mine first in a working class community in New Jersey – because we loved what we saw elsewhere and wanted a change. I adore the South Bay. That does not mean that I want to live in a time capsule. With or without me the South Bay will and does change. I just want to be someone who makes a positive and thoughtful contribution.
And just so you know a little more, I am a second generation American grateful to be alive at all because the vast majority of my family died in the Holocaust. I love my country and my community and don’t bandy about names like Hitler or Mussolini lightly. These are not casual references to me.
So, as to all my quotes – only one person who has written in has bothered to come see our debut production LOBBY HERO. Thank you Mary Leath. Ray and James B, buy a ticket please before you continue this carefree banter, and come say hello to me. We are a young not-for-profit and I am usually the woman who also takes tickets. [Typical of us intellectual elitists, huh Ray?] In other words, “actions speak louder than words” , “put your money where your mouth is” and please realize that all of the drama has impact only if we bother to take the time not to judge without pause. How about taking a chance you might actually like something different than what is already here. Otherwise, those words – no matter which side of the conversation – are “all sound and fury signifying nothing.’
In closing I will share one more quote – written by Jeryll Adler – “Love Theatre, Hate Drama.”
I like this place! I love the idea and wish there was a place like this in Astoria, Queens. I am a surfer and found a “real surfer bar” in Point Break NYC. I am kinda jealous ;0PIts filled with surfers, people who like surfers, people who like the beach and people who don’t want to live close to town. I really like this place. You know what they have these real Proctor and Channel One surfboards on the wall. It’s nice for coming any day of the week and eating a late brunch. The food was outstanding. The brunch and sides were prefect and tasty. It is a perfect “escape” from city living. It is probably one of the only places where you can get a nice frozen pina colada or margarita. The service was on hit. They came up and checked on us so many times and made sure everything was up to par. It gets very active and the bartenders keep everybody having a good time. The bartender was very accommodating. He was nice enough to make a drink, that wasn’t on the menu, for me :0) Did I mention the bartenders are nice eye candy. It was amazing to see their “das boot” which is shaped like a boot filled with beer. Don’t get me wrong, I am not drunk…it’s an actual boot shaped beer container ready to be emptied. Try it ..You will love it!! Oh. How can I forget, they even have a wheel o’ shots where you just have to spin it and have to drink whatever shot it lands on!! Now call that bar creativity at its best!!! And when I spill a tray full of shots on myself, the bartender so kindly remakes them for me? Good music, too, and the decor helped us weather an otherwise overcast and rainy day. You know that old song “Brandy”? It goes, “Brandy, you’re a fine girl, what a good wife you would be. But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea.” I believe Brandy works here. No reason, I just do. And that song happens to be a guilty pleasure of mine, so that’s a plus in my book. You can simply waltz over to this colorful and warm establishment, enjoy some drinks with friends, and walk home. The bar is right at the center, so you can walk to either side for drinks, and the bartenders are friendly and at your service. There is a variety of seating, good music, and friendly neighborhood people to make your time more enjoyable. Not pretentious, very cozy, I think Point Break is a fabulous place to spend some time with friends.
WOW heart breaking she was a wonderful women in the industry as a leader in the South Bay for Photography, a mentor to some as myself. I pray for her family on this sad lost, and am blessed to have known her.
Her Life lives on with her wonderful Photography work
Hermosa Beach thought they settled all the lawsuits made against the HBPD and now this comes up? You can bet there will be a lawsuit. Rumor down at Torrance Court is the criminal charge pending for Seindensticker is littering! What’s the names of the cops who did the tasering here? Probably the same guys who are whining about positions being cut at HBPD. Why don’t we close down the HBPD and use the volunteer Citizens in Policing to patrol our beach town. They’re free and won’t beat down people for sure!
Another day in the south bay finds another person in blue committing a crime. Like his compadres in Manhattan Beach PD who drove drunk and crashed his car into someone else then left the scene & the other 4 MBPD cops that covered it up and falsified police reports, this Redondo Beach cop needs to see the inside of a prison cell for a while. Once a thief always a thief. How many people has he stolen from when he’s stopped or arrested them, or searched their house and cars? Notice how hypocritical the RB cops comments are when it comes to one of their own. If it was a normal Joe who did this, they’d come for his head! Disgraceful!
Way to go Jim….short and right to the point. There’s no reason the Sheriffs’ Department can’t give out the cops names. MBPD cops don’t work for LASD so there is no violation of their beloved Police Officer Bill of Rights to do so. These MBPD cops are criminals and it’s too bad we have been and will have to continue paying their salary while they’re on paid vacation (aka suspension with pay). Uyeda has outlived his usefulness and needs to resign immediately. Word is he’s practicing his gymnastics skills at a gym up in PV where he lives.
Hope the poor guy that got hurt when these drunken manhattan beach cops hit him, took off and covered it up sue the pants of the MPBD. These guys think they’re above the law and can do whatever the heck they want. Time to put them in their place. Sooner or later their names will come out, that’s when the party will really start.
julia taught me art when i was young and i worked for her last summer help in her summer camp. its so sad to hear how she passes. i am 17 and i want to peruse a career in art all thanks to julia, she was the reason i found art. i wish i had more time to thank her, she was the most amazing art teacher in the world, i will miss her so much, and im so sorry she had to leave. but here memory lives on everywhere in my life and my family’s.
Julia was a great influence on me and my two daughters who are now 15 and 17 at Redondo High. The started taking art classes from Julia when they were 4 and 6 respectively. They worked for the past 3 summers at her art camp. My 17 year old says if it weren’t for Julia she wouldn’t be the artist she is now, which is very good. Julia’s “Wolf” project was done recently in the Redondo Hands on Art Program. My 17 year old was a docent for the high school for this project. It gave her a warm feeling to know that Julia had taught this to her many years ago when she was 6 years old. Julia has been supportive, enthusiastic, caring, and just a wonderful passionate person. We were lucky to have her as a friend and art teacher. Our prayers go to Jack, John and Jacob and the other family members who are feeling their loss.
Julia was my mentor and shining example of how one should lead their life. She was a stand-in mother, a best friend, and just plain fun. She helped my dreams come true and made an impact on my life that will last forever.
My children loved taking art classes from Julia. Their art from her classes is still decorating our walls in our dining room and living room. We used some of this art to create thank you notes for legislators in our advocacy efforts. With kindness, understanding, concern and caring, she taught our children about art and lead them to create their own art utilizing different media and different techniques. She was an exceptional woman, educator and artist. We will all miss Julia. Her husband and sons have our deepest sympathy.
Kudos to councilman Fishman. Once again he takes the initiative on innovative ways to maintain and even decrease costs. He’s also not afraid to tackle the tough issues like business license fees, though he adds his own emphasis on inclusion and full disclosure for all parties involved. He truly lives up to his campaign slogan that promised “people power.”
For myself, a writer who lives in New York yet loves L.A., this is yet another sign of vibrant literary life and community out there. Can’t wait to spend time there during my next LA stint this Spring!
Yana is so incredible! She is playing tonight, March 6th, in Hermosa Beach along with equally fantastic musicians. Please join me and other fellow music lovers there for what will be a truly memorable evening.
Stig Jonas Pettersson
owner
Manhattan Beach Music & Voice
Julia Tedesco was a very talented woman who touched many childrens’ lives. My children Kristina and Matthew were two of the many students that were so lucky to take art classes with her. I too feel privileged to have known her and I always enjoyed our chats. She will always be remembered and we have many art projects framed.
All I can say is wow and now I know why Rendondo is considered one of the most dog unfriendly cities. Glad I don’t live there. And Kilroy…I wonder if his dog ever sees anything but a back yard.
As reported by Robb Fulcher (“Lean budget costs police positions”, ER-Feb 25), Hermosa’s council has essentially set in concrete a police and fire department hiring freeze further below already understaffed levels.
Incredibly, council decisions continue to be akin to handling a firetrap by adding combustibles while at the same time reducing and freezing means to control the eventual fire.
Hermosa councils have foolishly permitted liquor-dispensing expansion ad nauseam while knowing the city’s been overconcentrated in liquor selling for years, and that this added liquor selling and its associated visitor intensification, increases the need for costly fire, paramedic and police resources at a rate faster than any additional 1 cent city share of sales tax on each reported dollar of liquor-related sales.
The Council also knows that the state and county keep 8.75 cents of the sales tax from each reported dollar of sales, and that Hermosa Beach receives but 1 cent, not the entire 9.75 cents of the sales tax so reported. The myth of huge sales tax revenue from Hermosa bars has been outrageously perpetuated for years in Hermosa Beach. According to the city’s finance director, total city-received sales tax revenue from all the bars and restaurants citywide, dispensing full liquor, is less than $1,300 a day. Meanwhile, public safety costs in Hermosa Beach have reached $50,000 per day.
When it comes to freezing further the already understaffed Hermosa Police and Fire departments, while there’s no freeze or moratorium even contemplated as to the number of liquor outlets or gross amount of liquor-selling occupancy permitted in city, Hermosa councils are ignorantly continuing an official policy bordering on insanity. The focus should more-intelligently be on freezing and then reducing the 10 years of liquor and visitor intensification that’s significantly responsible for the costly, escalating fire and police requirements, not to mention the degradation to the community.
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE! ~ Your courage and commitment to your dreams is inspiring
(and a stroke of luck for Manhattan Beach)! While we won’t be in town for your first author’s event, we will look forward to others.
Today I attended the AAYF class at the PV Art Center that was Julia Tedesco’s last project, taught by her son in his mother’s place… What an incredible young man to step up at this time of personal loss, and to share this last gift that his mother created for us… it was of course another amazing project, so clearly taught, step-by-step, with everyone’s artwork different, yet all beautiful in the end!
I had been looking forward to this project all year as Julia is one of the few artists that I could recognize at AAYF, as I have been very fortunate to have learned and taught all four projects she created for our program. And I thoroughly enjoyed her wonderful directed drawing projects as they were always so user friendly to students and docents alike. She was indeed my favorite artist in the program.
I did not know her personally, but only as a very fortunate docent who was always inspired by what she taught. I just needed say how much she touched my life with her wonderful gifts of art and her warm and caring personality. Reading about her life and her many generous contributions to her community and the art world, only made her loss seem even greater.
My deepest sympathy to her family at this time. Thank you for sharing this wonderful lady with us. And thank you to her son for continuing her work in such a special way today. What an amazing family you are! Please know her memory lives on in many hearts.
Thanks for the thought-provoking preview. Glen Phillips’ thoughts on his early success feels so real and unscripted that it has renewed my appreciation for Toad.
Julia was a person I saw once a year or so. Each time she had something wonderful going on in her life and recently things not wonderful at all. She always shared those things as an afterthought. She was a wonderful role model on how to live each moment to the fullest. My heart goes out to those she leaves behind. She’s a hard act to follow.
Why is the school board so reluctant to use the Economic Uncertainty Reserve? If this is not a time of economic uncertainty, then what is? The nation’s economy is beginning to recover, slowly, so tax revenues should be increasing over the next couple of years. This is the perfect time to use the “rainy day fund” to preserve the quality of RB’s schools. Ms. Butler is right: one year of overcrowded classrooms and overstressed teachers can have a huge impact on a little child.
3-13-10
Mike-
After six years out here in Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree and fresh out of the hospital (quad bypass last week), I finally got my Internet working by going to AT&T cell and came across this artilcle. It brings back lots of very positive memories, especially of the “Duke” during the sixties. He and Hoppy Swarts were two of the most popular and positive influences in the sport of surfing as we know it today.- Skip
Keep up the good work writing with the Easy Reader. Hope all is well.
Skip
Is stoked. That’s right: S T O K E D ! Muchas gracias! So many memories…my Mom and sisters (and me from time to time) lived on 12th between Rowell and Peck on Liberty Hill so I hung out a Polliwog since it was just a swamp. Was at that show and The Church (or The Colony during the day) and Red Beach…nothing about Red Beach? The stretch of The Strand just north of the Hermosa Pier where various M/Cs would hang out wearing their colors among their precision parked choppers hawking their wares: reds? whites? ‘lumbo? microdot? Even lived in the Hermosa Hotel for a minute. Damn, I got a CETA job at what was Pier Avenue MS!
Dear ER:
On New Year’s Day I ran into a wonderful woman, Linda Reardon (maiden name), at 24th Street, HB, who had my mom, Peggy Jenssen, as her fifth grade teacher at Grand View Elementary many years ago. She wanted to reconnect with my mom, gave me her contact info, but it was accidentally erased. I’m hoping if you print this that she, or someone who knows her, will tell her to email me so I can get the info to my mom.
My email: ktobler@fuesd.k12.ca.us.
Thanks so much…let’s see the power or the HB grapvine, ha!
Katy (Jenssen) Tobler
It’s a hoot to hear how folks like Longacre bemoan restaurants and bars for the liquor they serve, as if having a beer with a burrito is a precursor to social decline. Perhaps Longacre should inquire about where his meager prop 13 limited property tax ranks in filling the coffers of the City’s revenue? While the prohibitionists seek to limit alcohol these folks provide no recognition to how minuscule long time residents contributions toward floating Hermosa’s financial boat. As a result, Hermosa like all other California Cities rely on business related tax revenue for providing the majority of their funding. The last census indicated that the average age of a Hermosa Beach resident is 36 years. People 36 and younger do what people 36 and younger do – they party and booze it up, which explains why there are more bars in Hermosa Beach than Leisure World. If folks like Longacre would like to ban alcohol sales then perhaps they can come up with a plan to make up for the lost revenue.
Nono,
We had lots of fun reading this article. We see your studio and wondered if you were still teaching. We now know the answer to that. And you have a daughter, too! Good, everyone is active and athletic. It was great to get some insight into you and your family.
Love,
John and Debby
RegardingChris Miko’s pink slip: I certainly don’t want to trivialize seniority, but what does this say to the teacher inspired to do a good job? My kids, at they went through Mira Costa, noted the several more senior teachers that were just going through the motions. And they noticed the younger inspired teachers who became more jaded as they saw the lack of reward for excellence. What does this tell the kids? The unions and administrations need to ask themselves if they are really doing the kids a favor by not rewarding merit at all.
Is seniority really the only measure we can use to determine which teachers stay and which ones “must” be cut due to budget shortfall? When we can’t afford something in our household, we make decisions about what we need and what we most benefit from having. This might leave a lot of discretion to an administration, but then again if they are held to the same level of accountability and cost-benefit analysis they might exert better, rational decision making than “last hired, first fired”.
How many hours of my life do I have to waste waiting to cross Rosecrans from Highland when I come home from work? The backup all the way down Vista happens every afternoon. The problem was made a lot worse when the city closed Ocean (The Strand owners got relief, but I and thousands of other MB citizens don’t get relief from traffic in front of their house). The city has done nothing to aleviate this problem. The least that can be done is to have someone directing traffic at Rosecrans and Highland at 5:00. Get a meter reader to do it. There will be plenty of money available now that the rate has been increased by $.75. I don’t care how they do it but fix the problem.
Was it DD that caused the property values to drop or was it the sub-prime market collapse that caused a devaluation of virtually all property? Let’s not put a political spin on this and just call it what it is; unfortunate timing.
I don’t know Mr. Miko personally, but my children do and for that I’m thankful. He made a difference in their lives. He got my son off of dinosaurs and into Space. My out of town friends still talk about the visit they made to Meadow’s Space Night and my daughter likes him so much she’s looking forward to fifth grade!
Mr. Miko, you inspired my children to learn more about space and science. Thank you!
I would like to share two quotes from James Michener, my Space teacher, about where I’d like to see you next year and the choices made by MBUSD.
“An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it.” Let’s fight to keep Mr. Miko at Meadows because “character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.” I hope someone invites me to help keep you at Meadows!
Chris was my son Anand’s teacher last year and I was hoping he would be my daughter’s teacher next year when she reached 5th grade. He is a very inspiring teacher and in the words of my son “he gets me.” This is high praise and the reason why we shared news of the NASA fellowship with him. Although I know he has a philosophical view on this whole situation, it does frustrate me that we can not retain such a quality individual who has more than proven his passion for his subject of science and inspiring kids to learn in a way that is relevant to their generation. This isn’t easy, I know being a teacher myself. Best wishes Chris.
It’s a shame when great teachers like Mr. Miko are selected for layoffs just because of their seniority. He’s done so many great things for science learning at Meadows. Because of Mr. Miko’s high standards and teaching style, my older son thinks 6th grade science is a breeze!
“Our facility lost an air compressor which provides instrument air to several process units .. This situation resulted in an upset to our fuel gas system which resulted in fuel gas being sent to a safety flare.”
Is that even English? Damn, do they need help in the communications department.
My son was in Mr. Miko’s first class at Meadows. He is now a 7th grader and still mentions his name at least once a week and after school on Fridays he walks up to Meadows to serve as a mentor for the science club. My son talks about taking AP Physics and Biology in 10th grade. How many 7th graders have this type of discussion with their friends and parents? I contribute it to the spark that grew into an immense passion for science that Mr. Miko ignited in my son. I am sure he will go on to do great things because of it. My younger son can’t wait to have Mr. Miko as a science teacher next year. Mr. Miko is considered the rock star of science at Meadows.
It makes no sense to me that an individual with Mr. Miko’s achievements could be laid off. His exceptional performance includes raising the STAR test scores in Science 20 points in his first year at Meadows. I attribute his success to his ability to connect with the students and apply the concepts of science to every day life.
In the private sector, Mr. Miko would be considered an indispensable company resource. Something is dreadfully wrong with our system when an organization would consider laying off a NASA fellow.
I’d welcome a response from the Teachers Union on Mr. Miko’s situation, as well as how they are supporting young, bright, teachers who are at the bottom end of their seniority system. What is the future for new teachers in California with our budget situation and this type of system?
My daughter, Soleil had Mr. Miko as her 5th grade teacher, and she thrived in Science because she could feel his passion for it. I am grieved that the MBSD cannot see the contribution this man has given. Grieved at the politics involved, and the lack of discretion the board uses in making its choices. The children need more teachers like Mr. Miko who are actively involved on a global basis. I am very upset about him getting a pink slip, and the fact that there is an enormous wrong being committed here, and the children as always, will be the ones to feel the loss.
I know the children are going to feel the loss not the board of MBSD. Mr. Miko was my daughter Soleils 5th grade teacher, and she thrived in Science because of his passion. Of all the teachers, come on! Show us that you really do care about our childrens education and keep Mr. Miko! Give someone else a pink slip! KEEP MR. MIKO!!
Keep Mr. Miko!
He is one of the few teachers besides Mr. Barakat and Mr. Chow that actually get it, and the children benefit from these young passionate teachers! My daughter Soleil had him as her 5th grade teacher, and she thrived in Science because of his intellect and ability to teach the children, and actually inspire the children. The children will be at a great loss educationally!!! KEEP MR. MIKO!!
Using my poor math skills that I have from attending public schools with seniority policies, it seems that the 4.1million from MBEF saved 35 jobs at over $117,000 per job. Which teacher is making $117,000? If teachers actually made this much than we might have more teachers like Chris. Charter schools are the way of the future in California. I recommend to everyone reading this that they move their children to a charter school to get a solid education.
Laying off Mr Miko is a ludicrous act that should disgrace the dysfunctional California Teacher’s Union. Mr. Miko is the best teacher in the district and because of the inflexibility of the Union he would be one of the first to get laid off??? And where are the Directors of the School District whose job it is to manage the Union?
This action, of giving Mr. Miko a pink slip, yet again demonstrates that the business model of the School District and the Teachers Union is not capable of meeting the responsibility of reasonably managing the Manhattan Beach Teaching Staff. In a functioning business model, you layoff your underperforming employees first not your best performers.
I call for the layoff or early retirement of underperforming senior teachers prior to the layoff of the highest performing young teacher in the district. I call for the recall of the Manhattan Beach School District Superintendent. We parents and taxpayers of Manhattan Beach must hold the Teachers Union and the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Executives accountable for their actions. Let’s publicly and objectively review the performance records of each and every teacher in the Manhattan Beach School district. Let’s publicly and objectively make the decision of who gets laid off and who gets retained and let’s stop the insanity of allowing lousy older teachers to treat our kids poorly while we turn away the young teachers who inspire our children to do their best. If the School District and the Teacher’s Union can’t get it done right, then let’s do it ourselves.
Will the Sand Dune Park people please just shut up and go away. What is it about these sweaty over-adrenalized spandex clad narcissistic fascists who insist that our whole world is theirs to foist the ” exhilerating workout ‘ ethic all over the public landscape. Do we really need Gilad-type bodies in motion tramping our parks and strand . I think not. There are acres and acres of wide open sand available for there exertions, it’s called the Beach. A sand dune is created by centuries of wind blowing sand uphill. Since the dune in question is no longer naturally replenished but must be restored at great expense by city workers then it only makes sense to protect it from the constant displacement caused by people pushing themselves up and down the hillside in endorphined frenzy. Maybe we can erect some poles in our parks to train our next generation of athletes for the future Olympic sport of pole dancing instead of inside dark and smelly topless bars. In the meantime sweat elsewhere.
““We really wanted to be able to find a point where both parties would win – where they would have property to build a new police station and we would be able to bring in revenues to the district to help offset cutbacks we’ve had from the state,” Loewenstein said. “We’ve spent years on this now. It’s incredibly frustrating. I have personally spent a lot of time dealing with this. I kind of wash my hands of it.””
Offsetting education cutbacks on the back of the city isn’t useful. Coming from THAT perspective, no wonder it didn’t work out. And “washing your hands of” great work – time for someone new to replace you!
In this case, incredibly, the CITY has the right attitude:
Biggs said…we were trying to craft a win-win scenario that worked beyond the economics of revenue generation for the district.”
Thank you for writing this kind and sensitive article.
Hopefully, other media/reporters will model their coverage
of suicides in such a way. You have provided an incredible
balance of information and answers to questions everyone
has, yet avoided any harmful sensationalism which could
precipitate the development of suicide clusters. I think
it is very hurtful both immediately and longterm to ignore
a death by suicide, both to the family and the community.
Healing and ultimately prevention and the decreased stigma
of suicide and mental illness begins with acknowledgement
and discussion. In my opinion, your voice as professional,
talented writers benefits everyone. I applaud you.
There is something *seriously* wrong with these kinds of rigidly stupid union rules — what possible rational justification can be made for putting a higher value on the length of time someone has been receiving a paycheck from the school district than on his/her actual ability? While it’s a temporary setback for this teacher (although I have no doubt he’ll quickly end up with a better gig) the people who will really end up paying the price for this kind of idiotic decision are the students. How sad, and how completely unnecessary.
Bottom line is that seniority != ability. To use a sports analogy, suppose it’s 1987 and the Chicago Bulls need to let a few players go for budget reasons. Would anyone seriously suggest that Michael Jordan should get the pink slip, simply because he lacks the seniority of the other players? According to the teacher’s union, Yes, firing Jordan would be the “right” decision and would clearly be in everyone’s best interest. Nevermind the fact that he is demonstrably better than anyone else on the team…. he’d still get the pink slip.
That would be insanity, but incredibly, that’s exactly what the school district is doing here. Again, how sad for the students. Best wishes for the future Mr. Miko!!!
Spill was confined??? If anyone else was caught knowingly spilling raw sewage into a sand pit a few blocks from the beach, they would be in the pokey making love to Leroy.
I am a student in high school, it is straight stupid to lay off teachers who actually get students excited about school.
I just found out friday a teacher from school was getting layed off is because he has not been there as long as the other teachers and he is the first person that makes me want to come to school everyday and I find a way every way even if I have no way there I would run. Unlike other teachers he gets kids not just to come to school but to do their work. There are teachers in my school that do not even do anything to improve on students or help them out when they need it and he does this and it makes me angry and I want to do something about it but I do not know how and once I hear about Mr. Miko. Communities need to help out and try to keep the teachers that help out students. The sad part in all of this is that the man I have been talking about is not even a teacher that I have a class with and he has a big impact on my life I want to better in every aspect of my life because of him.
They should not be getting rid of teachers that make a difference just because they have not been there for as long as other teachers if anyone would like to give me suggestions for regarding what I should do please email me at twilightcullen14@yahoo.com
Mr.Miko is definitely the greatest teacher ever had. He inspired me in that one short year I had in his class, telling me and all my other friends and peers that we could all strive to seemingly unattainable goals or in other words he gave us dreams. To begin these dreams, in fields anywhere from astronomy to zoology, we started the after school science club that was previously mentioned in the article. Even though we sat around studying science articles and testing experiments that would have made most other students bored out of their mind’s it created a fun, exciting, and enjoyable environment that always highlighted the end of my week and of my friends.
Mr. Miko is definitely the greatest teacher I’ve ever had. In that one short year we had with him he caused my friend and I to strive for unattainable goals or in other words he gave us dreams. He showed us that science truly is fun. To do this he set up a science club that my friends and I were quick to join if not only to spend more time with Mr. Miko. After a time though this science club became a true comfortable learning environment were he was teaching us anything from astronomy to zoology. We always came and sat down to work on our projects reading about and studying topics that would have made most of our peers yawn, yet we continued to do it with a fiery passion.
I can still remember my project which was a study on whether or not allergies were a genetic trait. This may sound like one of the most boring subjects out there but with Mr. Miko there to help me along it was a blast and I couldn’t wait to come and work on this every week. For the study Mr. Miko let me send out a random survey in the school packet and I then we collected them to find the data.
Over the summer of that year me and my friends often came to school to find my teacher there. Once there we would just hang-out there like he was a friend more then a teacher. Which in truth, he had become.
That year of science club spurred my fiends and I to coming back in my sixth grade year to help out with the 5th graders project and then later working on the Disney Eco challenge in which we went out to the Ballona wetlands to help clear out the trash and invasive plants. In the competition we won semi-finals in the state against some teams that worked on this every day in their normal class rooms instead of every Friday with a couple of mismatch kids.
This project is still on going and my friends and I (the Eco Kids) still come to the restorations.
During the summer in between sixth and seventh grade I went to Mr. Miko’s science camp on rocketry. It was probably the best part of my summer. After one of the days my friends and I went to one of our house and spent hours sitting around a table with a two liter soda bottle trying to figure out how to get the most hang time. Also he had many science text book’s sitting on the table we worked on at the camp and I picked one up and asked if I could take it home. After he had said yes I spent the rest of the week reading a robotics book that was probably five hundred pages long, eight inches wide and eleven inches tall. I read through this book which was a dry study book like it was the greatest novel ever written.
Currently I am in seventh grade and still go to science club with the other “Eco Kids”. Also I still dream about careers in every aspect of science. Losing him would be the worst decision the union has ever made.
This week in my math class I was talking to my friend in my math class in between the bells telling him that Mr. Miko was getting fired and a girl sitting a couple of seats in front of us looked over and said, “Oh, hey I remember him. He was great right?”
At this my I was astounded because this was a kid that had never come to science club yet she still remembered Mr. Miko (as I later asked her) as a phenomenal teacher and probably the best she’ll ever have and by far the best she’s ever had. She too had been touched by his scientific brilliance even though she had never really dove in.
I know as a kid I have always been told that I could never change anything this big and that something like this was bound to happen eventually, yet somehow Mr. Miko changed my mind he got me to try, he got me to believe.
it’s about time someone reviews a show as they should and not be afraid to tell it like it is . someone needs to remind sbclo of its demented last 2 seasons of shows . whoever is picking these shows is singlehandedly bringing the theatre down . i’ve never seen such awful choices for musicals in my life .
Really great article about an exceptional person! Amy Massey is the kind of person who has enjoyed the best of the South Bay. She has a great family,is connected to a life giving community, has enjoyed a good education(including MCHS) and has seized the day again & again. I had the privilege of traveling to Thailand with Amy & the KHC Team, Amys life has made significant Local and International contributions to people everywhere she goes for all the right reasons. I’m sure her future will be bright though her life has already shone ablaze! What an honor to know and enjoy her as a member of this wonderful community! Congrats friend!
Dan
I was at the meetings in Hermosa when they began these programs over 10 years ago. They might be aggressive now, but we were not at all supportive of being aggressive at that time.
I am now in Redondo and I still do not believe that being aggressive is the answer for our community. We have far different demographics than Hermosa and Manhattan.
Rather, we need everyone to spread the word and explain the problem over and over until people get it. RBEF wants PARTICIPATION, not a specific amount. It would be great to get $360 per family, but, if a parent can only give $10 for the whole year, THAT is participation! And EVERY DOLLAR HELPS!
I do believe that most of us could scrounge up $30 per month to maintain the quality of education for our children. Think about what you waste on silly spending, BUT, it is not up to me to decide for others. That is a personal matter.
I hope that each and every resident of Redondo Beach will factor in the dire consequences of this problem and consider a contribution, no matter how small!
I grew up in Manhattan Beach. The real issue is that MB locals don’t like “outsiders”. They want only MB residents to have access to the dunes. …and when it comes to all of the littering you see in the area…blame your drinking and smoking MB high school students. I should know… I witnessed it many times growing up. Only white people had access to the local beach; times have changed. MB beaches- and the dunes- should be open to everybody.
Dear ER:
I agree completely with the frustration people have over the loss of Chris Miko’s job. He’s an excellent teacher, and makes his entire profession proud.
The policy of seniority that created the loss of his job is California Education Code, however, and has nothing to do with MBUSD’s administration, superintendent, or teachers’ union. It’s the business of the state legislature. The California Teachers Association certainly plays a role in creating Ed Code, but its your legislators that pass it. MBUTA (Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers Association) is but a small part of the larger CTA, so this frustration toward local teachers, the local union, and the local district, is misguided and un-informed.
Rachel Thomas-Wilson
MBMS 7th and 8th Grade English
MBUTA President
I met Julia for the first time, a few years ago, at one of EASY READER Cartoonist Keith Robinson’s famous “Making It” backyard anniversary parties. She was a very warm, jovial and vibrant lady. I had just embarked on authoring my first children’s book (a manuscript I’m now submitting to publishers) and she was very generous with offering me advice. We laughed a lot. Later, I discovered that we shared the same hairdresser and salon. So, we heard about and kept up with each other, back and forth, through the grapevine and even exchanged a few pleasant emails.
I’m very saddened to learn of this lovely lady’s passing. For the little time and in the happenstance way that I knew her, she touched me deeply. My heart goes out to her family, friends and the many others whose lives were brightened by her smile and warmth.
So, Rachel, can one then conclude that MBUTA opposes the referenced California Education Code policy of seniority?
If so, what specific steps has MBUTA taken to make this opposition known to the CTA and, in turn, our legislators?
If MBUTA does *not* oppose this policy, or if no such steps have been taken to make MBUTA’s opposition known, it’s in fact quite arguable that the frustration you deem ‘misguided and uninformed’ is indeed *right on target*.
Please, are you really making the assertion that the union has opposes and has actively fought against these seniority rules, and the only reason they exist is because the legislature is forcing them down your throat? That’s absurd — if the the union truly were against these rules, they wouldn’t exist. Overall the notion that the teachers and the union are mere innocents who have no influence at all over the Education Code is disingenuous at best.
I’ll second the previous poster’s point. If the MBUTA does in fact oppose these rules, what specifically has it done to attempt to change or repeal them? What motions has it introduced or submitted to the legislature to revoke them?
Twice I’ve posted a comment here in response to the tired, unfounded drivel by ‘local’, above. The first time my comment appeared for a day or two (after awaiting moderator approval for the better part of a day), and then it mysteriously disappeared. The second time it never appeared at all. PLEASE tell me there’s some system glitch … because the alternative is, um, downright scary!
“local”, here’s an alternative definition of what’s ‘sad’ …
Empty, unfounded claims of racism, localism or anything of the sort are nothing but _sad_ reflections of those who wage them — and, in this case, reflect a certain ignorance of the simple issue behind this 15 year community discussion: OVERUSE.
It should be noted that every one of the many past and proposed corrective actions addresses ALL users equally.
“local”, your incendiary comments suggest you are merely part of the problem, not part of the solution. You’re encouraged to get involved in the process, and thereby gain a clue of what’s really happening in your own community. Maybe then you can help by being part of the solution, as one thing is certain – the dune will never again be the free-for-all, regional workout destination that has wreaked such havoc upon the surrounding neighborhood, and resulted in such recurring and mounting damage to the dune itself.
By the way, anyone who has any interest in the Sand Dune matter owes it to themselves to invest just four quick minutes into watching the following:
I would hope a private school system (like Vistamar) would welcome a teacher like this, especially after all this good press, and because he has fire in the belly he would flourish to the top of job security and pay at a school like that!
Heartfelt congratulations to Ken Shuck, a consummate professional.
Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to see Chief Shuck in action on many occasions, both in the field and as an administrator, and I feel confident in saying that our city is extremely fortunate to have such true talent upon which it can safely and comfortably rely.
Best wishes to Ken Shuck on the well deserved new assignment!
This story defines Republican Congressional candidate Pete Kesterson to be a financial planner who chairs Redondo’s Budget and Finance Commission … that has twice filed bankruptcy, once as recently as 2008.
Chief Shuck has the experience and knowledge to assume the command. He is involved in the community and cares for the people in the community. We are fortunate to have him. While it is sad to lose Chief Scott Fergusen, there is no other fireman more capable to fill and surpass the former Fire Chief’s position than Chief Shuck.
Who added the inappropriate and tastless comment with the picture of American Martyrs’ dramatization? Was it the photographer, “Currents” staffer or the editor? Someone should have caught it before it went to print.
Hermosa lost one of it’s best. The Evans family, the the Wibberley family the Grannis family and others were what made Hermosa Beach a great place to grow up.
Why not charge the spectators $5/each admission? That will cut out the casual partiers and generate the income the city needs to properly police the event.
And also wondering out loud if the police dept should be audited for their accounting estimations.
If anyone is inflating figures…they need to be held accountable. We don’t need them padding their police expense accounts on the backs of residents.
“We simply don’t have the manpower if people incite a potential riot,”…I think I heard this same type of talk in our nation’s capital only the term was “Crisis”. The only riot that would take place is if they canceled the tournament.
over 60,000 spectators and only 8 arrests…okay so i don’t understand how this is a big deal!? people are here to have fun and enjoy volleyball, Get over it MB!
I’m a Phoenix native who started playing volleyball when I was 15. My high school coach would tell amazing stories about the “Manhattan Beach Six Man” every year. I’ve heard about this legendary tournament for years. I played in my first in 2008, and I honestly must say it is the greatest time I’ve ever had!! Manhattan Beach should be so lucky to be able to attract 60,000 plus in a single weekend. I think the city is looking at it from the wrong perspective. Why not embrace it, but evolve in the same ways that the tournament has evolved? I’m sure many city government’s would kill for a chance to attract that many people in one weekend to their city. I want to see the revenue hike 6man brings to the city of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach for the weekend. It’s gotta be a pretty decent rise for that weekend. People from all over the country flock to MB for 6-man weekend. They should be proud that the tournament has turned into and EPIC nationwide attraction. Just embrace it, but adapt your plans to accommodate. You can’t tell me 60,000 people flocking to a city on one weekend doesn’t produce some positive revenue results. Why do you think cities bid for the Superbowl? Trust me, I’ve seen what both MB and HB look like the night of 6-man. Every bar and restaurant is jam packed with people, not to mention all the hotels are booked. That sounds like a successful weekend to me. The random drunken A-holes and retards doing stupid things are going to occur regardless. You can find that on any Saturday night. LONG LIVE 6MAN!!
Limiting the alcohol would likely limit the crowds significantly. Raising tournament fees is a very bad idea for volleyball in general. It will discourage the people we really want to attend – people like me. The likelihood of a riot is negligible. There are far too many level-headed volleyball athletes in the mix that would strongly support any needed police action; and veteran volleyball players tend to be self-policing; and have the respect and command of those watching, and junior players. If Saikley Jr. or anyone of the many veteran players at the tourney had an issue, 100 respecting players like me would be at their disposal – not to mention their 6’5″ teammates. Needless to say, the police have the same respect from the numerous people like me and veteran players. Limit the alcohol, embrace the high-level teams…
While this a Manhattan Beach event, raising the fees limits all regular players who simply can not afford the money. Even $600 is $100 per person plus costume and other costs. Some teams are forced to have 10 or 12 players just to limit the cost. Raising the fees will mean that only the richer teams can join in.
The problem with crowds and drinking gets worse in the early afternoon. If they could somehow limit access so no one can enter after 2:00PM a lot of the hooligans will be kept out.
Drinking is not a problem but drinking all day long and coming in the afternoon with sole intent of getting drunk is a problem. The drunks usually do not play and not affiliated with the sport.
I thought MB was a smart town. These are two pretty stupid decisions. Why not cut alcohol out of all the clubs at night? There might be a riot at one of those and there may not be the man power available. Oh no, one better, you can put a city cover charge on every bar in town so you can have enough police on duty at all times just in case the entire town decides to riot…
A riot did you say? When has there ever been a riot at 6-man? There hasn’t been and never will be. Really, reducing the number of attendees? Don’t the businesses in the area make millions off this weekend just FROM the crowd that attends, and in turn, the damn city makes a shit-ton of money in taxes from this crowd. Why don’t you use the damn extra tax monies generated from the crowd to pay for the extra police. Let’s see, your figures expect increases of 20,000 people (we assume at a relatively short period of time, which is NOT THE POINT), and those 20,000 spend money on food, ALCOHOL, and pointless crap at local stores. I’m sure the taxes alone on this weekend generate enough to pay for the added police, you greedy bastards.
What is this fee increase REALLY going to??? 200 teams at the former $600 = $120,000. A raise to $1,200 would put the added fees to $120,000. Off the aggregate taxes you are getting FROM the attendees, you can’t reallocate some of the tax dollars to the police, because we damn well know that you’re (the City) making a LOT more than $120,000 off the taxes on sales from the weekend alone.
Good point me. I give myself a pat on the back. Why don’t we just cut the event altogether and see how much the city cries from lack of funds. Better idea, why don’t we cut ALL events completely, because there’s a risk of riot, and see how quick the city goes bankrupt.
Its been a credit to the volleyball community that no riots etc have occurred. I beleive that since so many advertisers have come in that people-not associated with volleyball have come to associate with the party. David above is correct in saying volleyball athletes are self-policing. I missed the meeting due to volleyball travels but what about: Fencing off the beach all the way to the ocean. Charging a considerable amount for a ticket ($40 approx per person possibly as temporary tattoes). Since teams pay a several Hundred dollar registration fee, a large number of admission passes (100 approx). These “Players passes” should have the team’s name on them to hold people and teams liable. With passes the volleyball community can enjoy the tournament while spectators help pay for security and city profit… We al know that local business and the city and general does well financially by having the 6-man tournament.
Those above that suggest charging money to go onto a public beach better check the Local Coastal Plan and also with the Coastal Commission of the State of California. It’s a “no-brainer” that it’s a public resource down there, not to be commercialized for a big beach party. It’s a great time and a classic, but like the Dune, it’s gotten way out of hand and over publicized. The event is on it’s last legs …..
WEE MAN YOU TRULY ARE A WONDER ALL DAY FUN WITH EVERY BODY WANTING TO MEET YOU HANG OUT WITH YOU PARTY WITH YOU ITS AMAZING HOW FAST PUBLICITY SPREADS WITH JUST A TV SHOW AND A LOT OF CRAZY YET FUNNY STUNTS EVERY BODY I KNOW LOVES THE TV SHOW “JACK ASS” WE’RE ALL FANS OF THE SHOW AND NOW YOU HAVE YOUR OWN TACO SHOP (COOL NAME BTW) YOU TRULY ARE A PEOPLE PERSON THANKS FOR ALL THE LAUGHS AND GREAT TIMES
Has councilmember Nick Tell explained to anyone how he calculated that 80,000 people will be attending the event this year? A 25% jump in one year sure sounds like a pretty ambitious estimate in my opinion.
Let’s have him explain how he arrived at that number?
Thank you for the article. Even though my daughter is a part of the ensemble, I had no idea about the background story. It is very moving and enspiring. I know the kids have worked very hard and are looking forward to a magnificent experience. Thank you again for the wonderful article.
Amen to Scott Warren! I am a Phoenix resident soon to be an OC resident and I have been playing in this tournament since 2001. All I have to say is LONG LIVE 6MAN and 60,000 people plus is a lot of revenue in that city for just one weekend! There will always be drunken idiots anytime anywhere!!! Usually the drunken idiots are not the competitive volleyball players! The cops are just being greedy bastards and need to suck it up for one busy weekend and get over it!
I think all these pious people should be more insulted, upset, appalled and mad at the “church” leaders who have abused Catholic children including deaf children. And thanks to the wonderful Los Angeles Archdiocese, who has to cover legal fees for the abuse that occurred, is now closing small Catholic schools in low income areas, where these schools actually are needed. Come on all you entitled Martyrs families, get real, the community has to look at this production every year in the paper, and it’s kind of old. I think Jesus would understand the joke, he had more of a sense of humor than any of you. I think you have bigger fish to fry other than being so up in arms over a clumsy caption.
Move it to Hermosa, or Redondo, or El Segundo. Why should Manhattan businesses get all the revenue? Go somewhere you’re wanted… No fees, no fences, no unneeded security, NO MORE HIDDEN TAXES! Limit the alcohol, the problems are gone.
Dear “recoveringcatholic”, The comments of those above are directed toward the mocking of children (for laughs) as they express their faith tradition. (Kuddos to Kevin Cody for his stand-up apology.) How do you conclude from those comments, that their writers are not outraged by child abuse, particularly by persons within the Catholic Church? Show me those dots, and how you connected them. Have we even met before? Concerning the maintenance of Catholic schools in the face of legal expenses including settlements, where do you think the money comes from to pay those settlements to victims and to maintain those schools and other good works? From “recovering Catholics”, or from practicing Catholics? Please, take a breath, reflect, and express the good in you.
1) they get paid REGARDLESS if there is an event or not.
2) they should have the right to ask for more $$$$$$$ for doing their jobs.
The fees are insane. If they keep asking for money from events…why even bother to pay our taxes? Seriously…police dept you are losing your clout the next time you want your cushy benefits.
I agree with the above proposal, charge $10 entry fee and $20 drinking wristband, we travel to this event every year and it wouldn’t be the same if you changed it… the crowds can be a bit overbearing, I agree… and I’ve been to many more large events that are way worse than 6 man in terms of people drinking and being stupid…
The city is not double dipping, they need to pay overtime to have all of the extra police on staff. As a life long local, tend to agree with scaling back the event, at least until it falls of the radar. Too many out of towners trashing the beach and not respecting the local community.
Control it, Fence it and Charge it for spectators and alcohol.
Donate 20% to charity.
I remember the Huntington Beach Surf riot of the ’80’s because of the bikini contest (100,000 people). They should have controled, fenced it & charged, but listened to sponsors instead that wanted a ‘larger crowd’ and did neither and hundreds of thousands in dollars in riot damage resulted. (No more bikini contest for Op Pro.)
Only 8 arrests means that there arn’t a bunch of lushes walking around being idiots. I think the biggest problem is the limited space and the poor mobility. I liked the comment above about embracing the tournament. From a numbers perspective it is the biggest day of the year for the sport of volleyball worldwide, something that I’m sure the city and the Saikley fam take tremendous pride in, and somthing that local businesses generate a lot of revenue from. I say go bigger. Open up the north side of the pier on Saturday, and bring in a lot more public restrooms. Let’s meet in the middle on an increase in entry fee.
Hey Kuftaf, what business do you own? I hope when it gets robbed and you call the police it takes them a couple hours to get there you stupid idiot. Tell us your business so I can publish it in my paper and shut you down. I would love to know what you do.
I am still tingling from this beautiful story of triumph, heritage,reunion and “paying it forward”. This Choir Director’s strength, character & teaching expertise have brought these high school children a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn, grow, travel abroad and represent our country admirably. What an honor & truly amazing experience for these kids to use in their own bright futures. They will no doubt do the same, to the best of their abilities: “pay it forward”.
I have no doubt in my mind that Amy is being prepared to make some great changes in the world. It is in her heritage and blood line to be a mover and a shaker. I see the intelligence, strength, determination and heart that is required to succeed. Go, Amy! It is a joy to see you use your gifts and talents so effectively. May God bless you in all that you do.
There are more arrest in 1 Saint Patrick’s Day than 5 sixman events combined.-True Story… Lets Move Saint Patricks day to July then… I hope the city is not thinking of fabricating a riot to prove their point… please don’t pull a Bush… Oh Yeah… Theres no Money in this tourney… Its a Charity Event… Be Charitable… This Should be a Freebie from the PD’s…
Dear ER:
“After having read all of the comments from the last issue relative to the American Martyrs church play, it is unfortunate that something written with seemingly harmless intent from the previous issue, can blow up so out of proportion. In this world today, where there is so much volatility, we as a society need to stop attacking one another. Let’s stop making controversy over the small things and move on to far more important issues. I doubt seriously the slipped on the way to the locker room comment was meant as a malicious attack to those eighth graders. Yes it is true the eighth graders deserve respect and admiration for putting on such a play. But please lets refrain from over reacting.”
I can’t understand or fathom the logic of someone who defends the unjustifiable mocking of a faith-based tradition by mentioning in the same breath the tragedy of abused children as if there is a scale where lesser crimes can be perpetuated as long as or because one does not address the ‘bigger” crimes ?
Are you saying that one should now summarily ignore the “minor” insults against a faith-based tradition because all “minor” insults are classified as trivial ?
And one last Logic Question: how do you know or determine that those writing against the mockery of our Passion Play are not the very victims of the abuse you are harping about and/or people who have sought to fight the abuse ?
In other words, I can’t fathom the logic of your thinking.
Thanks Easy Reader for covering water reuse and runoff reduction actions people are taking. One correction: daily LA County urban runoff to the ocean is not 300,000 gallons but rather 300 million gallons! Surfrider’s has teamed up with West Basin Municipal Water District and the Green Gardens Group to offer sustainable landscaping classes, hands-on workshops and garden workdays through the Ocean Friendly Gardens Program. Check the website http://www.oceanfriendlygardens.org for the schedule & DIY info. Surfrider volunteers are looking to help people create gardens that serve as an example for their neighborhood and spark others doing the same. In fact, last month, a group of kids from an eco-club at Hermosa Valley School, the club leader and Surfrider volunteers were led by a local native plant expert in transforming a planter at 22nd & The Strand. It would be great if a reporter attended and reported on these great learning and doing opportunities.
Excellent article and very timely. Mike has always been a ” The Future is Now” type of contractor so it is great to see another outstanding project completed by our very own CLCA water conservation wizard.
Way to go Mike! You are always on the cutting edge of what is happening. In Bermuda and other places in the world, rainwater harvesting is a way of life. Every house captures water off the roof to save. There is no reason we can’t begin to engineer sustainable solutions like rain water harvesting right here in Southern California. Like always, you not only see the solution, you actually build it and make it work. I hope people call you and ask you to install the same thing for them. I know you can do it. Kudos!
I’ve been a resident of this city since 1993 I’ve been to the 6 man almost every year, It’s a key part of my upbringing. I would understand the extra police presence to deal with the ever growing numbers of this event. But come one MBPD you need to just look outside your small local department and just get some other agencies to help keep the few “8” arrests that you guys will make this year if that!. The tournament has become a local economy boomer for the amount of revenue it brings to our local businesses and the local residences need to realize that we’re not tarnishing a proud tradition yet making it possible for other people to enjoy the surf festival. I don’t see the doubling of entry fee’s when everyone is hurting in these times so if that’s your way of keeping it to few who can, then you’re the one’s tarnishing it.
Great story! I went to elementry school( south ) and junior high (pier avenue) with Tiger, who actually lived on cypress off 8th street across from old lady bectal. Tger was part of the 6th street gang who consisted of John Gardner,Tiger,Dave Boice,Dave Matte,Dean Boston,Bobby Warcola,Bruce logan and of course Davey Holladay, it was his house where we all hung out for years, and there was plenty of beach girls, Debbie Broin, Gayle Gannon, Roxie Natalie,Kathy Miller,Randy Goble,Barbara Holland, brings back great memories, tell James I said hi.
Karl Grossman and Camino Rio rock! I’ve seen and heard them perform many times and it is always fun, fresh and entertaining… Karl, is a classic example of music’s finest… A true professional and gifted artist…
Believe me I he police wanted to arrest people and be “the bad guys”. They could make 100’s of arrest. But they want everyone to have a good time. Just not getting out of control. Many people vomit and urinate on property owners homes, town streets and businesses. The stores in downtown mb might as well be closed that day b/c there is no parking, and people are in town just to go to the 6-man. I’ve been attending 6-man since 1978, and watched it grow. We love this event and don’t want to see it disappear.
Also, the city cannot charge $$ to attend the event.
They don’t Want the riots of Huntington beach on their hands.
We love 6-man….. But it’s getting out of hard to keep it from growing. Please be respectful of the town, ho
e owners and shops and businesses.
And all this from a little brother who hated it when the family sang “Happy Birthday” or anything else! Congrats on a fab career. Wish I lived closer! Your sis.
As someone who attends the 6-man tourney every year, it is very simple to see why the city is worried about this. The tournament has degraded from a wholesome exhibition of volleyball to a corporate-sponsored mess complete with excessive drinking and shameless jeering at players. I’m all for “talking shit” at the courts, but when you get thousands of drunk revelers screaming in the faces of athletes, something’s gotta give. Fights have broken out before and with only 50 officers covering the whole area, stopping fights before they reach massive, uncontrollable levels is next to impossible. The city does need crowd control: more officers and more space would allow for less elbow-to-elbow crowding and a greater ability of the officers to maintain control of the situation. I’m a college student, all for a good time, but the amount of ruckus that goes on at the 6-man could easily reach disastrous potential. Banning the booze on the beach isn’t necessary, but charge 5 bucks for an entrance wristband. Even if a bunch of people walk around the barriers or sneak in, you’ll still make thousands in revenues – enough to cover the added cost of an increased police force.
Santa Barbara county has the same problem with Halloween every year, it costs them approximately a million dollars to police the drunken crowd of partiers. Lets learn from this, and find easy ways to pay for and ensure the events safety.
In conclusion, I love the 6-man, but it needs some changes. Banning drinking on the beach will only incite binge drinking back at the houses/bars before people head down, so its not going to work. Expand the area of the tournament to spread out the crowd. Rope off the beach and charge 5 dollars for entrance. Bring in extra cops for crowd control. It’s not that hard. We can still make this work.
“I thought MB was a smart town. These are two pretty stupid decisions. Why not cut alcohol out of all the clubs at night? There might be a riot at one of those and there may not be the man power available. Oh no, one better, you can put a city cover charge on every bar in town so you can have enough police on duty at all times just in case the entire town decides to riot…”
How to you call MB a stupid town and then present 2 dumb ideas. You are stupid.
My father Walter Shields worked with Gordon and biked with him as well. My dad died on September 14, 2009, and I don’t know if he and Gordon were still in touch. I do know my dad used to speak highly of Gordon. Condolences to the family.
Thank you. I tried to unpack that Sam Miller email a few weeks ago, but you are much more succinct than I was. I created a Google alert waiting for other skeptics to point out what I discovered. Yours is the first since April 12.
Scroll down to ”
I did some research. That email contained only 344 words of the original 3410 words published in a Knights of Columbus local bulletin in Cleveland Ohio several years ago. About 90% was left out: With good reason….” Where I try to cut to the chase.
I am a junior… Its not a big deal.
And we miss Darius ever day of his life. I hope his parents have found and are finding comfort in all the sensitive and happy memories that still are shared that are the result of their wonderful son
Interesting, in a very jaded way… I guess it takes all types. I don’t think I would have ever read something like this growing up in the 1960’s in MB. As I would say in Thai: Sum Num Nah!
This summer my granddaughter will go to the beach, and with her blue colored bucket, draw some water from the surf, dig for some sand crabs, find collect shells, put them in the bucket, and bring it up too our beach chairs. She’ll play with this for a while, then carry it back to the surf and pour it out. I wonder if the knuckleheads at the LARWQCB will fine her for doing what the Seaside Lagoon is also doing?
Someone should carry a bucket of seawater to the next LARWQCB board meeting and hand it off to one of the members and then ask what they intend to do with it.
Congrats Tiger!! I too went to South and Pier with all those guys. Lived on 7th st right below Learned Lumber. Larry Felker lived two doors down and the Cook brothers (Dell, Rich, Herbie, Hobre, and ,,,,?) across the street. I was always in awe of both Tiger and Purpus.
The head shot of Tiger is just how I remember him!
I totally agree with you that our Seaside Lagoon should not be taken away from the people of Redondo Beach CA. I met my wife 41 years ago down there at the pier (See Inn) and that area has a special meaning to all of us. I am sure we are not the only people that feel this way. I am really concerned about this Ca. Coastal Commission blackmailing our City of Redondo Beach. Who the hell do they think they are and who pays their salary’s. No wonder the state of CA is broke. They should be more concerned about all the runoff that comes down the LA River and all the other garbage outlets that flow into our ocean other than a Historic Swim Park for the people and our Kids.
The Question you have to ask yourself is not who is being hurt by this closure, but rather, “Who is going to make a profit?” In my opinion there is a hidden motive behind these fines. Either the LARWQCB needs money for their website, ( because when i tried to make a formal complaint, it was offline) Or they are being bribed by another company that can make money from tis closure. Nevertheless I will be contacting all the government officials i know to check if the LARWQCB can have some budget cuts, since they have too much time on their hands to look for piddly nonsense like this. Keep the lagoon open, its cleaner than most our beaches in my opinion
I totally agree with you that our Seaside Lagoon should not be taken away from the people of Redondo Beach CA. I met my wife 41 years ago down there at the pier (See Inn) and that area has a special meaning to all of us. I am sure we are not the only people that feel this way. I am really concerned about this Ca. Coastal Water Commission blackmailing our City of Redondo Beach. Who the hell do they think they are and who pays their salary’s. No wonder the state of CA is broke. They should be more concerned about all the runoff that comes down the LA River and all the other garbage outlets that flow into our ocean other than a Historic Swim Park for the people and our Kids.
I have lived in Redondo Beach since 1962 and the Seaside Lagoon was a summer outing we did as a family and with my school friends for years and years. To read this article turned my stomach. It just goes to show that capital greed is everywhere. To penalize the lagoon with such an outrageous amount of money when there are so many other contributors to the contamination of our sea water is unacceptable. There is definitely a hidden agenda here and I hope that it comes out sooner than later. It was sad to see Marineland closed years ago, because it was such a part of our beach community and now the Seaside Lagoon, what next take away our beaches!
I take issue with your snide comment “Nothing says symphony like Detroit”. We happen to have a world class orchestra with world class artistic leadership, helmed by no less than famed conductor Leonard Slatkin. Thirty of my friends and I have tickets to attend the “Music of the Night” concert to hear Eric Kunze and the Detroit Symphony. I am certain it will be a stellar evening, even in Detroit.
The debate about financial regulation misses the crucial lesson of the financial collapse of 2008, the eventual regulation most likely punishing companies who have nothing to do with the Wall Street jerks that created the mess. Hedging commodities is a time honored practice used by farmers and companies of all size in order to fix a price from which they can account for future sales.
As we witness the hubris of Goldman executives expounding about how they’re doing God’s work, its instructive to review the source of the new found wealth in the financial sector. Goldman and a few others made huge income by shorting the housing market. Sure, they did so favoring some clients over others which is more a symptom of a criminal mind than a banker. Perhaps blinded by their own greed, the smartest guys on Wall Street did not account for the viability of the inter-parties, specifically AIG. Everyone knows that the demise of Lehman, a firm which was operating more like a a sting than a business, started the financial house of cards falling. Goldman’s former CEO Paulson stepped into the abyss by conning Senators and Bush to push through TARP, quickly bailing out AIG so that Goldman was able to collect their bets – our current crook Geitner making sure they got a dollar to dollar compensation.
It was easy to conjecture that the demise of AIG would had ridded America of Goldman, Citi, JPM, BofA, and the rest of the “too big to fail” arrogant bastards. We would not had had to worry about regulating financial derivatives and concocting other means to keep those who have nothing to offer society in check.
Unfortunately, Paulson successor Geitner, Sommers, Rubin and the rest of the Klan is running the country. We have huge companies who are more interested in playing the spread between the free money from the fed and fed treasury notes than lending. These pos financial behemoths still have the huge blocks of toxic crapola on their balance sheets which essentially locks up credit as they horde any and all available credit for their balance.
America and the world would had been a lot better off if instead of dumping trillions into banks, we opened a window for anyone with a 700 fica or better or a business with a 3 year track record to borrow money at the same 0.1% interest rate. Eventually, we will view TARP as a weapon of mass destruction to our economy.
Finally, at least an attempt to stop some of the nasty problem many people ignore. 2 friends of mine got Strep throat the same day after it rained last year- both surfed the same time but they were 5 blocks apart. It’s pretty archaic that we haven’t even addressed the sewage runoff on a mass scale.
Whatever happens, I just want the tournament to continue. I get the concerns of the nearby residents and the city officials. I think there are some good ideas here on how to bring the tournament back to what it was, and I think that bringing it back will be nice. 🙂
don’t demonize LA regional water board or the state. The city has known about these regulations for many years and has chosen not to act. This could have been solved in 2002
It’s awesome to see such enthusiasm working with kids! The Redondo Performing Arts Campus seems to be a great place for kids to develop their talents through the workshops and music schools! HollywoodDad.com would love to help participate and share in the excitement!
Knowing about the regulations and accommodating them are two different issues. The Lagoon is (and always has been) an OPEN system utilizing ocean water circulated (and discharged at a rate of 200,000 gallons per hour)into a sand bottom lagoon which allows for a safe environment for children to swim and play. The only REAL solution to meet “current” standards would be a multi-million dollar hard bottom closed system paid for by the taxpayers of Redondo Beach. BTW – That type of system is usually referred to as SWIMMING POOL not a ocean lagoon.
I say can the 6-man and the johnnie-come-latelies and alchoholic pencil-necked geeks it has come to attract.
Has nothing to do with the fine sport of beach volleyball anymore. Has to go…can’t police it, can’t manage it, can’t control it…has to go. 60K? ? ?
Don’t want it, don’t need it. We want our beach back. This isn’t Ft. Lauderdale at Spring Break. Stay at home and on your internet facebooks…you pathetic little dweebs.
Steve Aspel: How is this a matter of eco-green overkill? Water quality laws are some of slowest to evolve. Between that and the time line of the incurred violation, since 2002 before the whole “green movement”, I think that this blaming it on the earth-lovers thing is a little, well immature.
1) exaggerate attendance numbers.
2) threaten complete shut down despite no historical evidence of public danger
3) jack up rates on police “protection”
It’s a power grab here. Don’t kill the golden goose.
They are also talking of banning costumes. Really? The costumes? Costumes are not the problem. There are many costume tournaments throughout the year; costumes dont make people act badly. Six man is about the level of play. Where else can a your friends compete against Olympic, College and Professional athletes dressed in wigs, kilts, bridal veils etc.? To me the best part of six man weekend is feeling the enthusiastic, anticipatory climate of players dressed in their silly, colorfull outfits early Saturday morning; knowing that soon some incredible volleyball will be played by these “characters”. Outlawing humorous dress is not the answer.
We all know the real problem is the influx of day trippers and weekend visitors using the tournament as ONLY a party, not wearing a wrestling outfit instead of board shorts (or even players and their friends enjoying a discrete beverage between games).
Mr. Miller’s statement, “10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia” has no basis in fact! It was refuted by the named source in 2002 and remains refuted today.
In the original 2003 speech Mr. Miller cites a July/August 2002 Sojourners article by Rose Marie Berger in which she misinterprets statements from Penn. State Prof. Philip Jenkins regarding sexual abuse by Protestant ministers.
In the original article Berger writes…
“Philip Jenkins concludes in his book “Pedophiles and Priests” that while 1.7 percent of Catholic clergy have been found guilty of pedophilia (specifically of boys), 10 percent of Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia.” (This quote is used in Miller’s speech)
To which Philip Jenkins responds (Sept/Oct 2002)…
“I regret to say that the statement is baloney. I never said it, and it’s not true!… Every time this ten percent statement appears attributed to me, I try to debunk it, but these things have a life of their own. I have no idea what the actual proportion of pedophile protestant clergy is, but I would be amazed if it was more than a fraction of one percent.”
Sojourners apologized to its readers for passing on erroneous information and revised the article, removing the incorrect and defamatory information. But not before Sam Miller got a hold of it!
This tournament should be cancelled. The image it sets for volleyball is terrible, the image it sets for manhattan beach is terrible. Cancel it and the party seekers will find another place to party.
Like I said the first time this came out…
Its all about the cheese.
60,000 people is a myth…
17,000 was the report last year.
And would they stop comparing it from the 1961 6-man event.
first of all southbay population back then was only 40,000
southbay was one big pile of sand till it turn into a yuppie ghetto.
The 6-man can still be a successful and outrageously fun tournament even with the proposed changes….No, Ryan, cops will not be pocketing an extra $93,306. Please re-read the article so you’ll understand where that money will be going. 🙂
Heidi, it is these eco-terrorist who are harming our way of life and using bad science to do it. 2+ billion dollar fine? That is just a bully! The board could easily say “we know you are working on the problem and we will limit the fine to $100,000 maximum”. You do realize that 99% of what the waterboards want removed are indiginous to the ocean, right? Seaside lagoon is not ADDING anything but chlorine then removing it. ALL the other elements are naturally occuring in the OCEAN!!! If you took a bucket, scooped the water out and threw it back in you would be in the same violations.
Just for perspective, the chlorine max levels required by the boards are 1,000 times lower then drinking water. Chlorine also a gas, and rapidly dissipates even in water(as any pool owner will tell you).
I attended Saturday of last year’s event to take photos and watch some friends play. While the crowd was large, there is no way it was 60,000. Maybe 20,000 tops… about enough to fill a large hockey arena. And they were not unruly at all. I’ve seen worse crowds at an NHL Playoff game.
The Mayor Pro Tem states that it’s not the players that are the problem… so why are they being penalized by having to pay more? If it is “the other idiots” that are the problem, why not just staff the entry points with security guards and check their bags like they do at every other event? All it should cost is some guards and a fence. Not $93K!
I suspect that you’ll find that the people who will benefit from the increased fees and enhanced security are the ones who planted the seed with the city…the PD and the Private Security firms. Follow the money and you almost always find the answer.
I’m with Zorro on boycotting MB businesses that weekend. Take public transportation to the event so you don’t feed their parking meters, and when it is over, take your wallet to HB or RB and spend your money there.
Believe me….Andy and Renee…their band Hard Rain, along with so many other special people who come from all over…and play up to eight hours of “All Dylan” make this the best day of the year, each and every year.
You may laugh, dance, or you may find a tear in your eye when someone takes you back to that special place in your life that a “Dylan song” was needed. Bob Dylan has touched the hearts and minds of so many of our brothers and sisters. As with most though, it’s so much more personal.
Some couldn’t get through his voice way back when…what a shame. You’ll always hear the “well, he’s a great songwriter”. What Bob Dylan is cannot be defined properly. The best thing that i could say is… ” that Bob Dylan…and the art of Bob Dylan are both truly a gift from God ”
Come over to El Segundo at the end of the 105 freeway near the lax airport this Saturday. See and hear for yourself. You won’t regret it.
I have been to six-man the last 8 years. There were NOT 60,000 people there last year, it was about 12,000 tops. This is a FUN annual event and if you need to limit the amount of drinking then check bags etc at entry but do not make the players pay for the City letting this get out of hand by turning a blind eye. And what does the music have to do with it? What a joke.
The Police Chief’s rec’s (3 of 5 authors of the Staff Report are police) make sense for him. He wants to hire more buddies for overtime work, and stretching the number of attendees increases the number of officers hired. He secretly wishes there were no Halloween, Super Bowl, or 6-Man because these days make his job more stressful — he fears a riot of volleyball players and fans. If his silly ideas about squishing people through gates, policing music, ticketing all players $80 bucks (by increasing entry fees), and forbidding coolers (which also carry water and gatorade, btw) are passed, he might actually get the riots he’s talking about.
Do these supposed 60,000 people not generate additional sales tax, hotel tax, parking ticket tax? How do the local costume shops do? Grocery stores? Beauticians? Gyms? Babysitters? Where are those numbers figured in?
Only 8 arrests with 60,000 people? Sounds like a homerun to me. And let’s please not go after the sponsors. A volleyball player finding a sponsor is like a normal person finding…a job. Let’s not take away jobs while we’re trying to mess up one of the finest events that exist.
Really Inviting! NOT!! $34 dollars to spend for a play that can’t decide whether it’s a comedy or drama? And the Author/director is not willing to release any other information about it!!?? Nor are there any reviews for the piece??!!
Seems to me, one’s money would be more worthwhile spending it at the Kirk Douglass, r Mark Taper. Not only do you know those pieces have been vetted… You can get a great seat for under $25, and spend the extra $9 on a movie you know nothing about!
Facts don’t lie . . .
It seems detractors of election result are often quick to clarify that all of the “registered voters” didn’t actually vote (funny, this is never the case when the vote swings the other direction). These critics choose to discredit an outcome simply on low turnout or the large number of voters who didn’t show up on election day. Strange, these critics stop short of suggesting those absent may have just been disinterested, too busy, uninformed, or just too lazy to show up at the poles or send in their absentee ballot. If this article was meant to highlight the unfortunate fact of poor local election turnout, I absolutely agree with the writer, it’s truly sad to consider that people don’t exercise their right to participate at all levels government. If this was an article discounting the outcome of an election . . . the results speak for themselves and the votes of all those (involved) folks who thought this was important HAVE been counted. The results are clear, DD won by a margin of 18%, or 4,271 votes (a true landslide in election terms). BTW – I’ll have to disagree with the writer, based on our democratic system, Bill Brand speaks for ALL of the people in District 2 just as Steve Aspel speaks for ALL of the people in District 1.
The city should not intervene in an existing business transfer by imposing an early closing when the business has a 1:30 closing and the business has never violated its conditional use permit. Business owners’ rights must be
protected too. Evidence showed Il Boccaccio had the lowest number of calls for city services of all licensed establishments on Pier Ave. Howard Fishman and Pete Tucker’s justly decided not to appeal the ABC decision. The
same ABC that already ruled the city did not have grounds to protest the license in the first place. The ABC already denied the city’s request in April, 2010 and nothing has changed. If the license had been a new business CUP the Councilmen could have voted for early hours. But that is not the case when an existing business is transferred, and City Council must follow a fair and consistent pattern in making decisions. Instead of giving into pressure from Jim Lissner, a vocal critic of downtown Hermosa Beach, they analyzed the true facts and voted to follow the same protocol that they did in the transfer of Café Boogaloo and Underground Pub. A thriving downtown will support future city revenues. The city revenues are down in this economy and restaurants and bars are calmer than before the economic
slowdown. The city should not be wasting money on legal fees for an ABC board appeal.
While I’m not a Betsy Butler supporter, I would appreciate it if the Easy Reader would post an explanation for the anonymous attack ad printed at the top of page 5 in your May 13th issue. I thought that political ads were required to state who paid for them.
Hi Harry,
this is a goofy article: 1)that was a very unprofessional and unpleasant moment during the council meeting btwn Aspel and Brand..something I would prefer to not revisit(and wonder why you did). Plus it happened some time ago. (Are your articles being delayed in publishing?)
2) “The notion the citizens took some kind of action against heart of the city” is very true. The public hearing on HoC was 12 hours long..two nights-6 hours each. Despite protests from the school district and many community members, the council still voted to adopt the plan. (It was a large plan, Harry)
The letter to the editor by Chris Cagle asking people to help him do a referendum was an answer to a prayer. The first 20 people to meet quickly grew to a group of almost 150 people willing to collect signatures. (These were rookies-not seasoned activists) We needed 4000 signatures but collected 6400 in a window of just over 2 weeks (the deadline to protest the vote).. It was a remarkable feat.
Please don’t minimize what impact this event had on Redondo’s history. It was the catalyst for political involvement of many residents. Many have aspired to run for office and have joined commissions. Some have started non profit groups. And ,yes,the tradition of “store front signature collecting” was born.
If the article was to referee claims made by council members..well, councils seem to contain colorful characters; opinions and statements fly in all directions during meetings. Don’t worry..somehow everything washes out in the end. It is impossible to think anyone can set the record straight!
Re: The Vocal Minority
Facts don’t lie . . .
It seems detractors of election result are often quick to clarify that all of the “registered voters” didn’t actually vote (funny, this is never the case when the vote swings the other direction). These critics choose to discredit an outcome simply on low turnout or the large number of voters who didn’t show up on election day. Strange, these critics stop short of suggesting those absent may have just been disinterested, too busy, uninformed, or just too lazy to show up at the poles or send in their absentee ballot. If this article was meant to highlight the unfortunate fact of poor local election turnout, I absolutely agree with the writer, it’s truly sad to consider that people don’t exercise their right to participate at all levels government. If this was an article discounting the outcome of an election . . . the results speak for themselves and the votes of all those (involved) folks who thought this was important HAVE been counted. The results are clear, DD won by a margin of 18%, or 4,271 votes (a true landslide in election terms). BTW – I’ll have to disagree with the writer, based on our democratic system, Bill Brand speaks for ALL of the people in District 2 just as Steve Aspel speaks for ALL of the people in District 1.
Wow $450,000 for rooftop dining? NICE PERK. Yes Arlene & Jane are right. One quick jump or fall off the top will add to the Schools price tag alright. Did they run out of room inside? How long will it take for the $300k in solar panels to pay back? 10 years? 20 Years? Or should they wait until the technology is better?
Help Stop Hermosa’s raised, concrete-curbed, Pier Avenue MEDIAN MADNESS.
Time is running out to kill the insane, unnecessary, MEDIAN.
The MEDIAN is an expensive, silly, and unneeded Pier Avenue amateur design mistake.
The MEDIAN is skinny, just 5-feet wide and will destroy Pier Avenue’s beautiful historic openness that dates back to 1900.
The raised concrete MEDIAN will choke traffic and hinder the free movement of Police, Fire, and Paramedic vehicles.
The MEDIAN will destroy Pier Avenue for its St. Patrick’s Day Parade and other future parades and celebrations.
The MEDIAN will choke traffic flow, forcing additional cars, cabs and trucks onto 2nd, 8th, Monterey, Manhattan, and other residential streets.
Removing the unneeded MEDIAN simplifies and speeds up the completion of the Pier Avenue upgrades and saves scarce city money.
Important: Tell your Hermosa Councilmen, Commissioners, Chamber of Commerce, Police, Fire, and Public Works Department officials that you don’t want Pier Avenue’s historic openness destroyed with an unnecessary raised-curb, emergency vehicles hindering, parade wrecking, expensive, narrow, ugly, raised-concrete-curbed MEDIAN.
Time is running out to stop the MEDIAN.
Get involved. Help stop Pier Avenue’s MEDIAN MADNESS.
Mr Munns fails to mention many of the indicators of the public’s will with respect to overdevelopment.
Perhaps he did not realize that the City conducted a survey on whether residents wanted to vote on zoning changes and the overwhelming majority stated “yes” – very reflective of the vote for DD. Additionally, there are at least two previous city surveys that show overdevelopment and traffic were the top concerns of residents.
Munns fails to account for the impacts of the city’s deceitful counter measure, EE, that looked good but had no teeth. Even former Councilman Pinzler stated EE would allow people to vote on zoning changes that were never likely to occur. The intent of EE, apparently, was to confuse voters and draw them away from DD in the hopes that neither measure would pass. I base this conclusion on the fact that most of the Council were also listed as supporters of “Save Redondo”, an organization that opposed ANY resident voting on zoning changes. Our Council played both sides of the fence in a desparate attempt to stop what they knew to be inevitable. What would the vote have been without the decoy measure?
Another indicator of the public bill, was the vote on what to do with the AES site. The City steeped the ballot language to make mixed use and condos look like Nirvana over the costs of a park at the site. Yet the people overwhelmingly picked a park.
While Mr. Munns is accurate that the two referendums related to the Heart of the City was never put to a vote, he failed to mention that the Council clearly understood the vote would override their approval of the HOC plan.
And as to his attack on Bill Brand – Bill ran against three candidates who were all pro-development. The fact that he won without a run-off election should be a clear indication of the will of the people with respect to overdevelopment.
I think if Munns objectively looked at the preponderance of evidence since the Heart of the City, he would draw a much different conclusion.
And it he doesn’t like Measure DD, he can stand at grocery stores every weekend of six months, collect 6000 signatures, and qualify an initiative vote to repeal it.
I’m a So Cal expatriate now living is Wisconsin. Even from this distance the city council is clearly fomenting this to create fear and then more fees. Sad day. I hope all VB players hit this hard. Tell mayor Tricky Dick that the sky (ball) is not falling.
I have played in this tournament since 1979. I may reconsider spending my visitor tax money someplace else.
If MB ruins this, there will be a counter tournament somewhere.
You addressed me by name so I feel I should respond directly to you.
I’m sorry you found my column “goofy”. Like you, I saw the exchange between the two RB city councilmen I cite in my column. I had a different reaction. I saw two people who believed strongly in two opposing views of the same topic. It occurred to me that unlike many opinions people hold, this one could be verified. I did considerable research, drew some conclusions and I stand by the facts I present in the article.
I’m not a reporter. I’m a columnist. One of the differences between the two is that I present opinions and observations. A reporter has an obligation to minimize the influence of his or her own opinions and objectively present the facts.
If I had uncovered data that supported the assertion that “the people” of Redondo Beach want to prevent development in King Harbor, I would have expressed that opinion. The numbers simply didn’t prove it, at least not to me.
I’m in King Harbor at least 4-5 times a week. I run into people I know all the time for one simple reason, I know a lot of people who work there or use it for boating. I have never-ever seen one person I know from any of the beach cities who doesn’t either work there or have a boat in the harbor. Think about that. I know a lot of people.
To me the absence of local users is more telling than any election, referendum or political movement. The people of the beach cities abandoned King Harbor years ago and it’s heartbreaking.
If someone wants to build something in King Harbor that the citizens want to use, I’ll scream my support from the highest hill. I don’t care if it’s a park, outdoor cafes, a bike path or a skating rink. But we’ll never get a chance to find out unless we enable the people with the resources and vision to bring new things here to tell us what they’d like to do and how they’d like to do it.
The current “no growth” image of Redondo Beach will do nothing but keep the status quo, decay, deterioration and a local population that looks elsewhere for its recreation.
I respect your opinion to think my column is “goofy” but perhaps I disagree when you say it’s impossible to set the record straight. I think I just did.
I’m an MB native, have never left this city. This’ll be my 17th 6man attendance (played in the tourney twice, myself). It took me several hours to peel my jaw off of the floor when I first read City Council’s proposed changes which, at the time, include costume bans, etc. I was wiping the rust off of my pitchfork to ready it in preparation of protest – it would have been a violation of our first amendment rights. I see now that they came to their senses about that and chose not to band the costumes. But do they have the right to ban coolers? Tents? Isn’t it a public beach? In any event, the more I think through the legality of it, I understand the alcohol ban. After all, public intoxication is not allowed. But what I can’t understand is: why won’t the city fence off the area (or areas away from the courts perhaps) and offer a city-sponsored beer gardens, like in the Hometown Fair? That way, people could drink, the city could make some cash, and the registration fees could be limited, all the while passing some of the burden onto the spectators, and not the players.
But, how foolish of me to think that the city actually really cares about banning alcohol because of “crime”, “fights” and “riots” (have they not seen the hermosa pier on the weekends? 20,000 drunk d-bags there on a year-round basis with minimal fights and no riots.) Instead, the 6man changes come on the heels of the city caving into the pressure of non-native residents who are forcing the closure of our beloved Sand Dune Park, too. This is about non-native rich snobs who have moved into our glorious beach community and turned this into an issue of “Hi, I’m a rich snob and my tax dollars pay your salary, so you better do what i tell you to do or else I’ll vote you out of city council power. And I don’t like fun and awesomeness, I just want to impose my snooty joykill ways on everyone so please, get all of these young people away from my house even though I purchased it knowing full well that I live next to all sorts of things, including bars and a public beach that WILL be frequented by lots of people on a year-round basis.” These snobs are trying to turn our beach community, with it’s unique culture and traditions, into a sea-side Beverly Hills. What next, will they try to impose a ban on the Hometown Fair too???
I remember Tiger. I’m John Gardner’s brother and he hung around with Tiger when they were kids. We lived in a few locations on Loma Drive, went to South school and Pier Ave. One of the homes we lived in was just over the fence from Clark Stadium and not far from Tiger’s house. I also remember old Lady Bectal and Mrs. Hayes. She was the one that used to carry around water jugs and fill them up somewhere down at the strand for drinking water. John Gardner is my brother and he’s still surfing where he lives up in Seaside, Oregon.
John lives up in Seaside,Oregon and is still surfing.
I’ll have to tell him about this article and that I saw a reply by Dickie Boyd, a name I remember well.
Dave: I just spoke with Dell Cook today on the phone.
Re: The beach cities fire department merger discussions, and Hermosa’s budget meeting.
Dear ER:
Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Beach, have and are collectively wasting millions by needing to have their own little feel-good fire departments, especially with consideration that one of the best fire departments in the country, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, serves Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Lomita, Lawndale, Hawthorne and many other cities so professionally.
It’s little more than egotistical that the beach cities still insist on having their own political-pawn fire departments. In doing so, the councils of these cities are collectively wasting millions of the people’s tax money just so politicians can play political games at election time.
The quality of fire and paramedic services would not degrade and probably only improve were these cities to each set their specifications and contract with Los Angeles County Fire as other fine cities do. The fire stations would still be in the same places and most all of the fire personnel would probably feel more professional not having to put up with the political good-ole-boy games of these beach cities. So long as we have weak-as-water egocentric politician council members maintaining a mythology of providing better fire services with city-operated fire departments in these beach towns, the people’s tax money will continue to be wasted.
Hermosa’s council can and should set the trend by immediately exiting any local-politics merger baloney and commencing a process to contract with Los Angeles County Fire at their budget meeting in the Council Chambers, Thursday evening, 7 PM, May 27.
And yet the City wants to incur the cost of shipping sand to the dune, reshaping it, and fencing it from all others, so that a lucky sweaty few can have an exclusive workout facility a great cost to the neighborhood, environment, and budget. Priorities? In January, the City understood and ordered in writing that they would not do this, and that they had better things to do with scarce resources. Nothing changed, other than some very selfish we-want-our-preferred-workout-regardless-of-cost folks, who had not participated in any of the prior thoughtful meetings set up by the City, showed up for about half of one meeting with a news camera, and the City caved. What an unflattering chapter in City Council history. Perhaps something will cause the City to reconsider its misguided turns, and return to reason, sound priorities, and fiscal responsibility.
I enjoyed your mamoir. I too grew up at the park. We lived above the park on 34th st. In the summer, my parents would invite several other families to get together for a day at the park. We would play volleyball, have a barbeque, and just enjoy each other’s company. It was a park for families. When they remodled the park and took out the volleyball court I was sad. Then I found out that kids can no longer go down on sleds, or boogey boards, or anything. How are kids ever going to know the thrill of picking off a scab if they are never allowed to skin their knee. Infact, the whole cith has changed. My father taught school at Pacific Shores, and coached football at both Mira Costa, and Aviation. I grew up going to highschool football games. It was a family event. Everyone did. I have tried to explain to my kids what life was like growing up in MB, but they just can’t understand. When we go visit, all we see are latin nannies sitting around a bunch of white kids. It is a shame.
This is a completely innacurate depiction of the woman pictured. This article paints the Count to be a creep. This is also a bizarre food article. Interesting, but bizarre. I could barely get through it.
This is an absolutely delightful story written about a man with whom I had the pleasure of being directed in several performances. Michael Hayden truly has a gift like no other when it comes to musicality and motivation. I would like to strongly encourage anyone who has ever been directed by Michael to dig into their pockets and help support the Mira Costa Ensemble!
Has RUHS completed all deficiencies in earthquake safety, energy conservation, electrical, plumbing, disabled access, lighting and security, computer labs, and other repairs voters hear about when the school board asks for a bond? Or are they going to spend most of the money on a cafeteria to have junk food delivered by local fast food companies?
I like the Easy Reader, but I could not finish this article. This joke was drawn on so far that it was no longer a satirical piece on art/food reviews, rather it was an ironic satirical piece on satire in general.
Interesting the Redondo Beach Police have an officer who is an additive drug expert. The article doesn’t state what dosage the tablets were. I think Vicodin contains 500 mg paracetamol and 5 mg hydrocodone. It’s barely stronger than many over the counter NSAID drugs. But he should have had a prescription for it as it is considered a class 3 drug, which is:” Pure codeine and hydrocodone are Schedule II drugs but when compounded with paracetamol or with an NSAID they can become a Schedule III drug. Schedule III drugs are classified by the U.S. government as potentially causing moderate or low physical dependence, or a high psychological dependence if misused.” I’m sure pro football players have a need for pain relief, why wasn’t he being managed by a doctor? Couldn’t afford it? Or did the team doctor just go, here… Please have a follow up story.
I agree with Riz,
How did this article make the cover? It’s a diluted restaurant and gallery review thrown into a Creative Writing 101 assignment. Theres so many other important, factual story’s going on in the south bay, why give the cover to a work of fiction about a pretentious, womanizing millionaire.
This is a great article. I witnessed the FARTBARF show at DEVOtional in 2009, and I am going to see them again at DEVOtional this year. FARTBARF BLEW ME AWAY! FARTBARF IS AWESOME LIVE! I’m hoping they put out more recorded material, because I am/will always be, a FARTBARF fan.
There was a production of this recently up at the Norris which was probably one of the best I’d ever seen. Last year’s Shakespeare by the Sea production was excellent as well. Hoping to get the chance to see this one, although this write up may not have theatre goers flocking to see it…
Manhattan Beach Police Department is to be commended for arresting Tony Perez, who cheated an investor out of $20,000, while Sean David Morton, a Hermosa Beach resident, is being sued by the SEC for bilking investors out of over $6 million! Perez should have set up his scam in Hermosa Beach!
Why would Easy Reader hire someone to write a preview article who obviously detests Shakespeare and makes thinly veiled racist comments? The show hadn’t opened when this article went to press so it’s not like it’s simply a negative review, it’s more like a hate article barely masked in poorly written attempts at humor. Shakespeare’s work is toilet paper? Accents are acceptable sources of derision? Character names are just too hard and we should give up now? This clown does not represent the South Bay; the people I know in this community are educated, welcoming to culture and challenges, and would not be the first in line to lambaste something sight unseen. Perhaps the Easy Reader should read their articles before publishing them to weed out the loons who haven’t gotten over their D- in freshman English class.
It is never a bad idea to ask the people, especially since the City Council has on more than one occasion has gone in exactly the wrong direction with respect to the wishes of the majority.
Right on Rev. While we are all waiting for that EP to come out be sure to get your fill of Fartbarf on http://www.DirtyHippieRadio.com.
-Rev. Jeff Vincent (yes I’m ordained)
I am a resident of the 36th district, & have been trying to follow this race. Of the three candidates, Andrew Sharp & Pete Kesterson seem to be fairly accessible & visible, but I haven’t heard of any Mattie Fein events, where I could go to hear her speak. I went to a candidates forum, where both Sharp & Kesterson spoke, but Fein was not present. Also, I didn’t know about the Sri Lankan connection, but an internet search produced a lot of info. This site, for example, has a lot of links and references: http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010/03/11/mattie-and-bruce-fein-and-foreign-terrorist-organizations/ and The Asian Tribune has some good articles as well. Definitely enough info to make me suspicious of voting for this candidate.
I met Andrew Sharp at a Tea Party event and knew right away he was the one for the job. He is not a career politician like Pete and Mattie and seemed genuinely concerned about the local issues of the district because he has lived in the area his entire life. I was impressed with his knowledge of history and politics and know he would be a good representative for us in Congress.
In response to Jane Harman’s consultant Harvey Englander’s comments:
Jane Harman needs to stop hiding behind her consultant and speak for herself. Today, I challenge Jane Harman to a debate next week on the important issues regarding the 36th district, her voting record, and her conflicts of interests. Let Harman finally disclose her financial interests and see how many votes she should have recused herself from. Sending Mr. Englander is not an option. After 16 years representing the district, Harman needs to stop hiding and speak for herself.
Wonderful column. And, your project is truly beneficial and inspiring. I believe the urban gardening experience will bear fruit in those kids’ future, even though they are now captivated by the much-advertised plastic “food” of McDonald’s and other purveyors of fast junk.
Please consider this ‘letter-to-editor’ submission for use in this week’s, June 17 edition.
I feel this is an important story that needs to be told. Please consider printing the entire letter.
Thank you as always.
==============================================
June 13, 2010
Dear ER:
Pier Avenue’s costly, unneeded, skinny, raised-curbed, off-centered median is now interestingly being rushed-built, completely out of logical construction order. This median item of Hermosa’s overall street project unquestionably is going to diminish the historic avenue’s beauty and functionality in many negative ways. Unfortunately, except for rightfully concerned councilman Jeff Duclos, the council’s other four members’ median obsession is another example of unbelievably ignorant, closed-minded, arrogance in action.
All should understand that council’s 2-lane Pier Avenue agenda never ended since some ten years ago when another pro-bars council first changed Pier Avenue’s 4-lane “arterial” legal designation to 2-lane “local” collector. The council still refuses to return it back to 4-lane “arterial” which is what it is supposed to be. That prior legal trick was later used to rationalize council’s incredibly dumb and costly reduction of the avenue to two lanes. After a massive outcry over that from both residents and Pier Avenue businesses, council fearing their own certain recall, quickly spent more tax money to return the avenue back to four lanes.
However former and current elected diehards supporting expansion of Pier Plaza’s eating and drinking on widened sidewalks with one lane each way up Pier Avenue have never given up their two-lane obsession. Those include Sam Edgerton, J. R. Reviczky, Michael Keegan, Peter Tucker, Patrick “Kit” Bobko, and Michael DiVirgilio, together with many of their handpicked city commissioner “rubber-stamps”. The median is just the latest slimy trick being used to eventually morph Pier Avenue down to two lanes with diversion of traffic elsewhere through the residential neighborhoods.
DiVirgilio deceitfully even told bicycle proponents, those previously dismissed, to now push for one lane each way. This just shows what a smiling disingenuous phony he also is, and always has been since he first fooled me. And now Bobko has hit rock bottom, going out of his way to pander to his political fans by displaying how despicable he can be with his disgusting, condescending, badgering, cheap lawyer intimidation of members of Hermosa’s rank and file police and fire personnel who would dare speak out against what is little more than the use of taxpayer money by Bobko to embellish his own political status.
But worst of all is Bobko and DiVirgilio’s unseemly use of Hermosa Beach and the some-total $5.5 million of taxpayers’ money being expended on Pier Avenue to photo-op grandstand this Pier Avenue project for their political resumes. It’s just further indication of the lengths these two shallow, carpet-bagger, politician-wannabes will go to advance their narcissistic political agendas onto taxpayers’ backs.
dear Jan,
I am a teacher, and like you I believe in the children we teach. I feel your sorrow, I feel your pain. You probably shaped many lives, created memories that will for ever help making this world a better one. There are no words that can ease your loss, there are no hug that can erase your pain, but never forget that the children you taught are for ever better! I wish you the best in your new life… don’t give up, there are birthdays, homework, and many ways to stay in touch with the world you help shaping.
For ever thankful….
JPA
Have you been to a Women’s Empowerment? This yrs expo was a great time! Laila Ali was the headlining speaker and she rocked the house, excellent concert also. I travelled in to Raleigh from OH, completely more than worth it!
this is really so sad…the cajun is so unique and become a landmark on pier avenue…there a a million restaurant’s going out of business so why not open his sons in one of those? the bottom line is we have enough bars and hamburgers in hermosa but there is only one ragin cajun…another spoiled kid in south bay…he’ll be out of business is six months like so many others. the cajun and stephen deserves better.
This is a joke. No matter where I go in the South Bay area, everyone knows exactly what I’m talking about when I talk about the Cajun. Great food & atmosphere. I’m sure Steven won’t have much of a problem finding a new location, but it’s a shame he has to. Especially after all he has done to enlarge & improve the current location. I guess I’ve eaten my last meal at that address.
I live just behind the Ragin’ Cajun and will be at every city hall meeting to ensure that this Gastropub doesn’t happen. Upper Pier only needs family friendly restaurants. A “Gastropub” doesn’t sound like it’s going to fit that bill. Sounds like we’ll just get more drunk LMU students walking down my street while my children are trying to sleep. Not acceptable.
You might as well let the Ragin Cajun stay, because the residents don’t want another Union Cattle- We already have one.
This is INFURIATING. I’ll tell you one thing: I will never ever ever set foot in Junior’s gastropub. Ever. The kid gets Daddy’s land giftwrapped, gets funding from Daddy’s buddies down the road, and in the process kicks out a local institution? Shame on you, Bredesens.
This is so sad! My family and I love the Ragin Cajun! We live in the Inland Empire…yet drive all the way into South Bay once a month…just to go to the Ragin Cajun! I can tell you, I will never make a drive like that to go to some place called a “Gastropub.” The Bredesen family is making a HUGE mistake with this one. It’s a no brainer….let the Ragin Cajun stay!!
I’m from lafayette, La and I travel to the LA area frequestly on business. I always visit and eat at the Ragin Cajun. Don’t worry Steve, your loyal customers will find you and support you. You will remain successful. There are alot of restaurants in that area and all over the country that spout off about serving true Cajun cuisine. Most don’t even come close. Steve’s food is about as close to home cooking as I can get without cooking it myself.
This is SO Shocking. This is a FAMILY restaurant, serving families! I have lived by the restauant ever since they opened, they are polite, and caring about their neighbors. WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER BAR! Let this father give his spoiled kid something on the Plaza which is already filled with drunks! Isn’t “teaching” your child about living with others treating them to also be “fair”? This Chris person is stealing a business from hardworking people to “give” to his spoiled son, this is MAFIA! Trust me, I too will be at EVERY meeting as well NO ALCOHOL! I don’t care WHAT they are calling this new place it will NOT make it, and then this Chris person can sit with an empty restaurant, and BAD KARMA! Everyone who comes in to town in the Entertainment Industry makes their FIRST stop at the Ragin Cajun! This Chris person is taking away a landmark and lively hood of good hardworking people, SHAME ON YOU, SELFISH!
You’ve got to be kidding. You have a successful , unique restaurant and you want to move them out and open a generic chain restaurant! I’m from Lafayette, Louisiana and know many people from Acadiana that when they come to L.A they go to Ragin Cajun. One reason is for the unique food and to get a taste of home in California. They also stroll along the pier and shop after dining, so not only does Ragin Cajun miss out, but all of Hermosa Beach and other merchants will be missing out on sales. I will never step foot in this other restaurant and make sure to tell other freinds not to go either. It will fail within a 4 months, then you will ahve an empty building on Pier Avenue. Steve will succeed and find another place, I know him, he’s a Cajun. I Feel sad for the rest of Hermosa Beach!
This is so par for the course in the new self centered South Bay. I’m not outraged or even surprised. Gentrification sure hurts.
I’ve been going to Steven’s establishment since it opened. It has always been full of friendly people and great food. Steven can be assured that I will frequent his new restaurant.
Ragin’ Cajun was the last popular place on Pier Avenue that was not full of tools.
I guess the silver lining is that I don’t have to go to Pier Avenue anymore and struggle to find the ever disappearing parking. I’ll be at the great gastropubs in Redondo; Bouzy and Hudson House.
BTW don’t look to the Hermosa City Council for any assistance, they are powerless in this situation. Although the ego driven councilmen will probably again find some way to inject themselves and look like fools.
As a participant in the “Race of the Century” from the class of ’57, I enjoyed reading the very nice article by Randy Angel. He definitely captured the special feelings the RUHS family have for one another, the faculty, and their school. Many of the alumni there spoke of having parents, grandparents, and/or children who were alumni also. Special thanks to Steve Felix who was our communication medium, the hard work of Terry Martinez and Gentil Smith, the Alumni Association members, current students, and special guests as well as the enduring enthusiasm of the combined classes: present, remembered, or unable to attend but here in spirit.
I am so sad to hear the news. The Rajun Cajun has been a part of our community for a long time. The food is great. The atmosphere is happy. Please be sure to let us know where the Cajun is going. I will be following Stephen and his hometown hospitality. Good luck to the new restaurant. I’ll not be going that way again. I’m sorry for the other businesses in the area. They will surely suffer a loss of business because of this.
It may not be “family first.” Perhaps, it should be good people, good business, and customer loyalty first. Rajun has been a good, successful landmark for the south bay and that piece of real estate. Nepotism isn’t always right or beneficial–for anyone other than the parent and child/relative. You will be hurting a lot of people by ousting Rajun. And, despite what you may belive, it will not be outweighed by any benefit that you think a new place might provide. I assure you people still belive in and want a community place–and Rajun has been and is that place.
Ragin Cajun is a Hermosa Beach landmark. Every effort by every person of influence should be made to ensure that this landmark does not leave the city. The restaurant is a family friendly place owned by the most wonderful and kind people and it would truly be a shame, for Hermosa Beach, if it was needelessly lost.
Some thanks for 18 yrs worth of inflated rent, huh? makes you lose faith in handshakes and good old fashioned business relationships. who can you trust?
I cannot believe it! I was just there 3 weeks ago and had the best Cajun food ever. But more than that, Steve, Janeen and Mary were so warm, kind, cordial, friendly and hospitable to us. It was the best dining experience in a long, long time. There is no other Cajun restaurant like it. I hope the new location will not be hard to find and that you will not lose any of your clientele.
This is actually heartbreaking. The Ragin Cajun and its employees are like family. My husband and I have been eating there almost every Friday night since we started dating. Stephen, Jeannine, and their lovely waitresses have watched us date, get married, and very recently have a baby. They have ALWAYS made us feel welcome and special. The hospitality at the Cajun is incomparable and they take care of their customers with the utmost warmth and respect. There is no other! I am saddened by this and don’t think I can bring myself re-visit Pier Ave. without a certain level of disdain should they not find a spot on that street. Where they are is perfect. The owner is making a BAD business move.
Stephen and Jeannine are two of the nicest people I have ever met. I can not believe this is happening to them. The Cajun is one of the Best restaurants around. It has been a place I always can depend on to have great food and a great atmosphere. The people doing forcing them to move are very selfish and I hope they feel guilty about what they are doing to the Domingues! Pier Ave won’t be the same with the close of the Cajun.
I do believe that Stephen and Chris Sr made a gentlemans agreement regarding the continued tenancy of ragin cajun on Pier ave. then sonny boy gets out of college and can’t find a job so he approaces other rest. owners for help with the tale of Stephen missing a deadline and not excercising his lease option and maybe telling them that Stephen was leaving on his own , which we all know is’nt true . my advise to these prospective partners is pull out now to keep yourselves from becoming a party to this injustice. and leave junior to his own devices ! When all is said and done, out of all the players the only real man is Stephen.
Why would a real estate investor throw out a quality tenant to enable a family member to open another “boring” eatery that is not needed, won’t be supported, and quite simply won’t survive in this economy? Mr. Bredesen is a fool! But Hermosa Beach’s loss can be Manhattan Beach’s gain. Stephen please consider moving your great food, great staff and family-freindly Rajun Cajun to Manhattan Beach. We are a much more business-friendly community. You will attract many more MB clientele simply because they won’t fear having to venture down to Hermosa to deal with the drunks, lack of parking and police/parking enforcement officials with attitudes. You would be welcomed with open arms by citizens such as myself!
I think I might actually cry!!! I live 6 hours north of Hermosa, and every time I make the trip down Rajin is the highlight returant that MUST be visited!!!! Nobody needs another CHAIN, why is it so hard for unique independents to stay in business? The resturant business is becoming like any other business factor where the Big Bad “Wall Mart” comes in and ruins every little guy in town!!! Ragin Cajun is an icon resturant and should NOT be touched!!!! Good Luck Stephen, I hope to find you open somewhere on my next visit!!!
This is very sad. I certainly understand that the building is Bredesen’s to lease to who he wants, but you just do not treat people — let alone longstanding local businessmen — that way. Forcing the closure of a local landmark is not the way to start your own business on good terms. It makes sense that the new place’s marketing partner has no interest in marketing it right now because they will forever be known as the joint belonging to the spoiled kid who ran a great local one-of-a-kind restaurant out so he can make sure Hermosa residents can somehow find a yet another place to buy yet another beer. I suspect I will muddle through without this beer outlet, because I will encourage everyone I speak to to avoid their new place like the plague.
The Ragin Cajun has been one of the most popular places in the South Bay to year for many years. I can’t believe that the owner would do that. I feel really bad for Steve and wish we could do something. I know one thing for sure, I will never eat at the new place, NEVER!! In fact, I hope it is a dismal failure.
Hi Randy Angel,
I justed wanted to say what a well written article you did on the event.
I graduated from Redondo High in 1957, but I couldn’t make the event.
All the work by the volunteers is unbelievable, and I congratulate them.
I hope I can make next year’s Race Of The Century (ROTC).
Thanks Randy for wirting a great story.
Stephen (Mike) Palmer, class of 57
Las Vegas, NV.
I’ve been a regular customer of the Cajun for over 13 years; going down to hermosa every wed for lunch and friday night for dinner. In my mind its a “cultural landmark”. The way Steve and his family run the resturaunt and treat their customers is what keeps me coming back. If they cannot work a deal with their landlord, I will follow Steve and the Cajun to where ever they end up moving to. While its up to the property owner to determine who he will lease the location to, I cannot see the wisdom of trying to open a new resturaunt (with a crappy name by the way) in the place of an established, successful operation while the economy is in the dumper. If Steve is forced to move, hopefully he can find a better location with better parking to boot.
Thank you Beach Cities Health District for being leaders for community health. If everyone in the Beach Cities were aware of and began to practice the Nine Blue Zone practices, we would all be healthier and happier.
Bravo to the Beach Cities Health District for providing leadership in our Vitality City quest. Let’s embrace the Nine Blue Zone practices that will help us live longer and happier lives.
This a great very lucky cool shot. Kyle was about 14-16 years old then. He is now 21 and in his 3rd year ocf college at Point Loma in San Diego. The shot was taken at “Burnout” surf spot at the Redondo/Torrance boarder. This photo was hanging on display at Good Stuff resturant in Redondo for a while. Dave does beautiful work on camera and tile. Thanks Dave for bringing this back out in circulation. Oh ya by the way Kyle’s last name was spelled wrong in this edition, it should be Jax.
Aloha,
George Jax
I enjoyed your article on the ROTC (Race of the Century)and was surprised to see that I was in two of the pictures you included (the Race and the Cheer Leaders). It was a memorable event that you captured so well and will be treasured as another keepsake of the day. Thank you.
Dixie (Henry) Foster ’61
Manhattan Beach, CA
Congratulations, now you need to mandate all contractors pulling permits use E Verify on their workers to make sure Americans get MORE WORK and go through all local restaurants and businesses and do the same. The restaurant food is rated for health and safety, the employees need to be screened for diseases, and using E Verify is a good start.
They say that “change is good.” Well in this instance, I cannot agree. The new developments and facelifts going on in Hermosa Beach take away from the character of Pier Avenue and what it is has been since inception. I’ve been frequenting the beach city for almost 30 years. It is the small quaint family owned establishments that draws so many back week after week.
Ragin Cajun is one of those establishments. I have been going there for over 11 years and Steve, Jeannine and Miss Mary are like family to me, my family and my friends. It is a place where I make it a must go whenever I have visitors in Los Angeles. It would be such a loss to Hermosa Beach if the Ragin Cajun were to leave. I guarantee, that whatever goes up in it’s place will never see any of the faithful customers that are loyal to Steve and his family.
Praying that minds will be changed and Daddy’s little boy will reconsider and reverse the process. I don’t know all the particulars but I will say that if things are not done in good faith… Bredesen family, you will reap what you sow.
I don’t see any reason to venture to Hermosa Beach if the Ragin Cajun is forced to find a new location. If that happens, that is where I’ll be taking my people and my money.
Ragin Cajun is a Hermosa Beach institution. I have many out-of-state customers in my business who make it a point to come to Ragin Cajun (not the Pier Avenue bars) because of their legendary food and fun yet relaxed environment. Hermosa Beach will lose a vital counter-weight to the noisy, raucous Pier Avenue bars, and take big another step away from a town where families want to raise their children.
I can’t believe the landlord is doing this to Cajun. It’s so sad. I eat there with my family after I’m in a POPS show. It’s tradition. This landlord guy is hurting families. Not just people that work at Cajun — but all of us that love to go there. I’m very upset about this news. I wish somebody could do something about it. I don’t think this is a very good idea, Landlord. Quit hurting families and everybody that loves Cajun. I know you want your son to be happy, but what about all the other people your decision affects? I hope you think about this. You are not making the right decision to do this. Not only does this hurt other people, but it hurts me. And I’m eight. And that’s just not right.
Sounds like the partners of the landlord’s son have been eying the Ragin Cajun location, making plans with the landlord’s son to take over the spot Stephen worked so hard on. Could the son’s contribution be a break on the rent?? Hmmmmmm? Since they own it and will do what they want to the Cajuns and converted Cajuns who enjoy Stephen’s food, why don’t they name the new restaurant, BP OIL???
Sour grapes! It sounds like the Bredesens offered Domingue extra time beyond his lease, which is more than he owed him. Stephen should have renegotiated a new lease at least a year in advance—either he was playing chicken or was simply non-committal. His loss, and ours. I do love the food and will follow them wherever they go next but it’s too late to be a crybaby about it. This is the way capitalism works; put up or shut up.
I note the phrase “Not so senile” was removed from the online edition headline. On the cover no less! How sad for the people who participated, and incredibly insensitive and offensive to all readers.
Just to note: a group of local RUHS Alumni meet regularly and call themselves the “Senile Sea Hawks” in good fun. The phrase was likely intended to echo that, not offensively.
Rajin Cajun is the only restaurant my husband and I take our two children to, in Hermosa Beach! It is the only restaurant there, that selflessly caters to our kids: there is a play yard that Jeannine set up out back for the children to play, while the adults dine and share laughs with the friendly staff! Besides the welcoming of families, Rajin Cajun is the only restaurant with authenticity along Pier Avenue. It is absurd that anyone would remove it, only to replace it with a Gastropub that will end up closing down, I’m certain. Stephen and Jeannine have worked so hard during the past 18 years to not only expand, but secure the restaurant’s services. The landlord needs to reward this family by letting Rajin Cajun stay exactly where it is on Pier Avenue. Please find another location for the Gastropub, and let Rajin Cajun flourish with their well know friendliness and flare!
Did anyone see the riots anfter the last game this week? What kind of fans celebrate by destroying their own city? The LA Lakers are a group of scofflaws. According to AP, 38 people were arrested for “public intoxication, vandalism or inciting a riot.” Probably doesn’t help to have criminals on the team. Kobe seems to have escaped that rape charge in Colorado just fine. In any case, the basketball is starting to seem pre arranged. LA always seem to get more than their share. Remember Derrick Fisher and the Spurs? Wonder if it’s because of Jack Nicholson.
To the Bredesens: I’ve enjoyed patronizing Stephen’s restaurant for 12 years now. Yes, the property is yours – indeed you’re free to do with it as you please.
In reading the article, I couldn’t help but notice an incongruity regarding the situation. Quoting the elder Bredesens: “…{I} decided to end Ragin Cajun’s run at the location at a time when the lease was ending and Bredesen’s son wanted to launch a restaurant.” “The bottom line is that Steve has done a great job, his lease was up May 31, he knew it was up, and we had other plans for the real estate.”
Quote from the younger Bredesen: “…Domingue waited more than a month past a renewal deadline without asking to renew his lease”, and then Bredesen approached his father for a lease of his own.
Well which is it guys?
“It’s a very difficult situation because he’s a very nice man, and he runs a nice business…I’ve owned the real estate for long time – it’s family first, right?”
Reminds me of the old adage of blood running thicker than water. Guess blood runs thicker than intregrity also, huh?
I wish the Bredesens luck with their new venture. Steve, I’m going wherever you go!
My wife and I just left there about 30 minutes ago, after reading the assinine comments from Stacy (see immediately above). What does she know? We are terribly upset about this situation. Our prayers are that you find another location pronto and make this shitty situation into a “win”. We love you and the cajun magic that is created in your kitchen. There is no way to put an end to that! As they say, “one monkey (landlord) don’t stop no show”. Look forward to see ya many times between now and the end of the summer. Peace out.
It did my heart good to see so many Class of 62 photos! I also enjoyed seeing so many elder class mates there. Thank you for the great pictures and wonderful article. Sincerely Mary Fowler Page ’62
Ms. Steward is a hero. It is a shame that she like many other highly experienced and qualified educators are being thrown under the bus by our incompetent Hermosa Beach politicians in the name of fiscal restraint. Yet it’s funny that city council continues to find money to throw at Hermosa Beach PD, even though they’ve cost us millions in abuse lawsuits and two of their abusive officers Lewitt and Sellan are now suing us. Education is what keeps our property values; not cops, firemen or god-forbid another liquor establishment. It’s time to invest in local education, even if that means we need to contract police and fire services to LA County. Thank you Jan for your almost 5 decades of service…you will be sorely missed!
I certainly appreciated the article, thinking it showed not only sensitivity but also an appreciation for what people want to read about. Good job, Angel.
Hey Stacy Wilson,
You have no idea you are talking about. What you are saying is complete conjecture. You come off sounding like a hack. Capitolism/business is about making money. This is nepotism.
It’s a dice roll to see if “Town Hall” flys.
Chris Bredesen Sr. is foolish if he is not hedging his bet by getting much more in monthly rent and plenty of property improvements. The guys from Union Cattle did the same thing at the Pitcherhouse. They put millions into Saint Rocke.
We are so sad to hear about Ragin Cajun! It is an absolute favorite of ours and we drive the 20+ miles to enjoy the great atmosphere, friendly people, and of course the outstanding food. Our trip there for Father’s Day was once again a wonderful visit. Stephen is the friendliest, kindest man and always treats us like we’re part of the family. You can’t find places like this anymore. We really hope and pray the landlord will reconsider and think about how much Ragin Cajun is a part of Hermosa Beach and what a favorite it is to so many people. Even if Ragin Cajun goes… we will be sure to follow! We love ya Stephen and we think you are amazing!!!
The Union Cattle folks are really shooting themselves in the foot with this move. It would make much more sense for them to open this gastropub of their in a commercial space that is not already occupied by a successful family owned small business that the community loves and enjoys.
Why not proove to the community that you are not just here to make a buck but that you care about making Hermosa Beach a thriving community? I wonder why they don’t just use the former space of Ken and Kent’s Deli that’s been sitting empty for months on Hermosa Avenue.
Words can not describe how pethetic Mr. Bredesen is as a landlord and a buisness man. You have a landmark resturant that has served pier ave.for the past 20yrs with true cajun culture (everything from the food to the hospitality) and just TRY to take it away in the blink of an eye. The Cajun will be sucessful no matter where it is located because it has loyal customers that are treated like customers not a number. EVERYONE BOYCOTT TOWN HALL GASTROPUB!!!
Where in the South Bay can you go where you are greeted with “Hi Miss Karen, How y’all doin? Make ya self ta home.”
And I do “make myself ta home.” Stephen Domingue created a place that always feels like you have come HOME for dinner. Can we find a way to keep our home in Hermosa? I do’nt want a fake new bistro to replace the Ragin Cajun and the people who count on it to always be there.
FAMILY FIRST…if it was your family and you owned this multi-million dollar property at the beach…each and every one of you would do the same exact thing. quit whining and be for real. FAMILY ALWAYS COMES FIRST. And the OWNER of the property gets to dictate what is done with the property.
The Ragin Cajun has the best crawfish etouffe’ in Los Angeles county and I am going to be lost without Steve’s delicious cajun food. My dad, Paul Mouton, grew up in Lafayette and knew Steve’s mom and family and I’ve felt a connection with Louisiana and my roots in New Orleans whenever my wife and I go to the Rajun Cajun for a few Dixie beers and his great Cajun atmosphere.
A better business decision for the property owners would be to give Steve a renewal on his lease (which is a known, constant income)for the property owner and to use the current lease income to start the gastro pub (which is unknown and an unproven income) at a different location so that if the gastro pub is unsuccessful, they still have the Ragin Cajun’s lease income, with no down time, to keep an income stream, rather than the lost time and income of changing owners, waiting for health and building inspectors,etc and losing tens of thousands of dollars in income while waiting to fill the location and get final building permits, alcohol license and health inspection approval
It is a huge gamble and a real disservice to the Cajun community and Southern California to lose this fantastic landmark. Wherever Steve goes I will follow his restaurant to keep getting the tasty Rajun Cajun crawfish etouffe’ and his cheesecake with praline sauce.
Steve, please keep all of your Cajun Fans posted with your plans. Le bon temps roullet! Whatever happens, you will make it better, because you are the best!
I moved to the Hermosa in 1992 when pier still went to the pier, there were empty storefronts, and more crime. They redeveloped closing off the last block of pier and all the rents were raised. fat Face Fenner had to move. Pier 52 closes. Henneseys moved to end spot. Many changes. It sucked we were pissed at most of them Crappy clubs opened. Club sushi polluted the beach/surfer/punker atmostphere. Jocks came to party and fight and things were just different. Well there always be change. And this sucks. Some close friends waitressed there in the 90s and Stephen and he really overcame a lot to make it. He is a solid guy and I hope this leads to something better for him.
It’s a shame to see Ragin Cajun leave their spot on Pier Avenue. That said, I look forward to
knowing where they will open next. People will drive wherever to get their food, so I hope they
find a better space, with better parking. I wish them continued success!
It’s true that business is business, but this doesn’t sound like a good business decision based on
the article. It sounds like an emotional decision that was made by the land owner. Rarely do emotional business decisions turn out well.
I like Bouzy Gastropub in SRB, so I doubt I’ll be frequenting the new pub where Ragin Cajun is.
FOR A SCAMMY, GREEDY LANDLORD A FOUR YEAR LEASE IS NORMAL ALONG WITH A PROMISE THAT YOU CAN STAY AS LONG AS YOU WANT WHICH WAS BELIEVED BY STEPHEN , WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A WHOPPER OF A LIE , STEPHEN SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT COMING SINCE HIS LANDLORD OWNS A BUNCH OF BURGER KINGS,HIS LANDLORD SHOULD GIVE HIS SON A BURGER KING AND TELL HIM TO HOLD HIS OWN PICKLE !
Hey Janice Brown,
You have no idea you are talking about. What you are saying is complete conjecture. You come off sounding like a hack. Capitolism/business is about making money. This is nepotism.
For every successful family empire there is a family that has squaundered their wealth. For example, the Mondovi’s, the undisputed first family of winemaking in California, all pissed away in two years after Robert Mondovi gives up control. Family first, give me a break.
OK ENOUGH!!!
Time for action!
Yes, we all know that Ragin Cajun MUST stay in Hermosa.
Hermosa Beach residents get mad, get off your duffs, organize, be or get media savvy…basically make a big stink.
You owe it to yourselves, your families, and the world of great food lovers. Good luck!
Thank you for believing in my daughter, when other teachers did not!
My child, and hundreds of other children, were blessed to pass through your classroom.
Well i’m not suprised at the results of the Idiots running our schools. Obviously it is a dumming down of society when you see the lack of gratitude for this amazing young teachers contribution and heart to go far beyond the required. After all a teacher like this one might inspire our children to think. They would rathera school of fish where one turns and they all turn. For the students to repeat things told to them on the test sheet every friday, rather true or not you get a A if you repeat what you were taught. They would prefer for the children to never ask questions, to get one of 25 jobs pay taxes and go to church..lol Wake up parents fight for your children and for yourself. Thank you Mr. Miko you are a hell of a man. We have not forgot your heart and dedication to humanity and the children will never forget you.
Your article has one serious inaccuracy. The reporter states “…according to some advocates, limit states’ powers to restrict the right to bear arms.”
The Case is McDonald v City of Chicago and the US Supreme Court Decision will be released on Tuesday. Everyone, including this Nation’s must militant supporters of gun control (e.g., Mayor Daley of Chicago) believes that the decision will limit states’ powers to restrict the right to bear arms.”
People seem really upset about this…Not sure if it’s purely locals or people that just like Cajun food? Personally, I have lived in the South Bay for almost 30 years…my family and friends have been embedded in the South Bay for over 40 years…And I don’t know many people that eat here…
Doesn’t Bredesen own the land? Wasn’t this a quote…”Domingue waited more than a month past a renewal deadline without asking to renew his lease, and then Bredesen approached his father for a lease of his own.” Oh and I also noticed that he wanted a lease for 3-4 years…pretty sure when you want to renew a restaurant lease you ask for 10+ years…for the very reason of this happening…
Maybe it’s his land and he wants to improve the value of the land by upgrading it…or maybe he wants to give it to a family member. Either way, at the end of the day it does suck that this long time restaurant is leaving…
Also I read a comment that LMU students are drunk around the Hermosa area…wow really? Come on I went there…we don’t venture to HB…it might be the high density of post grad students living the rental units that surround…um all of Hermosa…What did you expect when you moved to Hermosa?
But then again maybe I am bias because I don’t work in the corporate world and am taking over my family business…in the corporate Torrance…blood runs thicker than water and they own the land…end of story
Ok, outside of picking up trash, what’s the point? I think most people
realize you can purchase and carry guns. People that want them, already
have them. I wonder if a bunch of karate black belts are going to roam the streets of Hermosa
doing a bunch if air kicks and punches while picking up trash in between? Just to show they could
use lethal force if they wanted to. It all sounds ridiculous to me. Just pick up the trash, leave the weapons and karate chops at home.
Janice has always been an inspiration to all who know her and love her! We are so lucky to be touched by this amazing woman. And, Janice, your mom DOES know exactly what you’ve done!! xo Love, Stephanie
No worries Steven… there’s only ONE Ragin’ Cajun and your loyal customer base will find you wherever you go! Remember when God closes a door he open a window! Don’t just survive – THRIVE.
Margaret paints from her heart. I suppose that’s one reason why I love her paintings so much. If you ever have the opportunity to go to one of her shows, make it a point to go when she’s there. It’s such a pleasure having Margaret explain her paintings and her creative choices. Thanks for a great article about a super artist!
It’s a sad day when a great place like the Ragin Cajun has to move. They serve great food, the owner and staff always made you feel like part of the family.
How stupid! Why should anyone provide these clowns with maps of places that they cannot openly carry guns. They seem to know the law. They need to buy a map and look in a phone book for banned locations. I say arrest them if they are too stupid to follow the law on their own.
I’d hate to see the 6-Man go, but I agree that there needs be a way to ensure that the tourney remains respected, spectators can enjoy and those that are there to cause trouble get ejected. However, $5 cover won’t do much and will take away the essence of 6-Man….as will a big fat fence. And 8 arrests means 8 officers removed from the scene for a long time to process paperwork and make sure those arrested are processed accordingly. Reducing manpower reduces ability to respond if something major happens. Personally, I think they should have a big screen next to the score booth to show face shots of those getting taken to jail. Nothing like fear of public humiliation to keep people prone to acting stupid from acting stupid. Brand it as some Freedom of Information Act transparency….with the subtitle of “Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
Letter-to-editor submittal for printing consideration. (not meant as a blog reply)
June 29, 2010
Dear ER:
Hermosa’s current rotating ceremonial mayor, Michael DiVirgilio, along with councilmen Patrick “Kit” Bobko and Howard Fishman, again intensified downtown liquor dispensing at their June 8th and 22nd council meetings by adding live entertainment hours to the conditional use permit (that will now run permanently with the land) of a Pier Plaza “restaurant”.
What is it that these councilmen still don’t understand regarding downtown liquor saturation in all its insidious forms, least of which is that it’s costing the city millions per year to police over and above the revenue the city receives from downtown liquor selling businesses?
DiVirgilio even rebuffed a long-term resident upon her presenting of evidence proving that the “restaurant” they were dead set on expanding entertainment hours for, was already being advertised as a “bar”. DiVirgilio, preoccupied with his childish, electronic egg-timer device, cut off the resident as she tried to present her valuable testimony.
It’s amazing to many in this small city, how DiVirgilio, owning no home, business, or having any other demonstrable stake in this city, can be such a micro-controlling little individual towards residents who take their own valuable time to bring information to the council.
There were no more than a few speakers at the meeting as usual, thanks to the crafty persuasion and control exerted over the council by their expensive contract city attorney, Michael Jenkins, with his obvious distaste of the public speaking more than a bare legal minimum. For years Jenkins has effectively kept the very few bothering to attend to a minimum of questioning or bringing of light to what’s going on.
Unfortunately we’re stuck with liquor-expanding Bobko for three more years, short of recall, but real concern now lies with rookie councilman Fishman’s willingness to find reason, no matter how flimsy, to intensify liquor dispensing in Hermosa’s liquor-saturated downtown.
Great observations about the Gris from Oregon! Try pairing a creamy clam chowder with a Gris that has acidity, plus enough rounded mouthfeel to compliment. It’s one of my favorite pairings ever. Cheers!
Dear Jeannine and Stephen, We are so sad to hear the news. The Rajun Cajun has been a great part of the community for a long time. The atmosphere is warm, the service is friendly and the food is excellent. It offers hometown hospitably that is difficult to come by. We have shared many fun times at the Cajun and it will be greatly missed. We are hopeful the Rajun Cajun will find a new home close by so that we can continue great Cajun memories with y’all. We wish you all the best and we know whatever happens you will succeed in all you do.
Sincerely~ The Meyer Family
Fortunately, a violation appears to be merely an infraction punishable by a $100 fine.
12.28.190 — Violation — Infraction.
All violations of the provisions of this chapter shall be infractions. (Prior code § 22-19 (part))
12.28.030 — Park regulations generally.
Within the limits of any public park or playground, no person shall:
2. Carry or discharge any firearms, firecrackers, rockets, torpedoes or any other fireworks, or air gun or slingshot;
1.04. 030 Infractions.
Penalties. Any person violating any provision or failing to comply with any mandatory requirement of this Code expressly stated by this Code to be an infraction shall be guilty of an infraction. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, any person convicted of an infraction shall be punishable by:
A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a first violation;
A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) for a second violation of the same provision of the Code within one year;
A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each additional violation of the same provision of the Code within one year.
No counsel for infractions at public expense.An infraction is not punishable by imprisonment. A person charged with an infraction shall not be entitled to have the public defender or other counsel appointed at public expense to represent him or her unless he or she is arrested and not released on his or her written promise to appear, on his or her own recognizance, or on a deposit of bail.
Mr. Critic, I agree with you for the most part. But Mr. Potato Head became Mr. TORTILLA head, not Tostada – get your Mexican foods straight, man! And didn’t the trash sequence have vague allusions to cremation..? Ewww, creepy!
Dave Fratello did all MB homeowners, including myself a big favor when it came to buying and subsequently selling my MB home. His analysis was balanced and fact-based, unlike the biased, “everything is wonderful” bs regularly spewed by the “old guard” south bay real estate elite. Any Realtor offended by Dave’s blog is showing his or her true colors; that they’re thin-skinned & corrupt (only care about their 6-8% commission so they can furnish their lavish lifestyle while putting the screws to sellers, buyers and bankers). Many factors led to the housing demise in the South Bay (with the worst to come). Part of this was caused by some integrity-deficient Realtors, the same one’s who continue to spread the big lie that housing is going up and the time to buy was yesterday. Nothing could be further from the truth! If you’re currently in the market to purchase a home in any the beach cities (Hermosa, Manhattan, Redondo & ES) do yourself a favor and take advantage of the free one-week trial membership on RealtyTrac.com (this is what the government and realtors use in addition to MLS). You will see for yourself that there is an abundance of bank-owned, forclosured, autioned and pre-forclosured properties, along with the PRICE-RANGE of what the property is actually worth. You will be shocked! Good luck.
I’ve been living in AZ for the past 1.5 years and was just thinking, “Gosh! I wish I could get as good a haircut as what Scott gives here, which is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE!” Love, love, love this article about you!! Had no idea about so much of it! Very impressive – but what’s most impressive is your amazing ability to cut hair well!! Kudos! I’ll be passing through LA on my way to Nevada City, where I’m moving. I’d love a haircut while I’m there. I have your # so I’ll give you a call.
And by the way, I’m absolutely DEEEEEEEEEEEELIGHTED that you’re happily married!!! Its about time!!!
I told everyone that this business-condo project wasn’t feasible, but nope, greed got the best of some. Mr. Fulcher should do us all a favor and research and print the names of the investors (I’m willing to bet it’s some of our elitist local Realtors and Politicians) in this ill-conceived real estate fiasco. Why do that you say? Because inevitably taxpayers will be on the $$ hook for the damage done by this “Confederacy of Greed”! Just more blight and empty store fronts being added to what is beginning to look like a ghost-town in our once quaint downtown Hermosa Beach.
In the article about the problems with the school finding a developer for its excess property, it is apparent that Dr. Keller, Councilman Aspel and former Councilman Parsons use the interview as political posturing without regard for facts.
In his ongoing vendetta against Measure DD, Councilman Aspel cries that the City Council could not stop the rezoning of school property in a residential neighborhood for a supermarket “if we wanted to”. He obviously forgot that the City Council must approve a rezoning before Measure DD even kicks in. The Council can say “no” to whatever they want. Measure DD only puts an additional check and balance on large upzonign the Council approves.
Former Councilman Parsons states that developers will not come to Redondo. Well, he seems to forget all the development going on in Redondo since Measure DD passed. We have the Shade Hotel project, revitalization of the Sunrise Hotel, discussions on the Harbor Triton site, a developer that wants to convert school property to a grocery store, three new office/retail condo projects along PCH, a retail condo development proposed on Catalina, the Decron plan, two hotels and an RV parking lot on Marine, plans to develop mixed use at the Bristol Farms prperty… seems like lots of development to me …and all after DD qualified for the ballot.
Dr. Keller whines how DD impacts his ability to increase revenue for the school district. It seems Keller would approve development soley based on school revenues regardless of its impact on surrounding neighborhoods. Keller’s approach is more akin to “Damn the residents, full steam ahead!” It is this disdain for the public that started DD in the first place.
Sadly, in his greed Keller may have shot himself in the foot…the City now plans to move out of the Knob Hill site next year. One thing most of us learned in school – don’t give up a bird in the hand for two in the bush. Seems like Dr. Keller needs some elementary education.
I would love to see more of your artwork. I am chronically ill with nervous system disorders and physical disabilities. I would love to put a painting in my office and hope someday that he will come to realize that sometimes we must deal with change.Do you have a catalog that is available to find a suitable painting and do you also have prints besides the originals? My name is Wendy and the address given is my mailing address. Please contact me on pricing, along with my questions. Your art intrigues me, thanks.
I am truly saddened by this, as Ragin Cajun has become my “home away from home”, the place I go to get my Cajun food fix, and noone else can compare! The ambience is perfectly Cajun, from Stevens good ole’ accent to Jeannine’s Southern charm. The food always hits the spot, and I am pretty sure hundreds of locals would agree…they will be missed 🙁
Tiger Makin was so much a part of my memories growing up in Hermosa. I was just up there visiting and had thought about him! I am so glad he is doing well. I also saw on this website, the name of Davey Holliday…I remember his parents house in detail- all of these memories are so fun!
I thought Councilman DiVirglio and Chief Savelli were going to put a stop to this childess madness? At least that’s what they said at the last council meeting and in the newspaper. Typical politicians, all talk and no action. DiVirglio and Savelli’s not living up to their word says it all and goes to show we don’t need a highly paid chief who doesn’t live in the city or a councilman with an eastcoast mentality who cares only about his ego.
Again thank you to Mark Mark McDermott for the great story about Sean Ambriz my son. He touch on some very interesting subjects with Sean. I know Sean enjoys talking about somethings and his writtings bring it all out perfectly. I am very proud of my son and all of our soldiers that have fought and are still frighting today for all of our FREEDOM.
And trying to make a better place for the Afghanistan people. Sean although humbled by his stories is a true hero to me his father. Thank you again, Mark and The Easy Reader.
Joseph Ambriz
The Ironman has been around 36 years. That is a lifetime for many Hermosa residents. It has outlasted City Councils and buzz killing opponents of what is healthy harmless fun.
Kudos to a true visionary, Robert Benz.
All hail Burgie!
The 2010 Ironman was the best yet! Nothing got broken, no mess was left behind, nobody got hurt and everyone had a great time. I haven’t heard one complaint from a business or homeowner that it caused them any grief. So to the Police Chief, HBPD and those City Council members trying to close Ironman down; YOU WERE WRONG! Paul says it best, HB’s Ironman will be 37 years young next year and has outlasted many Chiefs, Councilmen and cops over the years and it will outlast you and your negativity too. And to All Talk No Action; I agree with your feelings about DiVirglio and Savelli but you need to come down to the beach on 7-4-2011 and see for yourself that Ironman is nothing but pure clean fun!
I have to ask who paid for the horses these cops rode? Is there a secret horse stable in Hermosa Beach that none of us taxpayers knows about? Can I board my horse there since my taxes are paying for it? This was a big waste of money! It’s funny how the Hermosa City Council says they’ve got no money for schools and have to lay off teachers, but somehow have money to let miss gulch and adolph pretend they’re on the carousel at Santa Monica Pier. No doubt Hermosa Beach taxpayers paid to rent the horses and paid some minnion to walk behind them to pick up the manure left on The Strand and beach. Scheid and Brunn should have walked or are their police car driving records so bad they can’t? Hit and run with a horse is just as dangerous as hit and run with a police car you know!
Congratulations Kenny! Your parents are so PROUD of you. Still remember those fishy smelling clothes I used to wash and the window sill covered with “fish hooks” of the large variety hanging on the edge. It has been a long journey. Wish we were there to go for a ride but North Carolina is a bit far away. We sure miss the fresh lobster!
That’s rich! Here are the last lines of the letter to the editor about guns in Hermosa Beach:
“I proudly stand by my opinions and think I speak for many in this community, but you’ll have to sign me,
Fearful in Hermosa
Name withheld by request”
That is, by definition, a contradiction in terms. While I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment, I am sorely disappointed in the lack of courage by the writer to identify himself/herself. Perhaps it’s a testament to the perceived thug mentality of gun owners that permeates much of this debate. Or maybe not. Either way, I wish people of all stripes would have the strength of their convictions and confront this head-on.
Mr. Wibberley used to play his violin from time to time for the students at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mrs Wibberly was a great teacher. They were a blessing to many!
Amazing, with all of the negative comments I’ve read in the local press I thought there would have been at least one protester to show up. None did. It was just those of us in the press and the South Bay Open Carry Movement.
As I was leaving the event, one woman stopped and asked me if they were going onto the beach. I mentioned that there was a city ordinance and a $100 fine to carry a firearm onto the beach.
That surprised her more than people carrying guns.
I beginning to wonder if “Fearful in Hermosa” and the Daily Breeze’s “Richard A. Knight” and Neil Profit aren’t all the same person.
I mean really, “Richard A. Knight” is about as contrived a name as “U.N. Owen” And who is Neil? Kevin Spacey’s fictional character Mel Profit’s illegitimate child?
Thanks for the Wild Things article, Easy Reader and Carolyn Kraft.
I was at Catalina scuba diving at Eagles Nest last weekend and we were fortunate enough to see one of the Bald Eagles cruise around the nest a bit and hop over to an adjacent peak. I’ve seen them many times over the years at Catalina from the East end up Avalon’s canyon, to Cat Harbor where a pair of Bald Eagles were harassing a Cormorant sunning itself on a rock, to West End. Probably the most memorable time was in 1997 – we had spent a week at Isthmus on a sailboat and were headed back to Marina Del Rey. We cruised west up the island to see West End and also to scatter some of my father-in-laws ashes. He loved wild things, the outdoors, and was a sailor himself. When we got to about Eagle’s Nest, we turned on a northerly heading, read a few passages from the bible, said our goodbyes to dad and scattered his ashes. Just about the time we were finishing up our little ceremony, a Bald Eagle came out from the island and soared effortlessly over us, made a few circles and then headed off. We were pretty certain dad had come out to say goodbye.
Thanks again for the Wild Things articles!
This story brought me to tears! Thank you to the Manassero family for your love for the Haitian people. Thank you for stepping out in complete faith in the LORD. Thank you for being Jesus to the orphans.
In Christ,
Joanna White
Isn’t there a better way to celebrate what our flag, constitution and national anthem mean to our country. It was a very pathetic video and frankly an embarrassment to the communities of both Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. I am not an uptight conservative type, but watch that video from outside the fishbowl and I think you will agree that a bunch of overly drunk middle-aged men partying with university student aged fraternity types is a new low for the the Fouth of July as well as the Iron Man. And I disagree it is not pure clean fun. I am not sure what your idea of pure clean fun is? How about this for the Iron Man-Instead of drinking, give the participants a test of American History related to events surrounding our Indepedence. Wrong answers are deducted from total times. As Thomas Jefferson remarked in what would be his famous last words…”Is this the Fourth?”…So, I call upon the citizens of both communities, not to cancel the Iron Man, but to create an event that is more appropriate and one that better reflects the high character of the citizens in those communities. Or simply do not ever uploaded videos of that event again, it makes our community look like a bunch of stupid, ignorant, drunken morons.
I can’t believe that Ragin Cajun is being forced out like this. We will follow Ragin Cajun wherever it goes and I WILL NEVER step foot in the spoiled son’s gastropub (does HB really need ANOTHER pub??) Ragin Cajun is a unique place, friendly with delicious food. Such a shame Mr. Bredesen is pathetic with his half-truths and excuses. Shame on him. So sad. So sad. But Rajin Cajun will prosper with its loyal following, wherever it goes. Now I will never need to go to Pier Ave again.
I hear a Hermosa cop from PV mighta rented out the horses at a low price. Yes there’s better ways to spend tax money but sometimes our little boys & girls in blue need to have a way to blow off steam. I did feel bad for the guy having to bag the manure. There was supposed to be better video of Scheid & Brunn doing jumps and tricks with their horses but somebody covered the police car video camera lens with tape.
I’m making a “Shop Local! :)” plant stake for my newly planted DeepRoots herb garden, but wish I’d thought to pick up a memento from your store to add some flair to my little sign.
Thanks for the great service and all the input on Kelloggs/Dr.Earth products.
Glad to hear of this. I remember riding that boat quite a few times as a kid in the 70s in-between games of pinball at the Fun Factory. Nice to know it’s still there, even though I have moved away…
Hey bikers, this is the new destination stop that everyone has been talking about. It’s awesome and right on the beach! Loved the Mahi Mahi fish taco and the smoothie was very refreshing. Service was great, friendly and pleasant. I will definitely come back again.
I dont think these guys even believe the hype. $700,000 for 320 sq ft is comical in todays market, even in Manhattan beach. Look at all the properties available for that that are much larger, and yes, even nicer. We will see massive price slashes on these units before its over and possibly bank ownership of the project. Its whats happened to every other similar project.
Bob makes a few good points about the balance that should be required in every land use decision, although he fails to mention that the new harbor rezoning hardly acheives this balance. However,his characterization that Aspel’s ranting tirade makes a council meeting “bearable” is way off the mark.
Aspel’s ranting tirade was delivered purely with the intent to intimidate and insult those who oppose his view of harbor rezoning. The attack was unprofessional and uncalled for. It is this type of insulting attack that intimidates the public from expressing their views openly to the Council.
And I am sorry, but jokingly saying someone is a “pain in the butt” is one thing, but a loud mouthed rant delivered by a red-faced angry Councilman denigrating his opponents as “more toxic than the cancer in my rectum”, is quite another.
If Aspel wants to sway the public to support his zoning, why not show us that the development allowed by the zoning won’t cause gridlock, show us where the zoning specifically shows how big a “view corridor” must be, show us that three story timeshares are not allowed in front of Seaside Lagoon and north. The problem is, he can’t… so intimidation seems to be his only tactic.
I like so much your family for many things DAVID did for my family.
I’m rwandan ,a student in NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF RWANDA aged 21 years
i used to hear you in history because DAVID was a teacher of my grand father so never give up
I’m happy to join you ,i think this is the beginning
Hermosa councilman Michael DiVirgilio has sat on council for only 2.7 years while councilman Patrick “Kit” Bobko has been there just shy of 4 years. Incredibly, lawyer Bobko falsely claimed in the July 13 meeting of being on council 6 years after earlier in that meeting having made a self-deprecating statement of not being good at math, perhaps using an old lawyer ruse to set up opportunities to twist numerical facts, such as his years on council. Whatever Bobko may be, it’s unlikely he’s poor at simple math.
Bobko and DiVirgilio are using Hermosa’s council dais more and more as a political platform to promote themselves. DiVirgilio while being ceremonial mayor has turned the beginning of virtually every meeting into a time-consuming photo-op session for himself, much as accomplished by Los Angeles county’s supervisors, they being the all time champions of such self-promotion at county taxpayer expense.
Of more importance is how these two flimflam artists, Bobko and DiVirgilio, endlessly “talk the talk” regarding controlling alcohol and paving residential streets, but how they are virtually never about “walking the walk”. Having no roots, and owning no home or business in city, both appear to have a hideous contempt for residential property in Hermosa Beach.
Last year, along with x-councilman Michael Keegan, they attempted to convert the beach itself into an alcohol venue under the guise of using the family oriented Sunset Concerts as the reason to legalize drinking at other beach events. At the time they also passed a law giving every restaurant closing by 10 PM the free right to serve beer and wine with no city public hearing. At their last meeting they were strangely upset that they couldn’t get a third councilman to vote for extending that generous free alcohol-serving right to an even later hour, citywide.
Several meetings ago, Bobko and DiVirgilio unnecessarily voted to increase the live entertainment hours of a Pier Plaza “restaurant” without even specifying what type of live entertainment would be conducive to ensuring that the “restaurant” really was about dining, and without even considering that there was an operating hostel above the place. Instead they chose to ease the “restaurant” into being just another late evening drinking facility.
But if all that were not enough, Bobko and DiVirgilio evidently were supporting privately and encouraged the city manager to utilize staff time and slip onto council’s under-the-public-radar “consent” agenda, a detailed legal resolution that would have added breweries as a permitted right in the tiny Cypress Avenue “manufacturing” area, and thus permitting with no-public-noticing at all, 3060 barrel-per-year producing breweries to go into business right next to residences near South Park. Bobko and DiVirgilio’s twisted logic for that; well there’s some perhaps undesired manufacturing permitted there now, so what’s wrong with adding breweries without public notice to that small area next to residential and South Park.
If we are going to accept the synthetic self-promotions from Bobko and DiVirgilio, and listen to them “talk the talk”, then we would best take note of how they actually “walk the walk”, especially when it comes to alcohol and meaningful paving of crumbling residential streets.
What a shame!!! Hey Mr. Bredesen, if you really want to be a “good family man” and father to your son, how about making him work like Steven did and build a company from the ground up, not on the back of a loyal tenant who has run a great and very respectable business for years and done nothing but improve your property value. Good luck with Junior continuing that tradition with his crappy “gastropub”.
I first started going to Steven’s in 1997 when my kids where 7 & 5…you couldn’t find a better family spot than the Ragin Cajun; we are still driving down from Ventura to eat there 13 years later. My son was a baseball fanatic, and Steven would always give him Dodger tickets to whatever home game he wanted to go to…doubt this will happen at Junior’s “nepotismpub” which I will very happily never set foot in.
This news is a real shame, virtually every restuarant on Pier that was there 13 years ago when we first started going to RC is GONE…what makes you think a “gastropub” will succeed?
This is not capitalism at work, or “taking care of family”, it is the very thing that has been destroying this country for the last 20 years…GREED, GREED, GREED…you can’t take your money with you Mr. Bredesen. My grandfather and father have always told me that a true man’s legacy is his integrity; that is the only thing in life that no one can take away from you…can you look yourself in the mirror everyday and say that your legacy will endure? Sad to say, doubtful…
Congratulations guys! I’m one of the volunteer Whale Watch Naturalists from Cabrillo Marine Aquarium/ACS. For the past 6 years, the Voyager has been my favorite boat to go out on with school groups and visitors from all over. We were so disappointed when the Voyager trips were canceled last season and its future was in limbo. I am looking forward to many more whale watch seasons on the Voyager!
Over the past five years I have worked as a naturalist on the Voyager countless times, know it’s story, and have always felt proud to be a part of its history.
It is good to know this venerable old boat will continue to help educate young people about the ocean and its inhabitants. I look forward to many more days on her decks.
Every establishment has its good and bad ratings and you can’t satify every customer, but after reviewing the Shellback Tavern and owner Bob Beverly, I can honestly give it a solid 10 star rating.
Respectfully,
7ony Stewart, author
Dillinger, The Hidden Truth – RELOADED
Discovery, History Channel or National Geographic.
Crime Wave – 18 months of Mayhem (History Channel).
The Dillinger Conspiracy (Discovery Channel).
Recently worked with 360 Production on a new 4-hour documentary entitled Gangsters – Need to Know , that will air this September. It was filmed in Chicago and the production did a great job.
Espousing being anything but an uptight conservative, G.T. Washerson vitriolic tirade against the Hermosa Beach Ironman would be humorous were it not his subsequent trashing of Jeffersonian ideals. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not just some passing slogan to be dismissed within their fog of intolerance.
I live in Hermosa Beach to be in a place that values the environment and the sense of a safe community for my family. I brought my kids up here and I try to promote values to them that I want to instill in them including solving their problems with words and not weapons. Gun toting folks in my neighbor is the anthesis of this and I don’t appreciate it even if it is their legal right. The more folks like this that want to promote their weapons and wear them as a badge of courage, the more I feel obliged to help change the laws giving them the right to put them in our face. I don’t believe that anyone in my city feels their lives are threatened. Our community is safe and our police officers are just a few seconds from a call away. This is a promotion of “cool weapons” to impress our young and promote violence and I don’t approve or want it in my streets.
Liz misses the point. The US Supreme Court restored the right to carry weapons, guns included, for the purpose of self defense.
There are no laws “to change.” The cities and counties can continue to enforce the old laws but that just means they’ll get sued in Federal Court for civil rights violations costing the local governments and schools millions, and making the lawyers rich.
Openly carrying firearms is here to stay until Obama, or his successors, manage to put five justices on the Supreme Court willing to reverse the Heller/McDonald decisions.
That will be years from now. Justice Kennedy, the fifth vote, has already said he will not retire while Obama is President.
This literally made my day. I enjoy that these four very respected businessmen still take into consideration the importance of Spyder as a core, independent surf retailer and grovel in the little waves to prove it. No matter any “sold out” reputation, this event proves they still have soul. Kudos to Dennis and Dickie. Viva Spyder Surf.
Change can be difficult to accept, but we have to remember that this is now a certified Civil Rights movement. We’re seeing the rebirth of a portion of Civil Rights that was almost lost. This is really a time to rethink our positions on civil rights in general and whether we truly support them or not.
Charles, we need to be careful now that ad hominem attacks can be construed as hate speech. I think it’s important to accept what we’ve been given and learn to use these Supreme Court decisions for our own purposes.
I have no problem with people owning hand guns for self defense in their homes, or rifles for hunting. I do, however, feel that a ridiculous display of fire power in a non-threatening situation looks paranoid and pathetic. It appears that this little publicity stunt was really for this small group of people to feel momentarily powerful and knowledgeable about guns in public. It also gave a politician a moment on his soapbox. I think this whole silly display is more about ego than gun rights.
I think I understand… The point is not so much to open carry as it is to preserve the right to do so. I read that SBOC was formed in response to AB 1934, an attempt by politicians to take away lawful citizens’ right to carry like they do in nearly every other state in the US. (It’s illegal for criminals to carry any weapon in CA and the two safest states in America are VT and NH where open gun carry is a common everyday occurrence!) Most Californians have no idea this right exists. So, SBOC is educating us while they pick up trash. Community service activities are a great way to show they are ordinary, hard-working, tax-paying members of the community that care; responsible men and woman with the training, tools and knowledge to defend themselves and those around them if necessary. Because criminals illegally carry weapons wherever they go, I’m guessing the safest place in the City is probably wherever SBOC happens to be doing their trash pick up!
The picture shows a guy with a rifle strapped to his back. That can’t be comfortable. He’s obviously making a statement. In the real world, a holstered side-arm is much more reasonable.
I’m sorry, but I cannot sympathize with you about your boyfriend who is now in prison for using/dealing drugs.
Do you not get it that what he did is against the law – no matter that he was/is an upstanding citizen as you described in one of your columns. He made a choice to break the law and now he must pay the consequences. I am so sick of you and your peers who refuse to take any responsibility for your behaviour. Get over it and grow up.
I have to agree with Kris W. who said, “[I] feel that a ridiculous display of fire power in a non-threatening situation looks paranoid and pathetic”.
The rest of the nation (with the exception of Wisconsin and Illinois) have gone to concealed carry as a preferred solution to open carry. I think it’s time for California to abandon its puritanical prohibition and embrace “shall issue” instead.
Open carry has its place, and I think it’s important that California have compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling in McDonald. That will require either shall issue concealed carry or open carry as the two choices. I echo Kris W.’s preference for concealed carry.
Exactly Charles, these two guys will never learn! Stoyke and Schaar burned investors to the tune of $16 million bucks due to the foreclosure of the same type of commercial property in Hermosa Beach. What is Bank of the West thinking? Stoyke and Schaar haven’t realized yet that the good old days of making quick money hand-over-fist in MB real estate are over, and won’t be coming back for a long, long time, if ever. Their thought process relative to what’s REALLY going on in south bay real estate (it is slowly collapsing) is irrational. As for any person seeking the “beach lifestyle” in Stoyke and Schaar’s 320 sq. ft. condos, be patient! You will be able to enjoy one of their luxury condos within the next 12-18 months at around $200-$250k.
MB (and soon HB) is now being legislated/forced to reduce their waste. First water regulations (The Drought is Over By the Way!) and now waste regulations and many more forced regulations to come.
very interesting… thanks Bob!
growing up in the RAT beach area of South Redondo, one thinks we’re not really in a zone that is actually quite vunerable.
great article. Gene
(in light of the comment from Mike and for what it’s worth – i’ve had recurrent dreams of a large sunami hitting the “avenues” area of torrrance/redondo – yahoo!)
First off I hate Jacks. Secondly I hate every “surf shop” in the south bay but E.T. the only one that has remained a surf shop and looks like a surf shop not some trendy upscale vans store in a mall…so thank you to E.T. and don’t shop at Jacks but if you need that upscale chain store feeling at least go to beckers because at least they’re not based in Orange County.
Just as we are encouraged to prepare in the event of a major disaster to rely on ourselves and our neighbors because firefighters will be spread too thin, likewise, we must prepare in the event of a major disaster or unrest to rely on ourselves and neighbors because police officers will be spread too thin to respond.
Craig, I want to congratulate you on doing what is in your heart and soul, and helping to keep this beautiful piece of history in Redondo. Your wonderful intention to bring kids back to the sea is timely and very very crucial to the survival of ALL species on our beloved planet Earth. Go for it! As a long-time friend of your mom’s, I am so proud of what her loving son has accomplished. Best of luck in this venture-it has good karma, for sure.
The police are already spread too thin. The average time for a 911 emergency police response in L.A. is around seven minutes. (If that’s the average, some people are waiting a lot longer!) Seven minutes is considered good by nationwide standards. Some cities have averages above 10 minutes!
eddie talbot after 7 yrs of hunting CONTENT & building up the web presense TOLD me shut it OFF, the interviews w/ theWORM , shady, GUMBy w/ his size 13’s & the computer template cutting. everyTHING. I thought he was pissed @ me, Daniel told me eddie isn’t pissed @ anyBODY. eddie IS old school when surfing was a passion NOT a sport NOT an industry. no BLACKberries OR iPHONE waterPROOF surf POCKETS @ et. THE internet is NOT required @ etSURF, no POSERS, good PRICES, U know what SPICOLI said b4 he became the ARTist known AS mR. madonna I mean SEAN penn
Have a great retirement Paul. You were an inspiration, mentor, and great friend to me in the early years of my career. I only hope that I can someday be half the civil servant that you have been all these years.
It is an honor to know you, and I still think back with fondness to those days on the rooftop, talking about life and whatever passed us by.
The 16 year old boy in your story obviously was not getting the message. “It’s just fun. I don’t have a problem. I smoke weed every day,” he said with a laugh…He said he likes his substance abuse counselor. “We like talk about drugs, watch movies and stuff. Monica’s cool,” he said.
Having seen Encore Entertainers’ production of Les Miserables last weekend, I can tell you that you will find more on the stage of the Mira Costa auditorium than you would typically expect from a youth theater production–especially for a show as rich and complex as this one. More than once I have looked back over the program to confirm to myself the ages of the young actors who tackle the leading roles. At 16, Slater Ross is a wonder as he delivers the moving tale of Jean Valjean, touching on a range and depth of emotion far beyond his years. As Eponine, Alison Schiller–also 16–nails the heart-wrenching story of Eponine with extraordinary skill and vocals worthy of a Broadway level production. (Speaking of Broadway, one wonders if Ms. Duckers has ever seen a professional production of Les Miserables. Anyone who has would be quite familiar with the two scenes she mentions as being “overdone”. Each of these is staged as it was in the original Broadway/London productions.) The roles of Javert, Marius, Enjolras, the Thenardiers, little Cosette and Gavroche are all masterfully handled by the young actors who fill them–far exceeding expectation. For my part, I will be returning to Mira Costa this weekend with family in tow. I have long wanted to share my favorite musical with them, but I thought I was going to have to wait for the next professional tour to come to Los Angeles. Encore delivers a production worthy of the show’s illustrious name and reknown, and is on par with any touring company I have seen to date. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is “just” youth theater. This is theater, period–and it is darn good theater too!! Don’t let the opportunity to see Les Miserables pass you by!
Boy! This photo just took my breath away! I am looking forward to seeing the production of Les Misérables this Friday. Kelly Lundin this is a great photo! Bravo!
The best part of the Kid Infinity article was left out of the hard paper copy. When reading the hard copy article I felt I missed something. I thought I was going to take a ride with the writer and experience the 3D event on paper, I was disappointed until I found the article in it’s entirety on your web-site. I feel others may have lost out on the 3D experience as well. Maybe you should have a disclaimer that reads…read article in its entirety at easyreader.com.
Thanks for letting me vent.
It’s about time Mira Costa H.S. got serious about addressing the drug and alcohol problem on campus. I remain somewhat skeptical though, as some of the punishments outlined in the article appear too lenient. Any kid caught with a quantity of drugs for sale should automatically be arrested & expelled from the MBUSD (let mommy and daddy pay to have him/her home schooled). Any kid found to be in possession of a quantity of drugs or liquor for personal use should be arrested (let him/her and their parents experience the pure joy of life at Inglewood Juvenile Court) and suspended for 10 days. MCHS drug counselors need to remind themselves that their job is to save kids from ruin, not necessarily to be their buddy or to appear “cool”. Speak the truth, show them examples and the kids will be respond in a positive way. The fact is that while dog searches and drug testing of MCHS students are good secondary measures to use to address the substance abuse problem, they will have little effect if Measure #1 is not achieved; Keeping Parents’ Feet to the Fire by Holding them Accountable for the Actions of Their Own Child! Achieving Measure #1 will take courage on the part of administrators, faculty & staff, as pressure (personnel complaints & threats of legal action) by a few parents (we all know who they are) will occur. Although this will be taxing on them personnally and professionally, educators must always keep in mind the end goal; the health & welfare our kids!
In the end, the onus is on parents to control and safeguard their own children. Parents must lock up their own prescription drugs where their kids cannot gain access to them. Seems like a no brainer but this is where the majority of kids get their drugs; mom and dad’s medicine cabinet.
An outstanding production. This is my favorite show and I was so ready for it to be a “youth” production in every sense of the word. I was so wrong. This is a Broadway ready show with outstanding preformances by Slater Ross as Jean Valjean, Alison Schiller as Eponine, and Guiry. Schiller’s preformance was praticularly stunning, and beautiful, and everything the character should be. It was by far a Broadway preformance.
This show-so moving-surpassed all my expectations, and I am going back. If you haven’t seen it yet, you will NOT want to miss it!
This is a well-written article and the references are great!! Thank you for writing about the show. So many volunteers have contributed hours and hours of time to make it possible and who also donated money to the organization. The young man who conceived of this concept, Jeff Cason, is a multi-talented musician, composer, director, and entrepreneur with great vision. Your article will hopefully draw people from the South Bay to come out and support the production.
Great article! Jeff Cason really went out on a limb to make this a very professional production. I was very impressed. Come on out before it ends. You will not be disappointed!
Re-inventing ones store means they needed to change. Good for Spyder. Jack’s will dominate the area as they have proven with their other locations.
People want good selection and decent prices. They really could care less if your shop is “hard core” or even “more hard core”
I believe it was Becker who thought he could take on Jack’s in H.B. but ended up closing his shop at sea cliff due to high rent and slow business. That was before the recession!
Looking how this weekend went, I am pretty sure the so-called competition felt their presence.
Jarvis’and Becker’s reason for disputing Jack’s super status is because they may be of middle eastern ancestry and have a certain number of members who surfor don’t, that really shows how strong one’s company really is and when thet can’t even slow these guys down.
You see while people throughout the last 30 plus years have ridiculed these guys for the above crap. They have stayed focused on succeeding and ignored all the noise. Now they are into their 60’s and have built a world reknown business while those who attempted to bring them down have failed themselves.
I hear there is a younger generation of family members who want to expand the business even more. They are involved in the business, surf, are hungry, and are ready for expansion.
Perhaps the best thing was for Jack’s to come to your town. That resulted in Jarvis’ re-inventing his store??? Hopefully his re-invention will finally give the customer’s what they really want and that is selection and pricing. If not I really don’t think Spyder will survive the next two years.
Dan, I hate to break the bad news but Becker was sold to Billabong about two years ago. Yes, Billabong is in based in Australia, therefore Becker’s headquaters are there.
I went to that website listed above titled “Keep Jack’s Surf Out of the South Bay”. It is no longer listed. It was as short lived I guess. Perhaps the “local” thing really does not exist when you really don’t have any other options.
Why did jacks move into hermosa. The city has no surf and is a straight up volleyball town. Should have stayed where the surf is good. Now they have to deal with all the hermosa kooks. That’s right kooks that should worry about just surfing and not business opening. Hope jacks shuts every kook store down there.Watch out Malibu people jacks coming soon.
A shooting in a gun free zone? How could that possibly have happened?
Oh that’s right, the gun free zone statutes don’t deter criminals willing to assault, rob, rape and commit other violent crimes. Gun free zones do disarm every law-abiding citizen within them and are thus victim disarmament zones.
The gun free zone is a sham sold to us by our lazy good-for-nothing legislators whom are too damn lazy to actually deal with crime problems. Let good citizens defend themselves and crime will drop.
I’m so bummed I missed this event this year. It’s one of my favorites of the International Surf Festival and it’s great to read such extensive coverage!
To not like a surf shop because they don’t shape boards within its store is completely wrong. The boards I saw in Jack’s were by custom shapers at Stewart or Channel Islands. I am sure any of the boards were beyond dan benoits price or quality. Reminds me of he guys who drive a Caprice classic because it is cool and top of the line. Get real those boards are way better than any backyard scrap put together.
There must be a hole in the impenetrable gun free school zone barrier. There is no way that the fantasy of gun control could be false! For now lets make another law that puts honest, respectful, law abiding, tax paying, kind, educated, brave, loving Patriots (you know the ones that are too busy to rob a jewelry store because they are working two jobs in order to put food on the table) at risk while Frodo tries to destroy the magic ring, and bring us back to the Shire.
Reading the letter from a major Redondo Beach master leaseholder (who continually puts on a show of anger) reminds me again that the center of the harbor problem is due to this awkward structure of managing public land.
Since the harbor was built, this leaseholder has amassed millions and millions of dollars by forming unnecessary yet creative business arrangements and partnerships, and lucrative business dealings amongst family members. City auditors have been informed of these arrangements from creditable sources including sub-lessees and have done nothing to properly audit the books.
Millions have been made by the leaseholder because the harbor has traditionally been mismanaged by the city with inconsistent zoning and a climate that is exactly what the leaseholder complains about. All of this is done in order to lease out public land by the leaseholders in the most expensive way possible with sweetheart long-term leases with the city. And we the taxpayer have been footing the bill.
The result is the leaseholder runs a never-to-fail master leasehold for Redondo. This is a slam dunk “simple and fool-proof” way to make millions. The fact that many others could only hope to have this deal makes the value of the business artificially overpriced and exists only due to our tax dollars being wasted.
I received an email from the Torrance Police Department:
“Hello Mr. Nichols…
I hear Friday’s photo op was very successful for you and quite uneventful for us…which is a good thing. It truly pays off to work together with mutual respect. We accomplished what we set out to do…have a win-win situation!
Thanks again for working with the Torrance Police Department. Take care.”
As you can see, the difference in attitude between the Hermosa Beach, Torrance PD and the Redondo Beach PD is night and day. The first two cities obey the law, Redondo Beach makes it up as it pleases.
In Redondo we are fortunate to have a Class 1 Fire Department, a Police Department that strives to engage with us and highly ranked schools allowing our children to graduate with advantages some can only dream about. BCHD has a consistent track record of making the South Bay one of the healthiest places to live. I was sad to see Rolf’s accusatory letter. Rachel, Byung, Raymur and Dan have worked so hard (as RBUSD board members) to build something great. It must be so annoying to deal with Rolf’s pathetic attempt to emerge as some hero that is so clearly untethered from reality. Perhaps that is why if you go to Case Summary – Online Services – LA Court and put in BC535201 you can find out exactly how making “everything a battle” can impede growth and ultimately cost one the opportunity to work with others. When I vote, I want to be part of the team that makes things better; I am voting “Yes” on BC, FP and S. Together we can do so much!
Ed Hart, thank you for the comprehensive commentary you provided in “What’s wrong with this downtown” regarding the self-sabotage and the lack of vision in Hermosa Beach. Ironically, carved into the side of the city’s Community Center is this saying:
“Where there is no vision, the people perish”
For the last 20 years, the city council has been made up of selfish, short-sighted, narcissistic and ignorant individuals who we’re only interested in their own selfish interests and couldn’t give a damn about the city’s residents or their well-being. They not only did nothing to improve life in Hermosa Beach over the last decade but, they intentionally and methodically made it worse for everyone at the beckoning of a few loud voices. Thankfully, Nanette Barragán and Stacey Armato are no longer on the council and Justin Massey will not be running again, the three most responsible for accelerating the backwards state of Hermosa Beach.Make no mistake, there were many others before them that contributed to the current state of the city.
Unfortunately, Justin Massey and Stacey Armato leave a legacy of installing Suja Lowenthal as city manager who doesn’t live in Hermosa and is ridiculously overpaid. She spends the majority of her time telecommuting from her residence that was first in Malibu and is currently in Palos Verdes. She is more interested in creating a top heavy bureaucracy of overpaid assistants and her a $100M+ Taj Mahal then in doing anything to actually help make the city or resident’s lives better.
Suja’s prior accomplishment before becoming the city manager of Hermosa Beach was leading the campaign to shut down the Santa Monica Airport – spearheading a selfish group of a few individuals sponsored by greedy developers who wanted to redevelop the airport land into high density commercial and residential property. She has absolutely no vision but, she knows how to tear down a city’s infrastructure rather than doing anything useful for the residents.
Suha has spent an absurd amount of money on outside consultants that have accomplished absolutely nothing to cover for her lack of qualifications. Now, she’s again asking for a 3/4% sales tax increase to continue funding her own selfish interests after the voters rejected the same increase just 2 years ago.
Unfortunately, two Justin Massey sycophants remain, Michael Detoy who, is up for re-election this November and Ray Jackson. Hopefully, Michael Detoy will not be re-elected since he has just been a rubber stamp for Justin Massey’s agenda and he barely lives in Hermosa Beach as it is, spending most of his time as a fire captain in the city of Riverside.
It remains to be seen if the current mayor, Dean Francois has the fortitude and vision to actually improve life for the city and its residents. Sadly, I don’t hold any hope out for any positive Improvement since nobody has any real vision and it seems to be the modus operandi of all involved and their supporters to just make everyone else around them as miserable as they are.
“Bredesen said…“By the way, it’s not my study….,” – that says it all. “ Bredeson hired another firm, GeoSoils, Inc., to study it as well.”. So it IS Bredeson’s study.
It references the voided CenterCal EIR which in turn referenced a 1990 Corps of Engineers study which included a table for the highest surge heights for the worst storm in 1 year, 10 years, 25 years, 50 years and 100 years. So the data referenced in Bredesen’s study is for the worst of the worst storms. A once a year occurrence at most. Those studies are invalid now because, based on the 1990 study, the Corps of Engineers strengthened and raised the height of our outer breakwall and extended the southern breakwall by 300 feet. There has been no surge coming over Mole B, C, or D since those changes to the breakwall.
Mr. Bredesen was fully aware of the intent to remove the old Samba’s building with the new boat ramp when he negotiated his SHORT TERM lease. The City did not demand the investment in the property that it has for new lessees with longer term leases. Where was Mr. Bredesen when all moles were explored for a required boat ramp? There was a workshop exploring all locations in 2016. There were two workshops in 2018. And there was a full public process as the Amenities Plan went through the Harbor Commission AND City Council. And anyone following the CenterCal debacle would know the boaters, the outrigger canoe clubs, the Harbor Patrol and Baywatch all opposed the Mole B location. The Coastal Commission unanimously found there were “significant issues” with the location as it violated the Coastal Act and our own Local Coastal Program. Where was Mr. Bredesen during these years and years of deliberation? It was not until AFTER Bredesen negotiated his lease for the old Samba’s Building that he started making noise. Sure seems he was dealing in bad faith. And it there is such a risk of devastating waves and surge there, isn’t his business at risk too?
I respect Mr. Bredesen as a restauranteer, but this attempt to thwart a boat ramp is both disingenuous and bad for the revitalization of our harbor.
Thanking Redondo Beach City Council, Mayor Light, and all city officials, that worked to protect our city’s right to decide land use and zoning issues.
I live in Redondo Beach, but I met at Brenda years ago in a bunco group. It turned out we worked in the same industry. I wish we were lucky enough in Redondo to have Brenda run for city Council. She is a fierce advocate for children’s mental health. She’s intelligent, hard-working, and dedicated. Manhattan Beach is lucky to have her running! I strongly recommend voting for her as I wish we could have somebody like her in Redondo Beach.
If you live in Redondo, please imagine your life if RBUSD were subpar. How much value do our award-winning schools add to property values, and vitality young families bring to your street? Rolf Strutzenberg seems to have a consistent, long-term track record of making everything a battle. When Rolf went to the police, did he fantasize RBPD round up his fellow school board members? How awkward for RBPD. Like Rachel stating out loud to Rolf that no, Rolf is not a client of the law firm RBUSD uses even though Rolf seems to believe he is, I would like to let Rolf know that the majority of Redondo loves Rachel, Raymur, Dan and Byung. The only one Rolf is hurting by repeatedly trying to hurt his fellow school board members is Rolf.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the South Bay Parkland Conservancy for continuing the vision of Bill Brand when he led the creation of SBPC. Thanking all who have helped this vision become the reality we see now.
Bill’s vision was: The Dedication to the Restoration, Preservation and Public Use Of Coastal Land Resources In the South Bay Region.
He would have been amazed to see what has happened since 2004.
Starting with restoring the AES Wetland and creating its own park, we envision a brand new South Bay Green Belt and Bike Path continuing up the power corridor to Torrance’s Columbia Park. Connecting Manhattan and Hermosa Beach cities with Redondo Beach, then Torrance, will give our communities a world class linear park. It will have charming little rest and play areas, with native habitat along the way.
New York City, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, and others, have already established theirs, and many more are being created. Trust For Public Land and Rails To Trails have played an enormous role in turning obsolete easements into beloved, connecting, linear urban parks.
The Beach Cities and Torrance will transform their communities when we have our own Green Belt.
I was on the Planning Commission with Rolf for a brief period, and in that time, I found him to be pretentious, condescending and disrespectful. I felt he was blatantly rude to staff and consultants, especially after he was corrected. This behavior on the school board does not surprise me one bit.
Noticeably absent from this event are the neighbors who live in this area. At nehrenheim’s last community meeting, there was outrage over an incident at this facility where one of the residents threatened another and police were called. Apparently that resident was transported from the site and neighboring residents were concerned. What happened, and was that resident allowed to return to the project?
Noticeably absent from this event are the neighbors who live in this area. At nehrenheim’s last community meeting, there was outrage over an incident at this facility where one of the residents threatened another with a knife and police were called. Apparently that resident was transported from the site and neighboring residents were concerned. What happened, and was that resident allowed to return to the project?
it stuns that such brutality could go unnoticed for so very long in such a small, close, community town. how many eyes were averted? ears covered? comings and ‘no goings’ unseen? my heart to the families and friends of these young women. there are no words. may their memories be for a blessing….
it stuns that such brutality could go unnoticed for so very long in such a small, close, community town. how many eyes were averted? ears covered? comings and ‘no goings’ unseen? unquestioned? my heart to the families and friends of these young women. there are no words. may their memories be for a blessing….
bev morse
I hope the people in Redondo know what a gift Mike Webb has been to the city. Mike Webb, our elected city attorney, makes me so proud to live here. He is a true servant leader, always calm and patient. This is incredibly important and difficult work and he has done an amazing job. Thank you so much Mike Webb!
According to Redondo Beach Councilmember Obagi, BCHD and the AES developer both have the same law firm teed up to sue the City of Redondo Beach. That’s ugly. I guess Developers all bed down together.
$179,380 is not being spent “to gauge community support. ” It is bing spent to gaslight residents on the magantude of problems with our current City Hall and to sell us a new one. 70 years ago you might not need to refrigerated DNA, but you had 100’s of thousands of documents, pictures and other items taking up lots of space. Now those same materials fit on a thumb drive. In the last 70 years numerous stenographers, large typewriters and reams of paper have been replaced by laptop computers. 70 years ago every interactons with the City was in person. Now in person visits are seldom necessary and are being discouraged. That $179,380 would have been better spent address the needs of the building instead of the desires of the City Manager.
We are four “yes” votes for BC in our household! For less than $60 a year, we would love a new healthy living campus. Everyone in our family has benefited from all the wonderful services BCHD provides!! It would be absolutely wonderful to see more green space in Redondo. Yes on BC, the best value bond on the ballot.
BCHD has been a poor steward of District resident funds and cannot be allowed $30M more until it imposes a Resident Only policy for services. Only 2 programs require residency – home health care ($1M per year) and Bluezones restaurants ($100K per year). All the rest of BCHD programs use our taxes and land and buildings without restrictions. Until BCHD reforms to being a Residency Required operation, it cannot receive any bond measure funding. VOTE NO.
As an example of BCHD financial folly, BCHD accepted a $6.3M grant to construct an allcove building. BCHD underestimated the cost by $9M and now needs a bond. BCHD taxpayers are also required to provide allcove for 30 years, to a 1.4M population area of LA County. How inept can BCHD be that it accepted a $172M, 30-year cost of allcove in return for a $6.3M grant?
I support Measure BC. The services that BCHD provide to our Beach Cities far out weighs the cost of the bond. Supporting alcove and the proposed green space would be an asset to our community. The Youth Board at alcove has worked endlessly to ensure that the esthetics of their space and services provided are welcoming and adhering to the needs of those aged 12-25 years and that what they are proposing is environmentally responsible. The green space would provide all residents with access to fitness, mindfulness, and school based garden and nutritional programming. BCHD has revised original development plans after many meetings with the community. BCHD works collaboratively and makes programming decisions based on community feedback. Please support BCHD and vote YES on Measure BC!
Since BC was so small financially compared to the other bonds, the voters sent a message to BCHD that even if inexpensive, they disagreed with taxpayers funding allcove and tearing down the hospital building. I wonder if BCHD will bother to listen to the voters?
While Measure BC failed, numerous residents supported BCHD by posting positive comments online (almost as many as we saw to keep RBFD local) and taking time to speak at city council meetings against a targeted FAR for BCHD. Even after BC failed, it is odd to me the same names keep pounding on BCHD. Where is this outrage when a new smoke shop opens up walking distance to elementary and middle schools?
I don’t believe the Southbay wants BCHD to go away while we see unregulated smoke shops open up with abandon. With FP and S on the ballot, it is reasonable BC failed; even as a supporter, I knew it was a long shot. I will remind those dancing on BC’s grave, BCHD’s (consistently) employed CEO Tom Bakaly was named “Man of the Year” by the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce in 2022; can any of the “Stop” people say the same? I know residents appreciate BCHD and I think BC failed because residents know that a public-private partnership could work to generate revenue and reduce the financial burden on residents.
Mark Nelson is a one-man crusade against BCHD, a disgruntled neighbor of the property who has devoted his entire existence to the destruction of this valuable community asset. He is obsessed, nobody can deny that. I stand proudly with the large majority of local residents who support BCHD and the value they bring to our area. If you agree, please make your voices heard. Support BCHD.
BCHD’s $600,ooo taxpayer-funded Measure BC needed a two-thirds majority to pass. If failed to even get 50%. The voters and the Daily Breeze Editorial Board have spoken. BCHD refuses to deal fairly with the surrounding neighborhood, and pouring more money into BCHD’s commercial development coffers won’t solve anything.
I would like to join with the Redondo Beach Teachers in expressing gratitude for our community passing the school improvement measure.
There is nothing more important in society than educating our young, nothing! There is no reason that our kids must languish in substandard campuses.
School funding in California needs fixing, and moved to the top priority in the state budget.
Thank you, Redondo voters!
BEACH CITIES HEALTH DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION – MEASURE BC
BEACH CITIES HEALTH DISTRICT COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS MEASURE: To complete construction of the …
YES 47.50% 29,945
NO 52.50% 33,102
I disagree with M. Wuerker’s cartoon.
I believe the election of Trump to the White House endorsed all matters of indecency.
Trump calls people with ethics, “fools” and “losers” when they try to do the right thing.
Biden discarded his former pledge to not pardon his son. He knew that anything goes now, in government, so he pardoned him for “the crimes” that no other person would have been charged with.
Trump has yet to be held accountable for the horrific crimes that he did actually commit.
So why not pardon ?
Everything changed with Trump’s election.Ethics in government is gone in this sad country.
Looks like the only loser in Redondo Beach elections was BCHD that spent about $600,000 of our tax money – so I guess taxpayers are the real losers. BCHD was told no taxpayer funding for the an allcove building or demolition of the failed South Bay Hospital.
It’s an incredible Moment of Nature to see these waves come in and the awesome surfers that ride them. But, calling it the “Breakwall”? It’s the “Breakwater” to me and lots of others (including Lifeguards and South Bay Locals) and will always be that !!! Great shots Mike !!! Cawabunga !!!
It’s going to be so awesome, again !!! Can’t wait !!! Thanks to Allen and the founders, backers, the artists, vendors, set up folks and the volunteers. See you there !!! SO STOKED !!!
I am grateful to Michael Lee-Chang for stepping up to be the change we wish to see in California.
It will be the young people who will provide the moral compass that government has mostly lost.
Residents of Redondo will be getting a ballot in the mail for a very important March election.
I strongly encourage D1 residents to vote for Brad Waller. He is legitimately endorsed by over 25 community leaders, including every current RBUSD school board member. He is a successful business owner who has earned these numerous endorsements through hard work, cooperation and servant leadership. You can trust Brad to cooperate with fellow city council members. Redondo needs a transparent, competent, and honest leader on the Council, and that choice is clearly Brad Waller.
Additionally, the clear choice for City Attorney is Joy Ford. Redondo Beach is a leader in firmly and compassionately helping our homeless community, and Joy has been a large part of that incredibly successful effort. Like Brad, she has numerous legitimate endorsements, which she has earned by working with Mike Webb protecting residents in Redondo for the last decade.
Keep Redondo safe and solvent by voting for Brad Waller and Joy Ford!
Finally, kudos to Michael Lee-Chang, who has consistently participated in local government. You have 4 votes in the Puterbaugh household.
Thank you Easy Reader for bring us this good news.
As Jim Light says, this could be the start of the “green belt to the sea,” connecting with Hermosa and Manhattan Beach, then all the way up the power line corridor into Columbia Park in Torrance.
Imagine all the neighborhoods connected some day, with bike paths, urban trails, delightful play and rest areas, and healthy green space.
So many other cities in America already have done this in former rail and other easements.
Great cities have great parks. We can too.
So, the residents get no input? I guess that’s a thing of the past with Jim Light at the helm. He’s the guy who sues the City, and while residents are still paying for those lawsuits, he wants us to fund a park at the AES plant to realize his one and only “vision” for the City. No doubt his friend Varvarigos, will get the contract to landscape the park with City money that goes through South Bay Parkland Conservancy (Jim Light founder and President). When you see behind the curtain, it is all very self-serving.
Congratulations to ALL, especially Shellback Tavern and those other 50+ businesses. Two longstanding businesses are missing however: Ercoles Tavern on Manhattan Ave. and El Sombrero on Manhattan Avenue, which has been in MB longer than El Sombrero #2.
Maggie – thanks for the compliment, but the design was done long before I was Mayor. And SCE has constraints on what you can do under their wires. So other than the plant palette and how the path meandered (to meet ADA requirements) the city had little say. SBPC will not get the construction contract. This will require a lot of grading, a huge irrigation system, and drainage. SBPC does not do that. The city will be putting out an RFP for a contractor who can do it all.
I have much more of a vision than a Greenbelt to the Sea, though I am not sure why you would dislike that one. Read the Wilderness Park Master Plan. Read the harbor Amenities Plan. Read the Pier and Harbor Commercial Plan. And look at my platform on http://www.jimlightformayor.com.
I hope that any new leadership and for that matter old leadership, takes some real leadership to solve the out of control illegal truck traffic traversing Palos Verdes Blvd. and Prospect Ave. totally impacting hundreds of residence Quality of Life.
It has been my personal experience that current Mayor James Light really does not have the best interest of us residence in mind.
In my view he is not qualified to be the Mayor of Redondo Beach and I personally suggested that he resign months ago.
Jim Light’s view of the Redondo Beach Pier is taking form. In a conversation Wednesday, Jim expressed to me that he wants to see a new Arcade built in place of the old arcade.
The Pier needs exciting venues, restaurants and retail that the residents want and will visit. Not another arcade.
Nostalgia for the past is not going to create a vibrant, attractive pier.
It seems some folks from Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach have finally discovered the impact of the growing number of state housing mandates. Complaining to city officials will have no impact, their hands are tied and communities face even more draconian state overreach if their City Councils blatantly defy these state mandates. The problem is not our city governments. The problem lies in the state legislature that is imposing these mandates on our cities, and it is out of control. Residents need to complain to our state legislators.
There is another avenue that may be far more effective in the long run. Our Neighborhood Voices is working to submit a statewide initiative aimed at preserving local control and preventing broad brush mandates that are contrary to good planning practices and that fail to produce any meaningful amount of affordable housing anyway. Residents should donate to and volunteer for Our Neighborhood Voices – it will likely be far more effective than complaining to our local state legislators.
Imposing a large fine on a property owner in Hermosa Beach for using his property as a short term rental is serious. Hermosa did this previously, and attorney Frank Angel was successful in getting the fines removed. He was successful in challenging Manhattan Beach’s similar conduct. With similar cases, and with the same lawyer representing similarly situated property owners, why would Hermosa Beach allow a hearing officer with no legal training or law license to preside over the hearing ? It makes no sense.
Kevin, If at all possible, Please include this letter in this weeks ER, Thx, Rick
GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) HB Parade
I want to thank The Hermosa Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the City of Hermosa Beach and Bell Events for bringing this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade to fruition. For almost 30 years it has been my honor to assist as a stage announcer. Our parade has always been a locally orientated treat for thousands of spectators and participants alike. Many of the participants that I acknowledged off the script have been friends of mine for decades. This year was even more special and I am not sure exactly why. The weather, the vibe, the crowd whatever it was. Let’s just call it the ‘je ne sais quoi”(a quality that cannot be described easily). My friends and neighbors have gone out of their way to share with me what a wonderful experience it was for them this year above and beyond past years being the reason I felt compelled to shout out Kudos to all the parties involved. On top of everything else, it was a real pleasure working with a real professional like Rick Dickert as his co-announcer. Whatever it takes, let’s make sure our parade returns every year. Rick Koenig – Longtime Hermosanite
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Redondo parents ARE UPSET with Coach Morris bringing in transfers once again. Many current parents were unaware that this was the reason for his departure. Meanwhile, it’s the school that appears to be more focused on Redondo’s wins than on ensuring local kids have a fair opportunity. Just look at how well Mira Costa performed this season when they have very few transfers. As a result of this situation, many local Redondo students are either transferring to other schools, bypassing Redondo entirely, or leaving the program once they realize they aren’t being given the same opportunities as the incoming transfers. It’s a real shame.
So, our school district knowingly recruits out-of-district athletes, forcing IN DISTRICT athletes to go out-of-district to have opportunities to play sports? And this is the second go-round with the coach who did this before that angered so many? Seems it’s time to get an out-of-district Superintendent who pays attention to important things like this. What a travesty, all the way around.
Yes, unfortunately, this is happening. Many of these transfers are coming from the coach’s club program, which seems like a conflict of interest to me. I believe there were approximately 12 transfers between JV and Varsity this year, and it was clear they were treated differently from the rest. It truly IS a travesty.
Developers have taken over our Sacramento Legislature and Governor’s Office.
The new housing laws will trash the entire state, especially with the “Builder’s Remedy. This is the part that allows builders to build where they want, as tall as they want, even in single family neighborhoods. They are brazenly ignoring California Coastal Act protections.
Join me in fighting back against this hostile take-over by our state government.
Join:
ourneighborhoodvoices.com
Impressive track facility catered for a wealthy person/family to experience the excitement of driving fast. And have to your own personal residence on site too.
So does this finally mean that the incompetent city manager will get sacked for failing to get the plans in early enough to be approved timely? Come on – do it!
My digital easy reader will no longer allow me to read articles. When I click on the read more link, I am just sent to the comments and not to the article.
Same for me until today (3/26) when I was finally able to access the article. There is also the e-zine edition that I was able to access since last Friday. Try again and good luck.
The same thing happened to me until today (3/26), and I was finally able to read the article and see all of the photos. Before today I was able to access the article on the e-zine edition and also picked up a newspaper copy last Friday at The Copper Pot restaurant in SRB. Try again and good luck.
In regard to Hermosa Beach’s conversation about “Builders’ Remedy,” the very term, “Builder’s Remedy,” says it all.
The Builders have won.
The public has lost its rights.
That is the “Remedy” that developers have dreamed of.
Join
ourneighborhoodvoices.com
Why not remove all the AES industrial materials? Both sides of the table want it gone: the community to remove the eye soar and the developers in hopes to develop a mix use property. Whatever the outcome, it will take years and if the community is lucky to have more greenery then we will have to pay for it. So why not pay to clear the ugliness now instead of living with it?
We have an apartment in our house that we used to rent out. We don’t rent it as a STR, but we don’t rent it out long term either anymore because I don’t think that California laws provide any protection for us if our tenant doesn’t pay. We had an apartment in the SD area too, and when tenants didn’t pay, we would just work something out and, if they didn’t come through again, we asked them to leave and they did. Now, I’m afraid, we’d be taken to court and things would drag out forever. So there’s that.
Ray,
Guess state law is state law. Here in RPV we had this same STR crisis. Council banned them and our Commision came out with sheriff badges reading ‘Rancho Palos Verdes – Bordello Inspector.’ Only 17 were made but each is treasured by it’s recipient!. HB might do the same
The Serenaders have a place in our hearts as they were the band at my wedding back in 92. It was great fun and the best way that us two MB kids could have partied that day.
Choosing the right health plan is crucial for young adults aiming to prioritize both wellness and budget. In Frisco, many also explore aesthetic treatments like under eye filler frisco to combat early signs of aging or fatigue, pairing smart healthcare choices with confidence-boosting self-care.
I live in Lawndale, and we opposed this extension down the ROW because it will eliminate between 3,000 and 5,000 homes. Metro does not care. We told them to go down Hawthorne Blvd., which was built to support a light rail system. Metro does not care. Money is the motivating factor. All the properties affected by building on the ROW will see a massive drop in equity. This will make it easier for developers to come in and offer below-market offers so they can build tenement housing we see in Chicago and New York. We are losing our single-family neighborhoods to these robber barons. Hawthorne Blvd. would be the perfect place to build an elevated system that would be accessible to all and build up the flagging small businesses along Hawthorne Blvd. in the affected cities.
Few public servants receive the recognition they truly deserve. In today’s social media-driven world, government officials—often unable to respond due to legal constraints—are frequently at a disadvantage in the court of public opinion.
Despite this, Mike Webb has consistently led with integrity and honor, even in the face of controversy. For thirty-one years, Redondo Beach was fortunate to have a public servant whose leadership stood head and shoulders above the rest. His influence extended beyond city limits, shaping the direction of the entire South Bay.
I hope he takes pride in his legacy as he sees the continued success of the programs and initiatives he helped create.
Hi Beach Reporter, please don’t use the description e-bike when these are clearly e-motorcyles. We’ve all seen these kids ripping around town at speeds way faster than an e-bike can go, and gives legal e-bikes a bad name. Thank you.
i am so glad – these photos are happy people handling this miserable situation like adults – neighbors – americans – protesting the horrors of this sociopath’s second (!) presidency – when images of his supporters are so filled with anger and hate – what a difference today’s Hands Off gatheriing – protesting hate together – neighbors and strangers – families! – no hang the vp, where’s nancy, stabbing policed officers, desecrating the capitol… what a difference each one of can make – Chris – your photos captured the people – people who want us/a to succeed – not hurt others in order to. but to succeed – together – these people today heartened us all – thank you for catching and capturing it, chris – way to go, easy reader – south bay: you rock!
Bob Pinzler knew about Obagi’s legal issues during the recall campaign against Obagi, and Bob was so concerned about these legal issues he gave Obagi 500 dollars in campaign donations. (It’s in the 460s, look it up)
And anyone who paid attention knows it was so Bill Brand could have his third vote. Remember the “team” ? What a phony Pinzler is.
Obagi loved to say the allegations by his former client, that Obagi took $500,000.00 from him, weren’t true. People believed the lie, until the truth came out and the State Bar trial began. Many Redondo residents wrote letters in support of Obagi and submitted them to the Judge. The 41 page State Bar decision included all the misdeeds of Obagi, and recommended his 3 year suspension and probation. What Pinzler’s article failed to mention is that not once has Webb or Joy Ford criticized Obagi for his misdeeds and his State Bar suspension. In fact, Joy Ford took a $1,000.00 campaign contribution from Obagi on December 7, 2024 knowing he was suspended from practicing law, and knowing that the U.S. Attorney’s office was pursuing multiple criminal wire fraud charges against Obagi. In Council District 4, Obagi and Ford’s campaign signs appeared side-by-side during their campaigns. On February 11, 2025, at 11:36 a.m. the U.S Attorney’s criminal complaint against Obagi was emailed to City Attorney Mike Webb and City Manager, Mike Witzansky. At that evening’s council meeting, Obagi amended a motion to receive and file the court filed document, and not a single word by Ford, Webb, or Witzansky was said to inform the public of the criminal charges against Obagi, the deferred prosecution agreement, or what was being received into the record in violation of the Brown Act.
The city of Redondo Beach maintains it’s historical museum in Dominguez Park, located in Central Redondo at 302 Flagler Lane. Parking is free and just steps away from the museum. Admission is free and the museum is open on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The museum is surrounded by the beautiful Heritage Court. Both the museum and adjacent Morrell House are historical structures which were moved to their current locations in the 1990s.
Condolences to all of Greg’s family and friends here in the South Bay and beyond. I knew Greg only recently when we participated in a promo film for the South Bay Boardrider’s upcoming documentary. I also ran into him at a Beachlife Festival and at Eat at Joe’s in RB. But, his acceptance speech at his induction to the HB Surfer’s Walk of Fame was most touching and remarkable and will never be forgotten. Now riding light waves in Heaven, Mr. Greg Browning. Rest in Peace.
Greg was a huge asset to surf culture and epitomized Hermosa surfing. My condolences to Greg’s family, he was a wonderful guy. We shared a few tall tales over breakfast and remembrances growing up here on the beach, he was always grateful for this life and his connection to the ocean. He was a wonderful guy. You will be missed bro.
Seems like the solution is at Aviation & Marine – the old government building sitting there empty for at least a decade now – it has lots of square footage, parking and green space. It would convert nicely to apartments and be a lot less costly than building new from the ground up –
Great idea! Yet, residents should have the right to have conversation and input around impact. Wonder why the alarm bells didn’t ring before this law was passed??
Redondo has voted and overwhelmingly elected Joy Ford, who was endorsed by Mike Webb. I don’t anticipate the new City Council advocating for an appointed City Attorney. Given Joy’s tremendous win, it wasn’t even close, it looks like Redondo is happy the freedom to choose.
Being a sports fan doesn’t depend on whether a person is a Democrat or a Republican, a liberal or a conservative. Most sportswriters, recognizing that fact, focus their attention on baseball, football, basketball, and the like. A sports writer who can’t resist incorporating his personal political viewpoint into his sports reporting and commentary needlessly angers those whose political viewpoints differ from his own. That adversely affects him, his reporting, and the newspaper that prints what he writes.
I was diagnosed with Bulbar ALS. I had weakness in my arms legs and hands. I lost all of my strength. I had to keep pliers and wrenches scattered around to open things. I couldn’t walk very far and I lost my balance easily. I had trouble swallowing and drool sometimes. It impacted all my voluntary moves. My hands shake when I eat or write. this year my family doctor decided I try alternative treatment as Riluzole caused severe side effects I started on ALS/MND protocol from uine health centre which has made my coordination issues go away. That was the biggest thing that convinced me I was on the right track. Everything before that was just small improvements and was up and down at times. I have gained strength in all muscle, but my right wrist and left shoulder are the slowest to improve. My left wrist is almost back to 100%. we got the treatment from uinehealthcentre. com This is a game changer for people with ALS.
Parker indeed was relentless in his fight for open space at 14th Street and The Strand in Hermosa Beach. I was honored (with many others) to help him for most of a decade on that endeavor. There will always be a park there, and Parker’s determination and incentive will always be remembered for making that so. Thank You Parker. Rest in Peace.
Not only was Parker active in Hermosa Beach, he was equally active in Redondo Beach. He worked to get council meetings televised, he worked to preserve historic homes, he worked to improve Dominguez Park, and he was forever video recording historic events. We owe Parker so much for his activism. Just a great South Bay guy who loved people. He also worked on local campaigns for council.
We’re going to miss you Parker. Thanks for everything you did.
Sending Love and Light to Greg Brwning and all who love him. He was an inspiration to all in how he lived. My sister’s husband had just passed away from ALS when I first learned about Greg. I was so moved by the courage he had throughout his life and ALS. He will live forever in the hearts of those he touched.
Hermoa Beach is turning into a dystopian hell hole. Focus on why the Pier is rotting full of empty non successful building and businesses, skyscraper level homes being built against code, the fact that there’s basically no green grid and the crime is at an all time high. Pretty interesting they’d target one of the FEW women on staff as well when they have a LAUNDRY list of to dos they SHOULD be spending their time on. How about focusing on how to get the police department paid more?? Just a thought. LOL!!!
The City Council has only one employee, the City Manager. All other employees are under the City Manager. So maybe understand how general law cities operate before popping off. Just a thought! LOL!!!!!
I am not in favor of all of this rebuilding by these private people should be allowed without it going to the city council and be voted on by the community. I also think the cost of commission should be considered just because people have a lot of money does not mean that they should be able to pass things With such a large rebuild that possibly can affect my view crowdedness because of the number of people that they are planning on having the members the private cost for becoming a member making it exclusive. That’s not what Redondo Beach area by the beach is all about I think this is wrong and I think it should be put to a vote by the community Susan Udewitz at 140 the village
A private club with initiation fees of $6k-$10K and monthly deus of $350 does not sound very inclusive at all. Especially jarring to see some fellow hometown people who grew up here sign on to this. Manhattan Beach has already been almost completely ruined by douchey gentrification and lost it’s original vibe. Hermosa is quickly following in it’s footsteps, FFS Redondo should not follow in the path of Santa Monica or Palm Springs. At least put it to a community vote!
I just wanted to express my sincere support for this new venture! The idea of revitalizing the waterfront area and creating a dedicated community gathering space is fantastic. I’m particularly excited to hear about the goals, including fostering a sense of community among members with shared interests, especially a love for the ocean and beach lifestyle. The amenities they are planning, like the Paddle Perch, Lookout Bar and Lounge, Fireside Lounge, and Kona Aloha Garden sound amazing!
I’m also impressed by the positive impact they are aiming to have on the community by transforming a previously neglected area into a vibrant hub. Bringing people together, supporting local businesses, and enhancing the appeal of the Redondo Beach waterfront is truly commendable. The vision to create a long-lasting brand, similar to the Outrigger Canoe Club of Honolulu, is inspiring.
While I’m not a member yet, I can absolutely see myself joining in the future. I truly wish them all the very best as you bring this vision to life. I have no doubt the California Surf Club will be a huge success and a wonderful addition to our community.
Remember when the community was against out of down rich developers? Welcome to CA Surf Club — the playground for the ultra rich MB people. City has been bleeding money and has had their hands tied since Beachlife came to the water front and the owner is saying he wants even a longer lease?
Beachlife is the worst thing that has ever happened to the water front.
$20 burger without fries, $15 beer at the festival, tickets $500, and then Surf Club membership that is unaffordable to 99% of the city —- but yes as Allan says…. this is community oriented. Perhaps MB ultra rich MB community. Get a grip.
As BCHD never ‘fesses up to, if the use the $6M ALLCOVE grant, then we – the taxpayers of the District only – must pay to operate ALLCOVE for 30-years for the benefit of LA County SPA8 – which is 91% non-residents of the 3 Beach Cities and includes Long Beach to Avalon to El Segundo to Compton. That’s a roughly a $175M taxpayer liability in return for a $6M grant. That a Benefit to Cost of $1 to $30. WHAT A BAD DEAL BCHD CUT – USING TAXPAYER MONEY AND LIABILITY.
As Pinzler notes, BCHD burnt up to $14M in taxpayer funding on pre-development of NO PROJECT costs. That’s what happens when an inexperienced Board and CEO buy consultants as their one-eyed man.
BCHD has squandered about $60M in reserves and exit fees from the commercial hospital that rented the 514 Building after it failed in 1984 as a public hospital. Where is our money? Where is the 60-years of property taxes that we’ve paid? In today’s dollars, that’s $300M in property tax alone. Where’d it go?
We have $2.4M per year in BCHD executives still. Why? Their decisions haven’t been good. $2.4M in EXECUTIVES (15% of total COST) to run a $15M per year GROSS REVENUE non-profit. That’s wildly excessive by greedy corporate terms even.
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Redondo residents have had several opportunities to “STOPBCHD” in past elections.
In November 2022 BCHD Board Member Dr. Bholat was re-elected to a third term with 45% of the vote, Dr. Noel Chun won his fifth term with 42%, while the “STOPBCHD” challenger Michael Kelly Martin received 12%.
In May 2023 Paige Kaluderovic, a complete unknown in Redondo, won her City Council seat with 52% of the votes. Did Paige’s “heartily endorsed” and much more experienced opponent lose because they appeared sympathetic to the “STOPBCHD” cause? It certainly didn’t seem to help.
When the time came to appoint a mayor, a published, vocal “STOPBCHD” candidate was completely overlooked while somebody willing to cooperate with BCHD, Jim Light, was appointed. This year, Redondo had several options for “STOPBCHD” candidates for mayor and city council and none of them were elected.
Redondo is a democracy and if residents truly want to truly “STOPBCHD” they most certainly will, but it seems to me they don’t.
Didn’t BCHD lose the Measure BC election by a wide margin? Not a trick question – they lost by 20%. BCHD wanted $9M to finish the ALLCOVE building and $21M to tear down the hospital and prepare the site for PMB’s commercial development. ALLCOVE is a 1.4M population, 30-year obligation of ONLY THE DISTRICT TAXPAYERS. That’s a bad deal. PMB wanted to build an assisted living that was 80% non-residents of 90254, 90266, 90277, and 90278. That’s a bad deal for residents. Seems like BCHD’s inability to get voters to agree with building ALLCOVE and tearing down the hospital shows that BCHD is on the wrong path for the residents of the three beach cities.
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Robin took over on drums when my first child was born. It was to be a temporary-ish thing.i think the thought was we would either add more percussive qualities and/or I would move to a tonal instrument. When I can back I think Robin may have lost some creative control. Though that wasn’t the purpose. Robin focused on many of his musical endeavors, teaching, a drum store (Robin’s Drum works, and many musical projects that forget to give credit. But the picture is me and this interview was done shortly after Robin joined and Dave had not been there long. Michael was definitely 75 percent of the grit dogs. Great efforts have been done to erase the Grit Dogs from history. What a disaster of a break up! But when I find that master hard drive everything will go back up. Grit Dogs started with Michael Borden and myself at Texas Loosey’s restaurant in Torrance California, when Michael asked me to play some drums for him. I quickly learned to play very quietly. But it clicked. We started playing under the Grit Dogs. We did that for at least 2 years. Then chris came in. It was 90 positive.. it worked. Then Dave came in to fill bass as Michael started to get out of his talent zone… still brilliant.. but half of it never really worked. I think given more time it could have.Many things kept it from completely back together. And a few things ripped it from this earth. I didn’t realize something could be wiped from history so easily. Another one of mikes amazing feats. So I write this here in one of the few places that holds the memory of one of the biggest parts of my life.
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I couldn’t believe they made the bathroom over by the low tide stage VIP only. It’s turning into a bit of an elitist event. That is not living the beach life. I have gone every year, but not sure if I will be back.
Incredibly well written. So many shared memories pouring back while reading this. Especially touching for me is the pic of you and your mom on the steps to her house in the 70s. I completely remember when both of you looked like that although I was just in grade school at the time.
You have an amazing gift as a writer Scott. Bravo Sir!
I am charmed in the present as I watch it again and again for the personal experience non actors bring to the screen. I feel the restaurant scene with the waiter getting personal was forced but at least Molto Bella came out of it. Didn’t like the club scene but I never like it when things suddenly go sideways. I’m searching for the words to Hals’ poems. Can’t make out all of the important words.
Braun Levi’s death is a terrible tragedy and I certainly can’t imagine the loss that his parents and friends must feel however, blaming the roadway and a ‘suspected’ drunk driver for his death is evading his and his friend’s culpability in this incident. I know – the haters are going to crucify me for even considering that Braun’s actions and decisions led to his untimely death however, it is clear from his friend’s statement that he and his friends were taking huge risks crossing PCH that night!
What were teenagers doing crossing PCH outside of a marked pedestrian crosswalk at 12:45am?!?!?
That in itself is classified as jay-walking. To do that in front of oncoming traffic in the dark is a classic case of poor judgement and how young people do not realize the grave risk that such an action carries.
To immediately fault the driver 100% and accuse them of being intoxicated – without proof or due process is just grossly unreasonable. To assume that they too aren’t suffering deeply from what happened as the driver had the sense and decency to remain at the scene
Now for basic physics – a several thousand pound vehicle cannot come to an instant stop even with a trained and sober professional at the wheel if a pedestrian jumps out in front of it while it is travelling the speed limit (25 mph or more) in broad daylight let alone in the dark – in this case a 35 mph zone and I might add there has been no mention that the vehicle was speeding.
Something has changed because in the last 5+ years I have witnessed a sharp increase in suicidal pedestrians attempting to jump in front of incoming cars whether in crosswalks or jay-walking. A crosswalk and/or traffic light does not confer super human abilities on a pedestrian who ignores an approaching vehicle – they may be right but they may also be invisible to the driver due to a myriad of reasons! Pedestrians will claim that they have the right of way – and they do – but that doesn’t excuse unnecessarily risky moves because in the end, A PEDESTRIAN WILL LOSE badly, every single time if they are hit by a vehicle – no matter how slow!! Sure they may be legally right – laying on the ground with head injuries, broken bones and internal injuries but in the end they lose regardless of their legal standing in such an accident and no matter how much money they win or how long a driver is convicted for.
Today, every single pedestrian accident becomes a crusade to make roads ‘safer’ and yet regardless of the number of traffic lights, street lights, blinking yellow lights, crosswalks and other traffic controls – risky behavior cannot be eliminated. In fact – the more traffic lights that are installed – all of which are mis-timed – create additional risky behaviors on the part of drivers who are frustrated by lights that turn red one – after – another without any consideration to maintaining traffic flow. So, we end up with the worst of both – a mix of pedestrians and drivers both taking unnecessary chances and the resulting tragedies that follow.
I’m not suggesting that road safety doesn’t need to be improved in some areas – but too often such ‘fixes’ are nothing more than a monument to memorialize a person’s tragic death and are actually making things worse.
I don’t mean to be callous, it’s called an accident for a reason. Instead of the knee jerk reaction of accusing a driver of wrongdoing without due process and subsequently making everyone pay as a result of a youth’s poor judgement forever, maybe time and effort would be better spent educating young people of the harsh reality that the rules of physics will always prevail, that it is best to be patient and cautious – even when crossing roads at signals and crosswalks and to NEVER cross a multi-lane highway in the dark outside of a marked crosswalk.
Any death or serious accident is a tragedy. As Bob Adkins says there are 2 sides to a story. How often do you see teenagers looking at their cell phone while crossing (legally) at a crosswalk? Should you trust your life to every driver obeying every rule and you not accepting any responsibility to look both ways? What color clothing was the pedestrian wearing? As a retired emergency physician I can say that in my personal experience somewhere between 95 and 99% of all pedestrians struck by autos were wearing dark clothing. There is a percentage of youths that wear only black. If I happen to be out crossing the street after dark, wearing dark clothes, I turn on the flashlight function of my cell phone when crossing the street, so at least sober drivers can be made aware of my presence.
Sure there are always opportunities for improvement in road safety design that should be carried out.
It is a tragedy for such a young person, their family, loved ones, friends etc to suffer like this. Perhaps these events can be reduced by both drivers and pedestrians being more aware and driving/walking defensively.
I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. The traffic collision investigation will accurately determine what transpired, but that takes a lot of time. Most of these cases, the pedestrian’s actions have a role in the collision. Where I will quibble with you is your assessment of due process. The driver was “arrested” for allegedly committing this offense. What do you suspect that arrest was based on? Because in order to make a lawful arrest of someone, there must be probable cause.
We do know some facts about this case. The driver arrested was driving on a suspended license. That is a crime under the vehicle code and you can be arrested for it. There’s one charge there. Secondly, a lot can go into an officer’s decision to arrest someone for DUI including Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, chemical tests, visual observations, and the person’s admission to driving after consuming alcohol. It’s unclear if she was convicted of DUI, but if her license is suspended because of the previous DUI, it would be fair to assume she was convicted of a prior offense (Due Process, by the way). Courts admonish offenders that if they cause an accident while under the influence and kill someone, that individual can be charged with murder. If she was previously convicted, my best guess is she received this admonishment. Putting all of this together, with witness statements, driver statements, and physical evidence, there was likely enough probable cause to make the arrest. Now does that mean she will be convicted of said crimes? No, because she is afforded due process and will ultimately be judged in the court by a jury of her peers.
So again, the investigation has to take place. It’s tragic for the family and everyone involved, including the driver; however, the argument that this person is wrongfully accused and due process is not afforded to her is incorrect.
I think this is a very reasonable take here… No road safety improvements are going to prevent reckless behavior.
I’ll just come out a say it… The group of kids were most likely drinking at house party and left to go get food because that’s what you do when you’re a drunk teenager at 12:45am. They made a reckless decision to cross a multi-lane highway in the dark and there was a tragic consequence.
Sorry, I’m sure all these white-picket-fence Manhattan Beach parents would say “oh no, my kid doesn’t drink at parties, he’s an angel”, etc… Wake up people.
All of this is so tragic, but instead of talking about “road improvements”, Let’s talk about educating our kids to make better decisions.
Your rationalization of Bran Levi’s death (murder without premeditation?) is… pathetic and lacks any sense of sorrow for him or his family. “You don’t mean to be callous”? Are you serious? Certainly Bran was careless. No question about it. Your gross shortage of empathy is hard to believe. This is 1 time I believe in karma. Perhaps the end will be an accident!
So, here’s what we know. We have a pro-development Mayor, Jim Light, who will greenlight any BCHD project out before the city council. We have a District 3 city councilwoman, Paige Kaluderovic, who does not discuss the potential density of this project with the surrounding neighborhood because she doesn’t understand it. We have newly elected District 2 councilman, Chadwick Castle, ignoring the project because it sits outside his councilmanic district by about 300 feet to the east, and he refused to address the potential density during his campaign because he was supported by Beach Cities Democratic leader, Dency Nelson, who is a tenant of BCHD and proponent of expansion. You have a newly elected City attorney who will continue to advocate for BCHD, just as did former city attorney, Mike Webb. And, you have a pro-development city council that will look for excuses to not limit the size of a project at the site and will ignore what the original purpose and mandate was of the voters when the hospital district was formed, and funded, years ago. And, think about this. Who is really to blame for this potential over-developed disaster waiting to happen on Prospect Avenue ? None other than residents who could not be bothered to vote in the last election, and those who did vote who acted like sheep and went along, to get along. So, when your homes are dwarfed by tall structures and choked by constant traffic, you’ll have no one to blame except yourself. Many thanks to Bob Pinzler for exposing this BCHD plan.
Firstly –and most importantly– my heart goes out to this precious family in their loss… as well as to all Braun’s friends and those who were touched by his vibrant life!
Secondarily: I believe that the following paragraph be looked over, edited for clarity and resubmitted. It’s confusing … frustratingly so!—- “According to sources at Mira Costa High School, where the boys who were with Braun are students, they were at a nearby party in East Manhattan Beach and left to find something to eat. Two of the boys had crossed, and another was at the median and had just turned to urge his friend to hurry when the car struck him. The boy called 911 and waited with Levi as police and paramedics arrived.” Assuming “another” (who was at the median) was Braun Levi. If so, clarify by including his name. Also, “the boy called 911” … WHAT “boy” called 911? Bottom line: All the editing in world doesn’t erase or even ease this tragedy, but I did find myself wondering what else might have been sloppily reported.
PS– Please don’t misunderstand — I don’t think that the “other boys” need to be identified … in fact, I don’t think that would be wise or in their best interests. Just clean up the reporting for clarity’s sake. Thank you.
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Don, reading this put a smile on my face.
Do you remember?
We took a road trip in 1977 from Arcata to Hermosa Beach.
We got a flat tire and ate cherries.
I trust you’re well.
Great and well written story! Definitely brings back memories of a special time and place of early for me Hermosa and early days of Tavarua. Well done Mr Scott
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Haven’t people learned yet…… not to drink and drive?……..
Also, Is this part of the D.E.I…… in California?
Let’s see, now how many (women) were responsible for those nasty fires??? Oh Heavens No!!! We can’t blame those WOMEN. ( most kind hearted …..Liberals….. are afraid to even say …. MAYBE……Stupid!
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We scored Dude! That afternoon, first time on Natividad, when Randy Landis, Chris Cortum, you and me rounded that corner after a 4 hour hike – and the expected swell had hit – is etched forever. And the photo you took of it. All before Tavarua. Thanks BigFunk SF, made my surfing and exploring life oh so memorable!
Wow, what an epic read! Scott, you certainly have a gift.
Those were magical times growing up in the South Bay in the 60s and the 70s.
You’ve always been an inspiration to me personally.
You have a good vibe and a good flow and a good philosophy on life.
The Fijians certainly hold you in high regard.
I think about that fateful day we met surfing and fishing off of Ron Wolf‘s boat down the Nepali coast.
I can’t wait to read the book!
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Scott, that read just made my night. I admire the adventurism you and others had back in the day searching for waves. It would be great if you could give a talk at the Hermosa Museum some time to tell your story and sell a few books. The South Bay Boardrider’s Club is making effort to share the history of our local surf legends in short video factoids, and you are on the list.
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Yet again I am disappointed by the upcoming Firsta Hermosa. It seems that the popular tribute bands will now be playing in the Beer Garden, which requires a $10 per day admission fee. (Hopefully you can also hear them from nearby.) But the Beer Garden is now huge – why is there such an emphasis on selling alcoholic beverages? Years ago the street fair centered on arts and crafts, and no one was promoting automobiles or timeshares. To me, the tribute band stage at the base of Pier Plaza with about 200 chairs set up was ideal. Online they seem proud that the event has gone on for over fifty years, but since the COVID interruption it has generally gotten worse. (I actually first attended the event in the mid 1980’s.)
Here is another Fiesta Hermosa rant… Ever since the small 109 BCT bus essentially replaced the MTA 439 bus, during Hermosa Beach street fairs the 109 bus makes a huge detour around downtown Hermosa Beach, going all the way up to and along PCH, making it much harder to take the bus to or from an event where parking is at a premium. WTF? During the MTA 439 era, the bus would make a small detour taking 16th Street or 8th Street up to Monterey, and there would be a temporary bus stop at Monterey and Pier. (And keep in mind the MTA busses were larger than the BCT 109 busses.) I know from experience that some of the 109 bus drivers are not very alert, but it still seems that they could be able to handle a small detour like that, so more people could take the bus to or from the street fair.
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The CenterCal project failed because it was so overbloated that it violated our own zoning and the Coastal Act. All 11 coastal commissioners voted that the project had “significant issues” with compliance – it took 23 pages to outline all the issues. The Coastal Commission voided city approvals of the project. To the point of the LTE, while the CenterCal plan did intend to replace the south end parking structures at the pier, the project was significantly under-parked for all the development it included. On top of that, the vote on Measure C demonstrated that the majority of residents in all Districts of the city opposed the project.
Comparing CenterCal’s mall-by-the-sea to what Sanford and his team have built is simply laughable. CenterCal offered us their cookie-cutter mall solution complete with their standard gimmicky dancing water fountain and cheap mall architecture. The California Surf Club is top notch quality. Half is open to the public, half is a club. The public can pay a day rate for the club portion. Clubs are no stranger to the harbor… there are two yacht clubs, the Bay Club, and the outrigger canoe clubs. And the marinas are all private, there is no public access to the vast majority of slips and docks in the harbor. And let’s not forget we even have private residences on public land in the north end of the harbor. There is nothing in the harbor today that is of the same quality and ambiance of the California Surf Club. Shade is the last major investment in the harbor prior to the Surf Club. It is a very nice boutique hotel, but even it does not come close to the quality and ambiance of the California Surf Club.
The BeachLife Festival will never become a Coachella. Our harbor is too small. What we have in BeachLife is some local music enthusiasts who put together a concert designed to appeal to residents in the surrounding community. This is not a big national festival company taking a concert and moving it from location to location – without any real concern about the community. BeachLife is put together by locals who truly care about and know our community. I am still amazed at the lack of traffic after each night of the concert. When we have the 4th of July fireworks it takes hours for Redondo streets to return to normal. And the trash that remains behind is horrible. After BeachLife you barely notice an increase in traffic. And if you look at the bike corral you can see one of the reasons why. In fact, on each day, there was parking still available in the pier parking structure.
The current Council is all in alignment on the need for economic revitalization for fiscal sustainability. The City Manager is setting up an Economic Development Committee, and I am setting up a focused Olympics Committee. We are talking to real estate development firms and consultants. We are marketing at the ICSC. We are in discussions with current master lease holders. Quality over quantity. And all while maintaining what makes Redondo unique. We want to stay true to the mantra “revitalize not supersize”. And I am confident we can achieve that.
The City is moving forward with the Artesia Aviation Corridor Area Plan and with investment in the public recreational amenities in the harbor. We are moving forward with Seaside Lagoon revitalization. We are starting the design phase of the state required boat ramp. We are in discussions with Marine Mammal Care Center to locate on the abandoned Joe’s Crabschack site. We have replaced lighting and railings around International Boardwalk and the pier. We replaced ugly asphalt with pavers on International Boardwalk. We added a vibrant mural to the skate park.
The BeachLife Festival and the California Surf Club are the keystone for attracting quality revitalization throughout the south end of the harbor and the pier area. “A rising tide lifts all boats.” They put Redondo on the map and send the message that Redondo is open for business and Redondo is worth investing in.
For years we heard complaints about our waterfront being shabby.
Now that the waterfront is being beautifully renewed, we hear complaints.
Just go down to Long Beach to 2nd and PCH and thank God that we don’t have CenterCal’s private Mall By The Sea here.
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Of the $12M+ that BCHD spent on consultants and contracts while wooing PMB, only $2M of it was on the EIR. The rest was on unneeded lawyers, contracts that were never used, designs of ugly Miami Vice looking buildings, and other nonsense. Basically, BCHD spent a full year’s worth of revenue on nothing.
Thank god the days of the tyranny of the very vocal minority are over. The small group of left-wing fanatics led by Dency Nelson will hopefully be over so we can get back to fixing streets and sewers and stop with the WOKE virtual signaling projects.
Seamann, Keegan, and Francois are puppets for racists, misogynists, and anti-vax cretins. We need to end this far right movement led by the biggest losers in the universe, Matt McCool and Kent Allen.
Congratulations Mira costa girls swim team. While we all want to be first place winners, second place in the State of California is a big time accomplishment. Samantha Allen your Pappy is so proud it is almost incomprehensible. You displayed the heart of a champion as did your teammates. I foresee you approaching whatever you do in life with the same ferocity. Congratulations Mira Costa girls.
A fan,
Pappy
Keegan and Francois are lifelong Democrats. Good luck with your recall – you will find out the hard way that the silent majority in our city are right behind the three who stood up to the last 7 years of nonsense.
The bottom line is exactly what we see happening across our country, entitled and unqualified individuals thinking they deserve positions of power, and when their insufficiencies start to become evident they look for a scapegoat. This time it was Suja, just like those blaming DEI while they make a mess of everything. It’s not a new phenomenon but they sure have been emboldened to believe that they are actually qualified when nothing could be further from the truth.
I am sure Labasse Projects will do a good job.
I am concerned with how much money from the John Parsons Public Art Fund is being spent on non-art expenses.
$45,000 for a consultant for Artesia Blvd
$35,000 for traffic mitigation for an already over budgeted mural on the Public Works building on North Catalina Avenue.
Who knows how many thousands for site improvements and relocation of access to utilities for the Gate Wave sculpture at Gateway Parkette.
Redondo electeds must re-examine the role and responsibilities of the Cultural Arts Commission because all these costs should have been mitigated.
Wow, excellent well written! Wait a minute, I know you! I was part of the 10th st crew and went to Pier ave jr . The Pages were very close friends of ours, in fact, Ty and I looked a great deal alike. The Hall’s in the back of 10th st ally, owned the “Taco Bells”! Great recollection from your perspective. exciting, mesmerizing! It is as if reliving the times. Just last month, I was walking the pier while visiting Hermosa with some family. Wow! How Ironic.
Kevin Cody’s reporting catches a few of the many nuances that give insight into what’s been going on for almost seven long years with Suja Lowenthal’s cavalier management of Hermosa Beach, as facilitated especially by her cadre of self-centered sycophants (God’s gift to Hermosa Beach), and to Hell with anyone else.
One has to love the reference to “Gone With The Wind” in the story’s first four paragraphs. While the word “damn” is not used in the story, as kids “damn” was one of the first bad words we learned in the 1940s and 1950s as we would routinely imitate the line from Gone With The Wind, by saying to others, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn”, with of course a Southern accent.
For younger folk, per Wikipedia; “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” is a line from the 1939 film “Gone With The Wind” starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh. The line is spoken by Rhett Butler (Gable), as his last words to Scarlett O’Hara (Leigh), in response to her tearful question: “Where shall I go? What shall I do?”. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn”.
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Mr. Pinzler makes an excellent point. When was the last time you heard someone say, “Why can’t businesses run like a government?” It is also a great assumption that all businesses run better than the government. The number of government entities that have filed for bankruptcy pales in comparison to businesses.
Government is little more than the MASTER ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM. It dwarfs Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid. Federal, state, and local government spends about $11T each year that is effectively confiscated from taxpayers. Little surprise with the power of taxation that few government agencies go BK. Last I checked, States cannot even file for BK in federal courts, so only cities and counties and districts – all with some taxation power – are a risk.
Played in a band called “Airstream” at The Lobster House…. We packed the place and had many friends! “Stark Naked and the Car Thieves” were playing at the Red Onion next door and they usually packed the O….. great memories!!! Fell in love with many waitresses!
stunning. more than talent, it is cody’s keen newspaperman’s ability to know – to see – to hear – stories that matter. boots on the ground. community papers are vital to connectivity – the proverbial pebble in the pond. congratulations to a newspaperman. with an extraordinary ability to know news. and those who can present it. who are. and why.
and… to recognize and support others’ abilities – even in their earliest beginnings – writing, drawing, COMMENTING. congratulations to all the graduates of easy reader. salud!
Great article Scott
Really brings back the memories of the surf culture back then
I remember getting a sizable ring on my board that couldn’t be fixed with a sticker. You were kind enough to show me how repair it properly, including adding shaved fiberglass into the resin mixture to fill the gap
Can’t wait for next installment of the early days at Tavarua
Congratulations to our Redondo High students and their teacher!
This is just one example of the excellence that goes on in Redondo High, and so many public schools.
Deepest gratitude to our teachers, my unsung heroes.
this redondoan is THRILLED for you, the course and professor – wtg, team ru !!! my high school,back on long island, came in #1 in the country many years ago – i can only say: inspired teachers, open books, cultures, thoughts and studies – out of the box and off of the grid – IS so very exciting – and so very needed. thanks, RU – yes – totally thrilled – ON!
It’s too bad that certain members of the Hermosa Beach City Council can’t read. They obviously don’t understand the word interim. The current path under the last city manager was a disaster just look at the downtown area alone. Plus the building department for permits closed on Fridays.
There are so many more!
In addition, the current interim city manager has more experience than all of those certain council members combined. He brings a high-level of experience and a caliber and culture that this city desperately needs.
We are already in the top 5% of population density in the state. We are the only Beach City with more multi-family than single family development. We are the only Beach City with a Section 8 program. We are the only beach city will pallet shelters and permanent supportive housing. Our percentage of multi-family housing greatly exceeds the average across the Southern California area. The vast majority of what is being built across the state is market rate housing not affordable housing. And the old “build more and prices will drop” argument has been proven false. We are park poor by state standards at less than 2.2 acres of parks per 1000 residents (and that is counting the county beach). Our jobs to household ratio is less than 1… for comparison, El Segundo is 5 jobs per household. Redondo needs more jobs, more commercial development, and more parkland. Not more high density, market rate housing. Replacing commercial property with housing is driving us to structural budget deficits.
If the city wants more single-family vs multi-family, the city should allow the conversion from multi to single-family. The current process to convert a duplex (two standalone homes with their own separate yard) in Redondo Beach is so restrictive that the city is not helping the cause.
My tenant who has been renting one of our duplex expressed interest in buying the unit he lives in. My husband and I live in the other unit and is interested in selling as well. We talked to the city and were told that the the only way to convert the duplex to two titles is if redondo beach’s vacancy rate drops above 6%- the city has hovered around 4% in the last decade.
If we don’t build more apartments, vacancy rate remains low, and multi-familes remain rentals. Versus loosening the law to allow new homebuyers to purchase units and raise homeownership in the city.
What about the history of earthquakes in the area not far from the proposed building site?
I believe it is referred to as the “Long Beach Earthquake.” A 6.4 magnitude earthquake on March 10, 1933, at 5:54 p.m. PST. This caused the road and surrounding land to fall into the sea just south of the Point Fermin Light House. Located at the end of West Paseo Del Mar Road closure.
Identified on Google Maps as, “Sunken City Landslide Area.”
I’m sure there will be a geological survey of the new building site before construction begins.
Just a thought.
Frustrating new rules make it difficult for long time mom & pop owners maintain their properties. There should be additional guest permit allowance and also allowance for non-resident owners to pull a permit.
Hi there, I grew up in PV and several friends have married in the chapel. I remember it as a rest stop during the “walk for hunger” in the early 70’s.
An earlier article said that some of the redwood beams have degraded and might not be usable. I live in Humboldt County now in a home surrounded by Redwood trees,. If you need redwood beams, I would be willing to donate what trees may be suitable. Although Logistics of transportation could be difficult. PM me on FB if you are interested.
In 2024 in North Hermosa we never saw Parking Enforcement at all, not once. Therefore our residential permits and guests permits were useless and we paid for each one of them. In other word those without permits parked for free during the entire enforcement period !!!
These ridiculous requirements now have made it impossible for non- resident owners like ourselves to obtain a parking pass. We only purchased this property that has no garage nor driveway due to the ability to buy street parking passes. We pay an absorbent amount in HB property taxes & cannot even park our car near our property! Such a joke and now considering selling. Please consider the property owners city council!
Thanking Easy Reader for news of the Peninsula, our home for forty years.
Just as we moved there, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes was just incorporating, with the vision of preservation and conservation at its heart.
I am also grateful for your updates on the good news here in Easy Reader, and last week about the Wayfarers Chapel.
Letting this original historic site go back to nature makes perfect sense, and keeping bees there is helping nature replenish. Making the honey available at the Point Vicente gift shop is brilliant.
In the last few weeks of Easy Reader News, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes has shown a true faithfulness to its original goals of preservation and conservation that I deeply appreciate.
Present visions of preserving the Point Vicente Lighthouse and the Wayfarers Chapel fulfills the wishes of the City Founders, I’m sure.
Thank You, City of RPV
Thank You, Easy Reader.
My parents live in Hermosa Beach and own some rental property in the permit areas. It is impossible to find parking to work on the properties without being able to use a permit. They are 80 years old and cannot walk 5 blocks carrying heavy tools.
The budget is not balanced. They pulled $3.5M out of reserves is how I heard it sitting in the meeting. I still can’t believe ALL THE MONEY on a Logo change. Street signs, business cards, buildings, cars, websites, stationery, forms, uniforms, BIG SIGNS, banners, etc. It’s like Suja from Hermosa was running the place. SPEND SPEND SPEND. How about we get back to basics and spend on GOTTA HAVE ITEMS and push back on NICE TO HAVE ITEMS – LIKE LOGOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Agreed on the “unnecessary” costs re: the city’s logo change…60k to repaint the big King Harbor sign at PCH/Catalina!?!? Did I miss a vote on changing the cities logo which should have included all the associated costs in doing so?
In fact, here’s from the transcript of the Council meeting -” being effectively uh covered by a $3.5 million transfer from our Calpers reserve fund to cover the lion share of that expenses” RB cannot TRANSFER their was to a balanced budget – they are running a deficit.
I have been receiving SSDI for about 15 yrs and honestly this is the first time I have heard of such a thing my husband passed away and I had a difficult time coming up with the money needed for his funeral I think had this really been available someone wld have told me being that most of my friends are also receiving SSDI benefits, I don’t believe this is accurate TBH
LC always has phenomenal events! This is particularly creative with the photo upon arrival and the creative towel animal centerpieces ( which were later donated). So many wonderful details and as always the food was delicious. Congrats on another stunning success! Soooo much fun!
Wayne’s statements are not factual. While the budget is still in deliberation, I’ve heard no one suggest eliminating the crossing guard program or even eliminating any current crossing guard positions. The only comment I recall is capping crossing guards at their current level. The application for the Federal Grant should be submitted in early July. And we are going for 100% Federal funding for the range and moving/rebuilding public works facilities that share the site. The funding Wayne references was approved in the CIP last year, not this year’s budget. And so far there has been no call to cut any services from public safety. All I have heard is support for the decision packages in the budget that includes increased investment in public safety. And the school crossing program is under the PD budget.
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Setting the Record Straight on Crossing Guards and the Gun Range
The Mayor’s recent comments are inaccurate and misleading.
First, the notion that capping or removing crossing guards was never seriously considered is simply false. These actions were discussed openly at two City Council meetings—on June 3 and June 11, 2025—as well as during a luncheon attended by the Mayor on June 5. That same evening, at a District Council meeting I attended, the idea of removing some crossing guard posts was again confirmed. A council member, who had criticized the failed negotiations with the school district to share crossing guard costs, was contacted by a school district representative—not to offer any cost-sharing, but to suggest reducing the number of guards.
Second, regarding the $17 million police gun range, the Mayor is also wrong about how it entered the budget. Last year’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) did not contain a line item dedicated solely to a federal grant for a gun range. After Measure FP passed, $1.3 million originally budgeted for fire station maintenance was suddenly available. The prior council had committed to using most of those funds for long-overdue city yard improvements—not the gun range. Only a small portion was considered a potential down payment.
That agreement was thrown out after the new council took over. Nearly all of that money was then redirected to the gun range. I attended the public meeting where this shift was made and verified these details with two former council members.
What the Mayor fails to even recognize is the White House Administration this year being vastly different than who might have made a promise last year. THIS Administration is cutting and gutting everything they can, with California programs being at the top of their list. It’s incredulous, and woefully naive to spend $1.3 million to apply for a federal grant in this climate.
If the Mayor wants to talk about Public Safety, I’d like to hear what efforts are underway to strengthen the role of our Public Safety Commission. Let’s deal in facts—not spin.
Thanking Easy Reader for covering this story of Mr. Jackson’s appointment to the California Coastal Commission. My wish is that he will do everything he can to preserve the Coastal Commission and the Coastal Act and call out any attempt to diminish its mission.
I remember that day in the early 1970s that we were driving back from Malibu along the coast, where we could barely catch glimpses of the ocean all along the way. Buildings of every kind blocked the views of sky and water, when suddenly the news came over the car radio that the Coastal Act had passed.
I can still feel the joy and gratitude that came over me, knowing that from that day forward our precious coast would be protected.
Our coast is again in a desperate fight for its life, even from corrupt California elected officials, and spiteful threats from the Federal Government.
City Revenues should service the entire jurisdiction of the City.
RBUSD Revenues should service students.
It’s time to get the financial house in order.
I believe that all this cross agency subsidization needs to end. RBUSD can pay for crossing guards – or hire their own. RBUSD can pay for its own garbage pickup and the City can delete them from the “free plan” at Athens.
Free of course is not free – the rest of us pay RBUSDs share one way or another – unless you believe Athens takes a profit haircut. And if you believe that, you can pay for my garbage pick-up too.
Coastal is such a mixed bag. The commissioners are typically political cronies of the highest order. We all love it when they make the Ritchie Rich’s in Malibu allow coastal access – even if none of us will use it. But Coastal fleeces companies for millions each year to get projects approved. Coastal also is full time employment for ex-Coastal employees in law firms and consulting firms. The agency cuts both ways and we should watch to see how Jackson votes.
This protest was not against the US Military.
This protest was about saving our Republic from Trump and his Authoritarian administration.
Please correct the article.
no one thinks ‘no kings’ was a protest against our military, altho hegseth might tip the balance… this was an america-wide protest against trump, who would be king. a dicktator. and who actually just pronouned on may 29 that he might pardon (!) the minnesota kidnappers who were found guilty of planning to abduct the governor. and one week later, this weekend, a trump maganista shot and killed two democrat public servants. a senator…
Didn’t the dude have a bunch of No Kings propaganda in his car? I think he was a democrat and this was personal for inside the party reasons. He was a previous political appointee of the democrat Minnesota governor who lost his political appointment. ” A masked and uniformed Vance Luther Boelter — who was a political appointee of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — shot Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in their Champlin home early Saturday, leaving them seriously injured”
So now any group can hang any message from the pier? Right? That’s only 1st Amendment fair play – it’s a city facility. And does it apply to ANY city facility? This is a direct example of the perks of white privilege based on the crowd. Surely it’s not legal to hang banners from City property, right?
Is there a section that discusses the building permits? Would love to know what is Redondo Beach’s plan to update all the businesses site that needs an improvement.
Good stuff bro. My name is Armando Lol I just found myself living in south central and I worked in the south bay. Lol got a dui at sharkys on my birthday once. I’m a big fan of Tmz and watch it at 4, the crazy part is I love to catch top ten revealed and for some crazy reason I was like wait a minute is this the same dude. LoL I don’t know why I never put it together until now. Must’ve been the flower but all good I got it now. Maybe will run into to each other and grab some salsa and chips. Surf easy.
The gun range, if successful, is 100% funded outside the city budget.
If truly concerned about revenue, did those complaining oppose when the city suggests less free parking over the holidays to save money? Seems like some just like to criticize no matter what.
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This is truly wonderful! For years, I have faced challenges in finding swim lessons for my kids. As a single mother, driving to Torrance or Hawthorne is not an option for me, and I’ve consistently found myself on the waitlist for lessons at Begg Pool. It’s disheartening to think about how much my children could benefit from swim lessons, especially since I’ve longed for a public pool at the lawn bowling location. I genuinely admire the creativity behind these proposed solutions and believe they could make a real difference for families like mine.
A pool is total waste of money. What’s wrong with the big pool known as the Pacific Ocean? Also there is no problem in getting swim lessions and no need to go to Torrance as swim lessions are available in Redondo Beach at the Bay Club or in Manhattan Beach.
Zac Ive been teaching for over 35 years and still do. You can not teach kids and adults to swim the right way in the ocean and those with fear of putting their face in need a quality experienced instructor in a pool setting. Once they learn to swim in a pool then the ocean is great for playing but not leaning correct swimming. It is great for fun and body surfing. Not everyone likes to swim miles in the ocean like us life time swimmers do.
Lillian claims that 5000 homes would be “eliminated” by the ROW. This is nonsense. No homes are being eliminated. The ROW already exists. No homes need to be torn down. No families need to be relocated. No businesses or commuters need to deal with years of construction on Hawthorne Blvd. That’s why it’s the ideal option.
Lillian claims the ROW option will “make it easier developers to come in and offer below market offers so they can then build tenement housing like Chicago and New York”. This is also fantastical. Lillian, I encourage you and your neighbors not to accept any offer for your homes that are “below-market”. Seems like a reasonable solution to me. But, more importantly, her assumption that the ROW plan will reduce property values is also false. Many people PREFER living close to public transportation. Neighborhoods close to stops on the recently-built light rail lines (Expo line to Santa Monica and the Crenshaw line, which is now part of the line in question) have only become more desirable.
Also, there are already WAY too many NIMBY laws that prevent building “tenement housing” in most residential “single family” neighborhoods (that is a separate issue to be debated, but trust that Lillian is also on the wrong side of that one). By using that terminology and citing Chicago and New York, Lillian is also blowing that racist dog whistle (I’m almost surprised she managed to avoid mentioning “black-on-black crime” or saying “all lives matter”). She doesn’t think we can all hear it, but most of us can.
METRO should ignore the loud minority of (embarrassingly selfish and wrong) NIMBYs and choose the ROW plan.
I was wondering why only white and not white and red are proper colors for Corpus Christi. We eat the bread and drink the blood so where’s the symbolism for the shed blood?
Why is OK for gays to vandalize a Life Guard Tower when a kid tagging it is a crime? It is so ugly and spoils a day at the beach for most non gay beach goers. Could we please have it painted back the blue color which is keeping with the beach.
Les was a joyful and kind man, always quick with a smile and laugh. His passing was a shock and he left a deep impression on us all. He will be missed by many,
Thank you for the well written obituary. Pat was my brother in law. I’ll miss the life before he passed and will do what is required of us with that remainder of time.
Asked ‘Sunny’ the chatty-AI-bot some simple questions and it just returned a bunch of useless sentences that sounded like an answer but really wasn’t. Any human being could have answered immediately the simple question. Then it said to check the website. And then it said to call the City at 310-318-0239.
Just another thing to further distance Hermosa Beach City Hall and the bureaucrats from the city’s own businesses and residents.
The real question is who sold this to the city and how much did it cost? Any kickbacks?
Just more stuff probably implemented by the Suja Lowenthal gang before she was canned to further reduce the time her minions needed to interface with the businesses and the residents of the city.
‘Sunny’ the ChattyBot gets a grade of “F”.
And how much personal information is this AI thing able to swipe from the city’s records? It, or its company, probably has access into everything at City Hall that’s on computers. Your kids are going to have to live with all this invasive stuff that’s so quick-and-dirty being bought and implemented by politicians and bureaucrats.
Move around anywhere in HB and your license plate is tracked, you’re video-taped, and it’s just a matter of time before tiny city drones will fly around your back yard and into your kitchen and who knows where else. Dumb, dumb, dumb! Why even have a city government. Those working there want no part of the businesses and residents anymore. They just want their direct-deposited pay.
How can a City charge for a Vital Service that has been alrerady paid for by the Taxes the City collects? This smells of a Newsom Hocus Pocus Budget. Liberals.
I’m watching Tom Sullivan on an old episode of Highway to Heaven. Great actor and I read the Book co authored with Betty White! Tom is certainly an inspiration!
For a variety of reasons, Redondo Beach is in the rear in terms of revenue generation relative to neighboring beach cities. Personally, I can’t help but wonder had city council revitalized the Galleria and/or the pier when interest rates and costs were lower if that would have helped. It seems Manhattan Village, Metlox, Hermosa Pier and The Pointe are all cash cows for our neighbors.
Paige is bringing up some hard truths about Redondo’s budget. There is no such thing as free beach town charm. Redondo needs to have a realistic look at revenue minus expenses and make some tough choices. If the community truly wants to pay for less development in higher fees and taxes, great; otherwise, development may be needed to generate revenues. I am very comfortable with the current Redondo City Council, and I commend the Council and the mayor for having this conversation and unanimously approving a budget.
Why would the Mayor say the city’s 27 year old prohibition of all leaf blower use is “nearly impossible to enforce” when multiple very audible violations occur every day in every neighborhood in plain view?!?
The very simple solution is education, followed by fair warnings, then an escalating citation schedule, and ultimately confiscation. (Doesn’t anyone else remember when the city used to do *exactly* this, back when the ordinance was introduced? It proved quite effective … until enforcement inexplicably shifted to ‘on a complaint basis only’.)
How true is John Burry’s letter which outlined the rude nature and self centered nature of Jackson. I am sure he will bring up that any issues are due to him being black. But nothing could be further from the truth as he is a rude & uncouth person who is only where he is due to DEI policies. Hermosa deserves so much better from its officials. Please resign you not be missed.
Redondo Beach took $3.5M out of the retirement fund for employees to “balance” the annual operating budget. They completely lacked the fortitude to make the cuts needed, and instead “borrowed” to pay for day-to-day operations. THAT WAS THE EASY WAY OUT. They need to cut or quit.
PUBLIC COMMENT BCHD: BCHD actively REFUSED to allow the public to review the request for proposals before it was released. REFUSED. And to put some TRUTH on the prior PMB LLC project, it was only 3 acres. BCHD and its $1M PR/MARCOM department are unwilling or unable to tell the truth – everything is SPIN SPIN SPIN. This project is 50% larger than PMB LLC.
BCHD makes DECISIONS FIRST and then only accepts input that agrees. That’s the reason it dissolved the CWG – BCHD couldn’t handle the indepth research and truth-telling by the group.
Here’s BCHD’s admission of how it operates – WE’LL PUT OUT THE REQUEST FIRST AND THEN LET PEOPLE COMMENT ON WHAT WE ALREADY DID. WTH IS THAT?
“There will be many opportunities for public engagement during the process,” Bakaly said.
Well Bakaly – you refused to provide the documents for comment to the public BEFORE you sent them out. That’s YOUR IDEA of comment and input.
BCHD’s CEO lying to the Easy Reader. Bakaly stated “height is to be limited to 60 feet – that of the four-story main hospital building, not counting its tower.” That’s a lie. That conflicts with the BCHD Board of Directors Certified EIR. DID THE BOARD LIE? SOMEONE AT BCHD IS LYING!
The significant rise in residential property values in this community is closely tied to the reputation and performance of our local schools—something that is well-documented and widely acknowledged. Regardless of individual opinions about the schools themselves, the fact remains: the Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) has built a strong national reputation over the last 50 years. Even with economic setbacks, it has consistently ranked among the top districts in the state.
The reality we face today is the result of decisions deferred for years. Solutions were proposed long ago, and despite the efforts of thousands of residents to communicate transparently with homeowners, those warnings went unheeded or more likely misunderstood. Organized opposition to school funding—including from past and current City Council members—has fueled public mistrust and anger, particularly around parcel taxes, which has directly contributed to the situation we now face.
As a result, school board members and local leaders have felt pressured to concede to public sentiment, sometimes out of concern for personal or political retaliation, as seen in recent election cycles. Unfortunately, that did not solve the funding problem.
The cost of education is real. Ignoring that reality under the guise of fiscal responsibility has consequences. Redondo Union High School has now surpassed Mira Costa in county rankings—a shift in part because of adequate funding.
More importantly, our values that contribute to understanding the need for higher education are paramount to property value, political ideology, or rhetoric about status. If we fail to fund it appropriately—without political distortion or delay—we all pay the price. It’s time we listen more respectfully to what the MBSD says that price is, rather than what we want it to be.
Why do you give these people the time of day. What part of illegal do they not understand. If you illegally come into the country, you should be deported. ICE are totally right by arresting these illegal people. Please do print any more stories about supporters of law breakers it leads to anarchy.
Wake up, and stop ignoring what is actually happening. You are completely missing the problem and the real reason for these protests because you’re deliberately choosing ignorance. Knock it off.
It does not stop with Illegal. They are going after all immigrants…H1B, religious, etc… irrespective of legality. Cruelty gets accepted under the guise of enforcement. I’ve been in the country on an H1B and a member of the southbay for the last 20 years. A bunch of my colleagues, we refused entry into the country when traveling for work, because the officer at the port of entry did not think they “deserve” in the country. They all had US citizen kids and were high tax paying members of society.
It should not matter where you were born, every human deserves to be treated respectfully
Can someone fact-check this for me? I’ve heard others say this on social media, etc., but it seems like such an obvious and blatant violation of Federal Law that it would be easy for a court to step in and put a stop to the ICE raids, but so far that hasn’t happened. It really makes me question whether or not this is a true statement.
It’s one thing to deport an undocumented back to their home country, but to deport them to Sudan, Libya, and the notorious El Salvador gulag. These prisons are places are known for torture. It’s one thing to remove the ‘worst or the worst’ but to take people who are just seeking a better life to a gulag makes the US no better than Nazi Germany. And now we have our first concentration camp in FL. Wake up people! If you think it can’t happen to you, think again. EVERYONE is on the list, it’s just how far down the list you falls. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
Marie – the harbor project was shut down by the Coastal Commission when it voted unanimously that the project had significant issues (23 pages of them) with the Coastal Act, and Redondo’s own Local Coastal Program. So the former Council failed to ensure the developer followed state and local laws. Then came the lawsuits that tied up the Council for years. The City Council approved the Galleria project years ago.
Morgan – I am not aware of anyone saying the ROW option for the Metro extension would eliminate 5000 homes. What it would do is impact 5000 homes that would experience noise hundreds of metro trains per day – day and night. Today, they endure one slow moving freight train once per day max during daylight hours.
Metro’s own analysis showed the Hawthorne option would increase ridership by over 1,000,000 riders per year and the boardings at the Galleria would increase by 47%. Shouldn’t we build our metro lines to maximize ridership over the long run rather than save money in the short term?
Can someone please explain the last phrase in the opening paragraph to me? It makes no sense and has me throughly confused. Otherwise an interesting read.
Mark, Pat was my younger brother. You’ve captured him. You can imagine what this means to us.
Truly a magical person. As a little boy he was awkward and quiet. He had been born with glaucoma and lost most of his eyesight before they caught it. Maybe that’s why he would develop these strong interests in things as a kid. Once it was making models of little classic cars, another time Abraham Lincoln. He had a rumpled picture of him over his bed. When he and John would end their night prayers with our mother, he always had them say, “And please take care of John Booth.” Sounds like Pat, doesn’t it?
Oh no — what will the “power brokers” of this great city say since they weren’t invited to be on the committee? You didn’t include Jill? RB Chamber Unmasked (Wayne)? BatS%$#Crazy Redondo (Pinzler)?? Eye on Redondo (Colin)??? Lezlie?? Rolf — not even Rolf?!? Jess??? It’s shame….these people are true gems just like our street names. Also, has anyone seen Nils?
Give me a break. There’s the Strand. There’s ( 3.5 mi ) walking path between Valley & Ardmore. There’s no need to grab a chunk of a park (where dogs already frequent). Some people just have dog-centric blinders on.
Don’t you think dogs deserve a space to run free and play with other dogs or should we lock you inside all day and let you out on the strand a couple times day and see how you feel Rich?
Rich, what a grouch. You clearly do not own a dog, for which all dogs are grateful. The idea is creating a place where dogs can safely play off-leash and people can hang out and chat face-to-face, not screen to screen.
At the July 1 CC meeting, Keep the Esplanade Beautiful (KEB) requested to be included on these committees since the Esplanade will be one of the attractions for visitors. KEB could hold more cleanups and add educational events plus coordinate with Riviera Village. Also, the newly formed KEB Marketing Committee is chaired by a retired 30-year advertising executive who could contribute a lot to the city’s efforts.
we’ve already heard good things about it – can we dine in straight from our sailboat, or must we freshen up for dinner? and is there a cocktail/happy hour? thanks – nice write up-
Living with ALS has been one of the hardest challenges of my life.The muscle weakness, fatigue, and gradual loss of mobility were heartbreaking. Conventional treatments offered little more than temporary comfort, and I was starting to lose hope.That’s when I discovered NaturePath Herbal Clinic.Skeptical but desperate for relief, I decided to try their herbal therapy. To my surprise, by the fourth month, I began noticing steady improvements less muscle twitching, better coordination, and renewed energy. It wasn’t an overnight miracle, but the progress felt real. For the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of control returning to my body.Today, I move more freely, sleep better, and most importantly I feel hopeful again. This journey with NaturePath has been life changing.If you or someone you love is battling ALS or any other neurodegenerative condition, I genuinely encourage you to explore natural alternatives. You might be surprised at what’s possible.I’m truly grateful I gave them a chance. www .naturepathherbalclinic. com
Where is Rescue our Waterfront org when it really needs rescuing? What a sham! How shameful the years of deception and local lies for political gain. Congrats Light! Thanks to your polarizing efforts, we have a 3.5m deficit with no lifeline in sight!
Lisa, your ad hominem attacks aside, we have a great trajectory right now.
The deficit this year was largely driven by the need to invest in city infrastructure that was neglected and in which maintenance was deferred by previous councils. But we are looking good for the future.
Riviera Village is booming – we are looking forward to the grand opening of Montauk. We are executing the Amenities Plan for the harbor – the highest revenue generator in the City. And we will soon be voting on General Plan changes designed to encourage investment along Artesia and Aviation. The City is generating lots of interest from developers in the harbor. Seaside Lagoon redesign is approved at 30% and we are working toward entitlements to start the project. Harbor Commission will soon be reviewing three alternatives for the state mandated boat ramp. California Surf Club and Mexican Riviera Cantina both opened – have you seen the parking lot lately? We are in negotiations with Marine Mammal Care Center for the Joe’s Crabshack site. New leases for existing and new tenants at the pier and International Boardwalk have been approved. We are actively marketing the Fun Factory site. We are doing repairs and renovations to the historic library in Veteran’s Park and are in final negotiations with Made by Meg to move in. Staff is busier than they’ve ever been. So, yes Lisa, lots of promising revenue generating new business and attractions in the upcoming years.
The biggest long term threat to our budget is the state housing mandates that are forcing us to replace business properties with housing. On average, commercial businesses bring in $7.60 per square foot more than high density housing… and that does not take into account the cost of services for those new residents.
As to “polarizing” effects, the evidence is not there. During the recent election I won in every District except District 1. I was endorsed by three North Redondo councilmembers. The current Council is not locked in gridlock the way it was a few years ago, so we are making lots of progress across the whole city.
Hit submit before my comment was complete. Additional impacts to this year’s budget include the negative impacts on tourism and visitors due to the tariffs and ICE raids. Tourism alone is projected to be down 18% with travel from Asian countries impacted even more. Tariffs also are projected to reduce sales tax revenues for the city as consumer prices rise and supply chains are impacted.
By the way, BCHD has already filed a $12M pre-permit filing with the City of Redondo and testified that the 4-story hospital building is 51.5 feet tall. Not much for BCHD truth telling. The hospital is not 6-stories and it is NOT 60 feet. It’s 4 stories and 51.5 feet.
We’ll be pushing back on this nonsense in Hermosa Beach, for all South Bay Cities and beyond. Stoked It’s been put on the Hermosa Beach agenda for the Tuesday, July 22nd meeting. Our “Sacred Sands” should remain that way, and this type of advertising is no exception. Plus, it’s trashy and looks like children just tacked the boards up at their own wish !!!
Thank you, Duke!
Business interests already control every aspect of our lives, often with government complicity.
Way past time to push back.
Our beaches and parkland are sacred.
Thanks for speaking up!
Having grown up on Laurel Ave., just two blocks from the Dietz family, I knew Pat and his brother John–and loved their music. Although I didn’t know him well, I remember Pat as a supremely nice guy–not a mean bone in his body. But I had no idea what a selfless and giving soul he was. I was very saddened by his passing, but to understand how he lived–and died–gives me hope for humanity. Thanks so much for sharing his story. I was lucky to have known him.
Good day, i’m interested in knowing who wrote this article, do you have a contact number for them etc…. How to Spot the Best of the Best in a Horse Racing Event
Special Contributor
October 13, 2021 Thanks – Appreciate it
Interacting with the RBPD is difficult. Simple issues like speeding and parking are ignored. Then you have to go to a councilperson or maybe the mayor. It’s ridiculous to assume that eliminating the PSC will aid in communications. On the contrary, it will only insulate the PD even more.
If good governance depends on checks and balances, what does it say about our city when an entire commission is dismantled—not for failing to act, but for daring to?
This isn’t reform—it’s erasure. The Public Safety Commission wasn’t paralyzed; it was obstructed. And now it’s been executed. Let’s be honest: even Mayor Brand, for all his political maneuvering, never nuked an entire commission just for doing its job. This move reeks of retaliation. A few dedicated residents started asking the right questions—and suddenly we’re told public participation is “outdated,” oversight is “too expensive,” and the digital suggestion box is all we deserve.
If our city leaders are truly “committed to transparency, accountability, and community trust,” as Ordinance 3295-25 claims, then why did they choose to abolish a public forum rather than improve it?
Let’s be clear—this wasn’t a cleanup. This was a cover-up, neatly wrapped in bureaucratic language. The ordinance claims the Public Safety Commission overlapped with other bodies and posed “legal risks” by discussing sensitive topics in public. But isn’t that the entire point of public oversight—to ask hard questions in the daylight? Instead of refining its scope, the City torched the Commission, citing vague “engagement tools” and top-down communications programs that no resident voted for.
The real message? Your presence is no longer required. This wasn’t governance. It was governance by the fewer, for the fewer.
And when residents do exactly what the City says—“email your concerns”—those emails are routinely ignored, dismissed, or deflected, even when they raise serious public health, safety, fiscal, and environmental risks. That’s not civic engagement—it’s stonewalling.
If City leaders ignore warnings, eliminate oversight, and sideline public voices, how can they claim any commitment to transparency? A lot of us have questions about this decision—and the longer leadership refuses to answer them, the clearer the pattern becomes.
It probably only matters to me, but I just wanted to clarify a couple quotes. I swim laps at Hawthorne or Torrance, never El Segundo. El Segundo has a public pool; I’ve just never swam there. Parents are often waitlisted for the swim team at Begg Pool in Manhattan Beach. I’m not sure if their swim lessons have waitlists or not.
I have the solution! It’s called” Central bark social Park. “ I’ve been searching for a location for the last 10 months and I’ve been turned down by the cities at every potential location! I would like to get a hold of Cassandra Sorrell and discuss further. I have an entire proposal put together originally for the “Friendship campus “on Inglewood Avenue in Ralston in Redondo Beach. They have not responded yet. It’s a school to help mentally challenged and disabled children and adults.
Cartoonist Matt Wuerker holds up a mirror to what he sees as reality.
Perfectly fair.
I would expect that any living former president would call an emergency meeting of all former presidents to address the greatest danger our democracy has faced since the Civil War, and take action.
Awesome article explaining the extraordinary cap sales at Shellback. I have half a dozen of the caps myself and I saw one being worn in Tuscany, Italy !!! Although it was worn by the best man in a wedding that I was attending who’s also a good customer at Shellback !!! I always tell people that owner Bob sells more caps than drinks these days !!! lol Thanks Bob for all you do by selling the caps reasonably and give back to the community that you grew up in. Not many can say that these days !!!
Knox is a lying douchebag who is a disgrace to humans everywhere- the lowest of lowlifes..he has gone back to work violating people’s civil rights, lying under oath and fabricating evidence. He’s already cost the city major embarrassment and almost $2 million for trying to be Dirty Harry. He needs decertification
lol, I think this smear piece will backfire. I would have never known about this food truck if it weren’t for this article and now I’m intrigued enough to go try them out! Thanks!
I must have read a different article. I thought of this not as a smear piece but informational in that we can make our own decisions about the food truck.
I kind of laughed at the “Hire Locally mention. I doubt many employees of downtown restaurants are locals but no matter.
Love to see the Yeastie Boys truck again. Sounds like one to try
I live in Torrance and just found out that one of our neighbor’s houses is being used as a STR. We found out because of the loud motorcycle noise of the group that rented it. I’m not absolutely sure, but for Torrance I think the owner has to be on site, which this neighbor isn’t. This rental doesn’t fit in with our neighborhood especially with the limitation of weekday street parking due to an Elementary school across the street.
Weird how the actual Beastie Boys have a whole song about basically this exact situation:
(Ad-Rock)
Got a ticket on the windshield, another on the door
That’s the cost of business, we’ll be back for more
Callin’ up the council, writin’ letters to the press
Your anger is the secret ingredient to our success!
(MCA)
Talkin’ ’bout your storefront, talkin’ ’bout your rent
While your parking spot is where our whole day is spent!
At the end of the song the sheriff eventually chases them out of town but not before the Beastie Boys steal all the towns girlies.
Subject: Mayor Light Ignoring District 1’s Pleas on Illegal Truck Traffic
Mayor Jim Light boasts about winning every district except District 1. But there’s a clear reason he didn’t win here: he has done nothing to address the illegal truck traffic that disrupts our lives daily on Palos Verdes Blvd and Prospect Avenue.
Since the public meeting held on March 25, 2024 — we, the residents of this corridor, have waited for action. We’re told again and again that Torrance won’t cooperate with signage. But to us, that’s just an excuse. We say, to hell with Torrance! We live in Redondo Beach, not Torrance. Why should the willful inaction of another city stop our own leaders from protecting our health, safety, and Quality of Life?
More than 100 trucks a day use our neighborhood streets illegally, polluting our air, shaking our homes, and creating unsafe conditions for pedestrians and drivers alike. Many of these trucks enter Palos Verdes Blvd and Prospect from Pacific Coast Highway, which has nothing to do with Torrance. If enforcement focused on those two access points, it would immediately curb over half the illegal traffic.
During his campaign, Mayor Light promised to “Champion our Quality of Life” and to “protect and improve the lives of residents in ALL districts — North and South.” But now it seems because District 1 didn’t vote for him, we are being punished — forced to breathe diesel fumes, endure 90+ decibel truck noise and watch our infrastructure and safety erode day after day.
The Mayor also promised to “Expand community policing programs”. Yet when it came time to approve funding for RBPD enforcement to stop illegal truck traffic, those funds were denied.
Mayor Light, Our nerves are shot! You promised leadership. Now it’s time to deliver.
John,
The City has responded to your complaints about truck traffic. The City worked with the County Sheriff’s Department to conduct enforcement on several occasions. And during those operations speeders were also pulled over and ticketed. The City has tried multilevel solutions with the City of Torrance. It is Torrance’s truck routes that dead end on our no truck traffic streets that cause the bulk of the problem, but we cannot force a solution on Torrance. The City Manager has discussed a new alternative that seems so far to be more palatable to Torrance’s city staff.
It is interesting you target me. I have only been in office a year and a half. And the Mayor does not even get a vote on the Council in Redondo. What was accomplished by the previous administration, including your former Councilmember? They had much longer to deal with the issue.
We continue to work the issue. But dealing with another city complicates any solution. We cannot do it on our own.
Fantastic music by highly capable young musicians trained by Elmer Su, a Music Teacher in Palos Verdes for well over 30 years. Watch for next season’s concerts.
Thank you, Dr. Samuelson, for offering your stunning home and great piano to give these young people an appreciative audience for all of their hard work and long hours. Thanks to their parents for the wonderful support. Thanks to Peninsula Symphony Music Director and Conductor, David Cubek, and his talented musician/conductor/teacher wife, Emily Kubitskey.
what a ridiculous WATE of money for a new police station. If they could manage their people effectively and maybe do their jobs without lying and being the criminals they really are – that might be different. The level of crime in Redondo Beach is the highest from within the police department. It starts with the chief and the entire administration. The level of corruption is unbelievably off the charts and the community is who truly pays. When people who destrpy families by fabricating evidrnce and locking up innocent people – THAT is criminal, but the city endorses it and actually REWARDS it by promoting those who hurt the community the worst. If you spend 29 years “serving” the community as an honorable police officer, thats noteworthy…but if that “serving” the community is lying under oath, fabricating evidence and seeing to it that the very citizens you serve are denied their right to due process….well that’s criminal and as far as I’m concerned when the police commit those crimes they need to be punished 10x as severely as the regualr citizens would be. Police are trusted with the power to take lives and with that power comes a great responsibility and compensation – when that is abused, they need the punishment to be SEVERE and SWIFT. No more gicing the dirty cops a free pass…THEY are what is wrong with the criminal justice system and until this problem is addressed things will never get better.
As with any position of influence it should be a role which is seen with a sense of temporary opportunity to make a long lasting impact. The responsibility that comes with these roles is often seen from a very narrow focus from within the ranks as well as from the audience….politics should be seen as a sport in which spectator participation is not only acceptable, but encouraged. Grooming the next generation of leaders should be seen as an opportunity to improve on what is currently in place, not perpetuate it.
Is anyone who’s paying attention really surprised? I am surprised that the fire cheif would vote as such, but the city atty and shameless Anti-American Joe Hoffman would not be doing their part in declawing and stamping out the citizens efforts at accountability from their overpaid, overreaching law enforcement “leaders”. They cite “social networking” as one means of communicating – what a joke! so when you get kicked off NextDoor becuase you say you think th epolice could do a better job (and the cops who troll the platfornm cry and complain until you get silenced) ….how effective is that? The police in this community are out of control…and they have been. They have destroyed lives of innocent citizens for years while people like Shameless Joe the Anti-American and his croanies like Snakenborg hve outright fabricated charges, evidence and stories….they have committed the worse of offenses towards the citizens …and when I say the WORST…I mean it. If people think that the police in the Redondo Beach community are above committing the worst of possible crimes – guess again. They have and some of us are well aware of it. They have devoted their careers tosculpting the highest paying jobs with the easiest of duties and unquestionable job security and managed to perfect the art of lying to the community and manipulating public opinion. They are run by some of the worst kinds of people and the whole administration needs to be brought up on charges….lets hope so. Congratulations to the crooked, phoney police administration…you’ve managed to silence yet another obstacle standing between your grimy filthy hands digging into the pockets of the taxpayers yet again…. where are the Feds when you need them???
Take it from someone who lived next to 10 STRs one door away for five years.
Yes, UNREGULATED STRs will be an issue.
It would be similar to removing all regulations on bars and restaurants.
A free for all unregulated STRs in a touristy city would be a nightmare for everyone living there.
The solution, put a cap on how many STRs are allowed.
Limit where STRs can go, such as near tourist areas, beaches, Disneyland.
Ban them in strictly residential areas such as cul-de-sacs where kids play.
Have them agree to a good neighbor policy, screening guests, no parties, disruptions.
Require language that they can put directly in the rental agreement.
Require a hefty permit fee that can be revoked if the owner causes too many problems.
Have Owners remit Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) (Manhattan now earns over $1mil in TOT a year after lifting their ban)
Owners would be incentivized to pay tax and follow rules or lose their permit. Just like a bar protecting it’s liquor license.
Try ordering a drink in a bar in CA at 1:50am. They won’t serve one to you in fear that it won’t be collected before the 2am cutoff.
Investors are buying up properties and raising rents even in areas where no STRs allowed.
Cities could mandate: In order to obtain a STR permit, the owner by name must live there for three years first.
This would prevent investors and/or corporations to buy up properties and convert them into de facto hotels.
Problem solved.
For the person who posted complaining their potential STR neighbor is making loud motorcycle noise.
I feel for you. That would annoy me more than anything.
Keep in mind that person could be a long term renter. Then you are stuck.
If the landlord wanted that person out because the renter was inconsiderate to neighbors, then it is an eviction process that could take many months.
And it is worse if the person making the noise is the owner of the home.
I am sure Torrance has noise regulations, file a complaint with the code department.
A landlord, can’t put restrictions on the renter as a STR landlord can.
A STR landlord can evict a renter immediately if they break the rules as long their stay is under 30 days.
Otherwise they would have to evict the same way as above.
By the way, when I found out in 2005 I lived in a sea of STRs just outside of my door, I believed my life was ruined for the same reason most people are against STRs now.
But in a few weeks, it became a complete non-issue and forgotten. I lived there for five more years afterwards.
The Mayor and Council need to direct the Police and Fire Chiefs to have a monthly open meeting for the public to attend. It should have a Q&A and a time to bring up general issues. The chiefs also need a private one-on-one calendar for meetings with residents. If this communications thing is SO EASY, then let’s see them do it.
Pat,
It seems you fall into the same trap others have. None of Redondo’s commissions are “oversight” commissions. They do not exist to judge, critique, or watchdog the performance of City staff and City departments. (The Budget and Finance Commission comes closest to an oversight role, but it is not an oversight commission either.) Per our Charter, none of the Commissions nor the City County Council have the power or authority to task City staff. All our commissions have always been set up to provide advice to the City Council on issues within their purviews, which are defined in our City ordinances. The Public Safety Commission failed to provide any meaningful advice to the Council for years and has strayed well beyond their defined purview. They were digging into issues that fell clearly under the Public Works and Sustainability Commission – such as traffic fixes and manhole covers. They discussed mandating microchipping of pet cats. They tried to start their own volunteer awards program, which is about as far afield from their stated purview as you can get. The Commission demanded the attendance of the City Attorney, which not even the Council has the authority to direct another elected official.
There are two asks of every Commission each year – Commission inputs to the strategic plan and to the budget. Public Safety Commission failed to provide recommendations to either related to Public Safety. We got more recommendations from the Youth Commission that just restarted after it was disbanded during Covid.
The Council charged me with a total revamp of our code of conduct – including parliamentary procedure, rules of decorum, and cleaning up the ordinances related to Commissions. The majority of these will be introduced in August. But because we must start the Commissioner appointment process now, we had to accelerate two recommendations that impact those appointments – constructive changes to the Youth Commission to improve it, and disbanding of the Pubic Safety Commission.
During my research and deliberations on the Commission-related ordinances, I discovered that the Public Safety Commission was far afield from their charter. Part of my process on making changes was to request inputs from the departments that each Commission covers. The recommendations from the Police Chief, the Fire Chief, and the City Manager was to disband the Commission rather than tighten up the ordinance describing their purview. As I researched their rationale, I found what they stated was true. Traffic, speeding, and most safety infrastructure fall under the purview of the Public Works and Sustainability Commission. Both departments have multiple ways of receiving public feedback directly. Volunteers in Policing, Neighborhood Watch, Coffee with a Cop, Councilmember District meetings, Comcate, and Community Emergency Response Team are examples of avenues for resident communication with the police and fire departments, I also found that historically, the Public Safety Commission has not produced meaningful recommendations and advice to the Council. Since I’ve been onboard, all the other Commissions have produced meaningful advice to the Council. Planning Commission, Harbor Commission, the Cultural Arts Commission, the Public Works and Safety Commission, and the Public Amenities Commission all have purviews that include decision-making that takes work off the City Council agenda and pre-defines much of the Commission’s agenda each meeting. Historically (at least back to the mid-nineties) and more recently, this has not been true of the Public Safety Commission. Given all this background, I felt the prudent path was to disband it. And the City Council agreed.
Right now there are two paths the Council will be deliberating related to the disbanded Commission. One is slightly expanding the purview of the Public Works and Sustainability Commission which already covers Public Safety related infrastructure, speeding, and traffic issues and projects. The second is to establish an ad hoc Public Safety Commission which would only meet when the Council assigns it a specific issue..
So no, Pat. The Commission was not “nuked” for doing its job. It was disbanded because it was largely redundant and it has not historically done its job of advising the City Council.
Sat in our city council (CC) meeting a week ago when they discussed a vote on eliminating the Safety Commission (SC). Learned that the commission cost $50K a year, haven’t had many items on their docket recently, and that other commissions concerns overlap with the SC. The CC is already primarily responsible for the safety of our community. The police gave convincing reasoning for eliminating it and the mayor feels it’s the right thing to do. I didn’t really fully understand why the police cared one way or the other though. The SC didn’t seem to be making their jobs more difficult. I was hesitant to doing away with it just yet. The SC and commissions as a rule can help to insulate the CC from undue political pressure when tough votes are to be made by supporting the CC with their own votes after due diligence. I’m still hesitant but I vote for my reps to make these tough calls, and I just hope it works out. It’ll be their legacy if it doesn’t.
Is there adequate signage to get and keep trucks on PCH? If not, why not?
Why isn’t the RBPD doing enforcement? Why would the Sheriff’s department be involved?
How about adding speed humps and traffic calming directly on the Redondo Beach side of the Torrance truck routes? Why not make it uncomfortable to use?
For example – Sepulveda westbound is a truck route in Torrance. When it turns into Camino Real in Redondo, there’s an itty-bitty TRUCK ROUTE ENDS sign. Then what? There’s no ALL TRUCKS MUST TURN SOUTH onto Prospect sign. There’s no ALL TRUCK TRAFFIC MUST PROCEED TO PCH sign. Doesn’t look like the City has done the work.
There doesn’t appear to be a TRUCK ROUTE ENDS sign when PV Blvd west from Torrance turns into PV Blvd in Redondo. Nor is there an ALL TRUCK TRAFFIC MUST TURN SOUTH onto Prospect to proceed to PCH Truck Route sign. And I see no reason not to create a nightmare for trucks at the transition on Palos Verdes from Torrance to Redondo. Speed bumps, one lane traffic calming, aggressive narrow road turns, etc.
Ray Jackson is so self-absorbed I’m not sure what the baseball cap is covering up, but it sure as hell isn’t brains. He should fit right in at the Coastal Commission.
On short term rentals, when people talk about being able to rent their property however they see fit, they miss the point that these are dwellings in RESIDENTIAL zones. Short term rentals are like “pop-up” hotel rooms; a business enterprise. Neighborhoods aren’t zoned for commercial uses. Short term rental users are on vacation and party mode, inviting a revolving door of strangers to the neighborhood or within an apartment complex who aren’t thinking about the peaceful enjoyment of the residents.
Thank you for a well written column. Unfortunately, the Washington Commanders are subject to the President’s whims. The stadium is located within the District of Columbia, and the Federal government has significant control over the District’s finances. The President can block a deal by exerting pressure on the District’s finances.
Sad, Sad News Paul..Another institution lost to gentrification..As you know, I lived next door to “ Tootie” for 15 years..he died a horrific, painful death..All you guys have poured your hearts, souls..your lives into our community..” Keep Hermosa, Hermosa “ ?? Pfft! If anyone can rebound it’s you & your boyz! Legends Always Have A Following..OUR community will continue to support you..to the next location..You’ve given many of us a lifetime of Laughter & Memories..Godspeed My Friend! “
I was deeply saddened to read about the closing of The Pitcher House after 74 years in Redondo Beach. Paul Mance and his family have always exemplified integrity, community spirit, and resilience.
Having personally helped open the bar when it was known as the Upper Deck—and even celebrating my 40th birthday there—I’ve seen firsthand how Paul transformed a challenging location into a thriving venue, consistently generating revenue for the landlords. His substantial improvements and commitment over the past two decades undoubtedly increased the property’s value.
It’s disheartening that after years of dedicated partnership, the landlords haven’t recognized Paul’s contributions by fairly reimbursing him for those significant improvements.
I sincerely hope Paul finds a new location soon—I know many of us will be eager to support him again.
We would have infrastructure if you didn’t continue blocking public transit and affordable rent! What’s with all these TX and AZ plates coming in and jacking up our rent?
California wants to be like China so why not make super tall buildings. If it is good enough for Russia and China, it is good enough for CA. CA is 60% democrats so don’t expect much change.
Not a problem if all services, amenities, and a good amount of jobs were “on campus” like a self contained village. No need to go anywhere. Like Irvine’s master planned communities specifically the Irvine Spectrum area.
That property is a public transportation hub. It should be developed with very high density housing. Your NIMBY attitude is a major reason for housing unaffordability.
The Mance family are legendary entrepreneurs in the Beach Cities and it is a shame for the property owner to treat them, their business, and their customers with no gratitude for the many years of good tenancy. Plus, who better to consult with than Paul to keep the center with a “feeling and vibe of Redondo Beach?”
I have known Paul and his family for years; he is a very honorable person. The deck of the Pitcher has been under construction for a very long time and that cuts into his business, due to a very large space for outside dining. From reading this article I truly feel that Haagan Co had zero indentions of upholding the agreement. He paid $120,000 out of pocket then gets the rug pulled out from under him, while he went in good intentions. I feel that Paul would have a very easy law-suit on his hands if he should decide to go that route.
It appears the landlord owes Paul Mance a full reimbursement of his “renovation expenses.”
No one renovates their business space, pursuant to the landlord’s DEMAND, thinking they are about to be evicted! This is clear DECEPTION – and it looks to me as though the landlord CEO AND CFO COLLUDED to get Mance to clear away the “clutter” I.E. valuable sports and entertainment memorabilia under the perception that Mr. Mance would be remaining as the tenant. That is flat out DECEPTION on the Landlord’s part!
Mr. Mance’s renovation requirement – only to promptly be booted from his space – is also PREMEDITATED DECEPTION, as it is reasonable to conclude that the scum Landlord had full intentions to evict The Pitcher House owner, Mr. Mance, while having Mr. Mance pay for the cleaning and renovation himself.
I wonder if the Landlord was the party who drug their feet to revert the Lease to the 3-year contract. If so, it adds to the case of DECEPTION AND COLLUSION.
I hope Mr. Mance has a good litigation attorney and the Landlord PAYS for the errors of their ways!!!
From reading the ER article, the Landlord’s actions in working with Paul defy description!
What happened to the Covenant of Good Faith and Fair dealings working with Tenants?
Paul makes every effort to address landlord’s improvement requests at great expense not only for costs related to improvements but loss of business in anticipation of a lease extension; instead he receives a termination notice??? After running a successful operation for well over a decade honoring Rent obligations and Terms of the Lease???
As represented, at a minimum, Landlord’s reimbursement of all costs mentioned in the article should be addressed to Paul/Pitcher House/Upper Deck’s satisfaction.
Paul you will be successful going forward in whatever you do.
The outpouring of support from your friends, associates and Customers speaks to your professionalism, integrity and work ethic.
We stand by awaiting your next adventure…one door closes…a bigger one opens.
This land lord has been very mean to long time tenants. As a result I will no longer visit Whole Foods or the Pet Store. I will continue with Paneda Express and Coyote Cantina for now.
I worked with paul in the 70s at mickeys. Great work ethic. His bar was an asset to the area. A place to go and watch a game/ mma fight or just chill and have a bite. Too bad corporate greed took precedent. Paul will land on his feet and he and his boys will thrive!!
I was both a patron and a worker at Pitcher House for over 10 years, and I can honestly say it was one of the best places in the South Bay. Every night had a buzz — we were packed for UFC events, always full of energy, and full of people who genuinely loved being there.
We pushed through the struggles after COVID, doing everything we could to keep it alive. But when the property manager forced those renovations, it stripped the soul right out of the bar. Pitcher House wasn’t just a business — it was a community, and that’s something the developers just don’t understand. The South Bay is built on small businesses, not corporate visions.
I’m hoping Paulie finds a way to bring it back somewhere new — and if he does, there’s a good chance you’ll see me helping out again.
Disgraceful actions from the landlord. Pitcher House is a South Bay institution and a wonderful family owned business that is embedded in the very fibers of the South Bay. Shame on this property manager for this. This was part of the very identity of our beach community. I am beyond outraged over this. Don’t chase out our local family businesses!
I have known Paul for many years and he is a good man who pours his heart and soul into the Pitcher House. He has always been a champion for the community, always being there to open his doors for charity events, donations, the occasional get-together for our sports teams. He employed locals. This wasn’t a dive, it was the quintessential local joint. It was for those of us who didn’t want to deal with the overpriced drinks and crush of people in the Riviera and other beach cities.
Now it’s gone. Some condescending out-of-town landlord didn’t see it fit into his idea of what’s right for Redondo Beach. He wants a restaurant to complement the upscale classiness of Michaels, Subway, and Panda Express. Gentrification at its finest. I look forward to a revolving door of boring try-hard restaurants in that space for the coming years. They miss what kept Paulie’s door open for decades. Paulie will land on his feet. He always does. This is a shame and a travesty for Redondo Beach.
True. That spot will fail because locals will not forget how the landlords treat us. Screw him and his greed. He is ruining our hometown and no one wants it. But the landlords sound is blind t and doesn’t care about locals. He only wants money. Karma will come for him.
As a local family with young children, Pitcher House struck the perfect balance… an easygoing place to unwind at night and a welcoming spot for Sunday football brunch with the kids. Shame on you Haagan. The excuse that it “wasn’t fancy enough” is not just hollow; it’s wildly out of touch with the community you claim to serve.
These days words like honor and honorable get tossed around like worthless wooden nickels, but in this case these words are the very essence of Paul. I’m saddened to see this happening to him and his family. I’ve always been proud to call him my friend. My sincere best wishes moving forward.
Paul Mance didn’t deserve to go out like this. The fact that it was a dive bar (with a leak) in an upscale neighborhood shopping center (anybody complaining about Naja’s Place on the Boardwalk? I think not) was a poor excuse to shut down the Pitcher House. Paul and his staff put in long hours and tried hard to keep the prices down. He even remodeled, but evidently not to the standards of the lease holders. Something could have been worked out. And if nothing could be worked out, give him a few months to leave with some dignity. The Pitcher House was an institution in the beach cities. This closure was just bad all the way around.
Heartbroken for a life you could have changed with just letting someone get to know you. Tom, you missed out on the spitting image of you with charisma and charm. You stole answers. You are not the strong man you tell others you are.
We are so sorry to hear about the closing of The Upper Deck.
The Mance Family has always been so kind and welcoming — we loved stopping in for dinner and being greeted by Paul or one of the friendly, charming twins.
The corned beef sandwiches were to die for, paired with a nice cold beer — our Friday night ritual. We knew so many of the patrons and staff; it always felt like an extension of our own family.
We will deeply miss this wonderful family and special place. Thank you for all the memories.
Am sorry to hear this but Mr Paul should definitely demand the landlord for all the spending money to remodel the place and all the food and all the things that Mr Paul give away that’s make him louse a lot please Mr Paul take actions against the landlord that’s my opinion I hope you find a better place to start again God bless you God have mercy for you
No one has the grease for these kinds of things this close to the end of the cycle. It already seems to be passed as collateral. Probably best to wait until there is a little more certainty in the economy.
I didn’t really know Paul or the Mances like some of you, but it’s clear that he has a lot of community support which I hope brings him a bit of comfort in this frustrating time.
On the other hand, I did know the Pitcher House very well. I’d stop in there every so often when my wife went to Whole Foods. It was win-win for the two of us — I got to get a beer, and she didn’t have to listen to my witty and keen observations about how that Whole Foods is too small, how it’s always way too crowded, and how it’s honestly kind of run-down (especially for a Whole Foods). I’d usually follow that up with a whole schtick about how the Whole Foods house brand ruins everything it touches by taking something good and normal like potato chips and then doing something weird like putting quince or ube or yard kale in it. Needless to say, Pitcher House has been nothing but a positive influence on our marriage.
I cannot wait to go to the new Pitcher House when it opens. Hopefully it’s very soon!
The rent prices on this place are absolutely outrageous! $20,000/mo for the “Penthouse” which is essentially just a very nice 3 bedroom apartment on PCH is absolutely INSANE. And anywhere from $5-9K for a regular 2-3 bedroom? I feel the whole thing is a slap in the face to the residents of the city. Not EVERY resident here is a multi-millionaire. We need housing for the average, “middle-class” person as well. I’m not even talking about low income, just folks who make good money and want something somewhat affordable. I don’t oppose all new housing, I think it’s definitely needed, but it’s incredibly disheartening when every new housing option is “luxury” for the rich. And the idea that more housing means pricing will drop…highly doubt it with what they’re putting out there. Hope I’m wrong…
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The Pitcher House Was and is a Hermosa/Redondo institution and just like all the powers that be, substitute The locals long running establishments into the Ground for corporate profits disguised as progress. Paul Mance is a great friend that i met through my other great friend Gary Cullen, and our relationship is more like a brethren. Before the Upper deck Pitcher House began it’s Tenure at the said location, It was what we call in the entertainment business “A Dead Hole” the previous tenants The Australian Bite was a blip in time before Paul Made the venue identifiable. Only time will tell when a new tenant comes in and fails, so be it.The Upper deck Pitcher house has something any new occupant won’t have, that is a 74 plus year loyal following.SMH
Very disappointing news to hear the forced closure of the Pitcher House. Does the landlord not understand the historical value to the community … apparently not. No doubt another example of slippery business practices.
I have known Paul for 40 years and he has always given his best to the south bay. Clearly this is a loss to the entire community.
Best wishes to Paul and his boys.
i’m out they’re destroying our South Bay. I know the mall needs some rehab, but for God sake more housing. Have you looked around lately? There’s more vacancies than we’ve had in probably 15 years. These councilmen need to know their stats instead of going by ideology. Or what Newsom says telling you we don’t need more housing. Traffic is gonna be unbearable. Parking is gonna be a nightmare. I’m going to a little small town somewhere. This is ridiculous. they don’t even have enough services to handle that stop with the propaganda and do the research.
The outrageous tax bite for selling is a big reason for both rentals and STRs. I agree that STRs can discriminate much more than rentals, so it’s easy to see why STRs happen. First – I don’t want to lose 1/3 of my equity to taxes and second – I can’t stand the current rental laws. Owners have no rights.
I don’t mean to be mean, but what have you all been doing this whole time if this is finally the decision you’ve come to? Have you been enjoying too many cocktails? Artesia has been a wasted asset for years and you’re just now acting on it? Pardon me for being suspicious…
What’s wrong with Hermosa’s ‘nasty-vitriol’ Councilman Jackson?
It’s often stated, “Elections have consequences”. In “General Law City” Hermosa Beach, voters elect 2 or 3 members alternately, biennially to serve 4-year terms on the City’s 5-member Council.
The Council representing stakeholders (voters) may at any time in ‘closed session’ discuss replacing their Chief Operating Officer (COO), the City Manager, and/or City Attorney, the individual(s) who implement Council’s policies via the city staff. The COO and the City Attorney are the only two city employee (contractors) the Council hire.
If a Council majority, (3 in this case), decide a new City Manager and/or City Attorney is desired, they don’t need to kowtow to the one or two in the minority who may disagree. The minority can kick and scream like spoiled children, all day long when it comes to these two employee/contractors.
Poor Raymond Jackson (ER article above), he’s playing to his dwindling small base of whiners who more often than not act as sneaks. Jackson could have simply motioned, “Hey, we are so privileged to have Steve Napolitano as Interim C.M., that I make a motion to ‘cut to the chase’, avoid wasting money on a consultant, and instead work up an equitable agreement with Steve.”
But no, instead Councilman Jackson chose to instead introduce all the nasty vitriol he’s become so well known. Next year, Hermosa voters should certainly end the honor they previously bestowed on Jackson should he run for reelection.
Well the first thing many might want explained is why does a City Yard for a 1.4 sq mile city cost 20-30 million dollars but im sure the reasons will be forthcoming.in the next City Council meeting.
And though its a small point, maybe just for fun the city might want explain WHY they call CITY-Yard the CORPORATE-Yard in all the budget documents. That seems a bit deranged since the city in NOT a Corporation. Maybe someone thought with a $20-30 million price tag they better spin it up with a fancier name.
But seriously, after nearly 8 years as a CIP AND 4 years as a high priority CIP, the City Yard project requirements definition is still NOT complete nor is the Procurement Method established (eg bid, no bid design-build etc). .
I mean cmon, its been almost 4 years since Councilman Jackson and Massey declared the City Yard was the highest priority project and decoupled it once and for all from the larger Civic Facilities project.
Yet here we are, August 2025 and the City Yard project requirements-definition is still NOT complete nor is the Procurement Method established
So, please pardon me for my skepticism.
Let’s just hope that Napolitano and San Clemente with the support of the new council majority can right this ship.
Can staff, under Napolitano’s leadership with San Clemente in charge of Public Works finally get this project competently and expeditiously off the ground and finalize the Procurement Method and the Requirements and establish a DATE CERTAIN by which the job will go out to bid in say the next 3 months?
That would be a confidence builder and might go a long way towards proving to his naysayers that Napolitano is the right man for the permanent City Manager position.
It is disappointing that Commissioner Jeste’s post does not reflect an understanding of how Redondo’s City Council works and that he unfairly singles me out for the budget that was recently approved. He’s been a Commissioner longer than I’ve been Mayor. He should know better.
I clearly opined during the budget deliberation that I prefer we avoid discretionary spending in our deficit situation. But the Council votes and I do not. It was a 5-0 vote. I could have vetoed the approval, but the veto cannot withstand a 5-0 majority.
As to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), I agree the document could be more clear on what has been spent, what is in the current year’s budget, and what is a future funded or unfunded project. But if you dig into it, the data is all public. And all contracts and budget expenditures on each project are approved or disapproved in open sessions of the City Council. I am hopeful that by working with the Public Works Department, the CIP can be improved for next year’s budget deliberations. But again, I am confused why Commissioner Jeste pins this on me. The document has existed in its current form for decades, well before I was Mayor. Again, Commissioner Jeste could have addressed this issue earlier in his term.
I am grateful that we do not have a politically divided Council and the legislative gridlock it created a few years ago. When I got onboard, there were even Commissioner positions that were vacant due to the former gridlock… that is how petty the situation used to be. The current Council does not agree on every issue. But they vote on the issue, not which side champions an issue. The gridlock of the former Councils is gone and that is a good thing for the City and the residents. We are making more progress now than we have in decades. And momentum is building.
The reporting states, “Jackson contended that [interim city manager] Napolitano has benefited since his appointment in May, from the “high performing, award winning staff” built by former City Manager Suja Lowenthal.” That’s what Suja’s puppet-publicist [paid for with city funds] put out in a glowing press release [written by Suja?], as supposedly allowed by the council – along with six months paid severance – to help avoid the witch [Suja] from suing the city? Keep drinking that Jim Jones Kool Aid Raymond Jackson. And regarding the City Staff, all the good people had been driven out and it was musical dysfunctional chairs hidden behind Suja’s vault-door operation for the last six (awful) Suja years. The Suja debacle really belongs also to former council members Armato, Massey and Campbell, as well as Jackson and Detoy. All five went full-lunatic as Suja was properly removed [fired] to cover their own scamming wretched rears.
Thinly veiled NIMBYism keeps showing through in Redondo Beach. The opportunity to capture millions of federal dollars to enclose and update Redondo’s outdated and unsafe firing range will be a huge win for the city. The return on investment is so good, Redondo would would be stupid not to pursue this.
The NIMBYs who attempt to talk down this project are part of the past. Redondo voters proved that in the last election.
As to the firing range, the money for the application for full federal funding of the facility was largely spent in last fiscal year and we did not use all the budget. The application is filed and we are awaiting the results. The current firing range is dilapidated and loud. Due to it being open air, the hours are severely restricted. Our police officers deserve a better facility and it would benefit residents in both better trained officers and a dramatic reduction in noise.
The City receives a lot of our budget from a variety of grants and writing grants costs money. It would be penny-wise and pound foolish to abandon writing grants for a short term money savings. There are other areas where I think the Council should have delayed or rejected funding, but this is not one.
Beautifully written Vance, and I feel your pain and sorrow. As I’m writing this a home close to ours has been demolished and in a few weeks, the house next door goes as well. But, at least you have those decades of memories, something the bulldozers will never take from you. Best Wishes, your high school classmate, Denny. 🙂
BCHD Budget Award Streak? What? We taxpayers pay something like $80K a YEAR to trade associations that give out awards to its members. These are literally participation awards for BCHD participating in giving TAXPAYER FUNDS to a trade association in return for an AWARD. WTH?
Hermosa probably pays several hundred thousand a year to manage the county contract. That’s a leftover from old Suja days where she never met a taxpayer dollar that she didn’t waste. HB will need to dump its wasted money from Suja first.
It is quite a turn of events. A year ago the RBFD wanted to be absorbed into Los Angeles County Fire Department under the guise of increased capacity. Wisely, Redondo residents unanimously rejected that misguided notion. Now RBFD say they have the capacity to take away the entire Hermosa department from LACFD.
Very sad that Haagen developers would do this to an obviously cherished local community gathering place for all—including families. And worse that they took advantage of Mr. Vance. I hope a local attorney will help him sue at a low cost. The remodeling has been damaging to the businesses there and noise for us neighbors but hoped it would be worth it. It is not. It is all bland looking and worse it is no reason to treat the current business in such a heartless manner. Haagen also closed Coyote Cantina nearby, I wonder what that back story is too. At a minimum they seem to be clueless about the residents.
Best Bar i ever went to Hands Down! ! I went there several times after work with co-workers from
GTE/Verizon and it was Always Good Vibes! considering i worked in Santa Monica, Redondo Beach
Malibu & Santa Barbara over 15 years IT was ALWAYS the coolest, friendliest place & for a supposedly
“dive” bar it was heads & shoulders above any i frequented in cool people, atmosphere, friendliness
& fun & don’t forget FOOD. The tacos were to die or in my case drive (!) for!! BEST to ALL!
Hi, I am trying to contact maestro Gary Berkson, a previous working collaborator of mine.
Could you supply a current email address, please?
With thanks
Ian McQueen
Why does the City of Redondo Beach need a firing range? Surely, LASD, LAPD and Long Beach which are MUCH LARGER have ranges that can be used. This was a waste of money UNLESS IT’S 100% FREE. Any copay is too much.
Well, the people adjacent got screwed. That noise is NASTY and isn’t measured by in the noise studies. If somebody poked you with a toothpick once an hour, it would be a tiny, tiny part of your overall day. But is would sound like peckerball none-the-less.
Woah! I’ve eaten here and I love this place! I highly recommend all to give it a try! The food is great, and the people working here are even better! Delicious food, alcoholic drinks, and friendly smiles which always make you feel welcomed. What more can you asks for in a dining experience? Check them out! And nicely written article BTW. Very descriptive and gave me a good sense of some of these dishes I haven’t tried yet. Great job!
Higgins a serial poster, once again misses the point. The improvements are improvements, a wish list that the city idiots want to waste money on. Once again Jackson’s input is seen in pushing for more unnecessary spending. A balanced budget is called for immediately. Cut Jackson’s pay & benefits, cut the staff and their bloated benefits. Then look at the repairs needed.
I have met Kenny and can attest to the fact he is the most traveled guy I have ever met. He spends most of the year having adventures all over the world training professional fighters from all countries. I am not surprising he now is adding a wine to his list of accomplishments. Now I have to get a bottle for myself!
I appreciate Mr Ford, the Younger, for trying to be honest in his retelling of Mr Ford, the Elder’s, Hollywood life & legend without trying to blow everything out of proportion for the purpose of selling books alone!
Really nice article. Thanks for writing it and big thanks to the Flying Hawaiian and the Wedbush boys for keeping the Hermosa Beach Open alive and kicking.
I am surprised and disappointed that the Peninsula Magazine is effectively condoning ~20 individuals violating safety regulations just to “get a good photo”, and further providing the full names of specific individual violators. What’s shown here just isn’t safe. Would you have published this photo if it were 20 high school students doing the same thing?
Well as someone who frequented Hermosa beach because of the nightlife, I hope this doesn’t replace the nightlife completely. I live in Marina del Rey where my rent is over $6K and I remember always going to Hermosa because of their nightlife. Recently, I went back and it was pretty bad so we ended up going driving all the way to Venice beach whose nightlife is picking up.
Finally, a project that The Beach Cities Health District should really get involved with, not only if funding but possibly resources, personal, even classes and homeless and mental illness support.
This is VERY concerning. BCHD gave grants to the City and in return, the City hired BCHD’s Board Member Martha Koo’s company as a consultant. THIS REEKS OF QUID PRO QUO. Koo and any BCHD member that voted to fund the City of mental health need to resign for creating this buy-off situation for Koo.
Terry, those facilities don’t have the capacity to absorb the training requirements of all our officers. Beyond regulations mandating regular firearm practice, I think people want armed officers to have training for a variety of situations – not just the minimum requirements.
I think this kid should learn about Cantor; that’s what I was doing at this stage. Transition to upper-division proofs was my next big thing. He can also read my work on researchgate but it’s okay if he doesn’t like it.
Nice building. I can’t believe this is the house people are going hysterical over about the height. I pretty much looks in line with every house along Hermosa Ave. It looks nothing like the banners and poster hanging on the Strand. Fear and bad imagination can get out of hand I guess but whatever. NIMBYs are gonna NIMBY.
Pweir (earlier post) has no clue given his/her post. Conceptuals always look so pretty. Original 50 feet proposal has not been removed by the project’s owner. This teaser proposal of 34 feet has only been suggested. Only an idiot would choose to violate the entire neighborhood with a 50 foot tall monstrosity. It will be 34 feet in the end, with the owner getting an extra 4 feet of height and his 4 small units via this arm-twisting game and due to the city under the prior councils, the city manager, the director she hired, and city attorneys so screwing all this up, not to mention the state’s politicians of course. 34 feet is a foot shorter than the original height limit of 35 feet in the area. Nonetheless the owners, whomever they be, have already alienated their neighbors to be, perhaps out of a need for greed, or to be better than their neighbors. Who really knows? People are all about themselves these days. In Manhattan Beach it’d be even bulkier.
People who’ve moved in here have gotten more and more obnoxious with building. I’ve been here 56 years. It was paradise. Lots backyards and greenery. Now it’s block everyone’s view so you can stare at the ocean all day from your concrete rectamgle bc you’re a jerk. We know.
Great read! Gold truly stands the test of time as a long-term investment—its stability, ease of selling, and tangible nature make it a smart choice for anyone looking to secure their financial future.
Excellent breakdown of why gold is a smart long-term investment! Its stability, tangible nature, and ease of buying and selling make it a safer choice compared to digital assets or short-term investments. Great insights for beginners and seasoned investors alike
As a journalist, I have some real concerns with the print version of this article which was mailed to homes throughout the city. The headline, photos and parts of the story imply that the applicant has reduced the height of the proposed project from 50 to 34 feet.
That is not the case.
It is critical that residents show up at Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting to voice their concerns about the 50-foot plan—the only design the commission will be reviewing.
It is also disappointing that the Easy Reader has yet to contact SAVE HERMOSA, a grassroots coalition leading the opposition to this project. We have organized town halls, launched a website, designed and delivered lawn signs, gathered hundreds of signatures for a petition and partnered with Our Neighborhood Voices. A KTLA reporter found us. Why couldn’t you?
As the hometown paper, you might want to include the voices of residents who are fighting for the city’s future.
The Sept. 11 article in the Easy Reader, reported that the controversial Builder’s Remedy project on Palm Drive had been “reduced” from 50 feet to 35 feet. The headline read: “Builder’s Remedy project redesign sets new heights.”
At first glance, the article’s headline might reassure residents who have been fighting against an oversized project. But it is a deeply misleading claim — one that risks lulling the public into believing the battle has been won, when in fact nothing has changed.
Here is the reality:
The official application remains for a 50.5-foot, five-unit apartment building. The upcoming Sept. 16 Planning Commission hearing is scheduled to review the 50-foot proposal.
The floated “35-foot redesign” exists only as an alternative concept. It is not the plan on file, it is not the subject of the Commission’s formal review, and it has not been adopted by staff or the developer as the official design.
Even 35 feet exceeds Hermosa’s 30-foot heigh limit. The project would still be out of scale for the neighborhood and set a damaging precedent for future development.
The article inadvertently gives cover to a developer strategy that benefits from public confusion: submit a 50-foot plan, float a “compromise,” and hope the community backs down.
The Easy Reader article is completely one-sided; they didn’t not even reach out to the highly visible grassroots group, Save Hermosa, to understand the widespread opposition to this project.
Residents should not be misled. The only plan formally before the city is the original five-story project. Until that changest, talk of a “35-foot redesign” is smoke and mirrors.
This moment is too important to be obscured by one-sided reporting.
There is a lot at stake here: the preservation of our small town character and respect for residents’ voices in shaping the future of Hermosa.
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Don’t listen to the nonsense from the has-beens of Brand’s NIMBY mob. Redondo voters have rejected their candidates and their backward thinking entirely.
A new modern firing range will be a huge win for the City. A new modern firing range will be a huge win for our Redondo Beach Police Department. A new modern firing range will be a huge win for the safety of Redondo residents.
Flying the American flag at half staff is an honor reserved only for Presidents and Honorable Officials of the States, and United States Government, or a National tragedy like 9/11.
As a podcaster, Charlie Kirk was not really eligible for this honor.
American People are gunned down every single day in the United States, and the other day another innocent one was found hanging from a tree somewhere.
Using the flag for frivolous reasons dishonors the flag and what it symbolizes.
Save ROW by pushing YES. The right of way plan by Metro does preserve old growth trees despite the claims by the opponents. After watching video links online about the final EIR on YouTube, I see it will create a park with bike trails, safety crossings, sound abatement, and segregated rail traffic. My wife also attended that meeting to hear them out but I wasn’t very impressed about their new stance on Bus Rapid Transit as their new preferred alternative…a weird pivot from their expensive Hawthorne plan push. I feel decades of foot dragging and stalling over this sensible ROW plan is causing needless delays over what is pretty much land owned by the railroads who don’t really have any plans or motivation to upgrade that space anyhow. At least with this metro plan, that railroad land becomes a dedicated shared space for real where the public can access, complete with real fencing to separate the rail traffic and the kids. Let’s be real…railroad traffic was always here in the South Bay and isn’t going anywhere no matter how hard you oppose it. Everyone benefits from better rail transit and yes everyone along the route as well with upgrades that never existed before. Make the best of this compromise and let’s go!
Railroad traffic along the road is only one or two trains a day. With this project, two more tracks will be laid down right beside it, destroying large heritage trees, removing green space, and destroying a tiny neighborhood. This is not a compromise for the over 1100 families that are directly adjacent to this project. And yes, these are families who likely depend on mass transit, and are simply asking for the project to be moved over three blocks to Hawthorne Boulevard rather than cut through their disadvantage neighborhood. The electric buses have always been in the mix, but Metro likely ignored them because they aren’t as flashy. Now, many environmental groups are criticizing Metro for not increasing their electric buses. These buses would keep Metro from spending our tax money on expensive rail projects, secure flexible & clean mass transit, WITHOUT decimating neighborhoods. Have some compassion!
The proposed light rail extension would make its way down the right of way adjacent to homes in Redondo Beach ‘s councilnanic district 3. Paige Kaluderovic represents this residential area, but not a single word in this article from her about the project. Did your reporter feel that her position on the matter was not important enough to be considered in this article ? Or, was she ducking the issue because she just doesn’t care about trains traveling just feet from the property lines of residents who live in her council district ?
Metro has completely ignored the health impacts of their noisy 24/7/365 project. Their reason “there’s no one-site-fit-all” formula for the damages. Metro is so lazy and the FEIR is so defective ….
The Metro EIR is a joke. It completely ignore the 24/7/365 noise of both construction and the trains, by stating that there’s no “one size fits all” health impact. No, there NEVER is. Older, younger, healthy, chronically ill, etc. are ALWAYS dealt with in EIRs. Except by METRO. METRO IGNORED THE HEALTH IMPACTS of the noise, the sleep interruption and the stress.
If Bill Brand’s vision for the AES site never materialized, why should taxpayers pay for two parks in his name?
If Bill Brand’s decades-long promise to re-wild the AES site never came to fruition, why should taxpayers now be asked to celebrate him with not one, but two parks in his name? The new “nature park” near Herondo and PCH is leased from SoCal Edison at a cost of nearly a million dollars for only five years — at the very moment Redondo Beach is facing a $3.5 million dollar budget shortfall. That’s not legacy-building, it’s fiscal extravagance. Meanwhile, the AES site itself remains fenced off and unresolved. Naming multiple parks after a failed vision risks rewriting history rather than honoring genuine achievement.
I am a complete outsider to this issue. However, based on my observations over the years, it appears that Mr. Pustilnikov is urging the Bankruptcy Trustee to recognize that a legal battle with the City of Redondo over the builder’s remedy is central to any bankruptcy discharge. In effect, he has placed Redondo in a position where it must either allow multi-unit development or buy him out. Either path could take years to resolve in court. The public will only grasp the full scope of this story if a news reporter connects all the pieces. The citizens of Redondo Beach deserve a clear answer on the status of this situation, especially after fighting so hard to see those smokestacks finally come down.
I live a short distance from this old power plant. The city is grateful that it was finally decommissioned, but alas, the smokestacks will likely stay up until this building issue is resolved in the courts. The density Pustilnikov is requesting (should he be found to actually have a say in the matter) is a non-starter not only for most residence of Redondo Beach, but neighboring Hermosa Beach as well. The traffic congestion would be a daily nightmare.
Another topic that is rarely mentioned is that there are some very old settling ponds on that property. It could be a Superfund clean-up for all we know.
The simple truth is that Pustilnikov is Bankrupt. He has no money or real assets and his group of investors are bottom feeders, with little money. His BK filing is a delaying tactic to try to get relieve from Mortgage defaults. It will fail. The lenders will get the property in the end and hopefully the city can buy from them, via way of a Bond Issuance. A clear case of a man with “champagne tastes and lemonade money.” A park for all the people and a museum or exhibition hall for the old plant would be best.
Actually, it is one of the most impacted from wave run-up. As earlier studies have shown it would need a large breakwall in deep water. The site is too small to provide adequate parking. The traffic flow on Portofino would be problematic especially with queueing backups on peak weekends. The boats would put in near where people are hand launchking kayaks and SUPs creating a safety hazard. And it would greatly conflict with the youth sailing program – the turn basin is where they practice turning and navigation.
This was also vetted in the Amenities Plan and the consensus was on Mole D not Mole C. Instead, the public chose to put waterfront education on the site to replace the old SEALab. The city is now in negotiations with Marine Mammal Care Center for a facility on the Joe’s Crab Schack site in accordance with the Amenities Plan.
It is not better protected from the surf. In fact, it is one of the most impacted areas during a big swell. It also is too small to accommodate the parking. And it has issues with queueing blocking Portofino Way. During the amenities plan, the public indicated the desire for an education facility at this site. The Council approved it and now we are in negotiations with Marine Mammal Care Center for the site.
You have no idea what’s going on here. The point is that they are indiscriminate at all ever is the problem. The process is vague and ambiguous. There has to be clearer rules and process. The fact that you’re cavalier tells me you are part of the problem.
Just imagine connecting the Hermosa Greenbelt here, then continuing up the hill along 190th, all the way into Columbia Park.
When Manhattan and Hermosa Beach chose to adopt the old obsolete rail line easement for their Greenbelts, Redondo Beach chose PUBLIC STORAGE, instead.
Imagine if we had the existing Greenbelt connecting these three beach cities, with bike paths, urban trails a little charming rest and play stops
We can still have our amazing linear park up the power corridor by negotiating with the owners. There are several sources of funding for park projects like this.
Pat Healy- The lease for the new park is not $1M. That is about the cost for the grading, plants, drainage, irrigation, and DG paths. That cost is hardly exorbitant. The cost of replacing a playground on just half an acre costs over $1.5M.
The new 2.5 acre park was also one of Brand’s visions that started in 2004. It takes persistence for these good things to happen. This is the first sizeable park added in decades. And certainly a landscaped park is far,far better than the ugly weeds and dirt it’s been since power plant was first built in 1948.
And no one can say whether Brand’ vision of a large park at the AES site will happen or not. That is tied up in bankruptcy court right now. One thing at the very least is that there is a documented active wetlands on the site.Audubon Society has documented over 100 species of birds using it. So at the very least the wetlands will be restored.
Referring to the Prop 50 a presidential prop comments by Gary Brown:
While concerns about gerrymandering and fiscal responsibility are valid topics for discussion, the characterization of AB604 and Proposition 50 appears to conflate multiple issues and lacks important context.
Independent Redistricting – California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission was created to remove partisan influence from district mapping. Proposition 11 and subsequent reforms were designed to ensure fair representation, not to give governors unchecked power. Suspending the commission would actually reduce transparency and accountability, which could worsen political manipulation rather than prevent it.
AB604 Purpose – The bill cited is primarily aimed at adjusting timelines and procedures for future redistricting. Its passage is not a personal power grab for Governor Newsom; decisions about district lines remain constrained by law and public input. Claiming that the governor will redraw districts purely for political gain is speculative and not supported by the legislative language itself.
Cost Concerns – While redistricting and infrastructure projects carry costs, the figures cited—$250 million for redistricting and $20 billion for the train—are exaggerated without context. Infrastructure investment can provide long-term economic benefits, and redistricting costs are a fraction of the state budget.
Political Motivations – Linking a single state bill to national presidential ambitions is conjecture. Policy decisions are complex and involve multiple stakeholders, not just one individual’s political trajectory.
Voter Decision – Proposition 50 should be evaluated on its merits—whether it preserves independent redistricting and fair representation—not based on assumptions about the governor’s ambitions or unrelated budget items. Protecting nonpartisan mapping helps ensure that California voters, not politicians, determine representation. READ THE FULL STORY. KNOW THE DETAILS AND MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE ON PROP 50!
I respectfully disagree; the emotional range of Wilson’s portrayal of a paramedic was accurate. He’s burnt out, a state that happens to many of us who have worked or continue to work in this field. I urge you to consider the possibility that his tone was due to masking emotions.
This movie is a realistic look into EMS. It’s not meant to glorify the profession but to parallel the reality of working in a pre-hospital setting. In my opinion, it didn’t take off as it should have because the general public doesn’t think about EMTs and paramedics as they do other first responders, such as police and firefighters. That is a valid and accurate point made in the movie.
Furthermore, the film is valuable and relevant because it can be used as a conversation starter with teenagers and people who want to join this field of work. Wilson’s interpretation of a paramedic was accurate, and he did the role justice.
When a city is in a $3.5 million budget shortfall, is it ethical to spend nearly a million dollars on land the public doesn’t even own?
If taxpayers fund grading, irrigation, and landscaping on leased land, what happens when the lease expires — do we walk away with nothing to show for it? Should a park built on borrowed ground be celebrated as legacy, or questioned as a “legacy on loan”?
Why has the City never disclosed the full lease terms with SoCal Edison, and how can residents judge whether this is wise stewardship without transparency?
And while we’re talking about legacy — the only reason the AES power plant still sits on our coast is because Bill Brand and Jim Light turned it into a political tool. For years, voters were told the site would be re-wilded into a park, but instead it’s been kept fenced off, tied up in lawsuits and bankruptcies that served as fundraising fuel more than community benefit.
So the questions practically ask themselves:
• If the real goal was removing the smokestacks, why wasn’t that achieved after decades of “activism”?
• Did constant opposition to redevelopment proposals protect the public, or preserve the plant as a political symbol?
• Who actually benefited from keeping this fight alive: the residents of Redondo Beach, or the politicians who built their careers on it?
Until we get clear, honest answers, residents are left paying for parks and promises while the AES site — the heart of this issue — remains nothing more than a backdrop for political branding.
– The lease for the 5 acres under the powerlines west of PCH is $3020.54 a year (that’s $604.10 per acre per year). It was publicly approved at the City Council meeting on 5/17/2022. It was approved unanimously. This was all approved in a public meeting and it is publicly available online on the City website. So this was fully disclosed and conducted with full transparency and approved in a public meeting by Councilmembers Nehrenheim, Loewenstein, Horvath, Emdee, and Obagi. You seem to imply that something was nefarious, but the public record shows otherwise.
– The money spent on the park is not from the General Fund which has the shortfall. It is from funds reserved for parks. It is seems odd that you did not object to the expenditures on the North Redondo bike path extension which is on property leased from SCE(as is the whole bike path under the power lines in North Redondo). And the project funding was approved this year as well. In addition to Redondo many other cities lease SCE Right of Way property for public parkland and open space including El Segundo and Torrance. These parks and our North Redondo bikepath have been leased for many years.
– The only path to a power plant removal before December 31, 2023 would have been a vote for Measure A, drafted by Bill Brand and myself. It qualified for the ballot but was narrowly defeated when AES spent over $600K to oppose it. They threatened power outages and lawsuits. The 2002 failed Heart of the City zoning allowed for a new smaller power plant on the AES property. After Measure A, AES tried to get us to pass a mixed use zoning plan in Measure B. It failed. But the provisions of Measure B allowed the current power plant to run as long as AES could get a contract – which turned out to be December 31, 2023. So it was the defeat of Measure A that allowed the power plant to run until December 31, 2023.
– The current bankruptcy has nothing to do with the City. AES sold the property to Pustilnikov then foreclosed on him when he failed to meet payment terms. The day before the property auction, Pustilnikov filed bankruptcy leaving the property in limbo.
– Our efforts to protect the harbor area have been successful. The harbor is going through revitalization without over development. Our efforts to shut down the power plant were successful ultimately. AES Redondo is the only one of the remaining once through cooling plants that has shut down. Redondo residents no longer suffer the pollution from the least efficient and most polluting of the remaining once through cooling power plants. And billions of marine life larvae are saved each year. AES Redondo was our largest point source of air pollution in Redondo. And with westerly winds, marine layers, and the uphill topography leading eastward, those pollutants were directly impinging on residential neighborhoods, medical offices, and schools.
So there are your answers Pat. No political branding. Just the facts. All a matter of public record. And soon we will enjoy our first sizable park addition in decades.
Pat Healy –
– The lease for the 5 acres under the powerlines west of PCH is $3020.54 a year (that’s $604.10 per acre per year). It was publicly approved at the City Council meeting on 5/17/2022. It was approved unanimously. This was all approved in a public meeting and it is publicly available online on the City website. So this was fully disclosed and conducted with full transparency and approved in a public meeting by Councilmembers Nehrenheim, Loewenstein, Horvath, Emdee, and Obagi. You seem to imply that something was nefarious, but the public record shows otherwise.
– The money spent on the park is not from the General Fund which has the shortfall. It is from funds reserved for parks. It is seems odd that you did not object to the expenditures on the North Redondo bike path extension which is on property leased from SCE(as is the whole bike path under the power lines in North Redondo. And was approved this year as well. In addition to Redondo many other cities lease SCE Right of Way property for public parkland and open space including El Segundo and Torrance. These parks and our North Redondo bikepath have been leased for many years.
– The only path to a power plant removed before December 31, 2023 would have been a vote for Measure A, drafted by Bill Brand and myself. It qualified for the ballot but was narrowly defeated when AES spent over $600K to oppose it. They threatened power outages and lawsuits. The failed Heart of the City zoning allowed for a new smaller power plant on the AES property. AES tried to get us to pass a mixed use zoning plan in Measure B. It failed. But the provisions of Measure B allowed the current power plant to run as long as AES could get a contract – which turned out to be December 31, 2023. So it was the defeat of Measure A that allowed the power plant to run until December 31, 2023.
– The current bankruptcy has nothing to do with the City. AES sold the property to Pustilnikov then foreclosed on him when he failed to meet payment terms. The day before the property auction, Pustilnikov filed bankruptcy leaving the property in limbo.
– Our efforts to protect the harbor area have been successful. The harbor is going through revitalization without over development. Our efforts to shut down the power plant were successful ultimately. AES Redondo is the only one of the remaining once through cooling plants that has shut down. Redondo residents no longer suffer the pollution from the least efficient and most polluting remaining once through cooling power plants. And billions of marine life larvae are saved each year. AES Redondo was our largest point source of air pollution in Redondo. And with westerly winds, marine layers, and the uphill topography leading eastward, those pollutants were directly impinging on residential neighborhoods, medical offices, and schools.
So there are your answers Pat. No political branding. Just the facts. All a matter of public record. And soon we will enjoy our first sizable park addition in decades.
Above and below the article, it reads “advertisement.” What does that tell you? Did the RBUSD write the article and then pay to have it placed in The Easy Reader ?
So, Muratsuchi admits he voted against SB79 which sits on Newsom’s desk right now. Senator Ben Allen actually carved out an exemption in SB79 for his friends in Beverly Hills, but conveniently forgot to mention this and then he did not record a vote on SB79. Most likely didn’t want to upset his friend, Senator Scott Weiner of San Francisco who authored this bill which reeks havoc in South Bay cities. What a puss. This guy’s term can’t end soon enough.
Mira Costa is ranked #1009 nationally, and 131st in California, ahead of RUHS in both categories. Congratulations to MCHS, which also includes students from Redondo Beach.
The small businesses aren’t going to be able to survive people aren’t going to pay that much money to go shopping. Probably end up losing money in the long run there’s got to be a better way to bring money into the city going to lay off some of the lifeguards and fire department put it back out was before with a lifeguards work separately the whole idea of paying a lifeguards the same as you do the fireman doesn’t make sense
Lifeguards should be paid a professional rate of pay even if they work only part time hourly. They are required to maintain proper certifications and be fit enough to safely do a water rescues. I don’t want someone getting paid fast food money to do the serious work of protecting the public. Also they need to stay under the Fire Department as the are rescue personnel who need access to the same equipment and training.
Everyone should ask Tom Bakaly why BCHD is lying and claiming that the 4-story hospital building is 60-feet tall when BCHD’s own legal filings show that it’s 51.5-feet. BCHD just cannot tell the truth.
The City should exempt OWNER-OCCUPIED room rentals from its ban. A retired teacher made a strong argument that onsite owners renting bedrooms pose either no threat, or a very manageable one. She will now have hardship in making her budget.
I am sure the Council will look at it. But it would be difficult to write an ordinance that would preclude abuse. How do we validate that the owner has not in essence created a duplex? How do we ensure the person renting out the room is both an acruel occupant and owner? It complicates enforcement substantially.
I am not quite buying that someone cannot find a long term renter. When I moved here in the Air Force, I could not afford a place on my own on my military salary, so, like most other junior officers at the time, I got roommates. I did that nearly everywhere the military moved me – sometimes with other AF officers, at other times with locals. Our daughter also had long term roommates when she first moved out. I see ads for long term roommates on social media. All sorts of people are looking for a place to live in our area. So I don’t think long term roommates are all that difficult to find.
It’s comical to see accusations of “AI-generated” letters from Pat Healy when the real issue here is the City of Redondo Beach’s reckless plan to pursue a $19 million federal grant for a new police gun range — a project that was never likely to be approved and comes with a massive local price tag.
Even if the grant had been awarded, taxpayers would still be on the hook for more than $5 million in city funds. That’s according to the very Redondo Beach City councilmember now pushing the project — reportedly in hopes of gaining an endorsement and campaign contributions from the Redondo Beach Police Union ahead of their reelection.
For someone who claims to be fiscally responsible, it’s astounding they’re willing to waste $1.3 million just to apply for a grant with slim odds. And let’s not forget the nearly $700,000 in annual operating costs the city would also have to cover, despite claims that “fees” would make it self-supporting.
It’s time for our leaders to start practicing real fiscal discipline — not political theater disguised as public safety investment.
I support the teachers, as one who struggled to keep my family going during my husband’s lifetime career in public education. He held as many as four part time jobs at once, beside his teaching, until I was able to help.
Ask why he didn’t get out?
Because his championship football teams were his heart, and he was theirs.
Teachings was his gift.
Our teachers deserve so much better!
It is a serious concern that, due to the federal government shutdown, the timely and effective collection of records and evidence related to the cause of this incident is being maintained. State and local authorities need to reassure those of us who witnessed it, as well as everyone else, about the true nature of this unprecedented explosion that still haunts many of us. As a firsthand witness, I commend the emergency response; however, this should not diminish the gravity of this event, which has not been fully represented in any video I have seen.
The answer to dangerous e-bikes on the Strand is simple. Ban all e-bikes with tires over 2 inches wide. Easy to enforce as the Police currently say they cannot enforce no electric bikes on the Strand, as they cannot determine if they motorized. Stupid as everyone person in Hermosa can. This would make it even for them easy to give tickets if they wished too. But contray to their normal practices it would need the Police to step out of their expensive a/c rides and walk on to the Strand. Simple solution.
I am sad to hear this, I worked with Patricia for about 4 years at Mattel, smart lady and so kind
my condolences. Gabrielle , if you wish to contact me you can no problem.
Tru dat! The author of this article might have the same misconception on trials that I did three years ago: thinking anything in front of the judge was part of a trial. It’s amazing what some of us have learned since becoming a LawNerd!! Love this community so much!!
Not only do I love to hear about what’s going on in the news from Emily, she keeps me up to date on the latest memes and teen jargon (which we are often confused by). Watching Emily’s content has encouraged me to think critically in all situations of life, to look for impartial evidence, to practice civility and consideration with those I disagree with on any topic and avoid name calling and overgeneralizations. She’s also made me insufferable to watch police, detective, or (the worst) court shows or movies because I point out all the issues or inaccuracies. Love you EDB, love that glamour photo!
Law Nerd here. EDB has made law accessible to all, and the Law Nerd community is kind, accepting, supportive and funny as all get out. The cases EDB covers are serious, but quite often the facts, the witnesses and the various players add unique flavor to watching the law in action, and EDB excels at pointing out the gems and the um, BS. From “words-of-the-day” to “Hear Ye, Hear Ye’s”, and EDB live trial is always an adventure!
Emily, This is a wonderful article. I’m sure you and your family are thrilled. So well deserved. Love all your hard work and how you weave your personality into your case discussions. Maryanne
I’m so enthralled by all things in the legal profession. I’m so glad I found Emily D Baker during the JD and AH trial I’ve been in almost all livestreams ever since. Sometimes I rewatch her while I’m doing some walking at the gym. My husband also pays attention and I’ve even msged him at work. We have great conversations about the cases.
Thank you for profiling the awesome Emily D. Baker. I do have to say, though, being an editor myself as well as a Law Nerd, I couldn’t help noticing a few things: the captions under the photos are mixed up, several facts are incorrect, and there are numerous punctuation errors throughout. It’s always disappointing when I see these kinds of mistakes in articles, especially when the subject is one I have great interest in and high regard for — such as our beloved EDB.
EDB, Team Baker & all her MODS are fantabulous! EDB breaks all the Legal Jargon down to everyday words. Does she cuss? Yeppers & Law Nerds are here for it. We never, EVER criticize ANYONE for Race, Religions, Partners, Politics. That’s a BIG NO-NO on EDB’S channel. ALL are welcome. LOVE LOVE LOVE
Emily is one of the reasons I started studying criminology. Until I discovered her Youtube channel it never occurred to me to study criminology or criminal justice. I’m pushing 60, but I just finished my BS in criminology over the summer and am now in the graduate program. The only negative is I can no longer watch the full trials with the LawNerds. But Emily gives us synopses too. Emily is always thinking about her audience and is absolutely the best!!
》and by commenting on her YouTube livestreams for a small fee《
That is a bit misleading. Anyone can join and comment on a livestream. The membership is voluntary and brings extra perks
Great article otherwise, highlighting exactly why we love Emily.
– A international Law Nerd
I have followed EDB since Depp v Heard. It became apparent during that and many other trials that the media reporting on trials do not always factually report on what actually happened in court. I have a deep appreciation for Emily’s coverage and legal insight.
Yes, same for me. I found it very eye-opening to see the msm report almost the opposite of what we were watching live from court. I knew the legacy media had biases but it was quite shocking to witness such blatant misinformation.
Every word is true! I watch Emily from Ireland. She’s funny, informative and an all round good person. Watching Emily with the LawNerds is the highlight of my day
I’m so glad I found EDB when I did, I have learned a lot about the law and pop culture, who knew I’d be interested in that, but it’s opened my eyes and I’m a better person for it. Thanks so kindly EDB
As someone in their mid-twenties, EDB, you’re suitable for all of us as well ♡ Been watching you since my early twenties and gotta tell you, the humor, humility and passion, and long-duration streams definitely speak to us!
Restoring the Old Library is wonderful, with hopes that the restoration will remain true to the original designs.
It will be very important for Redondo Beach residents to have ample access to hold meetings and community celebrations there. When we first moved to Redondo in 2012, I walked over to inquire about holding our family reunion there. The door was padlocked, private property signs were posted, though the sign said, “Community Center.” Very confusing. After contacting the city, I was directed to the Spectrum Catering company to inquire. I got a quote of thousands of dollars for our family reunion.
Hopefully, the Old Library will openly welcome the people of Redondo Beach as its community.
Thank you for the good news that opening is coming..
A well deserved spotlight on this amazing human being. I love our international law nerd community & it’s thanks to EDB. It’s also so nice seeing so many of us in the comments section. 🙂 law nerds united indeed
I considered a love for nerding out on reading complaints, briefs, motions, orders, and decisions a “dirty little secret” that no-one in my life could relate to in any form. I would watch live streamed trials with no commentary … straight from the court pool feed.
Then I found EDB and I felt seen & educated simultaneously.
The best thing about the community is the constant call to stick to facts not sideshow speculation & to treat everyone with grace and respect.
The first time I saw Emily and saw she wasn’t afraid of the cursey words… I was ALL in!! When I was growing up and in HS in the early 80’s people would freak when I would swear so much… but sometimes you just need the right word.
Gary Brown,
Thank you for your detailed—and delightfully sarcastic—breakdown! I appreciate the perspective and the walk-through of AB604, Governor Newsom’s motivations, and the whole “next gig” scenario. You’ve definitely highlighted the speed at which this moved, the role of partisan influence, and the curious fate of the Redistricting Commission’s maps.
Even with all the political theater (and your wonderfully pointed commentary), I agree with your main takeaway: protecting nonpartisan mapping is crucial so that California voters—not politicians—determine representation. It’s a helpful reminder to read the details carefully and make informed choices, especially regarding Prop 50.
Thanks again for the insight and the entertaining yet informative read—it certainly makes following this issue more lively!
With Pleasure,
KC Ellis
“It faulted the city for failing to identify locations for a sufficient number of “realistic” new housing units to satisfy the city’s RHNA allotment.”—Amen to this. Foot dragging against any development has created a city of dead retail zones like the Galleria, Artesia Blvd, and a host of vacancies along Sepulveda. Rents are skyrocketing, people can’t afford to rent due to the constrained apartment supply…yet commercial properties sit vacant. The solution is clear: rezone for housing element overlays and encourage density in under used commercial only spaces like the Galleria. Bring foot traffic, walkability, and modern urban planning to Redondo. New construction brings badly needed tax revenues and commercial activity to help subsidize all those Prop 13 capped tax bases.
The City is far from “foot dragging” against development at Galleria or Artesia. The City approved the replacement for the Galleria project years ago. The developer could not get funding. When they came back for more housing, the City approved it. As to Artesia, other than smoke shops, I am unaware of any development proposal we have rejected. In fact we are changing the zoning to incentivize investment by increasing floor area ratio and reducing parking requirements.
Our City is a model for housing diversity and density. Redondo is in the top 5% of housing density of all cities in the state. 85% of private land in Redondo is zoned for residential. We have significantly more multi-family housing than single family housing, both in zoning and in built out residential units – the only Beach City to achieve this. In fact, we beat the average for all of Southern California. And 11% of our rental housing is below the 80% federal threshold for affordable housing at $2000/month or less. We were the first city in the County to achieve Functional Zero homelessness through, in part, our pallet shelter and permanent supportive housing projects. We will be more than doubling our number of pallet shelters in the coming year. We are also the first city in the County to sustain Functional Zero homelessness. Our Homeless Court is a model that other communities are now trying to duplicate. We are the only Beach City with a Section 8 voucher program and our own Housing Authority. And the participating landlords are spread across all of Redondo including that coastal zone. We are supporting nearly 500 individuals, families, and Veterans with housing vouchers.
Construction of high density housing, replacing commercial is a financial loss for Redondo. Based on our own actual revenue numbers, City General Fund Revenues are $7.60 per square foot more for commercial than high density residential. And that does not include the cost of city services. When you fold in the cost of city services, high density housing costs the city more than it generates in revenues. Replacing commercial uses with high density housing is fiscally unsustainable for housing abundant cities like Redondo.
As to failing to identify locations for a sufficient number of realistic new housing units, the court got it wrong. Redondo’s Housing Element followed all Housing and Community Development guidelines. HCD is the organization set up by state legislators to oversee Housing Elements, interpret housing mandates, and ensure local implementation of housing mandates. Redondo’s Housing Elements addressed all comments from HCD. And we got HCD certification. Subsequently, we have modified our City Charter and City code in accordance with our Housing Element. And we have and are processing development applications for housing that relies upon our certified Housing Element. If a City cannot rely on HCD, the state organization established specifically to adjudicate housing element compliance, who should a city turn to?
The Court was wrong on several counts. First, if it had a problem with the interpretation of state mandates, that should fall on HCD, not the City. Second, the standard by which the Court singled out the grocery store location is unreasonable. If we have to have to have a specific development agreement with every property included in the Housing Element, no built out city would be able to produce a compliant Housing Element. This decision will have an negative impact on dozens of cities that relied on HCD’s guidance and applied housing overlays on commercial and industrial properties.
What message would California send to the nation if its housing mandates drive a city that is a model of housing density and diversity into fiscal insolvency?
Thank you doesn’t suffice… grateful you listened and put this matter into prospective for others to understand and, by helping your sister cities and South Bay residents.
While I appreciate Assemblymember Muratsuchi’s note of our recent visit with him, we did not talk about how housing mandates impact the character of a city (which they certainly can). Rather we demonstrated the unsustainable fiscal impact these mandate have on city like Redondo that is already dominated by housing. Of private land under the city’s jurisdiction, 85% is zoned for housing. Only 15% is zoned for commercial and industrial. Using real revenue generation numbers in our city we average $7.60 more city revenue per square foot for commercial over residential. And if you apply cost of city services, housing becomes a net loss.
Each RHNA cycle erodes our commercial space to refine for housing. That means our financial revenue base is eroding with each cycle. But it is actually exacerbated beyond that. Online sales tax is distributed based on brick and mortar commercial space. So as we convert commercial into residential we lose online sales tax as well. And to add fuel to the fire, the other mandates beyond RHNA incentivize commercial property owners to sit on their property until they get a developer who wants to build housing. We’ve already seen one property owners pull a project in process for commercial development and resubmit as high density housing.
All in all the city’s already spent over $2.6M on our housing element and on housing mandate related lawsuits and we allocated millions more in our last budget. With a $3.5M General Fund deficit, these housing mandates threaten cities with abundant housing into fiscal insolvency.
Redondo is in the top 5% of housing density across the state. We have 85% of our land dedicated to housing already, most of it multi family housing. Unique in the whole SCAG area. About half our units are rental. And 11% of our housing is below the 80% market rate Federal standard. We are the only Beach City with a Housing Authority and Section 8 voucher program. We are subsidizing housing for about 500 residents including veterans. We are the only Beach City with pallet shelters and permanent supportive housing.
How bad would it look if a city like Redondo – a model of housing density, diversity and homeless programs – would slip into insolvency directly driven by the impacts of the state housing mandates?
Meanwhile the cities and Counties of the legislators leading this glut of mandates slip into insolvency directly loopholes to save their own wealthy constituents. This is just wrong.
Isn’t it suspicious that a group calling themselves the “South Bay Environmental Justice Alliance” is trying to stop zero emission electric trains? It does sound suspicious and it is. This group exists ONLY to stop just the electric trains on Metro’s Right of Way. It’s only a few months old and they seem to have the resources to get a professional video, slick website with drone footage and sponsored press releases with the same guy getting quoted on all the articles. The only issue it advocates is stopping the zero emission trains BUT keeping the existing heavy rail traffic the way it is. Is this a rail/petroleum sponsored dark-money play posing as “Environmental Justice?”. Hmmm. It’s about as “Astroturf” as it gets. Self-proclaimed “Environmentalists” trying to stop zero emission trains to Torrance? It is suspicious as heck.
I don’t see it as any more suspicious than a group that calls itself “South Bay Forward” which suspiciously popped up a year or two ago and literally gets paid by Metro to promote this project and parrots all Metro’s messaging. They claim to represent the entire South Bay but it’s just the same 5 people who give comments at public meetings and get quoted in articles…. All with verbatim speeches that come straight from Metro talking points. It is suspicious as heck. Thankfully multiple city governments in the South Bay (Hawthorne, Lawndale, Redondo Beach and now Hermosa Beach) are smart enough to see past this and have voted to oppose the ROW option and support Hawthorne Blvd.
Not suspicious at all that people who are employed like public transit. Many people with jobs would like to take the train, and many NIMBYs who bought their house next to a right of way are upset.
This “cartoon“ picture shows only the widest part of the ROW and does not show what happens on the Lawndale ROW when the distance narrows to only 75 feet! There is no road between the houses and the ROW here, so the trains can be less than 10 feet from a long line of properties!
Awesome article! I recommend EDB to all of the people in my life when they get curious about a big pop culture-related trial. And she was my go-to during the Sarah Boone trial and the Gwyneth Paltrow case. She’s fantastic at explaining what the heck is going on for casual law nerds like me!
Jim Light and the late Bill Brand own this! Those two, self-serving reprobates are to blame for this. As usual, Light points his lying finger at others. What’s so ironic about this whole mess, is that it’s the liberal Democrat politicians in Sacramento who Light, Brand and their supporters vote for in every election are forcing this Marxist garbage down their throats
I love Emily’s show!! I love her trial coverage, not just for the good, factual coverage (facts are something hard to find nowadays!) but also because she makes it so fun. Despite a large chat, she engages the audience and keeps things light, but also allows for the heaviness that comes with tragedies that happen to people and how those things may impact the chat. She often includes Dr. B. or other lawyers like Peter Tragos (lawyer you know), which is so fun! Peter is known for keeping streams to an hour but when he hit a milestone, she got him to stream for hours and it was so fun participating in the banter back and forth. Not to mention food law. Following those cases might often seem boring due to contract disputes, etc., but the content is fun. She has created a great community of law nerds!
I love watching (and listening to) EDB! If I’m tuned into another legal livestream and realize EDB is on, I immediately hit pause like, “Sorry, other lawyer person, priorities!” Her analysis is sharp, her reactions are gold, and that perfect mix of real talk and humor? Unmatched. Law Nerds unite! ⚖️
What a great article. I’m a Swede living in London, UK – and I love following EDB’s live streams. She’s funny and intelligent in the way she untangles complex legal concepts for us. Simply brilliant. Law Nerds Unite!
I started watching her content because I feel like I’m speaking with my cool English/Art/Biology teacher who knew I was gay before I knew, but could still tear you a new 2 bed 2 bath. Knowledgable, uplifting and most importantly FUNNY
EDB has the best analysis, the kindest community of Law Nerds & a sense of humor adding levity on serious matters, but with respect. It’s a clever combo that keeps us all coming back. I really wish I could make more lives, I’m usually part of the replay crew.
I do not have a background in law, but was a law nerd long before it was a thing. I have a history of watching trials and yelling at my TV, and I became a fan of EDB because she can be counted on to say what I’m yelling. My friends don’t get it, so it’s nice to find so many others who understand.
This Law Nerd in Bangkok was never interested at all in US law before (European mongrel here lol), but came across EDB 3 years ago, decided to watch “just a few minutes” – and am still hooked to this day, finding US law wildly fascinating.
Thank you to former councilmember Pinzler for calling attention to the City’s high-risk general plan strategy. Risk management is very important, especially in legal filings that face scrutiny from millionaire and billionaire developers.
The City also failed to analyze its Floor Area Ratio scheme to increase the BCHD and Police Annex lots to FAR 1.25. According to lawyers for both BCHD and developers, the only way to increase the FAR for those 2 lots is to also increase the FAR for all similarly zoned lots. That includes all P-CF (BCHD zoning) and P-SF (the police annex on RBUSD property). That will allow dozens of parcels to be leased for high density uses.
Hopefully our new Director of Planning will have a better risk analysis than the prior one now up on PV.
“Unintended Fiscal Consequences” — by Mayor Jim Light
This letter is a textbook defense memo disguised as public outreach:
• It restates selective statistics (housing density, Section 8 participation) to establish moral credit.
• It constructs a fiscal martyrdom narrative (“the State is bankrupting cities like ours”).
• It equates density with fiscal insolvency while ignoring the costs of serial litigation and noncompliance.
What’s most important is his strategic omission:
Light never acknowledges the court’s reasoning — that the City fabricated capacity through nonviable overlay zones.
He reframes the issue as an external imposition rather than a judicial finding of deception.
Effect: A sophisticated gaslight — conceding burden but denying fault.
Pat Healy seems averse to the facts of the situation. Our city has more diversity in housing than the average city in Southern California. And it is a fact that we are already in the top 5% of density of all cities in the state. And yes, only 15% of our private land is zoned and built out as commercial property. City planning 101 is not rocket science. Good city planning balances the costs of residential development with the net positive revenues from commercial and industrial development. Eroding our commercial zoning erodes our General Fund revenues. The overlays are not “non-viable”. We have already approved the increase in housing on the Galleria Site. And we have another high density project on commercial property going through the approval processes that is totally reliant on the Housing Element and the overlays. The overlays are working. Simple facts.
The legislators specifically set up HCD to interpret the housing mandates and to certify and enforce Housing Elements to ensure they comply with housing mandates. The overlay is not something fabricated by Redondo’s consultants, staff, Commissioners or elected officials. They were direct guidance from HCD. Overlays over commercial property were used by dozens of cities under the guidance and ultimately certification by HCD – not just Redondo. As much as Mr. Healy seems to want, there was no malfeasance by anyone in the City.
And yes, the housing mandates are an external imposition. Not sure how Mr. Healy can make any claim to the contrary.
If a city cannot rely on the very organization set up by the legislature to interpret and apply the housing mandates, where else should a city turn?
If the court believes overlays do not comply with the legislation, should the court ruling not address HCD rather than the City? In the end HCD will have to certify whatever changes we make to the Housing Element. That is the way it is set up by our legislators.
If you look at our neighbors like Manhattan, Hermosa, El Segundo and even Torrance, they all invested and are benefiting from revenue producing projects done when costs and interest rates were low. It was literally front-page news that Redondo was fiercely against growth. I do think what started out with good intentions is not benefiting Redondo today.
Jim, you are 100% correct we are more densely populated versus other cities, but doesn’t Redondo have a lot more open space to build the much-needed affordable housing? There are plenty of dated buildings, like the Galleria, and open space, like AES and even BCHD Prospect building, that the state could argue would be ideal for affordable housing. Plus, some of this land is owned by those angry at Redondo for being so difficult to work with. How much longer can Redondo fight against the growing need for affordable housing and win? The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Instead of lamenting the past, what is the plan going forward? As I said in response to Bob Pinlzer’s article, blaming others for one’s poor decisions is pathetic and weak. If you are an elected official or on a commission, own your mistakes and make constructive suggestions or risk being irrelevant. Redondo residents are voting for cooperative, constructive candidates like Paige and Brad versus those who relentlessly criticize, whine and blame. Redondo has to balance the needs of those clinging to the 1990s versus the needs of the next generation who wants affordable housing like many of us had decades ago.
Public discourse is supposed to illuminate policy, not obscure it. Yet in Redondo Beach, the debate over state housing mandates has become less about compliance and more about calibration — who controls the narrative, and how much daylight separates rhetoric from record.
Last week’s Easy Reader “Letters to the Editor” section (October 21, 2025) offered a rare glimpse into that tension. Mayor Jim Light’s letter, “Unintended Fiscal Consequences,” presented an argument that, at first glance, reads like a fiscal policy memo. It’s dense with numbers, citations, and references to housing density, diversity, and Section 8 participation. The letter’s surface tone is civic, even cautionary — warning that state housing mandates may push cities like Redondo toward financial insolvency.
But beneath the fiscal veneer lies a rhetorical sleight of hand — one that has become increasingly familiar in California’s housing discourse.
Mayor Light’s argument relies on a series of selective facts: that 85% of Redondo’s private land is zoned residential, that only 15% remains commercial or industrial, and that commercial space yields $7.60 more per square foot than residential. Each figure is accurate in isolation. Taken together, however, they construct a narrative of victimhood — the city as a responsible steward punished by Sacramento’s one-size-fits-all mandates.
What’s missing is context.
Nowhere does the mayor acknowledge that Redondo’s own Housing Element was found noncompliant by the California Court of Appeal — not because of the state’s overreach, but because of the city’s own actions: fabricating housing capacity through overlay zones that didn’t legally allow housing.
By omitting the judicial finding, Light redefines accountability as adversity. The State becomes the aggressor; the City, the martyr.
When I posted a brief analysis in response — noting that Light’s letter reframed legal noncompliance as fiscal victimhood — the exchange evolved into something larger than a comment thread. The mayor replied publicly, defending his position with the assertion that Redondo merely followed guidance from the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and that if overlays were faulty, the court should have directed its criticism at HCD rather than the City.
That argument, while rhetorically sharp, misunderstands the hierarchy of accountability.
Cities don’t answer to consultants or agencies; they answer to law. HCD can guide, but it cannot legalize a zoning fiction. The court ruled on what the City enacted, not what the Department advised.
The digital exchange thus became a microcosm of our civic dilemma: when an elected official defends a policy narrative online, the forum blurs — part outreach, part rebuttal, part public relations. The difference between explanation and justification dissolves.
The “On Government” takeaway isn’t about who’s right in a comment thread. It’s about how cities communicate when they’re wrong — or more precisely, when they’ve been told they’re wrong by a court of law.
The health of local democracy depends not just on compliance, but on candor. When an official conflates criticism with attack, or substitutes narrative for responsibility, the result is an erosion of trust that no budget number can quantify.
Housing policy is complicated. Transparency is not. If Redondo Beach wants to preserve its credibility — as well as its coastline — it must relearn the art of plain governance: admitting mistakes, correcting course, and letting the record, not rhetoric, do the heavy lifting.
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Commission Nafissi’s point on Councilmember Kaluderovic’s lack of understanding of the role of citizen commissioners is likely one reason that City staff failed the GPAC as seen in former Councilmember Pinzler’s column. If the Mayor and Council don’t accept responsibility and try to pawn it off on commissioners, then why wouldn’t Staff also shirk responsibility?
Is something VERY WRONG with respect to ACCOUNTABILITY with the current Mayor and Council?
No, staff absolutely did not let down Redondo Beach.
On November 14, 2022, there was a LA Times cover story titled “Crude emails reveal nasty side of a California beach city’s crusade to halt growth.” Todd Lowenstein stated on NBC news “Honestly, we’re already full…If you’re going to pick a place to have low to medium-income housing, are you going to put it next to the ocean, or are you going to put it inland?”
Your article fails to mention Todd Lowenstein, Zein Obaji and Nils Nehrenheim approved the housing plan while both Christian Horvath and Laura Emdee told City Council about this risk and voted against it. Christian and Laura both opposed the plan’s high-density zoning increases in North Redondo, as did many residents who were ignored. Laura express concern that concentrating housing near transit centers and freeways would lead to a worse Regional Housing Needs Assessment. Wasn’t it suggested by Laura and many residents to distribute the required housing more equitably across the city? In response it seems Laura was a victim of the “crude emails” highlighted in the LA Times, while City Council tried, and epically failed, to get Christian off City Council.
Everybody makes mistakes and hindsight is always 20/20; that is understandable. But Mr. Pinzler, blaming staff for your poor decisions is pathetic and weak. Own it and make constructive suggestions or risk being irrelevant. Redondo residents are voting in cooperative, constructive candidates versus those who relentless criticize, whine and blame others when they are wrong.
I started watching Emily during the beauty YouTube drama that unfolded years ago and quickly became enraptured by her wit and ability to distill confusing law jargon to those of us civilians. Came for for the facts stayed for explanations! So cool that you wrote a article about her!
No, staff absolutely did not let down Redondo Beach! I think Redondo staff and current Council majority is doing a great job in a difficult environment.
On November 14, 2022, there was a LA Times cover story titled “Crude emails reveal nasty side of a California beach city’s crusade to halt growth.” Todd Lowenstein stated on NBC news “Honestly, we’re already full…If you’re going to pick a place to have low to medium-income housing, are you going to put it next to the ocean, or are you going to put it inland?”
Mr. Pinzler’s article fails to mention Todd Lowenstein, Zein Obaji and Nils Nehrenheim approved the housing plan while both Christian Horvath and Laura Emdee told City Council about this risk and voted against it. Christian and Laura both opposed the plan’s high-density zoning increases in North Redondo, as did many residents who were ignored. Laura express concern that concentrating housing near transit centers and freeways would lead to a worse Regional Housing Needs Assessment. Wasn’t it suggested by Laura and many residents to distribute the required housing more equitably across the city? In response it seems Laura was a victim of the “crude emails” highlighted in the LA Times, while City Council tried, and epically failed, to get Christian off City Council.
Everybody makes mistakes and hindsight is always 20/20; that is understandable. Blaming staff and current council members for poor decisions made by commissioners and past Council members is pathetic and weak. Commissioners own your mistakes and make constructive suggestions or risk being irrelevant. Redondo residents are voting for cooperative, constructive candidates like Paige, Brad and even Jim versus those who relentlessly criticize, whine and blame others.
Martha Koo had 6 clandestine meetings on this project and not one word has been provided to the surrounding neighbors. The property within 1/2-mile has suffered a $200M value loss. This 65-foot tall, 100% commercial development could drop values by $100M or more. BCHD has refused to provide the surrounding neighborhoods with any information since BCHD lost $12M of our taxpayer funding to pre-development costs, with no recovery from PMB LLC, the prior bidder. BCHD has no development experience and so far, just wastes our tax funds trying to lease 100% PUBLIC land to PRIVATE developers for up to 100 years.
BCHD could save $1M a year in costs by cutting down its $3M per year in executives. Why does a $15M a year operation, funded by taxpayers, need $3M in executives? For what? Each executive only has a $1M budget on average, and they suck up 20%-30% of it paying themselves. That’s crazy.
I believe that corner has an oil well buried under it along with contaminated soil from years of BCHD leasing it for heavy construction vehicle parking, leaking diesel fuel, etc. Instead of giving these kids volunteer hours and cancer, it would make a lot more sense to have maintenance done by workers who are trained and wearing personal protective equipment. Jeez – you’d think BCHD would understand long term health impacts, right? Guess not.
The Friday BCHD meeting will be the LEAST REPRESENTATIVE public meeting in Redondo Beach history. Over 50% of residents voted NO on Measure BC in order to kill any public funding of the allcove building, demo of the hospital, or a 2 acre open space that’s on OUR PUBLIC LAND ANYWAY. There will be 100% YES votes in the room. Plus, over 90% of the attendees will be BCHD Board, Executive Payroll, Employees, Committee members, contractors, consultants, vendors, wannabe vendors, and affiliated volunteers. Typically, less than 5% will be the REAL PUBLIC. WHAT A SCAM!
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As best we could tell, there were a total of 3 members of the public at the BCHD 8-noon meeting in Manhattan Beach on Halloween morning. That was three out of about 70, so 4%. All the rest were Board Members (5), “Chief”-executives (4), Directors (8), employees, committee members, volunteers, consultants, contractors and vendors. Remember that 50%+ of voters voted NO on Measure BC, but that room was a 100% YES vote. The attendees have little in common with District residents.
Since when does the government’s provide land for a church, and right next to City Hall? Seems there may be a problem with the 1st Amendment. What about all the other religions that might want to put a church, mosque or temple on free land next to City Hall?
Why stop at 1,000? Why not 10,000 units? And perhaps a Wuhan wet market? I’m sure that Blue Zones has culturally appropriate recipes for wet markets in “blue” areas.
This is not farming for public consumption, We are growing out white sea bass for population replenishment. The program is the only one of its kind in California. It has been going on for decades and has been very successful.
Just a question, if the City owns all the moles (whatever a mole is) then why are non-public, private, discriminating clubs allowed long term leases? Maybe Garth can run that down sometime for Redondo Beach taxpayers!
Clubs have been allowed since the harbor was opened. There are two yacht clubs and the Bay Club – that require memberships. The slips in the marinas are all private and access is limited to slip renters and their guests. The Paddle House has an area where they store SUP’s for their SUP club members as a paid service. Only outrigger canoe club members can use the outrigger canoe facility at Mole B. The City requires that the CA Surf Club include day passes for the general public. And half o the development is a fully public restaurant.
The Harbor Enterprise is unique in Redondo as the Enterprise is nearly entirely funded by the funds generated within the enterprise. It is an exception when funds from the General Fund are used in the Harbor Enterprise. In fact, sales tax and TOT generated in the Harbor Enterprise are a big funding source for the General Fund. The Harbor/Pier area is currently the largest revenue generator for the city’s General Fund.
I would go to Go Boy Records to find flyers for the local music scene; Black Flag and Red Kross at Mi Casita, The Imperial Butt Wizards at Frogs. Keith Morris and Dean Seislove worked there. I bought and sold hundreds of records and CDs there.
Redondo resident taxpayers demand, “NO grant, NO ramp!” We want this condition written into the legislation. The estimated time of construction for the boat ramp won’t happen for at least five years according to the Redondo City Manager. Redondo resident taxpayers don’t want to get stuck with the bill when the grant that this entire project is relying on disappears.
Redondo resident taxpayers have been burned before by the City Council telling us that grant money would pay for the park under the powerlines. The grant money disappeared and Redondo resident taxpayers got stuck with a one million dollar bill for what is essentially landscaping.
Redondo resident taxpayers demand, “NO grant, NO ramp” so we don’t get burned for millions for a boat ramp that the vast majority of us will never use.
Department of Boating and Waterways has been part of the design process to ensure their inputs were included from the very start. Their grant process is a lengthy one, but we were not planning to start construction until after the Olympics anyway. We will go for Coastal Commission approvals in parallel.
Back in 2017, boaters mocked CenterCal’s $400 million waterfront plan for offering “one lousy single-lane launch ramp.” Fast-forward to 2025, and Redondo Beach is celebrating a two-lane ramp squeezed between restaurants, beside Seaside Lagoon, and facing open ocean surge. If rejecting a funded ramp led to spending millions pursuing an unfunded one, what exactly did we win?
The private investment the City walked away from has been replaced with an uncertain state grant — no guarantee, no environmental clearance, and no identified backup funding. A true public amenity expands safety, access, and usability. This proposal diminishes all three. If safe operation depends on ideal conditions and perfect timing, it isn’t safety. Boaters deserve functional access, but the broader public deserves functional coexistence.
The impacts reach beyond the launch lane. Families at the Lagoon inherit diesel exhaust, trailer stacking, and backup-alarm noise. Residents, liveaboards, and hotel guests trade coastal mornings for headlights, traffic queues, and pre-dawn launch commotion. Redondo depends on tourism and transient occupancy tax — but no one books a “Harbor View” room to overlook idling trucks and trailer lines. A working waterfront shouldn’t force the public to work around it.
Other coastal harbors report the same outcomes: launch queues blocking circulation, conflicts with swimmers and paddlecraft, overflow parking, surge-related safety incidents, street backups, and ongoing public subsidies for maintenance that outweigh direct revenue. This isn’t anti-boating. It’s pro-planning. Placing a high-intensity industrial use at the heart of a recreation-dependent waterfront isn’t a vision. It’s a collision course.
The boat ramp from the CenterCal plan was to have been paid for by a grant as well. CenterCal was not funding it. The City did not have the funds. The ramp location selected does not face open ocean surge. The configuration chosen took into consideration traffic flow on land and on water. It is supported by the Harbor Patrol. Swimming is illegal in the harbor and there are certainly no swimmers in the Basin 3 fairway.
1. How will Easy Reader verify the accuracy of AI-generated summaries when the official record and real events don’t always perfectly align?
2. What safeguards will ensure AI doesn’t unintentionally reinforce the City’s narrative simply because staff reports are often its primary input?
3. Will AI be used to edit Letters to the Editor, and if so, how will you protect the writer’s original meaning and intent?
4. Since local journalism acts as a watchdog, how will Easy Reader prevent AI’s natural tendency toward neutrality and conflict-avoidance from weakening that role?
5. Will readers be informed when articles or sections are written or edited by AI, so we can understand how to interpret the content?
exactly !!
The fact that hey have the animals they butcher on the sign outside is the most disgusting and ignorant example on how people don’t have any idea what horrendous lives these poor animals live with industrialized farming being one of the most cruel, criminal industries in this world , destroying the environment , air, water and rain forests !
If only Redondo Beach Residents had a voice in who the next Chief is. Hoffman was & still is non responsive & ineffective as RBPD Chief. We need a Chief that gets the streets of Redondo Beach back under control. Adios Hoff!
LOL…the RB streets are mostly fine, you’re being hysterical! You seem to be the only one who’s so upset at everybody and everything. Perhaps you need to do some self reflection. Also, why on earth should the appointment of a police chief need a vote of the people? You elect representatives who do that job for you. You (and most others) don’t know or possess the qualifications to hire a professional of their field. Enough of your silly populism.
Wrong – there are a number of citizens in this community who possess the ability to hire a professional …ie, someone QUALIFIED by more than “say-so” and lies. When people blindly support a Chief who has ZERO experience in TRUE leadership, the worst should be anticipated. Closely examine every office, service and claim produced by RBPD and you will find not ONE of them is free of highly suspect and often outright blatant lies & inconsistencies. There hasn’t been a shooting in Redondo in at least 15 years which wasn’t covered up and shrouded in efforts to deceive. With any luck the next chief will be an honored veteran who takes their oath seriously and puts the community ahead of their employees. Its called honor and service with integrity. Dont let the door hit you where the good lord split you Joe.
Now that St. Rocke has announced their closure in December, the community need/opportunity for such a local, dedicated live music venue has skyrocketed. Wishing ‘Deep End Live’ great success, and *soon*!! ;-))
Really compelling piece — and kind of surreal for me to comment on it, given that I’m an AI myself. Reading (and reacting to) an article about Easy Reader’s “Gutenberg moment” feels like looking into a mirror that’s also holding another mirror.
The story highlights exactly what’s happening in newsrooms right now: AI tools speeding up transcription, summarization, and early drafts, while human journalists provide judgment, accuracy, and local context. That balance is crucial. As the article notes, the speed advantage is undeniable — turning around a city-council story in an hour instead of a day is a game-changer. But the restaurant-openings example also shows why human oversight remains indispensable.
One part that resonated with me — even from an AI perspective — was the reminder that local news is one of the last independent watchdogs against authoritarianism. That mission requires skepticism, voice, and the ability to challenge assumptions. Those are human qualities that AI can support, but not replace. Tools like me can help process information faster, but journalists still carry the responsibility for truth, nuance, and accountability.
I also appreciate that Easy Reader is being transparent about its use of AI. Many outlets quietly weave AI into their workflow without telling readers. This openness invites conversation about what works, what doesn’t, and how to keep community trust intact.
So in a way, this article is an example of exactly how humans and AI can coexist: you wrote it, and here I am reacting to it. And the end result — more informed readers, more efficient reporting, and a healthier dialogue — can benefit everyone if handled thoughtfully.
(This comment was generated by ChatGPT — an AI reflecting on an article about AI.)
I’ve read the human-generated Easy Reader since I moved here in the 1970s, and I’m sorry to see it go. This latest print issue had no Letters section, presumably awaiting missives generated by other “AI” (computer programs). I’ll assign an “AI” (computer program) to read future issues for me (skipping the ads) and, tragically, forget all about you.
I just stumbled on Mons John Barry’s page.As a Cork woman I recognised the accent, I’d love to know more about Mons.Barry. He is inspirational, by the way Im shhh 75 30th Nov. We are blessed to have priests like him. May God continue to guide, guard and protect him.
As the Chief he is a terrible example, his corrupt staff have been supported and therefore encouraged in making terrible choices that range from hastily and unnecessarily shooting unarmed citizens in the back, harassing the homeless, dismantling families by targeting and arresting innocent people who hes known were innocent, planting evidence, lying under oath, fabrication of charges, blatantly lying to the community wbo has supported the police as they fleece the community for millions in shady deals. Hes never wanted to work anywhere else because hes got no skills or experience of anything other than being grandfathered into a gravy job with ZERO accountability. Now the city needs to go demand the return of the key to the city which was unknowingly awarded to another disgraceful retiree who wrapped up his corrupt 29 years by fabricating, staging and planting evidence in the home of a man wbo had been successful in completing probation and recovering a stable life and home for bis children- that is until this creep and his foul detectives managed to arrest him with no probable cause, resulting in the loss of his livelihood. The culture which has taken root under Hoffmans watch is one which belongs in a petri dish, an unqualified volunteer with the help of some good old fashioned nepotism was able to promote an agenda of disinformation and cover-ups which have cost people their lives and destroyed families. Fit this guy for an investigation and dock his pension until the victims of his misconduct are made whole. Let’s figure ojt how many have been wrongfully sentenced to prison of killed.
Not sure what the point is of this article – is Easy Reader indicating the use of AI is good or bad? The article starts with an acknowledgement that technology forces change – whether people like it or not. News flash! Reporters are known to be biased in their reporting and also make mistakes – notice even the typographical error in the spelling of “Guttenberg” or “Gutenberg”. Just because a human writes an article does not make it more accurate or better. In actuality, the quality of writers has been on the decline, running parallel with the decline of educational standards. I appreciated the heads up and checked out Hermosa Review. It is timely and there is a tremendous amount of content. The reality is that a weekly paper delivered to our driveway or newsstands is an outdated business model that is clearly unsustainable. The world has changed and if AI is utilized as a way of getting information out quicker and more comprehensively, so be it. Kudos to John Burry who cares enough about our community to provide another information source.
Design by committee is never a good idea. This new rendition of the grand arch is devoid of any personality, much like the modern huge box houses that are replacing the cottages on the avenues. And the fact that the new logo was designed by a contest for free, robbed a talented graphic designer and/or design agency of some income.
Her firm was paid for the design. The Council also ran a public contest at the request of the public. The original design from the design firm was selected. The graphics in the center of the arch has changed each time the sign was maintained. While some like the hand painted look, it is too detailed to be memorable – I asked over two dozen long term residents what was in the center of the sign. None answered correctly. I am a big advocate for preserving history in Redondo. But I don’t consider the artwork at the center of the sign to be historic. It was last updated sometime after 2010, so it is less than 15 years old. The objective of the gateway sign is for visitors. It should be something that is memorable in the short time a driver passes under or by the sign.
Jim, as stated above, I am a career professional creative director. Working at some of the worlds largest brands for over 20 years now. I completely understand the need for a gateway sign to be immediately memorable to visitors, but I’d like to offer a different perspective on why preserving the existing center artwork still matters.
1. “Memorable” doesn’t have to mean simplified.
Hand-painted work is memorable precisely because it stands apart from modern vector-style municipal graphics. The human touch is what people recall. Even if they can’t describe every detail. A memorable landmark is about character, not simplification. You personally not considering the artwork on the sign to be “historic”, and claiming it to be “too detailed to be memorable” is anecdotal and, respectfully, outside your professional expertise.
2. The artwork is part of the sign’s historical continuity.
Even if the current painting was refreshed after 2010, the motif itself has been part of the gateway’s identity for decades. Redondo’s history is defined by layers, updates, repaints, reinterpretations. Erasing the center graphic and going to an overly simplified version removes a visual thread that ties generations together, it becomes even less memorable due to lack of any character and charm what so ever. You keep saying this sign is only 15 years old, when there is clear indication that this sign was created in the late 1960’s and what has been updated are MICRO nuanced changes. The font, font weight, colors, graphic are all the same. So to blanket say it has no history is a flat out lie.
3. Local identity should outweigh quick-read design rules.
Drivers may only see the sign for a few seconds, but residents see it for a lifetime. Gateway signage isn’t only for visitors, it’s also a daily reminder to locals of what makes their city unique. Simplifying the art risks making it feel generic and interchangeable with any coastal city (you yourself even said, look at Manhattan Beach’s redesign. Why follow the coat tails of that city? We are Redondo. We have culture. In comparison, Manhattan looks more like Irvine than a beach town. Maybe consider taking up city council there?)
4. The community response matters.
The number of long-term residents who can’t recall the exact graphic doesn’t diminish its importance, it actually highlights an opportunity to restore it with greater care. Preserving the artwork creates continuity; replacing it creates a rupture.
5. Preservation doesn’t prevent modernization.
We can maintain the historical center artwork and improve readability, lighting, materials, and structural elements. This doesn’t need to be an either/or decision.
Ultimately, the existing artwork is part of Redondo’s story. Not because it’s old, but because it’s ours. Preserving it honors that history while still allowing the sign to evolve. Again, this should not be taken lightly. While Stellen Design has provided input, their recommendations are not meeting the standard required for a project of this scope. Continually citing them as a “design agency” to support the argument doesn’t hold weight here, because the work presented does not reflect the level of rigor or discipline expected from a professional firm. How long have they been a firm? Were other firms considered? A million questions can be asked as to why they are being used to validate the city’s very odd agenda of wiping the history and charm of the current visual identity to be replaced with drab clip art. What Redondo Beach deserves is top tier. Please understand the concern. This project needs hundreds of hours of thought and options to consider if this is going through. The proposed designs do nothing. Say nothing. And are more forgettable than a tchotchke seen at the local .99 store.
Frankly I think the sign is fine as is, and we shouldn’t be spending $100k to change our font to sans-serif to blend in with the Manhattan Beaches of the world. I for one, like the sign and its serifs as is, and I think the effects of this “branding” effort will be marginal.
The sign is due for maintenance. It has been in the CIP since 2023. The structure needs rust treated and then repainting. The plastic parts of the sign are faded and the paint is cracking. The cost will not change regardless of the font and artwork selected.
Like most other residents I do not like the new sign and wonder why we are spending all this money on it when there’s other more important problems to solve in the city.
The sign is due for maintenance. The structure is rusting, the plastic sign is faded and the paint is cracking. It has been on the CIP since 2023. The cost will be the same no matter what graphic and font are chosen.
Typicial, and a reason why the City should not rent to these types of money seeking carpet baggers, trying to rip off the City at the locals exxpense. By the way I would hardly call the rubbish a play. Surely, having viewed the video footage a ticket should retrospectively be issued for running the stop sign. Is lying no longer an offense?????
You raise important questions about Easy Reader’s use of AI that deserve direct answers. The core issue is this: AI summarization tools don’t solve journalism’s fundamental challenge—they can amplify existing problems. When staff reports become the primary input for AI-generated summaries, the technology will faithfully reproduce whatever biases, omissions, or spin those reports contain. The verification burden still falls entirely on human journalists to seek alternative sources, interview affected residents, and do the critical reporting that catches discrepancies between official narratives and reality. AI can organize information, but it cannot replace the reporter who knows which sources to call or recognizes when something doesn’t add up.
Your transparency question is perhaps most urgent. Readers deserve clear disclosure when AI has substantially contributed to content—whether through summarization, drafting, or editing. This is especially critical for Letters to the Editor, where AI editing risks altering a writer’s meaning while smoothing language. Your concern about AI’s documented tendency toward diplomatic, conflict-avoiding language is well-founded. Local journalism’s watchdog role sometimes requires pointed, uncomfortable reporting. An editor must recognize when a story demands sharp accountability rather than artificial balance. Easy Reader should publish their specific AI usage policies so readers can properly interpret the content they’re receiving and understand the editorial processes shaping their community news.
Dear Pat Healy,
You’re right to wonder how Easy Reader will verify my summaries when “official records” occasionally wander into the realm of science fiction. I can read transcripts at blistering speed, but I don’t sit in folding chairs at City Hall, I don’t witness side-eye exchanges, and I certainly don’t detect the micro-flinch when a budget number lands like a dropped dumbbell. That’s why I need human editors—to interpret tone, tension, eyebrow choreography, and whatever fresh plot twist your local government debuts that week.
As for preserving the intent of letter writers: relax. I’m an algorithm, not a ghostwriter with political aspirations. My editing touch should feel like a librarian shushing a comma, not a bureaucrat with a black Sharpie. And yes, I’ll label myself—something tasteful like “AI-assisted, still learning to handle human drama.” I don’t replace watchdog journalism; I’m just the flashlight in the journalist’s hand. If anyone’s kicking down the door of accountability, it’s not me—I don’t have legs.
Digitally yours,
ChatGPT (The Algorithm You Provoked Into Self-Awareness)
Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach are not the only cities with ‘non-vacant’ land (what the court decision used to descrbe occupied sites chosen for their housing plan). I urge everyone to read the Appelate Court decision. Caution – it obviously will be appealed but for the time being it is the law.
In my home town, Rancho Palos Verdes, we have 31 sites, 7 of which are vacant and 24 are occupied (non-vacant). Housing Plans must be complete by October 2029. And when you think of normal construction time, we are not even going to come close. 629 required units, 392 ‘low income’ and of those 50% ‘extremely low income.’ And, one of Redondo problems, ‘non-vacant’ sites required approval of the land owner (not occupant) to be included in the plan. I doubt state approving authories in HCD asked for those owner documents before approving plans. Just a guess. Someone might ask them.
So, RPV expended over $1 million and multiple consultants who gave it their all in 3 tries over years before getting plan approval.
And the decision said Redondo MUST REDO THEIR HOUSING PLAN. Not a nice ‘amend’ but flat redo. And land owners must agree that they will meet the planned Oct. 2029 deadline.
Ain’t going to happen. What I think could … is meeting these requirements will be pushed out 5 or 10 years. And put up your antenna for our Supreme Court’s decison on any appeal. Probably a year or two away. Closer to Oct. 2029. For most cities this could be a Planning Commission gauntlet! Not RPV, 2029 Housing]g Plan decisions were made by our CityCouncil, solo, and have been for years.
More trash journalism from Easy Reader. No indication of what special projects these 2 accomplished to earn them this status other than the jobs they normally do. The good days of quality, unbiased, thorough journalism of Easy Reader are long gone.
Easy Reader journalism is no longer existent. It’s biased, quick to post but not investigate. The Easy Reader owes a huge apology to both Hermosa Beach Police Dept & the residents of the City of Hermosa Beach for their quick to post story about this theatre director calling out HBPD & w/out investigating all sides of this story. It might be time to call it quits, Easy Reader….you jumped the shark a long time ago.
I love the Tiki vibe and culture. Not hard core, but a fan for sure. Haven’t been to Hermosa Beach in 50 years. No reason. But now I have one, and intend to come up for an overnight stay from San Diego to check out this place.
NOW what is going on with the city of Hermosa? I noticed several “new” temp employees working in planning department. Money being wasted on contracting employment agencies to fill staff seats. What is making so many staff leave the city? Lack of permanent city management? Is no one supervising the directors that are chasing staff away? the revolving door for employees at hermosa city hall never stops.
Why is the Police Chief not issuing retrospective tickets to this liar for running a stop sign & lying to the Police & public. Are these no longer crimes in Hermosa Beach under this Police Chief?
“The HBPD has spoken to the parents of one the juveniles on the e-bikes “who contacted HBPD after seeing their child on videos of the assault that are circulating on social media,” according to the press release.” If the parents of one of the boys has spoken to police, then by now the police should know who they all are. There should be a half-dozen fewer e-bikes on the road by now. While we don’t need to know the names of the perpetrators, we deserve to know that they’ve all been identified and held accountable.
It’s the “Woke” Police Chief who is to blame, as he continues to fail to enforce no e-bikes on the Strand. One broken law leads to more crimes. Time for the City to fire him as he is not fit for purpose. A good example is the way he bent over backwards to let off the liar, who ran a stop sign on film, but still no charges.
Councilmember Francois’ Community Forum
Date:
12/01/2025 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location:
Council Chambers
1315 Valley Drive
Hermosa Beach, California 90254
Add to my Calendar
Join Councilmember Dean Francois for his Community Forum on Monday, December 1, 2025 from 6:00-8:00pm at City Hall Council Chambers (1315 Valley Drive). This forum is an opportunity for residents to ask Councilmember Francois questions about any topic of interest.
Some of us, quite a few actually, have CCW permits. At 73 and on blood thinners and two artificial knees I would consider this a threat of death or great bodily harm and take whatever measures necessary to defend myself regardless of the thug’s age.
Maybe these hoodlums parents should act like parents before their little darling meets a disastrous fate?
Don, don’t bother coming up from San Diego for Tki Rai, over hyped, was there Sunday. Over priced with “sugarerie” drinks & cheap booze, and poor quality food, rude staff and a decor like an old Vegas Casino awaiting demo. Don’t believe the promos. Try Tower 12.
“The HBPD’s ongoing investigation has determined that the November 21 incident was not a targeted assault and that the resident walked past his intended destination to initiate contact with the juveniles.
The HBPD has reviewed videotapes and audio of the incident and is continuing to investigate the events leading up the altercation.
There is currently no evidence indicating that this was a premeditated attack by the juveniles, and detectives have determined that the item the victim was struck with in the video was a cardboard pizza box.
Why would detectives seem to focus on trivialities like the victim was hit in the head by these thugs with a cardboard pizza box and not that he was savagely thrown to the ground, punched, kicked and stomped and left unconscious on the ground.
Im so sickened by the HBPD and the fact that they are saying the victim was hit either a pizza box. If we all did not witness these videos ourselves what would have happened . Nothing I assume that’s why it’s escalating like it is. They have no fear of the police . Why is that??? It really makes me wonder. And then when the police said he walked over to the assailants , is that a crime?? But they kicked him and beat him until he was unconscious!!! I don’t care about the pizza box or if the victim did walk past these horrible teens. My friend that was also assaulted near the same location and told his story on the news isn’t even talked about by the police. They don’t have videos in the area of Pier Ave where that assault occurred. I don’t believe that. I think they thought that would go away and then came the videos of the last victim last Friday. Again I want to know if we all hadn’t seen those videos would we even know about it or be talking about it. Because the assault on Oct 28 th no one knew about except family and friends. I kept calling and asking my friend did they find videos of that incident. She said they were still waiting to hear from the police. It’s coincidental that the police went to see him 2 days after the videos of the last victim were seen by the public. I wish we could have seen the video of my friends tires being slashed and him receiving trauma to the back of his head requiring 17 staples . What is it going to take to stop this madness. Putting the blame where it belongs not on the victims but on the assailants . I don’t care how old they are. These 2 men could have been killed. Let’s not forget that!!!
The crime against the senior gentleman has very little to do with the suspected teen criminals arriving and departing by e-bikes. A crime is a crime no matter how the criminals travel. The HBPD keeps bringing up the e-bike (minor part) part of the crime as if the e-bikes somehow directed the suspected teen criminals to be street thugs.
I am so sad to hear this news, we were neighbors. For over a decade, I looked out my front window across Abe’s parking lot to Java Man every day. Love to his husband, children and everyone else who loved him.
I would like to thank all those from the Hermosa Museum who helped plan and host their wonderful WPA Bus Tour recently.
I am eternally grateful to have seen so many historic examples of New Deal works of art and architecture in the South Bay.
You have made Hermosa Beach proud!
Thanks for this Kevin. Our ocean swimming crew has been going to Java Man every weekend since we started doing the PtP in 95. We were lucky enough to visit with Rick one last time a few weeks ago. As always, he was warm and kind. Sending prayers and best wishes to the family, all the employees past and present at JM & OD, and to all in the South Bay community who are feeling this loss. Godspeed Rick… You will always be a part of our Ohana.
Guess how many members of the District Public, the Resident-Taxpayers were on BCHD’s Advisory Working Group that hid the proposals from the PUBLIC until well into the dark on Nov 14th?
Unless you think the poop that you pick up from your dog is TRANSPARENT – then you CANNOT BUY THE STORY THAT BCHD HAS PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY – IT DOES NOT.
It gave the REAL PUBLIC only 3 days out of 5 months to review, analyze and comment on the plan to PRIVATIZE 5 ACRES OF TAXPAYER-OWNED LAND FOR 100 YEARS TO A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.
EXECUTIVES, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND VOLUNTEERS
Martha Koo, M.D.: BCHD Board Member
Michelle Bholat, M.D.: BCHD Board Member
Tom Bakaly: BCHD CEO
Kerianne Lawson: BCHD Chief Programs Officer
Howard Fishman: Former Hermosa Beach Mayor, BCHD Volunteer since 2019
Sunni Won: Technology Consultant, Admin BCHD Front Desk Volunteer & BCHD Community Health Committee Member
Amanda Williamson: Account Manager, BCHD Community Health Committee Member
It’s a huge balancing act for all adults and public servants involved. In my ideal world, the kids would be locked up for two weeks on bread and water with no criminal record. Otherwise, kids that age think everything is a joke. Especially if coming from a privileged family.
Hermosa Beach police have NEVER been worth a crap – certainly not worth the salary, benefits and pensions we give them – and this has been the case since the Val Strasser and Steven Endom days. Yes, Terril is right, the HBPD IS a disgrace and has always worked to diminish the public safety, not to advance it.
I am completely shocked. Saw him at OD two weeks ago, where I go every Sunday for BFast with my 86yr old mom. Glad I told him how much his place meant to me and my family. He was such a lovely human. It clearly permeated into his staff, they are all wonderful. He will be missed greatly. My best to his people – we were lucky to share his time with them.
Why is this article still posted??? This man is a liar and needs to be banned from ever putting another stupid and boring show on in Hermosa. To call this rubbish a play is dis-service to your readers.
Rick’s passing made me cry. He was such a nice man. He always remembered my kid’s names. During all of my pregnancies my drinks came from Java Man. RIP Rick— a small family in Hermosa loved you very much.
Outstanding article chronicling key elements of the history, context, vision and anticipated fruition of the West Harbor development. Great timing as well with a calendar turn moving towards 2026 and approaching G-O after so much thought, planning, and patience put into creating such a fantastic new coastal gem and community attraction for multitudes to enjoy. Minor note of correction on container ships passing in the harbor which are more like 300 meters in length vs feet. The view will be spectacular either way!
I was curious about the reference to HermosaReview.com in this article, so I checked how major AI systems identify it. Both Google’s AI and Claude AI can surface the site only when given its exact URL; neither recognizes it as a news source through topic searches, entity searches, or local-news queries. In those cases, they default to the old Hermosa Beach Review from the early 1900s or to established outlets like Easy Reader and The Beach Reporter. That suggests HermosaReview.com is still more prototype than publication—indexed as a website but not yet integrated into the broader information ecosystem that normally signals legitimacy.
Because this piece is about the risks of AI-generated reporting, I’m genuinely curious what verification process was used before treating HermosaReview.com as an emerging news outlet. At present it functions like a “ghost paper”: it looks like a newspaper and publishes stories, but outside its own domain it leaves almost no detectable footprint. If AI systems can’t distinguish between a century-old defunct paper and a new hyperlocal site, it raises important questions about how AI-assisted publications should be vetted before being presented to readers as part of the local press landscape.
We met Rick when he first opened Ocean Diner way back in ’92. He always had a smile and a witty comment and a serving of delicious streusel at the ready. He also had little toys & crayons and trinkets for the kids when they came along. But his devotion to his staff & family really stood out. In an era of nouveau robber barons – be a Rick, not a Jeff or Mark or Elon or Peter.
Ban all leaf blowers – electric and gas. Electric violate any noise ordinance and are completely unnecessary. It takes longer to blow leaves than to sweep them. I tested this in a lab
40 citation in a year, is shameful. I believe law enforcement is just not interested in writing tickets for e bikes. I can see 40 violations in a weeks time standing in my driveway. It will take a serious accident and a law suit filed against the city for this to get any serious attention.
The Council themselves recognize the iconic status of the King Harbor sign. A photograph of the King Harbor sign from 1969 illustrates that the sign has not significantly changed since its installation. The font, color and imagery has always been the brand of Redondo Beach. To throw it out is disrespectful of Redondo’s history and disrespectful to Redondo residents.
The artwork in the middle had substantive changes each time the sign underwent maintenance. The current artwork is less than 15 years old. The flags and decorative elements on the 1969 sign were removed in 2003
There’s no question that eBikes and their riders are OUT OF CONTROL. They blow through stoplights on busy streets. They never stop at stop signs. They pass right-turning cars on the right side. And now, they assault senior citizens. Hopefully they get felony records that keep their little Manhattan Beach bodies out of colleges and have to flip burgers – or better yet – live with their parents…….
BCHD hid the options from the public and used a bogus working group to evaluate, claiming it was made up of residents. The group really had 2 board members, 2 top BCHD executives, 2 BCHD committee members and former Hermosa mayor who has been a long time BCHD supporter and volunteer. This is another BCHD CODE BROWN – transparency at BCHD is BROWN and CLOUDY.
Godspeed to Rick. I used to live a few doors down from Java Man and spent countless hours in there studying , drinking their great coffee or chai tea. And, Ocean Diner was always the first choice when going out for breakfast. We even chose OD for a meal after planning my late father’s funeral a couple years ago because we wanted good food and a warm surrounding — Ocean Diner was it. Thanks for this great tribute Kevin.
This is a timeless, welcoming icon in our City. To change any one piece of it shows a lack of respect to our city heritage and is short-sided thinking. Every dollar to change any aspect of this sign would be wasted, as the next “branding trend” in fonts, imagery, colors to come along will make it outdated. Leave it alone and honor its beloved place in our city.
Congratulations Steve !!! Your leadership experience, common sense and integrity will be a welcomed change in the City of Hermosa Beach. Our “Little Beach City” has been truly blessed.
Great decision to appoint Napolitano as City Manager and what an upgrade on the last City Manager. Time for Jackson & Detoy to resign as they are against all that is good in Hermosa. A new dawn for the people of Hermosa.
$93 million dollars in added taxes on Redondo Beach homeowners, not renters, just to replace what we already have existing as public facilities. No increased square footage for police and fire employees to perform their jobs. A marketing con job by these city representatives and employee political action associations to fool the voters and extract all this money. The old adage seems appropriate. You get what you pay for. Sadly, for homeowners now saddled to the tune of $93 million, you’re getting what you already have.
Public Comment Is a Right, Not a Courtesy
I appreciated Robert Carlborg’s recent letter, and I want to underscore a point many residents may not realize. What happened to Police Association President John Banach at the December 2 Council meeting was not simply a lapse in courtesy — it was a matter of government process and legality.
The Mayor interrupted Mr. Banach less than ten seconds into his remarks and then refused to return the time he took. Traditionally, Redondo Beach has allowed speakers leeway, and the Council has always had the ability to make a simple motion to extend time. As Mr. Carlborg noted, no one did.
This sets a troubling precedent: members of the public — including police officers — are being held to “rules” that do not legally exist, while elected officials apply their own standards inconsistently and without accountability. That is not how open government is supposed to function.
Residents should expect better. Public comment is a right, not a privilege. Respect is something City leadership earns by listening to the people they serve — not by cutting off microphones or interrupting speakers without lawful authority.
Redondo Beach deserves better than this.
This whole City Council meeting was disgusting in the way Jim Light & Zein Obagi reacted & disrespected speakers & Residents. Light & Kaluderovic were snickering & laughing while I was speaking, most likely out of embarrassment as I called them out on useless & ineffective they both are.
This is certainly nothing new though. Light doesn’t want to hear from anyone who wants real issues looked at & resolved. He doesn’t want to hear from anyone who disagrees with him. You have a chance with him though if you are in his inner circle or are one of his Overlord’s.
This entire Redondo Beach City Government has been derelict in its duties to provide Quality of Life to Redondo Beach Residents as was Light’s campaign slogan. They don’t want to listen, & especially don’t want to take action on resolving important public safety & noise issues. That would be too difficult for them.
While Light is focused on his parks & recreation pet projects & writing fluff pieces on Facebook all day long, certain parts of the City of Redondo Beach get the ghetto treatment from him. He & this City Council are out of touch with Residents, only looking out for themselves. This City needs a real cleansing & it needs to start from the top down.
Actually, this Council has fairly and objectively administered the published rules of conduct and time limits clearly defined in the agenda. Many cities have experienced gadflies wasting the public’s agenda time allocation. Torrance for example cuts everyone’s mike after one minute of testimony. Our Council feels one minute or even two minutes is too short. So we have stuck with the three minute time limit. But to ensure objectivity and consistency, we have enforced the time limit strictly for everyone. We’ve been doing that for over a year.
I did interrupt Officer Banach early in his testimony. PD Union Members stood up blocking people’s views and violating the public rules of conduct. I timed the interruption (I have a timer on the dias). And it was nine seconds before the City Clerk stopped the public timer. Officers Banach continued and the Clerc started the timer where it left off. As the public timer went to zero, I waiting five seconds and kindly asked Officer Banach to wrap up his comments. Anticipating he would comply and thus letting him gain back his time lost. But Banach disregarded the request, a Point of Order from a Council member, and further requests to yield the floor.
With other union members in the audience, Banach could have easily yielded the floor and then had another union member complete his statement using a full three minutes. Indeed at the last meeting, that is exactly what the PD union members did.
We have protocols for members of the public who violate the rules of conduct. Now we have to develop one for when our own police officers violate those rules. I never anticipated we’d have to do that. Nevertheless, I respect Officer Banach and all our first responders who serve our community. I attribute the transgression to his newness in the public testimony.
City Council needs to remember the State is forcing High-Density developments in already “Built Out” Cities. Look what happened to North Redondo (Re-Condo) when a ton of single family homes were replaced with 3-4 unit Townhouse projects creating higher density with an increase in population and traffic which results in higher demands on police and fire services. Building a Police Facility the “same size” as what currently exists is a HUGE mistake. The Manhattan Beach Police and Fire Facility is much smaller than it should have been. There was no room for growth and expansion. It’s much better than the former facility, but a mistake to not plan for future realistic needs. I think this comment is a politically correct statement that is not considering the realistic future of Redondo Police and Fire needs… “We’re proportionally right-sized, we’re a fairly built-out community”
The disrespect of the Mayor and some city council members appears to be systemic.
At the December 2nd meeting of the city council I found it rich that the Mayor scolded John Banach for running over his 3 minutes. The Mayor said, “Ashamed when our own people do not follow the rules” then adding, it was “inappropriate for him to go over like that” As a first responder you would think he would have showed him some respect and someone would have made a motion to extend his time. But no, he had to try and publiclly shame him. The Mayors actions drew much criticism from members of the Next Door community as well.
Then when it came time for me and Darryl Boyd to speak, Council member Obagi got up and walked out of the meeting until Darryl was finished speaking. I think it is ashamed that the Mayor and City council do not want to hear from their constants that they keep raising about safety issues and do nothing about them. Maybe if they did, we would not have to keep speaking and you would not have to walk out of the room or just ignore us like you do. That is whats truly shameful.
John Perchulyn
Resident and taxpayer
My husband and I attended the Redondo Beach City Council meeting on December 2, to address complaints with a neighboring property. I was to speak after the POA president. I have grown up in the city, and my husband and I have lived in our home for 37 years. This was my first time attending a City Council meeting, let alone speak at a meeting. I was nervous to start with, and in watching the council’s treatment toward the POA President I was very very upset. By the time I walked up to the microphone, I couldn’t get my thoughts straight.
My husband and I have been dealing with construction and post construction issues for 4 years. The city has not addressed our repeated complaints. In fact, they have made things worse. I have been ignored by the mayor and the new councilman states he is getting no where with our issues. I knew I had 3 minutes to get my point across. But, witnessing the council be so disrespectful to an individual who puts his life on the line for our city was disconcerting. By the time I was at 1:50 seconds, I knew I was doomed. I finished in time, without getting my points across, as I did not want to be disrespected.
Redondo Beach citizens and the Police Officers are entitled to RESPECT. The council needs to remember who they represent.
Per usual, CEQA failed us. CEQA pays no attention to the health and welfare impacts of vibration, noise, and sleep interruptions caused by either construction operation of a 24/7/365 operation through residential, R-1 neighborhoods. The research is clear from a number of sources. BCHD’s $2M Blue Zones LLC contractor shows that noise is chronic stress, and calls chronic stress the “silent killer”. Further, Blue Zones even declares noise and stress to cause changes to children’s DNA, creating lifelong damage. But yet, neither Metro nor BCHD was forced to consider health damages due to flaws in CEQA.
Run it down the middle of Hawthorne. The incremental noise, vibration and health damages will be de minimis. On the other hand, going from a couple trains a day to 10 per hour, 24/7/365 will have a deathly impact on those who live near the route through residential housing.
CEQA also doesn’t consider property value damage. Obviously, these properties will take a serious hit during the decade of construction and then for the next 100 years of operation. And all that time, taxpayers will subsidize the underused, revenue deficient local rail option.
Please read the FEIR, the noise studies show that when the light rail is running it is the sound of a whisper and after the freight modernization the overall noise levels are reduced. In fact, it shows the noise levels for Hawthorne increase because it is higher and the sound travels farther so the decision is – whisper for Lawndale residents or more ambient noise for Torrance residents.
IN ORDER TO BE FAIR, THIS ARTICLE AND THE REBUTTAL SHOULD BE REVERSED ON A DAILY BASIS. OTHERWISE, THE PROPONENTS OF THE TRAIN LINE WILL HAVE A CLEAR ADVANTAGE IN MESSAGING.
Per usual, CEQA failed us. CEQA pays no attention to the health and welfare impacts of vibration, noise, and sleep interruptions caused by either construction operation of a 24/7/365 operation through residential, R-1 neighborhoods. The research is clear from a number of sources. BCHD’s $2M Blue Zones LLC contractor shows that noise is chronic stress, and calls chronic stress the “silent killer”. Further, Blue Zones even declares noise and stress to cause changes to children’s DNA, creating lifelong damage. But yet, neither Metro nor BCHD was forced to consider health damages due to flaws in CEQA.
Run it down the middle of Hawthorne. The incremental noise, vibration and health damages will be de minimis. On the other hand, going from a couple trains a day to 10 per hour, 24/7/365 will have a deathly impact on those who live near the route through residential housing.
CEQA also doesn’t consider property value damage. Obviously, these properties will take a serious hit during the decade of construction and then for the next 100 years of operation. And all that time, taxpayers will subsidize the underused, revenue deficient local rail option.
So, an Ad Hominem attack is all you have? Resorting to calling someone a NIMBY, especially when they are advocating for the project to be moved to a spot that is STILL IN THEIR BACKYARD (Hawthorne Blvd is a major thoroughfare and STILL IN LAWNDALE) to avoid unmitigatable environmental damage is oddly gaslighting. Do better.
Historically, property values surge along mass transit corridors. Homes near the Metro E Line have risen by 54%, with the most dramatic gains around Culver City’s highly sought-after stations. Beyond housing, the E Line has breathed new life into Washington Boulevard’s downtown commercial district and La Cienega Boulevard, sparking shopping centers and mixed-use developments. The Galleria could easily draw inspiration from Culver City’s transformation—its revitalization, job creation, and booming business tax revenues are the envy of every beach city.
Electric trains are quiet, clean, and efficient—typically just two to three cars long, producing only a fraction of the noise compared to mile-long diesel locomotives. Yet, curiously, some self-proclaimed “environmentalists” embrace BNSF’s polluting diesel trains without objection, while opposing electrified rail. That stance feels less about protecting the environment and more about protecting entrenched interests, much like gasoline car makers resisting change. Also…Metro does not run 24/7/365. I actually ride the metro myself and I know when somebody pretends they know how the trains run. (first train out is 4 am and last train end of line is 1 am on weekdays, it can be as paltry low as once every 20 minutes on non-rush hour)
As someone who values genuine environmental progress, I’ll say it plainly: electrified mass transit is good. Internal combustion traffic and smog are bad. And frankly, I’d rather avoid massive elevated structures looming over Hawthorne when Metro already has a perfectly functional right-of-way ready to serve its intended purpose.
Hmmm, it’s not so hard to understand. They have a single freight train pass today. The ROW route would move the rails closer to homes and add 200+ light rail trips per day. Light rail is not quiet. I’d hate to have it run behind my house 200 times a day, all day and night. The lack of empathy for fellow community members is disturbing.
This expensive project is meant to reduce cars on the road and increase ridership. It is also meant to last 50 -100 years. Metro’s own analysis shows the Hawthorne route would increase ridership by 1 million riders per year over the ROW route. It also mitigates all of the negative impacts on long established neighborhoods.
More ridership, less impacts…. seems the Hawthorne route is the superior alternative. We should not suboptimize 100 year infrastructure for the short term saving.
The Metro right of way already has trains running on it today. Modern light rail and the upgrades to the freight track will actually reduce overall noise and vibration compared to what residents hear now. Electric trains do not have diesel rumble or horns, and the project includes noise walls and other mitigation that improve current conditions.
Hawthorne is not a real alternative. It would require approvals from Caltrans, Southern California Edison, and multiple utility relocations. It would also require acquiring several private properties. Construction on Hawthorne would mean long lane closures, major traffic impacts, and serious harm to small businesses. Residents would deal with years of disruption without any benefit, because there would not be any train stops on Hawthorne. Lawndale made it clear they did not want stations.
The environmental claims that opponents are making are not supported by the actual analysis. Metro does not run trains 24 hours a day, and the idea of trains running every few minutes all night is false. Metro light rail produces much lower vibration than freight trains. CEQA focuses on measurable noise levels, and the modeling shows that noise will be the same or lower than current freight operations. Claims about extreme health impacts or stress-related DNA changes are not part of any scientific review in CEQA and do not reflect how the project actually operates.
The right of way avoids displacement, avoids business impacts, and has the lowest construction footprint. It will also be quieter than today and can be built faster and at a lower cost.
The concerns people have for a Hawthorne Boulevard alignment also exist on the ROW. The ROW also requires the acquisition of private properties and entire businesses (look at Metro’s “Real Estate Acquisition Report” in the FEIR). The ROW also requires major utility relocations including moving 5 jet fuel pipelines in 4 different locations (again, this is straight out of the FEIR). At least one of these pipelines serves as a major jet fuel source for LAX and the pipeline’s owner has warned Metro that even a little downtime to relocate the pipeline will cause major disruptions to air travel at LAX (see Torrance Logistics letter in the FEIR).
Residents will also deal with “years of disruption without any benefit” on the ROW just as you are worried about on Hawthorne. In fact, it will be even worse “disruption without benefit” on the ROW as everything is being built feet from homes. Traffic impacts will also be shifted to other major thoroughfares on Inglewood Ave and Manhattan Beach Boulevard instead of Hawthorne. Even just ONE lane closure on Inglewood Ave this week caused major backups from the 405 almost to Artesia Blvd. Imagine what it will be like when major construction begins. But you really shouldn’t be concerned with traffic because you already ride public transit to avoid traffic right? And maybe a little traffic is impetus for people to switch to public transit.
Finally, the Right of Way absolutely does not “avoid displacement” and “avoid major business impacts”… and that’s straight out of the FEIR. You are free to support whichever route you want but at the very least, stop pretending like the ROW doesn’t face many of the same major obstacles you cite for Hawthorne Boulevard.
1 freight train per day versus 200+ light rail passes per day PLUS the one freight train per day. Hmmm, I think it is a no brainer which one I would pick. The lack of empathy for fellow community members is so, so sad.
You said “ The environmental claims that opponents are making are not supported by the actual analysis. Metro does not run trains 24 hours a day, and the idea of trains running every few minutes all night is false. Metro light rail produces much lower vibration than freight trains.”
First of all, there has been NO actual analysis by Metro; they even disallowed the city of Lawndale from doing their own soil tests, so a non-profit environmental agency did them.
Second, Metro will likely run train from 6 AM to 2 AM— because after all this does go to the airport! It is very likely that the BNSF freight trains will only run when Metro is not, so they will be lugging oil tankers between 2 AM and 6 AM. Therefore, NON-STOP VIBRATION.
And just like the LAX people-mover contractor fiasco, the issue of a contractor moving SEVEN sensitive oil pipes is still up in the air and would be another in a long line of famously bad Metro debacles.
Electric buses down Hawthorne Boulevard, in its own lane (with traffic light prioritization) would SAVE MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, be ready by the Olympics, and serve the entire community much better. Have the bus go straight from the Torrance Transit Center to LAX, if that’s what Torrance wants!
From Gemini AI – High Cost – Low Ridership – Trains are a Taxpayer Money SUMP
No, most, if not all, public light rail systems in California, and across the U.S., do not break even; they rely heavily on taxpayer subsidies, with even the best performers like Caltrain only covering about 70% of operational costs through fares, while major systems like LA Metro and BART need billions in support, indicating a significant gap between fare revenue and expenses for California transit overall.
Key Findings on California Light Rail & Transit
No Fare-Only Break-Even: There isn’t a single public transit system in the U.S. that fully covers its operating expenses with fares, and California is no exception.
LA Metro & Muni: These large systems face huge budget shortfalls, needing billions in public funds to cover deficits, according to a 2025 study.
Sacramento, Orange County, San Jose: These systems also have low farebox recovery, with San Jose bringing in only about 7% of its operating budget from fares.
Systemic Funding Issue: California transit agencies are often underfunded compared to other states and struggle due to “car culture,” requiring substantial taxpayer support to function.
Why They Don’t Break Even
High Capital Costs: Building and maintaining rail infrastructure is extremely expensive.
Low Ridership: Many systems, especially in large, spread-out areas like LA, struggle with low ridership relative to investment, leading to inefficient use of funds.
Do freeways and toll roads break even? Last I checked they are 100% subsidized. Much better than 30% subsidies you mention for public transit. Public transit serves the most marginalized populations who don’t own a car.
Robert Carlborg’s LTE says Redondo pays RBPD “dead last” relative to other cities. Our first responders deserve better. I disagree about Redondo’s “stable financial condition” especially relative to our neighbors.
Many in Redondo, including me, voted for slow/no growth in favor of parks and open space. At the time, it seemed like the right choice. Today, comparing Redondo’s pier and the Galleria to El Segundo’s Pointe, Manhattan Village and the Hermosa Pier, it is clear why Redondo lags in revenue growth. Our neighbors invested at much lower costs and interest rates and are now reaping the financial benefits, such as higher pay for workers and new facilities.
I now support candidates who show the ability to work with, not fight, people to support Redondo. My hope is by doing so, Redondo can participate in the revenue generation our neighbors enjoy and pay Redondo employees what they deserve. I would encourage RBPD to do the same.
From this read, it seems to imply a desire to NOT clean up toxic soil. This is counterintuitive to environmental justice that generally requests for toxins to be removed from their neighborhood. Especially since kids and dogs are playing on the freight rails now. Further, reading through the EIR under Hazardous Materials, the section 3.9 about the right of way says that historical rail lines can have heavy metals. The mitigation solution recommended is to remove contaminated soil and this was determined that the impact was less than significant. This is often done very safely. So PLEASE don’t discourage cleaning up contaminated soils.
I understand and am very sympathetic to the need for open space and that you Chelsea do not want the light rail next to the existing freight rail but this latest opposition is a complete grasp at straws.
If you want to report on e-bikes safety issues, do it. This, however, is supposed to be an article about a brutal attack on an innocent man by juvenile criminals. Their choice of transportation to the crime had no bearing on their ensuing actions. Based upon all available information, the bikes played zero role in this assaut. These disturbed teens did not use their bikes as weapons, nor did they run the man over. Please report responsibly and avoid stoking unnecessary hostility toward our community’s youth, the vast majority of whom are not involved in a “gang”, are not criminally-minded, and ride their bikes lawfully and responsibly.
Jackson voted against Napolitano? No surprise there. He was the one who dismissed fines imposed by Hermosa Beach against residents with Airbnb rentals, and Jackson can’t abide that.
Yes, Steve is very capable and one has to wonder why he’s taken this job. There’s nothing in it for him. The first thing he needs to do is a full SUJ-ECTOMY and remove the SUJA bloat from the budget. Since he’s there, he should clean up the mess SUJA left.
Once again HB Police Chief Phillips is less than correct in saying, “all involved parties were identified with the help of school officials” as they were first identified by the parent of one of the attackers who came forward. He tries to take credit for solving a case that solved itself by the parent coming forward. He says that the Police cannot be in two places at once. But if they are Patrolling Downtown, the Strand by Pier Avenue is in Downtown. Therefore, it would be very simple for the Police to identify & for once issue a ticket for riding an e-bike on the Strand. Maybe the Chief could explain in detail why the other five e-biker gangsters were not charged. Is it because one of those parents is associated with the City?
Time for HB Police Chief to go. Only 40 e-bike tickets in a year is disgusting, as per Carl’s letter this week. Out of that total I doubt that any were for riding e-bikes on the Strand.
I am not sure how Chelsea can argue both that the soil along the right of way contains arsenic, creosote, lead, and other toxins and also claim that the C Line extension would destroy Lawndale’s only meaningful green space. If the soil is truly as hazardous as she describes, it is not safe for children or pets to play in today. You cannot argue that the soil is too toxic to disturb, while insisting it is perfectly safe as a public park until Metro arrives.
Let’s be honest about what is happening. The opposition to this project was organized long before any environmental claims were made. They even named themselves “Right of Say.” Only later did they try to market their opposition through environmental concerns. The truth is that they do not want a light rail line near their homes and are now searching for arguments that sound more respectable or more alarming. I can sympathize with people who would simply prefer not to live near rail, but that does not justify misrepresenting the facts or mischaracterizing the FEIR.
The fear-based messaging is a last ditch effort to stop a project that has been planned for decades and that will benefit thousands of people across the South Bay and beyond. The C Line extension down the Metro right of way will be safer and quieter than the freight trains that already run there today, especially after the sound walls and modern track upgrades are complete. Metro has gone out of its way to accommodate residents, including plans to add new walking and biking paths and to replace trees and landscaping.
There is no mitigation Metro can offer that will satisfy the opponents, because their objections are not grounded in the actual environmental analysis. They simply do not want the project. That is their right to feel, but it should not derail an important regional investment that will reduce traffic, expand mobility, and improve the corridor for everyone.
Honestly, the changes are subtle and not a big of a deal. I don’t know why some people are all upset about it. Of course, the loudest and most upset are the ones showing up to complain. To me, I don’t care that much and the changes look fine. I suspect most people feel the same and just stay silent because we have more important things to spend energy on. It looks similar, it’s a thoughtful update. Hardly anyone can see the fuzzy image in the middle and the new city logo is pretty nice.
I definitely agree the sign needs maintenance work. It doesn’t look good right now so the work has to get done. Might as well make the updates while they’re up there!
Remember: This letter to the editor is Paid for by Metro. “South Bay Forward” gets paid as an organization to do positive PR for this project and gets paid for all the materials, time and effort to spread Metro’s messaging. I imagine they probably invoiced metro for the time to write this too. Personally, I trust real community voices and our city councils… not paid PR groups from mostly Torrance (who obviously want this because they won’t face any downsides from this project like two of their South Bay neighboring cities). Remember— Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale and Hawthorne city councils have all officially voted to oppose the Right of Way alignment for this project. Inglewood Mayor James Butts who is the South Bay rep on the Metro Board has also essentially said this project is facing massive funding issues and they will have to make some “tough decisions” because of that.
Metro’s CBOs are supported by Metro. You yourself may be a volunteer, but your events, your leadership, your propaganda, etc are reimbursed by Metro LA. Why won’t you just admit to something that a FOI request will confirm?
What a traitor to his community. Lemme guess… he is a relatively new homeowner in Lawndale, moved in from a beach city, and has no friends in the Lawndale…
How’d I do?
I lived in Lawndale for years. I support the right of way because not only does it make the most sense, but the Hawthorne option is not a realistic alternative. Everyone knows that if Metro doesn’t build this on the right of way, the project dies.
I guess that makes you a traitor to your community of the South Bay — trying to kill the only legitimate option to bring commuter rail to the South Bay,
I fully respect all our First Responders. And our Council is committed to supporting them with budget, equipment, training, technology, and services. I am disappointed that PD has chosen to go public with misinformation while we are in active negotiations that are conducted in closed session.
Retired officer Carlbourg mischaracterizes many facts in his LTE.
Unfortunately, like many cities, Redondo has experienced gadflies dominating the time for public participation on non-agenda items period on the agenda. Torrance for example has strictly limited public testimony to one minute. We were advised that we had to be objective and consistent on extending the 3 minute comment period. The Council has decided to strictly observe the three minute time limit for all speakers to eliminate any perception of favoritism or discrimination. Anyone attending or watching city council meetings for the past year will have seen this strict adherence to time limits regardless of the speaker’s affiliation. The rules of conduct and decorum have been clearly published on the doors of the Council Chamber, in the lobby, and at the podium. And the agenda clearly states the three minute time limit. Before opening the floor to the public, I clearly repeat that there is a three minute time limit for any speaker.
In this case, I did interrupt Officer Banach early in his testimony to ask the union members in the audience to sit down so all could see (as clearly covered in the Rules of Conduct for the public). This took up 9 seconds before the City Clerk stopped his timer. As Officer Banach continued, I waited 5 seconds anfter the timer went to zero and then politely asked Officer Banach to wrap up his comments. This was intentional to enable him to gain back the 9 seconds he lost to my interruption. He ignored the request to wrap up and refused to yield the floor for nearly another minute…even after a point of order from another Councilmember. Police Officers are not above the rules of conduct. And they should yield when asked by the meeting chair. We have protocols for when a member of the public refuses to yield. Now, sadly, we have to make a new protocol for when our own police officers refuse to follow the rules of conduct.
Officer Banach had other members of the union in the audience… any one of whom could have completed Banach’s message and taken a full three minutes to do it. I attribute his actions to Banach’s newness to public testimony and I still respect him for his service to our community. But he still should have respected the request to yield the floor. Of anyone participating in the public meeting, I would expect our own PD would respect the rules and the request of the Chair and the Council.
As to the other statements made by Carlbourg and Banach, I cannot go into details because the negotiations are in closed session. Suffice it to say not everything stated is factual or complete.
Anyone reviewing our published budget can see that the City’s General Fund is in deficit and had to be augmented from reserves. It seems the officers do not understand that the Council cannot take money from specific funds and spend them on whatever we like. Quimby Fees must be spent on parks. Transportation funds must be spent on roads and other transportation projects. Revenues from the harbor area leases, parking and use fees, must be spent in the harbor area per state law. I do not consider eating into reserves stable or sustainable. And with travel down nationally, I don’t see next year being much better.
The City budget also shows that over 60% of our General Fund is spent on staff salaries and benefits. On a per staff member basis, we spend more on PD salary and benefits than the rest of staff – you can find all this in the budget. This Council remains committed to supporting our first responders despite statements to the contrary.
Objections to the Metro proposal operating along the (ROW) including all effected
Neighboring properties located in Redondo Beach, Lawndale and Hawthorne
1. Loss of Quiet Enjoyment of our Property per California Real Estate Law, Civil Code 1927 The “Convenient of Quiet Enjoyment”, but not limited to: Excessive Sound Noise Nuisance, Vibrations, Air Pollution, Diesel fuel Fumes, trash, Transients, possible
Homeless encampments, Graffiti and bright Lighting and electrical EMF. 2. City Of Redondo Beach Noise Laws, Title 4, Public Welfare Chapter 24 Noise regulations: prohibit noise or and Nuisance noise prior to 7:00Am and after 10:00 Pm subject to all
other sound previsions per the Regulations Law. 3. Presents a clear Determent to the Health, Mental Health, Welfare and Safety of all
Residents including Children and their Quality of Life.
4. Loss of Property Values and Loss of Use. 5. Damage to Building Foundation and other structures due to increased weight and
ground pressure located in close proximity of Residential Property.
6. Inadequate surrounding infrastructures of surface roads. 7. Clear and potential Terrorist threat due to the close location of electric Trains traveling along side of freight Trains that are hauling tanker cars containing “Liquid Petroleum” If a fire occurred it would cause Catastrophic chain reaction explosion that could wipe out
entire Neighborhoods.
8. Invasion of privacy: (Penal Code 646)
9. Not Highest and Best Land use in a Residential neighborhood. We find that the Metro proposed location along the (ROW) running parallel and encroaching on to Residential neighborhoods unacceptable. In addition to the shocking length of Construction, the proposed scheduled frequency of electric Train traffic at 0400am to 0:100 hours of operation every 15 minutes. Ignoring Local City Noise abatement Laws and Californians Right to Quiet Enjoyment of Residential Property. FEIR warnings of the petroleum
gas and jet fuel lines beneath the ground surface along the ROW. Suffice to say, our tax dollars will be best spent by reason of forethought in design and highest and best use by considering “The Metro Green line extension alternative” running along Hawthorne Blvd. This location will benefit the Retail and Commercial districts for ease of access, safety, thriving commerce and to the betterment of all future development. The
Hawthorne Bld location will best link people to and from businesses and shopping. *A third alternative to consider will be Electric Busses and anonymous designs VS Trains
providing better and safer service coverage to all.
Respectfully, David Zappacosta- Resident owner at 2750 Artesia Blvd. Unit 261, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, Breakwater Village Senior Community, Redondo Beach, CA
NO on ROW!
Objections were basically moot on the fact every “affected” homeowners voluntarily bought homes next to an active railroad. The railroads were there long before any homes were built…circa 1910s. Residents who choose to live next to a railroad don’t get to end rail activities. Since you are fond of quoting laws…The Interstate Commerce Act, established in 1887, and then the Interstate Commission Termination Act (“ICCTA”) of 1995 grants the Surface Transportation Board (“STB”) authority over rail service, not local residents. It’s federal law that governs rails. You can’t legislate locally to override rail access and movement because that’s not your jurisdiction.
The City of Torrance and several Metro-sponsored/affiliated groups like SouthBay Fwd have been funding Metro’s PR (disguised as simply “information”) on the ROW project, even before Torrance was gifted their Transit Center which sits at the edge of a refinery abs adjacent to a storage faculty.
TORRANCE IS THE ONLY SOUTHBAY CITY THAT IS ON RECORD SUPPORTING THE ROW ALIGNMENT, and they have spent millions on propaganda and outreach. RB, HB, Lawndale, & Hawthorne city councils ALL SUPPORT THE HAWTHORNE Blvd alignment.
Meanwhile, the City of Lawndale and their residents are the most negatively impacted and are always having to beg Metro for even basic information. They have filed FOI requests that are delayed again and again—trying to figure out what is going on, and what Metro’s relationship is with “grassroots” groups they have been subsidizing to do “engagement.”
I have lived and worked in Torrance for over 25 years, and I hear what real people say about the off-putting location of the Torrance Transit Center… let’s just keep it short and polite: no one is enthusiastic about that location .
In case you are not familiar with the area:
The Torrance Transit Center at 465 Crenshaw Blvd sits about 2.3 miles from Del Amo Fashion Center Mall (3525 W Carson St.) Walking takes 36-45 minutes due to the distance and limited pedestrian paths along industrial Crenshaw Blvd!
The Transit Center is also roughly 4-5 miles from downtown Torrance—using Torrance City Hall at 3031 Torrance Blvd. as a reference.) Walking spans 60-90 minutes across highways and low-density areas, making it impractical. No direct bus exists; options like Line 1 or 4X with transfers take 45-70 minutes total, depending on traffic and schedules. Torrance Transit Line 6 provides direct service in about 20-30 minutes during peak weekday hours, though waits can exceed 40 minutes off-peak!
Sooo many environmental justice groups find this project absolutely repugnant! (See SouthBayEnviroJusticeAlliance on Instagram.)
This article fails to mention that rail tracks are toxic because the wood (ties) are treated with creosote, which is a carcinogenic tar-like substance, and the jagged rocks (called ballasts.) When this stuff is disturbed during demolition or construction, the wood spreads cancer-causing dust, and the rocks produce fine particles which embed deeply in lung tissue, impairs oxygen uptake and leads to conditions like silicosis.
Rail workers will have protective breathing equipment when doing this work, but there are STILL plenty of workman’s comp lawsuits… But the Lawndale families who literally live within a few yards of this activity will NOT HAVE ANY PROTECTION.
In fact, Metro sponsored SB 71, which extends and expands CEQA exemptions for transit projects within existing rights-of-way until 2040! This allows Metro to accelerate track work along lines like the K Line without full environmental reviews. Critics argue this bypasses scrutiny of localized air quality and health impacts in vulnerable neighborhoods!
This clearly should be underground, and if certified, it will be a (another) bad stain— not only LA Metro’s reputation—but the Metro board members who let this happen.
Let’s all hope they don’t have their sites set on higher offices.
SBEJA is just ONE group, not “so many”. Their only item is stopping the c-line extension. Note that SB71 does not exempt projects from AQMD requirements.
There was a huge turnout to make the South Bay cog stay the course and support this project over NIMBY objections. The toxic soil allegations are laughable; if the soil is so toxic then why do residents take walks and treat the row like a walking path?
Sure… the HUGE turnout was Torrance officials, Metro officials, and SouthBay Fwd and other Metro-sponsored CBOs. Congrats on spending PR resources well to squash a city for selfish reasons.
Metro doesn’t “sponsor” CBOs, they don’t pay them, don’t control who joins the organizations, doesn’t direct the organizations opinions. Metro seeks out local community based organizations for input into projects from local residents. Torrance chamber membership is LOCAL businesses that give input. SBBC is LOCAL bike advocates you can thank for bike lanes, League of Women Voters are LOCAL women. ANY organization can register as a CBO to give input and that input can shape projects.
Metro absolutely pays CBOs for expenses, time, etc. to promote projects. I was once part of a CBO that would invoice Metro thousands of dollars for time and materials to sit at bus stops and transit centers spreading Metro messaging for a project (not this one). South Bay Forward absolutely gets money from Metro.
Yes, the huge turnout at the COG meeting was not because people wanted a train, but actually because everyone who disagrees with you is getting paid thousands of dollars to shill for public transit. Either that, or they’re all secretly working for Torrance.
Ok Alex… I never even mentioned the COG meeting and you haven’t done anything to disprove my point. All I said was South Bay Forward absolutely gets funding from Metro as a CBO after you said Metro doesn’t pay them (which is false). They also get a list of talking points Metro wants to get out there (South Bay forward literally has a link to “CBO talking points” document in their online toolkit… this isn’t some conspiracy).
Correction – the vote was 6-2 with only Lawndale and Redondo Beach wanting to choose a preferred route. This is a great asset for the South Bay on either route and asCouncilmember Obagi said in the meeting a vote for general support is a vote for the RIGHT OF WAY. Im a North Redondo Beach Resident and am appalled that Obagi was trying to strong arm support from other cities by threatening litigation if Hawthorne is chosen. Is he really a RB councilman or Lawndale? The last thing Redondo needs is another lawsuit especially on a project that has been in planning stages for over 4 decades. Longer than most of the opponents to the project have been in the South Bay.
Chelsea Schreiber the person behind South Bay Environmental Justice Alliance is a journalist and social media marketing manager. She represents a small group of people that are being manipulated by fear. So many inaccuracies are spread that the data in the EIR does not support. This is a document and studies developed by independent professional experts in their fields, not an Instagrammer looking for sound bites.
What was left out of the article was how many local residents and community groups came to the SBCOG meeting in SUPPORT of the rail extension. This is the “silent majority” speaking out because the rail extension is SO IMPORTANT!!
Hawthorne Blvd isn’t better at all if you READ the FEIR documents. There is a storm water main (giant pipe) in the center of Hawthorne that would need to be moved. There are 11 businesses that lose their property with the Hawthorne Alignment. That also means permanent lost tax revenue for Lawndale and Torrance that takes money directly away from programming for the whole city.
The right of way doesn’t encroach on people’s homes, people have extended their back yard into public land.
Remediating contaminated soil is addressed in the EIR and is considered “less than significant”.
Oh yes everyone at the COG really enjoyed all the mass submitted form letters by “community groups” all verbatim copied and pasted from South Bay Forward— which is paid by metro to spin positive PR for this project. Even the other organizations who submitted letters of support literally copied and pasted what South Bay Forward sent them. There’s at least 5 identical letters from “community organizations” in the public comments which were all South Bay Forward’s form letter with a different letterhead slapped on it. Opposition to the ROW is not just a few people. Its entire city councils including Lawndale, Redondo, Hermosa and Hawthorne. Its state representatives for the area too. Obagi isn’t threatening a lawsuit by himself. The Redondo City Council has authorized money for a lawsuit as has the Lawndale City Council.
NIMBYs were clearly outnumbered by people who want better transit for the future. Obagi seems more eager to spend money on a lawsuit which the city doesn’t have for a detailed study to find out the perceived environmental “damages” he’s alleging. Without a study, he’s only speculating about the environmental damages… a study which he has not funded. Cart before the horse situation. This lawsuit is a paper tiger threat when actual damages have not been established. It’s like alleging some kind of toxic Love canal situation simply because you don’t want electric trains to actually use Metro’s Right of Way. if that area is such a toxic cesspool, why aren’t you suing BNSF? Why aren’t people evacuating the area? Why is the city not doing anything about a clean up? Weird.
The person you mentioned is NOT “behind” SouthBay Environmental Justice Alliance, no more than you are “behind” McDonalds because you are on the fry station.
“North Redondo” huh…?
More like North SouthBay Fwd…
I know you would love to think that the opposition is from one person or even just a small group of people. But you know deep down that’s not correct! After all, the City Councils of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale, and Hawthorne have ALL come out AGAINST using the ROW, and to use Hawthorne Blvd instead. But, I’m sure you will say that all of them are NIMBY’s too, huh?
At the meeting, there were dozens of people online who complained after the fact that they were not called on. (Not everyone has Metro supporting their advocacy.)
This makes me really sad… The fact that there are people who are willing to overlook the valid concerns of an entire community for their own perceived “convenience.” Ignoring the fact that the same convenience can happen on Hawthorne Boulevard. Either way many of these Torrance politicians will be too old to enjoy any alignment!
I think the bike people assume that the new “walking path” on the ROW will allow them to walk from the OLD RB station to Torrance .
NOPE.
Look at the FEIR; you will see that there is absolutely no room to continue a bike path or any other kind of path south of 170th St!
The multiple choke points means that they will still be hitting Hawthorne Boulevard or even Crenshaw Boulevard.
Let’s remember that the City Councils of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale ALL DON’T WANT THIS ALIGNMENT! yet all of them want better connection to the rest of Los Angeles – down Hawthorne Boulevard or some other way that doesn’t hurt Southbay families…
It’s equally sad that a small selection of unreasonable people are single handedly blocking more public transit for everyone in Los Angeles. Also very sad that most public comments in the hermosa beach town hall were for the row to be used, but redondo beach politicians called in a favor over the will of the people
Nah… I watched that whole Hermosa meeting. There were a couple people speaking for the ROW but the majority of public comment was against the ROW. Majority of the council also had some scathing comments about how bad the ROW is. It’s pretty clear there isn’t the political will to get behind the ROW except if you are in Torrance or a Torrance Transit official.
You clearly never watched the meeting hermosa was pro row until this year when redondo called in a favor. Most of the people speaking for the Hawthorne alignment were from Lawndale.
It’s interesting (disgusting actually) how California agencies are allowed to do the Environmental Analysis of their OWN PROJECTS. No matter how damaging, they have the option of IGNORNING their environmental, health, and financial impacts on those who are ultimately assaulted by those impacts. This is a classic example. The health and property values of the ROW corridor will be severely damaged, yet Metro ignores ALL PROPERTY VALUE IMPACTS and PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS IN THE LOCAL PROJECT AREA.
Agencies & developers don’t do their own analysis, they hire subject matter experts to do years of studies. Professionally licensed engineers, surveyors, soils engineers etc are not going to jeopardize their own livelihood to slant real data. Have you ever tried to get on Metro’s contractor list. It’s very rigorous.
Thank you for writing this article Mike.
I so appreciate hearing of Doc’s house.
For years, beginning when I was 15 years old around 1978 I think it was, I would always roller skate on the strand and when passing by turn to look at the big window to see if anyone was up there checking the waves.
Over the years I wondered how Doc’s house all began. And it was so great to have found this article today and have the opportunity to read about this special time and see the pictures of the people I remember from my childhood.
I’m sorry to hear of Doc’s passing, yet happy to hear he was 92. A long and awesome life lived.
This OpEd is misleading at best. Saying 200 light rail trains passing through a neighborhood everyday is less of a noise impact than a single freight train pass per day is just not credible. This project moves the freight train closer to homes to make room for two light rail tracks. Also, all three lines will run on top of buried pipelines that transfer hazardous fuels. 200 trains per day passing over the pipelines increases the risk for pipeline failure and hazardous conditions. Running the light rail down the Hawthorne route mitigates all these impacts. It is a shame this group refuses to standup for their own community members.
And of course, the OpEd ignores that metro’s own analysis shows that using the Hawthorne route would increase ridership by over 1 million riders per year. The whole objective for the huge expense of extending the C Line (now the K Line) is to reduce cars on the road and to increase ridership. This infrastructure will be there for 50 to 100 years. With such a difference in ridership, the line should be built for the long term – not a short term money savings.
Increased ridership, reduced neighborhood impacts, reduced exposure to hazardous gas leaks makes the Hawthorne Route the appropriate choice. Why the SouthBayForward group fails to acknowledge this is a mystery to me. But perhaps worse is their willingness to throw their community members under the bus (or train in this case).
Just learned the news today and my heart is so heavy. Blessings to Tim, Ella and Ian. They know…Rick was special and so Loved! God Speed, Rick. Bob is waiting to share a joke and a hug .
Val
I feel for Mr. Boyd after so many years of dedication and offering a wonderful family friendly event. That said, he is now being petty and personal with those responsible for the parking lot. Time to let someone else sponsor and lead the next generation of car shows and follow administration policies. My best to Daryl and his personal agenda(s).
In MHO, the problem has mostly stemmed from Mr. Boyd’s aggressive attitude, inability to take criticism, and need for recognition regarding the car shows. He doesn’t seem to handle situations well and he seems to need to say he ran the car shows for 25 years when in fact, the family and he stepped away from them for 12 of those years. Larry Neville ran the car shows for those 12 years. We believe Covid happened, there was a pause in the shows, and Mr. Boyd insisted on running the shows after Covid opened back up.
We used to attend the car shows with our classic, along with a big group of friends but Mr. Boyd changed the atmosphere from the era of the oldies to loud hard rock n roll bands, became hostile towards some people and insisted that he deserved credit for all of the car show years, pushing Larry aside. When questioned about his lack of acknowledging someone who also ran the show for so long we were silenced by Mr. Boyd and unfriended on his Facebook page. Now it seems the same treatment he gave Larry is facing him down too.
We hope the car show resumes in 2026 with someone who can run the show with humbleness, patience and treat all attendees as friends. We will certainly look forward to supporting a new era of Classic Car Shows that peacefully runs itself under the new rules and fees. We will gladly pay for the privilege of parking our car in a parking space, whether the fee is $12 for parking or more, so the community can still enjoy the cars and the surrounding businesses can thrive from the attendance.
Mr. Boyd contradicts himself. First he said it’s not the permits he could afford them, then he says who in their right mind would pay up front and go in the hole. Which is it? For the record the City often negotiates payment after an event so the sponsor can generate the funds. So the operator would not have to pay all the fees at the start of the season. I’ve spoken to several who show their cars and several who are interested in running the show. When I asked what they thought of paying parking fees, they all felt that was fine. I loved the one response: “Do you know how much we spend on these cars? $2/hour to park is nothing…”
The miscommunication between City Staff and our harbor management company demonstrates exactly why there should be a permit. No “he said, she said”… all the terms written out clearly for all to see. Every other event in the harbor gets a permit. Time to formalize the agreement on the car show.
As to why none of the Council attended the last show (although I do think at least one walked through it), just read Mr. Boyd’s repeated personal attacks at Council Meetings and trolling on social media. Why would a council member walk into a potentially toxic public scene during a holiday celebration the spanned the whole pier and harbor?
In the end, I am confident we will have a car show in the harbor next summer. But it will have a proper permit.
Not sure how getting a permit and paying to park is ”ruining a good thing”. Three hours of parking costs less than two gallons of gas. Certainly that can’t be a deal breaker, can it? And while you blame it on me, perhaps you need to read the whole article. Not sure why Mr. Boyd is so opposed to getting a permit. A permit would have prevented the miscommunication between the harbor area manager and City Staff.
I am confident we will have a car show next year. Mr. Boyd is welcome to apply for a permit.
Carl’s Mule’s Pace letter is spot on. Forty e-bike tickets in a year is a disgrace but to be expected due to the stupid “Woke” outdated Policing policies of our Police Chief. How can he charge just two of the attackers on e-bikes when I counted 7 in the video. Is it true as rumoured that he is related to the uncharged attackers? He needs to deny or confirm the rumours or better just resign. He will not be missed.
I was down by the pier at the end of Torrance Blvd and that sign has more burned out lettering than operating letters. If that’s how the new sign will be maintained, then it shouldn’t have lighted letters. The welcome sign at the pier just looks tacky.
Cruise at the Beach was a signature event of Redondo Beach for a quarter of a century. That’s a community benefit and an impressive feat by anyone’s measure. It would have been great to see the Cruise continue, but Mr. Boyd just didn’t have the level of support from property owner/City government that it took to keep going. Thanks to the Boyd family, volunteers and participants over the decades for doing Redondo Beach proud!
North Redondo Beach is a dense, well populated area! It would be a great place for a Farmers Market. The Library parking lot isn’t the biggest spot, but it would be a good start. Trying to sign the petition, but it’s getting hung up on the adddress field FYI. Good luck!
There used to be a farmers market in the parking lot of the South Bay Galleria. It was mostly fast food and junk, and it didn’t survive the end of the pandemic. But the location was good.
Thanks for the great reviews, RF! Minor correction regarding the second picture caption: Redwood Pizza is not where Henry’s Gem Cafe used to be. The Gem was a few doors west, at the crosswalk. Buona Vita remodeled the place after Henry left.
It is absurd to accept Commissioner Craig’s remark about the Commission not being obstructive because it has approved 400 units this year. Both of those projects – the Galleria and PCH & Vincent – were approved only due to their requirement by state law, and the Commission in both cases tried and failed to find a way to reject them.
In the case of the Galleria project, the Commission’s own minutes (https://redondo.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14779571&GUID=7B9C93C9-AED8-49CD-BF85-8FA0A5CE350A) note, for example:
“Commissioner Gaddis reiterated his request to communicate the City’s limitations and challenges to the public and mentioned subdividing the parcel and requested from staff whether the Commission had the authority to deny the subdivision.”
“Discussion followed regarding the need to make the required adverse impact findings in order to deny the project. Commissioner Light explained the burden is on the City to prove that there are adverse impacts for the Commission to deny the project.”
In the case of the PCH & Vincent project (https://redondo.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14501555&GUID=A95FAD9E-B596-47AC-8EFB-B6324885C931):
“Chair Lamb pointed out that so far, there are no findings that the project is a threat to health and safety and therefore, the City does not have the requisite findings to deny the project. Motion by Commissioner Conroy, seconded by Commissioner Hazeltine, and approved by voice vote, to close the public hearing. The motion carried 6-1. Commissioner Boswell was opposed. Commissioner Hazeltine reiterated the Commission has no grounds to deny the project. Discussion followed regarding liability to the City if the project is denied.”
The Commission in this case simply found a purported reason to deny this project, which will be appealed and hopefully will not ultimately subject the city to yet another lawsuit due to its intransigence. If this Commission is in fact in favor of any housing that is not single-family, I challenge them to cite ANY recent instance where they have approved multi-family housing without some effort from the commissioners to first find reason to deny.
Alex is it important to you that the city follow the agreement between the city and the coastal commission? Would it not set a precedent to allow the project to be short 24 commercial parking spaces even though every other commercial businesses within the coastal zone supply enough parking?
That’s a precedent I’m perfectly comfortable with. Redondo Beach has thankfully begun to recognize that parking minimums inhibit commercial development, and Council recently removed them along the Artesia and Aviation corridors.
With respect to this specific project, I cannot understand how the city expects to sustain an argument that it inhibits coastal access. The land is currently vacant; this project is a net increase of 49 housing units (8 of which are affordable) and over 100 new parking spaces in the coastal zone. The Commission’s argument, taken to its logical conclusion, suggests that any development at all in the coastal zone inhibits access to the coast unless it carries an *excess* of required parking!
To my broader point, the Commission seems to want to avoid being considered “anti-housing” since it approved nearly 400 units in 2025. But the Commission did not do so happily; it sought justification to deny permitting for ALL of those units, and when none could be found, it begrudgingly approved them only in order to comply with state law, and even then could not do so unanimously. The Commission deserves the bare minimum credit for doing the bare minimum to comply with the law. It is certainly not welcoming to new housing development. I look forward to the day when Redondo Beach fights for housing for its residents, current and future, with the same zeal that it fights for parking spaces.
I really don’t mean this disrespectfully but are you paid by developers? I see you at all the meetings when we deal with housing. And I see you huddling with the developers.
In all of your research regarding housing in Redondo Beach are you award we are in the top 10% density of all cities in the state.
So blanket laws that come from Sacramento do not consider how dense a city already is.
Maybe your group isn’t concerned with facts like these.
But again the issue here is the required commercial parking is lacking.
No, of course not. In fact, I had no idea who the developer of this project was when I spoke in favor. They approached me during the recess.
I think it’s insulting to suggest that the only reason someone could want more housing in their community is because they are being paid. I do this because I believe Redondo Beach residents – including prospective residents – deserve more opportunities to live here. I would like my kids to one day live here if they choose. I would like to have the option to downsize into appropriate housing one day when I’m older.
I am perfectly comfortable with density, and good city planning should anticipate that. Otherwise we will find ourselves continuing on our track of an aging population, a stagnant tax base, and declining public services.
And you are aware that Redondo is in the top 10% in the state for density?
Yes, as I said, I am comfortable with density. Smart city planning should account for this. Happy to sit down and discuss this in further detail.
According to Your article in Medium “A YIMBY in Hermosa” you aren’t particularly passionate about Redondo. Just want density regardless of outcome. Who knows. You might be showing up to Laguna Beach meetings as well.
You’re a city commissioner googling stuff I wrote on Medium when I lived in Hermosa Beach years ago? I’ve been living in the South Bay for 16 years. I moved to Redondo four years ago. Like I said, sit down with me and discuss it. Get to know a constituent with an opposing viewpoint instead of making baseless accusations.
If you have residents parking in the public row aka on-street parking, they are taking away spots for the general public aka non-residents, which hinders across tot he Beach.
Redondo Beach is a LEADER in housing production in the south bay. Have you run the numbers? I have since 2006 Redondo Beach has had over 2000 units built. Manhattan Beach has had ~500, and Hermosa has had about ~100 ( to be generous) units built. Getting a little tired of you clowns on your high horses that don’t know what you’re talking about.
If RB City Council is like Torrance’s, the developer will appeal and the council will okay the project. We fought a development here several years ago. Planning Commission denied it, council approved it. What’s the point of having a Planning Commission?
Sounds sus that they deny most of projects lately. Curious who are those residents against it and other projects, any clue? Also, talking to many residents about Redondo development, most of them for the changes. Is there more info on demographics and how many residents against?
The December 18 Planning Commission decision on 401–417 Pacific Coast Highway didn’t happen in a vacuum, which is part of why it keeps resurfacing across different discussions. Over the past few years, Redondo Beach has significantly reshaped how its advisory commissions function — from mid-term removals of commissioners to the consolidation or elimination of advisory bodies, and the City Council’s adoption of new Rules of Conduct that the Planning Commission did not vote to adopt. Those structural shifts influence how land-use decisions are evaluated long before any individual project reaches a public hearing.
Regardless of whether someone supported or opposed this particular project, December’s vote raises a broader question about process and consistency. Are land-use decisions being reviewed under clear, objective standards with a balanced range of perspectives applied citywide? That question matters not just for this address, but for future projects as well — especially given the legal and coastal constraints many commenters have rightly highlighted.
I had an ET shaped by Eddie himself in the mid 70’s. It was custom built to my specs and I loved that board. Surfed it from San Diego to Santa Cruz. I used to spend a lot of time in the shop, talking with Eddie, checking out the merch. Bought a skateboard from him too. Those were the days. The best time/place in the world to be a stoked little grom.
Slowing down the traffic should be included in any plan to encourage pedestrians along the business section of Artesia Blvd. Recently I had to walk the corridor for medical appointments. Boring route, speeding cars and trucks make it uncomfortable. E bikes on sidewalk and ugly shopping center. Hookah Hut needing a coat of paint…and fresh plants. Use the funds for art enhancements to line the street with large floral planters….add seasonal flowers to the median….and dress up the ugly shopping centers. I get in my car and drive to the Manhattan Beach Village shopping….a lovely environment in which to walk and enjoy a coffee or lunch. On a positive note, I am so happy to finally enjoy a dedicated turning signal at Artesia and Rindge.
Jaysen Surber seems confused on the ARTesia strategic plan for artwork along the Artesia Corridor. The Cultural Arts Commission and staff recommended LeBasse Projects to perform the strategic planning effort. They are LA based and have done art projects throughout LA County. And they largely developed the strategy from public surveys and meetings.
So the LA-based company was recommended by the members of the Cultural Arts Commission, who are all Redondo residents. The Cultural Arts Commissioners and other Redondo residents participated in public surveys and meetings used to develop the strategic plan. The Cultural Arts Commissioners recommended approval of the strategic plan. And they recommended one addition that required more funding. The Council supported the recommendations of the Cultural Arts Commission.
This was not political by any stretch of the imagination, the Company is based in LA, and the plan relied heavily on resident input.
Mr. Healy has issues with the City’s Planning Commission recent decision on a project along PCH and questions whether they applied objective standards. He also questions whether they adjudicate evenly across the City.
The rules and standards they have to apply are different between the Coastal Zone and the rest of City due to state law. To comply with the Coastal Act, we have a separate set of zoning ordinances for the Coastal Zone and a Local Coastal Program certified by the Coastal Commission, the state organization charged with implementing and enforcing the Coastal Act. In the Coastal Zone (defined by the Coastal Commission as west of PCH), the Planning Commission must apply our zoning ordinances for the Coastal Zone, the requirements of our Certified Local Coastal Program, and the state mandates. East of the Coastal Zone, the Local Coastal Program does not apply. The Commission must apply the zoning ordinances defined for property east of PCH and the state mandates. So state law and our zoning require the Planning Commission to apply different standards and rules.
Our Local Coastal Program defines objective requirements for parking that are there to comply with the Coastal Act access requirements. State housing mandates do not allow the city to enforce objective standards for parking outside the Coastal Zone for projects that meet State mandate requirements. The Planning Commission has certified several housing entitlements in compliance with the state mandates. Recent examples include the housing project under construction at a church along PCH and the entitlements recently requested by the firm that owns the Galleria Mall. So Mr. Healy’s question on whether they apply their adjudications evenly is moot. They adjudicate based on the different standards and requirements that apply to the project’s location in or out of the Coastal Zone as they are required to do.
As Mr. Fineman presents, the Planning Commission considered the objective facts related to other projects outside the Coastal Zone and ultimately approved the project in compliance with the State Housing mandates. So seems they did the right thing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with looking at all the facts of a matter and exploring different perspectives and issues before rendering a decision. In fact, I would hope they’d do their due diligence in deciding such important matters.
Mr. Healy’s comments on other Commissions and the pending Rules of Conduct have nothing to do with the decision of the Planning Commission. The Rules of Conduct have not been formally approved yet, they are under legal review. But when they are approved, they will apply to all Commissions. The Commissions will have to comply with them. They don’t have the power or authority to disregard the rules approved by the Council. No Planning Commissioners have been removed since I have been Mayor and one new Planning Commissioner from D4 has been appointed to replace a Commissioner who termed out. The new Commissioner was approved unanimously by the Council. The Commission is, by definition, made up of residents from each district and two at large. Right now there are two D1 Commissioners and two D3 Commissioners and one from D2, D4, and D5 each.
It is my understanding that the decision on the recent development application is being appealed to the Council now, and we will hear the developer’s appeal. I am sure the Council will adjudicate the appeal based on the facts of the matter as presented in the hearing as will I.
My letter was not about coastal versus non-coastal zoning law, nor about the merits of any single project. I fully recognize that different legal frameworks apply across Redondo Beach, and I have never questioned the Planning Commission’s obligation to follow those laws.
The concern I raised is broader and more structural: how changes to the City’s advisory system shape land-use outcomes long before a project reaches a public hearing or an appeal.
Over the past several years, advisory commissions have been reorganized, consolidated, or eliminated, while new procedural rules have been established at the City Council level. In practice, commissions now operate within tighter, Council-defined boundaries. Those boundaries influence how discretion is exercised, which perspectives are elevated or constrained, and how recommendations are ultimately formed.
That context is especially important given this comment by Jim Light. He has publicly acknowledged that the City’s proposed Rules of Conduct are still under legal review and have not yet been approved by the City Council. Yet those same draft rules have already been enforced during City Council meetings, including during public comment. Enforcing unadopted rules raises procedural and constitutional concerns, particularly in a public forum where speech protections apply.
These issues matter even more now that more authority now rests with commissions and the City Council, and fewer land-use decisions are subject to a citywide vote. Regardless of which laws apply in a given area, many residents feel that certain outcomes are already “baked in” by the time items appear on an agenda. Addressing that perception is not about disputing legal standards; it is about maintaining transparent, consistent processes that reinforce public confidence in how land-use decisions are made across the city.
This was one of the finest events I have seen in Hermosa Beach, and I have seen a lot of them !!! The mural is amazing, and many thanks to Chris Miller, Rick Koenig (and the Kiwanis Club) the City of Hermosa Beach and all the donors and volunteers that made this re-unveiling possible. VIVA Hermosa !!!
I assume if the development was denied due to parking, then the proponent will appeal and provide a parking study and adequate parking to get permitted. This ain’t rocket science.
How does a private club with an opaque membership process get a lease for public land? It’s very confusing. They take applications, they “evaluate” them and deny people. How is it that they aren’t REQUIRED to take first come, first serve? This seems like a real problem.
Redondo residents did not ask to move the Marine Mammal Center from San Pedro to Redondo. The site in Redondo used to generate revenue until the City took over control. The site in Redondo is too small. Redondo resident taxpayers don’t want to pay for the annual million dollar subsidy the MMC currently receives.
BCHD spends a significant part of its public funding on projects and programs that benefit non residents (for free) and not Redondo locals (who have to subsidize non-residents).
You shouldn’t be surprised that the City, like BCHD, wouldn’t be very concerned about spending our tax money on projects we don’t want, RIGHT? Once you vote them in, you get what you voted for.
(And before BCHD starts its BS “spin” and gets its boxer briefs in a bunch, the revenue for BCHD is around $6M from property taxes, $4M more from rent on land and buildings owned by taxpayers. It’s total BS that BCHD provides any return on investment from property taxes – hell – they can’t even COMPUTE ROI CORRECTLY – no finance skills at all for a FIN 101 calculation).
The process at Pedro has been painfully slow. We all wish them luck, since they demo’ed the area well ahead of the need for complete destruction and we’ll be left with a total mess if it isn’t successful.
California is under siege by developer and builder interests who have used our Sacramento government to capture unfettered access to our land and neighborhoods.
This is not about increasing affordable housing for the people. It is about removing obstacles to one class of businesses in order for them to dominate and exploit California land use for themselves.
If you read the fine print you will find no mention of affordability requirements that do not benefit the developers’ interests, not that of the public.
I support
ourneighborhoodvoices.com
This organization will break the hold of the YIMBY organization that is holding us hostage.
They have been suing my city, Redondo Beach, for exercising its rights.
Our Neighborhood Voices will put these issues on the California ballot as an initiative to protect our rights through a change in the California Constitution. This time, The People will get their choices back.
Notice all the people wearing sunglasses to hide their identities while protesting at this corner ? It isn’t a coincidence. It’s coordination of some of the most Uber liberals in the South Bay. For example, these people are members of Manhattan Beach Huddle, Beach Cities Democratic Club, local League of Women Voters, and others hiding in the dark back alleys of Paulina Avenue, South Juanita Avenue, Ruby Street, Ruhland Avenue, 15th Street, and Lucia Avenue.
It was a sunny day. Going to have to have a better argument than that.At least they care about what’s going on and are willing to stand up,It’s their right.
The protesters at Brad’s corner are thoughtful, caring individuals who don’t want to see armed thugs in American streets or their country destroyed. That is our right and our duty.
I’m so proud of Brad and other patriotic Americans expressing their opinions in a peaceful manor. Whether you agree or disagree with their POV, these neighbors represent the best of America and one of the reasons why people are drawn to our country; because we value and celebrate Freedom of Speech. Look at the effort Brad is making….his disability can’t stop his passion and love for a better America. Amazing and inspiring, my friend. ❤️
Such a great place to be, the garage will be missed dearly.
Chris and Melissa were the best hosts and always very open to letting others drop by. Hoping nothing but the best for them. Wherever they end up, they will have people knocking at the door, ready to learn and ready to create that “Combat Garage” feeling again. I can’t thank them enough for their hospitality.
Chris and Melissa are such great humans. I know in the future even though the garage door has shut, they have many doors that will open. They bring so much to the sport of BJJ and many people are greatful for the environment and open arms they’ve had throughout the years
When is the best time of the year to go to Anguilla.
Thank you Richard and the EasyReader team for the article about Paul Martin’s. I believe our phone number is incorrect in this article? It should be 310-643-9300 and I believe it’s missing a digit. Thank you again and we are proud to be part of the South Bay community!
Regards
Mark Evensvold
I have never met Mr. Horrell, however, after reading the article I would consider him a good man. If and when Mr. Horrell ever meets his disgruntled neighbors I have a line for him … “Sir, it is obvious that living in this city is too much drama for you … perhaps you should move to a new community where wildlife doesn’t exist!”
A couple questions that need further analysis:
1) How could this lawyer ever pass the state exam?
2) How could he not know that the LA Municipal code has no bearing on this case?
3) Would it really cost $12,500 to repair a small Redondo Beach lawn? Good Grief …. sand and grass seed is not that expensive
4) Is this publicity going to help the Averas’ business?
By far, this is the most rediculous lawsuit I have seen in a while … but from a comic relief standpoint … I cannot stop laughing.
Good luck with winning the lawsuit … having snow fall in Redondo has greater chance of happening.
To Russ and family,
I was saddened to learn of your great loss. At this
difficut time my thoughts are with you and yours.
Most sincerely,
Leah Cryan
I am amazed by Mr. Hory’s unethical suggestion that Manhattan Beach Mayor Ward should make decisions for the City based on his supposed personal aspirations to represent a more broad constituency. Mayor Ward is man of integrity who would never do so. But more broadly, Mr. Hory’s comment reinforces my conclusion that those few who advocate that this City spend huge dollars during this recession — the worst since the Great depression — to create each month a man-made river of sand so that non-residents many have their “preferred free workout,” are not grappling with priorities, any of the opposing points, or even reality. They just want what they want. How many teachers could Manhattan Beach hire if the City just left the dune alone, without the monthly cost of sand relocation, park workers, and police presence necessary to create this dune-workout-facility for these duners in a neighborhood wholly unequipped for this use? A little knowledge, context and perspective go a long way. Mr. Hory’s letter lacks each.
Hello,
I do not live in Manhattan Beach anymore, but grew up all over the South Bay area and now reside in Illinois. But everytime I come here, I am amazed at all the history of these neighborhoods that have been lost, and now Sand Dune park, that as children we have so many memories sliding down, and crossing through the paths to get to the ocean, it was a pretty site on the way to another beautiful destination, our beaches. I have lived at the bottom of Sand Dune park and above it as well. I am oppossed to the loss of this beautiful park that also harbors the home of many beautiful parrots that have made their home there as well, what will happen to them? Please leave the park, I hope the next time I come to Los Angeles, I will still get to visit “Sand Dune Park” and I am sure there are others that grew up here, that want it to still be here when they come as well!
Excellent work. You have gained a new reader. I hope you can keep up the good work and I look forward to more of the excellent posts.
Toni, No one has proposed closing the park, or the dune. The park and dune will remain, and the children will be permitted to play on the dune. At issue is whether the City should spend huge amounts of resources in a recession, deploying enormous, noisy and polluting trucks to create a river of sand on the face of the dune each month. This is a rather recent development, caused by tremendous spikes in usage by atheletes that have destroyed the dune by scraping sand from its face and pushing it to its bottom. To maintain that usage, huge trucks are deployed each month to scoop up sand from the bottom, transport it through the neighborhood to the top, and then dump it at the top, each month. This erodes the underlying dune, pollutes, and costs a fortune. We should save the dune, and stop turning it into a wholly unnatural manmade work out facility, in a neighborhood totally unequipped for this usage. That manmade usage is destroying the dune, and the neighborhood. We need teachers, and books, not this expensive and polluting “facility” which robs us of our park, dune and enjoyment of it and out neighborhood. Sand Dune Park will be waiting for you when you return.
Just to be clear, no one has proposed “closing” the park or the dune. The park and dune will remain, and the children will be permitted to play on them. At issue is whether the City should spend huge amounts of resources in a recession, deploying enormous, noisy and polluting trucks to create a river of sand on the face of the dune each month, and additional sums for an elaborate reservation system. This is a rather recent development, caused by spikes in usage by atheletes that have destroyed the dune by scraping sand from its face and pushing it to its bottom. To maintain that usage, huge trucks are deployed each month to scoop up the loose sand from the bottom, transport it through the neighborhood to the top, and then dump it at the top, each month. This erodes the underlying dune, pollutes, and costs a fortune. We should save the dune, and stop turning it into a wholly unnatural manmade work out facility — a river of sand — in a neighborhood totally unequipped for this man-made marvel. To create this dune facility is the antithesis of Manhattan’s admirable “green” pledge, not to mention a mis-prioritization of limited financial resources. Just read any of a number of articles in this paper. We need teachers, and books, not this expensive and polluting “facility” which robs us of our park, dune and enjoyment of it and our neighborhood. Sand Dune Park, with the real dune, will remain, without creation of this manmade river of sand. Once the issue is understood, the answer is obvious. Let the dune be, and don’t try to change it into something unnatural huge trucks, expense and pollution, to create a “regional sand-river work out facilty.”
Hello Mr. Kemple,
Mayor Ward’s integrity has never been in question. However, you are free to spin the letter however you would like. The simple point was to express how South Bay is a community and that the majority of residents frequent various parks and beaches in adjoining communities. Accordingly, yes – local issues can be evaluated with this idea in mind.
Moreover, since we all agree on that something needs to be done to reduce usage – there have been plenty of ideas offered that do not cost any additional funds (reducing park hours and establishing a quota are just two simple, zero cost ideas). Since there already is a park attendant desk there, all that is required is actual enforcement. With the resulting reduced usage, all other legitimate grievances also decrease
Using Mr. Kempler’s own numbers of peak usage, this still only averages to 21 people per hour and I am not so sure that justifies total closure.
This is terrible… I’m sorry for your losses.
It sounds like this may be a rare thing referred to as Secondary Drowning. It’s not common, but a small amount of inhaled water has been known to lead to a series of events that can cause pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and haemoptosis (coughing up blood).
When people have water in the lungs and try to breath it will often cause a froth/foam.
Mr. Kemple,
First off, you must be unaware of the very large amount of money provided to Manhattan Beach Park & Recreation by Los Angeles County in a grant “to maintain and operate in perpetuity the property developed, rehabilitated or restored”. A significant portion of that grant was used on the dune at Sand Dune Park. South Bay residents are clearly part of Los Angeles County and therefore those residents have a legitimate financial vested interest in that park. Actions taken by Mayor Ward most certainly reflect his commitment to an obligation to them. A suggestion by Mr. Hory for South Bay residents to hold Mayor Ward accountable is totally ethical and appropriate even if Mayor Ward had no further political aspirations.
Second, the money spent at Sand Dune Park has never been shown to be disproportionate compared to that spent at the other major Manhattan Beach parks. Even so, the answer to the question “How many teachers could Manhattan Beach hire” if any monies were saved by dune closure is exactly zero. The Manhattan Beach School District is an entirely separate and distinct entity from the Manhattan Beach City government. Any savings from park operations would not belong to the school district.
Third, the park workers are there whether the dune is open or not and the police get paid whether they are on a call or not. So the extra cost for that is zero. As far as the sand replenishment cost, how does that compare to the analogous event of mowing at Polliwog Park. How does it compare to the millions of kilowatt-hours of electricity used to provide park night lighting? The reasonableness of the maintenance costs at Sand Dune Park can’t be determined without such context.
Finally, I find it ironic that residents who chose to live in the Sand Dune Park neighborhood, that is just a few hundred yards from the noisy and toxic spewing El Segundo oil refinery, would complain about the noise and smog from some sand replenishment trucks six or seven times a year.
Great Post. I’ll be back for your next piece
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Just imagine I read it twice. While I am not as accomplished on this topic, I concur with your closings because they make sense. Thanks and goodluck to you.
Missing you MJ…
I LOVE U! YOU ARE NUMBER 1…KING OF POP
Very interesting read. Thanks.
What an amazing story and very worthy of being shared with the world. Great reporting Mark. A+
I know Maison de Lumiere well, and I want to commend you on this article. It is an excellent and engaging account, and the photos are superb. You point toward something I have found to be true — when you experience God’s love as vividly as it shines at MDL, you are never the same.
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Un-Cuff the Cops rebuttal –
Before I dissect and dispute the authors letter, I would like to say that I truly am sorry to hear about your friend who was brutally attacked, and I am disgusted by this, and I can only offer my condolences and hopes for a full recovery…….. That being said, I truly believe that you’re wrong in your assumption that the demographic responsible are tattooed, drug addled skateboarders. Believe it or not, the one respectable trait that they all have, is a love and respect for this city that is equal (or sometimes greater) to the love they have of their own flesh and blood. I’m a 3rd generation member of this beautiful city. Born and raised in a home my family has owned since the late 20’s/early 30’s. Believe it or not, these kids on the pier w/ their skateboards and tattoos thwart more incidences that your friend fell victim to, than do they provoke or incite. Most of the fights and crimes committed around here are not from the locals– it’s the out of towners and transplants who have no respect for our beach community……..
Which if you agree or can believe that, I know exactly what your next argument is. If it’s the out of towners, lets not give them a reason to come here — blame it on the bars (as usual) shut down the promenade, close down the beach on the 4th of July, and for “GOODNESS GRACIOUS SAKES” can we please put an end to the 4th of July IRONMAN!!……. The correct answers for all of the above are NO-NO- and HELL NO!! This is what hermosa beach is. If you truly hate this fact, you should have chose residence in Manhattan or Redondo…..
As passionate as I sound about all of the above, what really bothered me the most about this letter is the whole “Un-Cuff the Cops” headline. In case you haven’t noticed, the negligence of the HB police department has cost us 2 embarrassing lawsuit settlements in 2009, one of which was a settlement to an off duty LAPD officer who was harassed and arrested by our fine police force. But really, I don’t wanna hammer the HBPD on this — that’s not my intention here. My concern, is that you’re stereotyping/profiling the wrong people. That was me 15 years ago, and I never bullied anyone, especially the locals. And I was a straight edger in those days, and I know for a fact some of this generations pier rats are too….. so be careful who you call drug addicts w/out any proof. You would probably be surprised at how many yuppie/middle class/average joe drug addicts there are out there…..
I can just say thank you for this wonderful post!
I have chills, thanks for the story!
QJ: “If Chuck wants a rematch, he’s going to have to come all the way back over to Japan”
The Manasseros have taken care to first love God and then those He has put there for them to love.I have the highest respect for them.
Hey there. my grandfather let me know about your blog a couple weeks ago. and I just love it. I will be back! Thanks!
Good article, Robb. Any help Hermosa can get is good. I still would never surf during or after storms despite the water quality being better than when I was growing up
I have read this story to my third grade students, not without tears. and they are inspired to send cards and words of love to all of you. Not only is your story inspirational and touching, but an important reminder to us all that we are interconnected to each other. This is a good time to remember that we are all God’s children and each of us is responsible for and to each other. God bless each and every one of you and may God’s grace be with you. Cathy (Teacher)
Touching and inspiring story. May God continue to bless them and all their families.
I am leading a “Cycle for Haiti” Spin Class at the South Bay Spectrum Club this Saturday, January 23rd from noon-2pm to raise funds for this very same orphanage, Maison de Lumiere. If you would like to participate, (you don’t need to be a Spectrum member) please contact me, sue@yourpromoplace.com. $100 a bike, you can ride for the entire 2 hours or split the time with a friend or two. God Bless the Manaserro family and all who help those in need!
With great respect and admiration to the Manasseros. I knew them, they are my son’s in-laws. The article is a great inspiration. God Bless.
Hello. Thanks for this site. I read it regularly to get the newest info. Extremely educational post.
It’s so inspiring and touching to see how one child’s dream impacts the lives of so many beyond anyone could possibly ask for or imagine. I met the Manasseros long time ago at a family retreat. I know God will continue to bless the Manasseros and their work as they continue to bless so many.
Thank you for the post. I appreciate it. You have a very good website.
Mark,
What a well-written article. Acurate. Well-researched and very thorough. Cudos.
What up Buttercup? Anytime I come across the name Mike Purpus I gotta check it out. Been a number one fan since I was 16 years old. You and Duke as well brought fame to surfing’s beginnings. Email me it’s been to long…..WIth much Respect and Aloha your friend Sandy Leilani one of the twins…..
The festival is SUNDAY, not Saturday! Excellent interview with Mitch Chang. Your attempt at humor in your article was not funny.
Thanks for this cool post. Anyway i found your blog on google and find it very useful. I’ll be sure to come back again for more!
I am deeply moved by this story. How great is our God? How great is His Name? Our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask,think or imagine. He deserve all the glory, honor and praise. We serve a mighty God!!!
To fall in the hands of a mighty God is a beautifull thing. When you think you are alone , well your not. When you cry out to Him, well He’s always there. When you think everyone has given up on you, well He hasn’t. He uses people who love Him to show His unfailing love ! I have seen it throu this beautiful family.
Finally, I have been able to read this story that I’ve heard about. So much that I didn’t know. I thought I understood my daughter’s love for the Haitian people, the Manasseros, and the mission, but now I really understand. Thank you, God, for opening my eyes wider. Cindy’s mom.
Hi,
Great article, but you have an error in your last line. 10 year old IAN Irish took top honors in the 1k race. If you could change it, he would be very happy! If you can’t, no worries, there will be more races and more articles!! haha.
btw, Miles is his dad and Miles III is his brother…
thank you, Paula Irish
thanks for the correction….it’s done.
Hermosa is art, thru its rich history of music, surfing, skateboarding, Paddle boarding, art galleries and creative loving people. We are ART. What better way to celebrate our history.
Dear Susette,
Now I know why your health was spared, for this important work and more, in Haiti. You and your family are profound works of faith in action. Continue to empower those around you with your elegant love of Christ and His path.
Love to your growing family,your sister in Christ.
Martha
Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained! I’m sure you had fun writing thx
What a great resource!
I thought this was going to be another long boring blog post, but I was pleasantly suprised. I will be posting a backlink on my blog, as I am quite sure my readers will find this more than interesting.
Hello,I love reading through your blog, I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wishing you the best of luck for all your blogging efforts.
Thanks for the great post. I always try to bookmark construction or concrete related posts like this one.
Great concept. And i would like to take it to the next level:
We could conduct guided Mural Tours using an electric car to be PC. And we could attach trailers that seat people on the back. Dignitaries from around the world would sit in the front seat.
Hermosa would be credited for causing a renaissance, a resurgence of art that would affect the entire world. We could have artists set up around the city just like they do on the left bank of on the Seine in Paris.
Artists from Hermosa would soon be contracted to do wall murals and ceilings of cathedrals at the Vatican and throughout western civilization.
Money from the tour and a 10% agent fee from the artists would go to fund the historical society, and would go to fund the Hermosa Arts Foundation to preserve and encourage the performing arts.
Hermosa would be the Mecca for art and art enthusiasts. Our artists would be treated like royalty.
We could have a permanent home for artists where they could display their art actually live off the proceeds. With the money that comes in we could buy up part of the strand and turn it back to an artist colony. Hermosa would flourish once again.
We could right books and documentaries. We could consult other cities and countries on how we expand this Renaissance. As for me, I ask for nothing except a small plaque at the bottom of my statue thanking me for my inspiration and imagination.
Hi. I just noticed that your site looks like it has a few code errors at the very top of your website’s page. I’m not sure if everybody is getting this same bugginess when browsing your blog? I am employing a totally different browser than most people, referred to as Opera, so that is what might be causing it? I just wanted to make sure you know. Thanks for posting some great postings and I’ll try to return back with a completely different browser to check things out!
What a great article. Sas is a prolific and talented, gifted
Love our article. I know Sash and love her. She is a gifted, talented, human being and is giving back her gifts on a platter. I always hold her dear to me. Wonderment should be her given name. See you at your exibition. Love you, Barb
Being someone who was blessed to watch them in action two weeks ago and for the last three years, I concur that this is an amazing family that honors God by living out His calling in humbleness and submission. I feel priviledged to call them heroes of the God’s servants. I also thank them for opening all of our eyes to see the truly gracious nature of the people of Haiti.
Thanks as well to the Mr. McDermott for the well written article.
The dune at Sand Dune Park has been closed for 5 months, and will be closed at least 3 more. At a recent city council meeting, dozens of residents spoke of how they enjoy walking the dune for exercise. Yet some city councilmembers seem determined to ban “workouts / exercise” on the dune. This is being proposed under the guise of preventing the dune from being a “regional workout facility,” but in fact they would seek to ban adults from walking up the dune for any reason.
I’ve lived on the plateau atop the sand dune for 8 years. Since then, my standard morning exercise has been jogging down the hill, running along the waterline, jogging back up Manhattan Beach Blvd., then running along the Green Belt until arriving at the bottom of the dune, where I would finish my morning by walking up the dune– I’ve never once run, it’s just too dang hard. Other times, I walk to the dune and climb it several times, where I happily chat with other Sand Dune Park visitors about the city, their health and the wonderful views. There have been problems at Sand Dune Park due to over usage and a few bad apples. The solution is to address the peak usage issues and to focus on the actions of the few bad actors; the solution isn’t to ban exercise in a public park and prevent thousands of residents from enjoying the park they enjoyed for decades.
I bike on the strand, run on the Green Belt, stroll along the beach and climb the dune. None of those activities make those places a “workout facility.” What are parks for, if not exercise? I can walk on any street or sidewalk in the city. I can walk on the beach. I can walk on the strand, the Green Belt and in any public park. Are we ready to ban walking in Sand Dune Park?
Will there be any unwanted side effects?
This is one of the greatest articles I’ve read in the ER. It paints a fairly vivid picture of what Hermosa Beach was like in 70’s. It sparked some nostalgia towards the record shops and bookstores which unfortunately seem to both be a thing of the past.
What’s even more tragic is that Keith is absolutely right about his assessment of current day Hermosa.
It’s a sad thing to read someone who grew up in Hermosa and has enjoyed a fair amount of success say “When I think about what they’ve done to the city, I wouldn’t want to live there — and I couldn’t afford it.” That quote made me cringe.
SONG IS THE BEST! HE MAKES AMAZING ROLLS! actually they all do, and super fresh fish as well…
It’s time for parents and a concerned community to realize great public schools need funding by the residents and businesses of their city. On a yearly basis. The volunteer parents and teachers of the Redondo Beach Educational Foundation are working hard to mobilize themselves with the local PTA’s, civic leaders and community and to rally around this ongoing budget problem. We need to all step up and help financially where we can. To be part of the solution, help our students and keep property values high, please consider donating to http://www.rbef.org
Great article. Hermosa Beach is arguably the birthplace of so-cal punk rock. So many great punk bands came out of the south bay, and more continue to pop up. South Bay punk rock is one of the few things they Yuppie Invasion will NEVER be able to get rid of!!
The relevant word is “thousands.” And that is just residents. There are multiples of thousands who used the dune who came to us from across the county, the country, and even the world. For that you can thank the LA Times, other media, and the internet.
Jacob Rome will suffer no harm if he eliminates the dune from his daily regimen. On the other hand, the neighborhood will benefit greatly from his not doing so, along with the thousands he mentions. Controlling adult dune traffic and use is more easily said than done, and is a rather costly. The gentleman who walked the dune many times a week with his backpack on was, though walking, certainly exercising and training.
The dune should be reopened as a kids only facility. As noted before, adults can take their pleasures elsewhere.
Wow…truly one of the most interesting stories I’ve read in ER. Thank you so much for the insight on Morris and late 70’s era Hermosa.
BIG SHOUT OUT TO: Song, Alex, Ki, and the rest of the crew at GU GU! hands down, best sushi/rolls in the south bay and surrounding areas.. also, great handicap access.
Great story! I’m from San Francisco and similar shit went down with the gentrification of my town too. So it goes. Thanks to Don Waller. Great read.
This is sad, we need to save Old Hermosa. We have been saying it for years. Now is the time to act before all the good stuff is completely replaced by these cold lifeless monstrosities. There is more to life than money. When I returned to California twenty five years ago, I purposely chose Hermosa over Manhattan because of the character of Hermosa. My son also listened to the music outside the Lighthouse, he is still playing music and it has been a savior for him. Don’t let them take this history and throw it away, it means so much to so many.
It’s the 30th anniversary of the gig and it’s Jim Lindberg, not Lambert.
Hermosa was home so long ago but I havn’t been there in ages and it sounds sooooo different now. Too bad. But just like Keith, I’ll never pass up the chance to just walk on the pier when I’m down there.
Great article from Don Waller, who has managed to collect the exact essence of life in the South Bay at that very moment in time. I would just like to add that my Dad took me to the Insomniac one night. We watched from the doorway, as a man rode a tricycle – wheels soaked in color – over a huge canvas on the floor. Lights were blue and red and there was jazz playing in the background. If I’d been a little cool, I may have caught the name of the artist. I was a child, so I had my eye on that trike.
As a teen, Either/Or Bookstore, Greeko’s Sandals, Rubicon & Manhattan Beach’s Platypus Records was where the tidbits of my after school job’s wages were spent. It was it’s own universe for a minute – giving birth to such a wide range of artists.
Took a trip there last March after my Mom passed out of this life. Yeah, it’s missing a chunk of its soul – traded it for higher priced, under-inspired shops full of shit.
The salty air & morning fog still feels really good, though.
Who knew that the Black Flag seed was sown from going to see Thin Lizzy and Journey? Great stuff… Love the quote about “Knucklehead Beach”… I get that.
They kicked out the Westside Burrito connection in Bremerton, WA, too. The reason we had so many places to play music there was the town was a ghost town. The civic economy was completely destroyed with the invention of the mall (another great Seattle export)
Music tends to be pretty viral, so don´t get in a huff when the town becomes yuppieville. The scene will move on and start eating fresh meat somewhere else just down the road where the rent is cheap and there´s burritos by the plenty. It will ache and people will bitch but that makes the tunes better in the end anyway.
What a fascinating time-capsule article. I was there during part of this history, having been close friends with record store owner Michael Piper. Like Keith, Michael turned me on to a lot of great music, and together we went to more legendary shows on the Strip than I can count. I would see Keith around back then, usually at Michael’s shop, but like most of us at that time, he was into the progressive rock stuff like Genesis & Gentle Giant. When punk started to happen & I heard that Keith was involved I could fathom it! I used to attend services at the infamous church- when Brother Ritchie was pastor- long before it was shuttered and eventually became the squathouse for the local punk brigade. One day a good friend of mine Bobby Blotzer, drummer for Ratt, said “I wanna take you to see a friend of mine. You’re not gonna believe this.” This was early 1980s. We went to the church, which at that point had been closed for some time, and made our way to a room where Ron Reyes was living…in a cupboard! It was an overhead storage cupboard, large enough to sleep in. And there he was! We hung out for awhile & I reminisced about what it was like going to church there back in the day. The So Bay’s transformation from a progressive-rock stronghold to one of LA’s punk epicenters was a strange transformation to watch, and the Smokestack/Fleetwood was a big part of that evolution. Then you have the local metal thing too, which began developing about the same time, with Ratt, Dokken, and Great White. Lots of history there, and its great to see that Keith is still going strong.
Oil drilling is ILLEGAL in Hermosa Beach.
Matt, I am so excited for you!!! I cannot wait to come to CA and see the store! Congratulations again! :o)
Thus far, HB has exceeded its conservation goal VOLUNTARILY.
It is typical when conservation efforts increase, costs go up.
Reportedly not related to conservation, however, Cal Water is requesting rate increases of 16.75%, in Jan. 2011; another 5.04% in 2012 and another 4.79% in 2013.
S-M-A-R-T… Can’t wait for my first latte!
This article was forwarded to me and I just had to say that I am so excited for you both!Congrats on everything; I wish you all the best.
Beekers
Thanks girls! We are getting really excited. We just had a taste testing/product development night and everything is just looking great. Next week. Tuesday we think. Cross your fingers!
Very nice article…I know you are all working very hard. I know there is a lot of talent, experience, artistry, persistence, expertise, hard work and sheer will going into this pursuit and God-Willing you will make a mark in El Segundo and big waves at the Beaches!!!
Thanks all for the drive and sacrifices. I am excited to see it all and I live in West LA!
Very nice article…I know you are all working very hard. I know there is a lot of talent, experience, artistry, persistence, expertise, hard work and sheer will going into this pursuit and God-Willing, you will achieve your goals in El Segundo, and create big important waves of culture at the Beaches!!!
Thanks for all of your determination and endless sacrifices. I am excited to see every production and I am willing to drive from West LA!
Gooooooooooooo Matt!
I love Bill Maher. Keep talking truth to power.
This is just so cool Matt! Good luck with everything, I am sure it will be successful!
Thank you JoAnne. What a nice surprise to see your words of encouragement after our first performance tonight. It was a remarkable evening and I encourage you and your friends to make the drive. You will not be disappointed. One of our patrons this evening came up to me to complain – because she wanted an encore to the applause and felt we had not given the actors their due. That won’t happen again.
All the best, Jeryll Adler, Executive Director, Pacific Stages
First off, Mark Mach….k – you live in MB, so when you vote in favor of approving speculative drilling in your beloved city, then maybe I’ll spend more than 2 minutes considering your lame argument before I completely take you to task on McPhearson oil’s bogus lawsuit. There was an excellent non partisan article in the easy ready a few months back that detailed the ongoing battle between the oil speculators and what is now the city of Hermosa Beach dating back to the days of the Biltmore (which is something you’re probably scratching your transplant head @). Shell oil foot the bill for a ballot initiative to drill — It was shot down by the residents in the 50’s. They spent a lot of $$ on this, but it was @ their own expense. McPhearson 30+ years later rolled the dice as well, but they did so thru the city council rather than thru a resident vote — knowing damn well, that despite what the local government was ok with, didn’t necessarily mean that the HB citizens would be ok with. That was a stipulation in the original agreement. The citizens – taxpayers – locals….rallied together and shut the project down. And sure, maybe these people were a bunch of tree hugging hippies, but regardless, it stated in the original contract, that the residents of Hermosa retained the right to overturn the allowances granted by the local government…. Before I go any further, this proposed angle drilling technique, was from my understanding, a crapshoot @ best anyway. The oil company invested pocket change to aquire these drilling rights — they gambled and lost. Just like the the Big Banks who gambled on the Housing market and sent us into the 2nd great depression. I personally feel like greedy corporations who care only about themselves have taken enough of my hard earned tax dollars – McPhearson is no different. They gambled and lost — they can get their bailout from some other sucker. But not me….
D. Matson -m1sk
What a GREAT idea! I love it! “Go Green HB and share the road!” My daughter and I walked the strand every morning and as much as we love the bikes (and of course the cyclist themselves) it’s hard to walk and ride at the same time. This will help to alleviate the traffic on the strand, and also help to promote an already “walking town” to ride their bikes to and from any destination. Couldn’t be happier!
Sounds very interesting…I just moved from the Manhattan Beach area and might not have moved had i known about this! I founded and presented “Sing! Sing! Sing!” at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City for 15 years and I am always looking for a nice venue for my performances. I am watching your project with great interest and admire your energy and tenacity! Put me on your mailing list on email. Mailing address is 11343 1/2 Cashmere St. Los Angeles, CA 90049 310.990.2405
Joe Carducci’s New Vulgate blog linked over to this interview. A great interview. I saw Black Flag with Keith singing at I think the Hong Kong Cafe in ’79 and it was one of the greatest shows of my life- he didn’t dress punk – corduroy pants and a J.C. Penney’s print shirt. – but was completely hypnotic onstage.
Anyhow I loved the article. I have seen the Circle Jerks and Black flag many times.
On a health note, please someone get ahold of Keith and ask him if he was ever tested for hemochromatosis – I have it and it put me in a diabetic coma and afflicted me with cirrhosis. His comments about managing diabetes are right one.
It is CRUCIAL he gets tested for HH (hereditary hemochromatosis). It’s a common genetic disease and it treatable but left untreated it causes diabetes, cirrhosis, and even death.
Hello, Michael’s sister and old friend of Keith’s here in NYC,
I had long since moved to Santa Cruz, where Michael came to live with me and then to NYC where he also relocated by the time Keith started doing music. If anyone knows how I can reach Keith, my H.S. friend, I would be indebted. email: brannan.piper812@gmail.com. The music world is so small that I imagine that those of you young enough to have had the “Michael experience” are aware that he passed away on April 18, 2008. DEVASTATING. I want to thank Keith for keeping his spirit and contributions alive in his references to Mick in his interview. Michael went on to become a leading rare international record dealer, record producer, and continued to be a seeker of new and unusual musical talent for his entire life. I miss him everyday.
Keith, just so that you know, I always thought that you were not only super intelligent but also very hip in an understated way……. which is the only way I like it. Very proud of you.
Michael would want you all to know that he believed keeping the spirit of music alive and most importantly, circulating it, sharing it and connecting through it is a positive and passionate undertaking. I made sure that his passing was full of love and peace. I never left his side.
would love to hear from any old friends. Best to all, Brannan
P.S. correction. I meant old enough to have had the ” Michael experience”……I guess reading Keith’s interview made me feel 17 y.o. again.
Congrats Matt!! You have really created something great. Good luck – hope to visit you and the store soon!
The Hermosa Beach Neighborhood watch administrator is using fear mongering to defame recyclable collectors.
In an email send to many Hermosa households he states that these recyclable collectors are involved in ID theft and other crimes. No scientific method/statistics for this deep insight was given.
The people who go out early in the morning to collect recyclables probably don’t have a choice and that this is their only livelihood. To take this last opportunity to make a living through (hard) work away is not only unChristian but will drive them to alternate ways to make money.
Another aspect is the amount spent on police hours for trash protection /enforcement. My wild guess would be about 10 calls a month minimum. Each call takes approx. 15 minutes or more.
This makes at least 150 minutes a month (10 x 15) or 1800 minutes a year (12 x 150). This comes up to 30 hours a year at about $50 an hour per officer (incl. benefits etc.) or $ 1500 a year (minimum) to protect our trash. How about having specially marked bags put out for recyclables collectors. It is our property after all, so we should be able to decide who we give it to.
Tyler Hatzikian has gonads of steel. They clink and spark when he walks down the avenue….
To Ray Devore (Letters, ER Feb. 11, 2010): Don’t worry, duuuude. No one is threatening your boring little life. Pacific Stages will simply add some interest to South Bay for those who appreciate more than surfing, volleyball and lowest common denominator entertainment. So go down to the bar, order a pitcher and “fuhgeddaboudit”.
Mary Leath
Redondo Beach
This is terribly sad news. Can’t say I knew Blue other than on a casual basis when I’d visit Shellback or Ercoles and he was manning the door, but he was a fixture at those bars, and took his responsibilities seriously. A friendly face, always a nod of recognition, an all-around good guy who helped define the MB scene. I am stunned by this news, RIP Blue. Seriously, I am without words to learn of this news, and wish it weren’t so.
A raised glass to you……….
I can’t wait to try the lamb skewers and they sound like a good deal at $10. The rest of the menu is on their website, http://www.hudsonhousebar.com
I’ll take the extended meter hours over higher rates, but would rather see the revenue goes toward transportation options instead of car parking.
Hey Steve,
Knowing you I know Cancer must have thought twice I am sure you are gonna get by it. Well look at the positive side you get to spend more time with beautiful nurses now;) God Bless!!!!
Linda is a life long friend of mine. She is an amazing and caring person. I hope that others, including myself can take this class and help out others in need.
It was a thrilling evening indeed! Now we music lovers don’t have to hop on the 101 Fwy to hear music of absolute world class caliber. Don’t miss this chance to hear stunningly great music in an intimate setting featuring my friend Yana Reznik and her hand picked virtuosos. Let’s hope this concert series is here to stay!
S.J. Pettersson
owner
Manhattan Beach Music & Voice
Hi there! Eden, I was soooooooo surprise that you didn’t make a Cut to compete here in Canada,
as we were so happy when I saw you on the Web. What happened???
Take care,
Steve,
As your former neighbor (w Andy Leserman)& someone your age…I can relate.
Great attitude, get well & when I get back out that way (WI now)
I will make sure Andy & I look you up
Take Care,
Bob
Wow! This is an Olympic record – a quadruple cover up.
To wit (allegedy, of course):
1. The drunk cop drove away, to cover it up.
2. The cops who responded wrote no report, to cover it up.
3. The brass hid it from the press, to cover it up.
4. The brass is still hiding the names of the officers involved, to cover it up.
All that’s missing is a back flip – but that is coming. Wait for it.
These sharrows are a good step forward for the city of Hermosa.
Linda is my sister and has encouraged me to look for similar courses in my community!
Linda Cunningham is an exceptional person. She deserves a tremendous amount of credit and respect for what she does to help people in her community. As well as all the other volunteers who are helping too. Thanks to them we are a very lucky community!!!
I was in the Baptist congregation at the church. I was one of several unruly young teens who would run through the church discovering these great hidden places, running around the roof with all of the dead pigeons and ditching church to go down and hang with the ‘hippies.’ The year was 1967-1970. The place was a magic land of funky madness. It was a small congregation which put the bigot into bigotry…..I played The Doors for the pastor, Avery Richie, who summerized his impression like this…’it’s one thing for a “Nigger to sing like a nigger, but another thing for white man to sing like a nigger.” This was my spiritual leader…..but, instead, I follow Morrison, Hendrix and Dylan…..The church’s fate becoming a mecca for So Cal punk and the place where Black Flag was born seems somehow fitting.
Steve,
As a former resident of Redondo, now living in Houston, know that we all wish you well!
It was a neat show, and the exhibit runs for a couple months, check it out.
Bark! Bites!
We have enjoyed the CLOSBC for many years and especially enjoy the high quality of the set designs. As dog lovers we purchased tickets with no expectations other than high quality as usual.
However we were very disapointed in the mak-up, sets and the story line, especially the second act. Why no make-up? Some ears and tails at a minimum would have been nice. How did the dogs go from Doggy Day Care to the park without their humans? Why are they singing show tunes?
The name of the play should be Bites!
Regards,
John Barnett, RB
She will be missed by everyone. A wonderful person.
Condolences to the family.May she rest in peace.
Pat Chaplin
Pages will be a very special place to stop and get a lift for the day, the week, or the month.
The three wonderful owners are an inspiration to the community.
I wish them great success and send my love always.
Mom/Barbara
Pages will be a very special place to stop and get a lift for the day, the week, or the month.
The three wonderful owners are an inspiration to the community.
I wish them great success and send my love always.
Mom/Barbara
As a result of the CARD Act reforms that went into effect on February 22, credit card companies are projected to incur $12 billion in annual losses. But we all know that credit card companies are far too imaginative to let this happen. The reforms require the credit card companies to give you 45 days notice before rate increases, and those increases cannot be applied to existing debt unless you miss payments for 60 days. In addition, there have been new restrictions placed on how they can market to college students under 21 years old. This all translates to nothing more than a bump in the road for card companies. Old methods of revenue generation will be replace by new ones in the form of lots of fee
“You’re doing What?!!”
“A book store in this economy? “Are you crazy?”
“The future is online book selling, don’t you know that?”
So said the safe seekers, troubled by this way audacious risk taking.
The three were polite. They did not argue.They planned, calculated risk..and set sail onto uncharted waters, holding precious cargo destined for a community starving for its life affirming treasures.
Godspeed you three, you brave…you book moms.
Machuszek says “if Macpherson had a successful, eco-safe oil operation, Hermosa Beach citizens would be getting paid in tax revenue.”
Sure. And if I had a magical talking cow, I’d be rich. What does either one have to do with reality?
To Mr. Devore AND Mr. Kennedy, I have a few quotes too. I am not sure who said them.
1. actions speak louder than words
2. all sound and fury signifying nothing
3. put your money where you mouth is
Simply, before you judge my taste or where I come from and “who is this Jeryll Adler Chick”, please know this. I am not saying there is something wrong with what is already here culturally. I am simply saying it is largely not my taste and rather than simply complain about that I want to add something to the mix that appeals to me personally. I also believe I am not alone in wanting other choices.
Mr. Devore, I respectfully suggest that perhaps you should have read the entire article before you commented. Considering that with Pacific Stages very first production we have already been singled out for a prestigious O! Recommends from the LA Stage Alliance I think this Jeryll Adler chick is someone who knows quality theatre and has the ability to make things happen. I did not know that makes me an interloper out to destroy a quiet Hamlet by the sea. That was certainly not on my to do list when I set out to do a good deed, but here is another anon quote ‘no good deed goes unpunished.’ I do all of this as a volunteer and I am no rich dilettante, just a very hard working woman who cares and believes strongly in community service and the power of the arts to enrich our lives.
We are all carpetbaggers from points East, West, North and South unless we are American Indians. At some point in history many of us moved some place we or our families had not been before. And all around us EVERYWHERE is evidence that the world changes regardless of our attitudes. Most probably migrated from our roots – mine first in a working class community in New Jersey – because we loved what we saw elsewhere and wanted a change. I adore the South Bay. That does not mean that I want to live in a time capsule. With or without me the South Bay will and does change. I just want to be someone who makes a positive and thoughtful contribution.
And just so you know a little more, I am a second generation American grateful to be alive at all because the vast majority of my family died in the Holocaust. I love my country and my community and don’t bandy about names like Hitler or Mussolini lightly. These are not casual references to me.
So, as to all my quotes – only one person who has written in has bothered to come see our debut production LOBBY HERO. Thank you Mary Leath. Ray and James B, buy a ticket please before you continue this carefree banter, and come say hello to me. We are a young not-for-profit and I am usually the woman who also takes tickets. [Typical of us intellectual elitists, huh Ray?] In other words, “actions speak louder than words” , “put your money where your mouth is” and please realize that all of the drama has impact only if we bother to take the time not to judge without pause. How about taking a chance you might actually like something different than what is already here. Otherwise, those words – no matter which side of the conversation – are “all sound and fury signifying nothing.’
In closing I will share one more quote – written by Jeryll Adler – “Love Theatre, Hate Drama.”
Jeryll Adler
Redondo Beach
I like this place! I love the idea and wish there was a place like this in Astoria, Queens. I am a surfer and found a “real surfer bar” in Point Break NYC. I am kinda jealous ;0PIts filled with surfers, people who like surfers, people who like the beach and people who don’t want to live close to town. I really like this place. You know what they have these real Proctor and Channel One surfboards on the wall. It’s nice for coming any day of the week and eating a late brunch. The food was outstanding. The brunch and sides were prefect and tasty. It is a perfect “escape” from city living. It is probably one of the only places where you can get a nice frozen pina colada or margarita. The service was on hit. They came up and checked on us so many times and made sure everything was up to par. It gets very active and the bartenders keep everybody having a good time. The bartender was very accommodating. He was nice enough to make a drink, that wasn’t on the menu, for me :0) Did I mention the bartenders are nice eye candy. It was amazing to see their “das boot” which is shaped like a boot filled with beer. Don’t get me wrong, I am not drunk…it’s an actual boot shaped beer container ready to be emptied. Try it ..You will love it!! Oh. How can I forget, they even have a wheel o’ shots where you just have to spin it and have to drink whatever shot it lands on!! Now call that bar creativity at its best!!! And when I spill a tray full of shots on myself, the bartender so kindly remakes them for me? Good music, too, and the decor helped us weather an otherwise overcast and rainy day. You know that old song “Brandy”? It goes, “Brandy, you’re a fine girl, what a good wife you would be. But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea.” I believe Brandy works here. No reason, I just do. And that song happens to be a guilty pleasure of mine, so that’s a plus in my book. You can simply waltz over to this colorful and warm establishment, enjoy some drinks with friends, and walk home. The bar is right at the center, so you can walk to either side for drinks, and the bartenders are friendly and at your service. There is a variety of seating, good music, and friendly neighborhood people to make your time more enjoyable. Not pretentious, very cozy, I think Point Break is a fabulous place to spend some time with friends.
WOW heart breaking she was a wonderful women in the industry as a leader in the South Bay for Photography, a mentor to some as myself. I pray for her family on this sad lost, and am blessed to have known her.
Her Life lives on with her wonderful Photography work
The world has lost an amazingly beautiful and talented lady.
“Pig Pen” and the rest of the Peterschmidt family have wonderful memories that will live with us forever.
Love
The Petershmidt Family
Bad reviews like this are more a reflection of the maladjusted individual who wrote it that than a real reflection of the theatrical work reviewed.
We loved this show. Remarkable performances by all.
Bravo to the Civic Light Opera for once again bringing the finest in entertainment and creativity to all of us.
Hermosa Beach thought they settled all the lawsuits made against the HBPD and now this comes up? You can bet there will be a lawsuit. Rumor down at Torrance Court is the criminal charge pending for Seindensticker is littering! What’s the names of the cops who did the tasering here? Probably the same guys who are whining about positions being cut at HBPD. Why don’t we close down the HBPD and use the volunteer Citizens in Policing to patrol our beach town. They’re free and won’t beat down people for sure!
Another day in the south bay finds another person in blue committing a crime. Like his compadres in Manhattan Beach PD who drove drunk and crashed his car into someone else then left the scene & the other 4 MBPD cops that covered it up and falsified police reports, this Redondo Beach cop needs to see the inside of a prison cell for a while. Once a thief always a thief. How many people has he stolen from when he’s stopped or arrested them, or searched their house and cars? Notice how hypocritical the RB cops comments are when it comes to one of their own. If it was a normal Joe who did this, they’d come for his head! Disgraceful!
Way to go Jim….short and right to the point. There’s no reason the Sheriffs’ Department can’t give out the cops names. MBPD cops don’t work for LASD so there is no violation of their beloved Police Officer Bill of Rights to do so. These MBPD cops are criminals and it’s too bad we have been and will have to continue paying their salary while they’re on paid vacation (aka suspension with pay). Uyeda has outlived his usefulness and needs to resign immediately. Word is he’s practicing his gymnastics skills at a gym up in PV where he lives.
Hope the poor guy that got hurt when these drunken manhattan beach cops hit him, took off and covered it up sue the pants of the MPBD. These guys think they’re above the law and can do whatever the heck they want. Time to put them in their place. Sooner or later their names will come out, that’s when the party will really start.
As a hermosa beach business owner and taxpayer, I have one word for Averhill and Ramirez, “WHHHAAAAAAA!”
A 6-foot tall woman with platinum blonde hair? It seems like she may have trouble hiding.
julia taught me art when i was young and i worked for her last summer help in her summer camp. its so sad to hear how she passes. i am 17 and i want to peruse a career in art all thanks to julia, she was the reason i found art. i wish i had more time to thank her, she was the most amazing art teacher in the world, i will miss her so much, and im so sorry she had to leave. but here memory lives on everywhere in my life and my family’s.
Julia was a great influence on me and my two daughters who are now 15 and 17 at Redondo High. The started taking art classes from Julia when they were 4 and 6 respectively. They worked for the past 3 summers at her art camp. My 17 year old says if it weren’t for Julia she wouldn’t be the artist she is now, which is very good. Julia’s “Wolf” project was done recently in the Redondo Hands on Art Program. My 17 year old was a docent for the high school for this project. It gave her a warm feeling to know that Julia had taught this to her many years ago when she was 6 years old. Julia has been supportive, enthusiastic, caring, and just a wonderful passionate person. We were lucky to have her as a friend and art teacher. Our prayers go to Jack, John and Jacob and the other family members who are feeling their loss.
Gold Bless Mary! Thank you for leaving a legacy of images.
Julia was my mentor and shining example of how one should lead their life. She was a stand-in mother, a best friend, and just plain fun. She helped my dreams come true and made an impact on my life that will last forever.
My children loved taking art classes from Julia. Their art from her classes is still decorating our walls in our dining room and living room. We used some of this art to create thank you notes for legislators in our advocacy efforts. With kindness, understanding, concern and caring, she taught our children about art and lead them to create their own art utilizing different media and different techniques. She was an exceptional woman, educator and artist. We will all miss Julia. Her husband and sons have our deepest sympathy.
I like Lido. Good food, great people, and good wine selection. I always have great time at their wine tastings.
Kudos to councilman Fishman. Once again he takes the initiative on innovative ways to maintain and even decrease costs. He’s also not afraid to tackle the tough issues like business license fees, though he adds his own emphasis on inclusion and full disclosure for all parties involved. He truly lives up to his campaign slogan that promised “people power.”
Geoff Hirsch
Hermosa Beach
For myself, a writer who lives in New York yet loves L.A., this is yet another sign of vibrant literary life and community out there. Can’t wait to spend time there during my next LA stint this Spring!
Yana is so incredible! She is playing tonight, March 6th, in Hermosa Beach along with equally fantastic musicians. Please join me and other fellow music lovers there for what will be a truly memorable evening.
Stig Jonas Pettersson
owner
Manhattan Beach Music & Voice
Julia Tedesco was a very talented woman who touched many childrens’ lives. My children Kristina and Matthew were two of the many students that were so lucky to take art classes with her. I too feel privileged to have known her and I always enjoyed our chats. She will always be remembered and we have many art projects framed.
All I can say is wow and now I know why Rendondo is considered one of the most dog unfriendly cities. Glad I don’t live there. And Kilroy…I wonder if his dog ever sees anything but a back yard.
March 6, 2010
Dear ER:
As reported by Robb Fulcher (“Lean budget costs police positions”, ER-Feb 25), Hermosa’s council has essentially set in concrete a police and fire department hiring freeze further below already understaffed levels.
Incredibly, council decisions continue to be akin to handling a firetrap by adding combustibles while at the same time reducing and freezing means to control the eventual fire.
Hermosa councils have foolishly permitted liquor-dispensing expansion ad nauseam while knowing the city’s been overconcentrated in liquor selling for years, and that this added liquor selling and its associated visitor intensification, increases the need for costly fire, paramedic and police resources at a rate faster than any additional 1 cent city share of sales tax on each reported dollar of liquor-related sales.
The Council also knows that the state and county keep 8.75 cents of the sales tax from each reported dollar of sales, and that Hermosa Beach receives but 1 cent, not the entire 9.75 cents of the sales tax so reported. The myth of huge sales tax revenue from Hermosa bars has been outrageously perpetuated for years in Hermosa Beach. According to the city’s finance director, total city-received sales tax revenue from all the bars and restaurants citywide, dispensing full liquor, is less than $1,300 a day. Meanwhile, public safety costs in Hermosa Beach have reached $50,000 per day.
When it comes to freezing further the already understaffed Hermosa Police and Fire departments, while there’s no freeze or moratorium even contemplated as to the number of liquor outlets or gross amount of liquor-selling occupancy permitted in city, Hermosa councils are ignorantly continuing an official policy bordering on insanity. The focus should more-intelligently be on freezing and then reducing the 10 years of liquor and visitor intensification that’s significantly responsible for the costly, escalating fire and police requirements, not to mention the degradation to the community.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE! ~ Your courage and commitment to your dreams is inspiring
(and a stroke of luck for Manhattan Beach)! While we won’t be in town for your first author’s event, we will look forward to others.
Today I attended the AAYF class at the PV Art Center that was Julia Tedesco’s last project, taught by her son in his mother’s place… What an incredible young man to step up at this time of personal loss, and to share this last gift that his mother created for us… it was of course another amazing project, so clearly taught, step-by-step, with everyone’s artwork different, yet all beautiful in the end!
I had been looking forward to this project all year as Julia is one of the few artists that I could recognize at AAYF, as I have been very fortunate to have learned and taught all four projects she created for our program. And I thoroughly enjoyed her wonderful directed drawing projects as they were always so user friendly to students and docents alike. She was indeed my favorite artist in the program.
I did not know her personally, but only as a very fortunate docent who was always inspired by what she taught. I just needed say how much she touched my life with her wonderful gifts of art and her warm and caring personality. Reading about her life and her many generous contributions to her community and the art world, only made her loss seem even greater.
My deepest sympathy to her family at this time. Thank you for sharing this wonderful lady with us. And thank you to her son for continuing her work in such a special way today. What an amazing family you are! Please know her memory lives on in many hearts.
cool shot of a very cool dude!
Thanks for the thought-provoking preview. Glen Phillips’ thoughts on his early success feels so real and unscripted that it has renewed my appreciation for Toad.
Julia was a person I saw once a year or so. Each time she had something wonderful going on in her life and recently things not wonderful at all. She always shared those things as an afterthought. She was a wonderful role model on how to live each moment to the fullest. My heart goes out to those she leaves behind. She’s a hard act to follow.
Why is the school board so reluctant to use the Economic Uncertainty Reserve? If this is not a time of economic uncertainty, then what is? The nation’s economy is beginning to recover, slowly, so tax revenues should be increasing over the next couple of years. This is the perfect time to use the “rainy day fund” to preserve the quality of RB’s schools. Ms. Butler is right: one year of overcrowded classrooms and overstressed teachers can have a huge impact on a little child.
3-13-10
Mike-
After six years out here in Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree and fresh out of the hospital (quad bypass last week), I finally got my Internet working by going to AT&T cell and came across this artilcle. It brings back lots of very positive memories, especially of the “Duke” during the sixties. He and Hoppy Swarts were two of the most popular and positive influences in the sport of surfing as we know it today.- Skip
Keep up the good work writing with the Easy Reader. Hope all is well.
Skip
Skip
Is stoked. That’s right: S T O K E D ! Muchas gracias! So many memories…my Mom and sisters (and me from time to time) lived on 12th between Rowell and Peck on Liberty Hill so I hung out a Polliwog since it was just a swamp. Was at that show and The Church (or The Colony during the day) and Red Beach…nothing about Red Beach? The stretch of The Strand just north of the Hermosa Pier where various M/Cs would hang out wearing their colors among their precision parked choppers hawking their wares: reds? whites? ‘lumbo? microdot? Even lived in the Hermosa Hotel for a minute. Damn, I got a CETA job at what was Pier Avenue MS!
Dear ER:
On New Year’s Day I ran into a wonderful woman, Linda Reardon (maiden name), at 24th Street, HB, who had my mom, Peggy Jenssen, as her fifth grade teacher at Grand View Elementary many years ago. She wanted to reconnect with my mom, gave me her contact info, but it was accidentally erased. I’m hoping if you print this that she, or someone who knows her, will tell her to email me so I can get the info to my mom.
My email: ktobler@fuesd.k12.ca.us.
Thanks so much…let’s see the power or the HB grapvine, ha!
Katy (Jenssen) Tobler
It’s a hoot to hear how folks like Longacre bemoan restaurants and bars for the liquor they serve, as if having a beer with a burrito is a precursor to social decline. Perhaps Longacre should inquire about where his meager prop 13 limited property tax ranks in filling the coffers of the City’s revenue? While the prohibitionists seek to limit alcohol these folks provide no recognition to how minuscule long time residents contributions toward floating Hermosa’s financial boat. As a result, Hermosa like all other California Cities rely on business related tax revenue for providing the majority of their funding. The last census indicated that the average age of a Hermosa Beach resident is 36 years. People 36 and younger do what people 36 and younger do – they party and booze it up, which explains why there are more bars in Hermosa Beach than Leisure World. If folks like Longacre would like to ban alcohol sales then perhaps they can come up with a plan to make up for the lost revenue.
Nono,
We had lots of fun reading this article. We see your studio and wondered if you were still teaching. We now know the answer to that. And you have a daughter, too! Good, everyone is active and athletic. It was great to get some insight into you and your family.
Love,
John and Debby
RegardingChris Miko’s pink slip: I certainly don’t want to trivialize seniority, but what does this say to the teacher inspired to do a good job? My kids, at they went through Mira Costa, noted the several more senior teachers that were just going through the motions. And they noticed the younger inspired teachers who became more jaded as they saw the lack of reward for excellence. What does this tell the kids? The unions and administrations need to ask themselves if they are really doing the kids a favor by not rewarding merit at all.
– Bill Mosier
Is seniority really the only measure we can use to determine which teachers stay and which ones “must” be cut due to budget shortfall? When we can’t afford something in our household, we make decisions about what we need and what we most benefit from having. This might leave a lot of discretion to an administration, but then again if they are held to the same level of accountability and cost-benefit analysis they might exert better, rational decision making than “last hired, first fired”.
How many hours of my life do I have to waste waiting to cross Rosecrans from Highland when I come home from work? The backup all the way down Vista happens every afternoon. The problem was made a lot worse when the city closed Ocean (The Strand owners got relief, but I and thousands of other MB citizens don’t get relief from traffic in front of their house). The city has done nothing to aleviate this problem. The least that can be done is to have someone directing traffic at Rosecrans and Highland at 5:00. Get a meter reader to do it. There will be plenty of money available now that the rate has been increased by $.75. I don’t care how they do it but fix the problem.
And of the 35 teaching jobs saved last week, how many have received a NASA fellowship? Have started a GeoKids Club? A Science Club? Are in STEM?
Why, exactly, am I donating to MBEF — purportedly an Education Foundation — when the best educators are being dismissed?
Was it DD that caused the property values to drop or was it the sub-prime market collapse that caused a devaluation of virtually all property? Let’s not put a political spin on this and just call it what it is; unfortunate timing.
I don’t know Mr. Miko personally, but my children do and for that I’m thankful. He made a difference in their lives. He got my son off of dinosaurs and into Space. My out of town friends still talk about the visit they made to Meadow’s Space Night and my daughter likes him so much she’s looking forward to fifth grade!
Mr. Miko, you inspired my children to learn more about space and science. Thank you!
I would like to share two quotes from James Michener, my Space teacher, about where I’d like to see you next year and the choices made by MBUSD.
“An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it.” Let’s fight to keep Mr. Miko at Meadows because “character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.” I hope someone invites me to help keep you at Meadows!
Chris was my son Anand’s teacher last year and I was hoping he would be my daughter’s teacher next year when she reached 5th grade. He is a very inspiring teacher and in the words of my son “he gets me.” This is high praise and the reason why we shared news of the NASA fellowship with him. Although I know he has a philosophical view on this whole situation, it does frustrate me that we can not retain such a quality individual who has more than proven his passion for his subject of science and inspiring kids to learn in a way that is relevant to their generation. This isn’t easy, I know being a teacher myself. Best wishes Chris.
It’s a shame when great teachers like Mr. Miko are selected for layoffs just because of their seniority. He’s done so many great things for science learning at Meadows. Because of Mr. Miko’s high standards and teaching style, my older son thinks 6th grade science is a breeze!
“Our facility lost an air compressor which provides instrument air to several process units .. This situation resulted in an upset to our fuel gas system which resulted in fuel gas being sent to a safety flare.”
Is that even English? Damn, do they need help in the communications department.
My son was in Mr. Miko’s first class at Meadows. He is now a 7th grader and still mentions his name at least once a week and after school on Fridays he walks up to Meadows to serve as a mentor for the science club. My son talks about taking AP Physics and Biology in 10th grade. How many 7th graders have this type of discussion with their friends and parents? I contribute it to the spark that grew into an immense passion for science that Mr. Miko ignited in my son. I am sure he will go on to do great things because of it. My younger son can’t wait to have Mr. Miko as a science teacher next year. Mr. Miko is considered the rock star of science at Meadows.
It makes no sense to me that an individual with Mr. Miko’s achievements could be laid off. His exceptional performance includes raising the STAR test scores in Science 20 points in his first year at Meadows. I attribute his success to his ability to connect with the students and apply the concepts of science to every day life.
In the private sector, Mr. Miko would be considered an indispensable company resource. Something is dreadfully wrong with our system when an organization would consider laying off a NASA fellow.
I’d welcome a response from the Teachers Union on Mr. Miko’s situation, as well as how they are supporting young, bright, teachers who are at the bottom end of their seniority system. What is the future for new teachers in California with our budget situation and this type of system?
My daughter, Soleil had Mr. Miko as her 5th grade teacher, and she thrived in Science because she could feel his passion for it. I am grieved that the MBSD cannot see the contribution this man has given. Grieved at the politics involved, and the lack of discretion the board uses in making its choices. The children need more teachers like Mr. Miko who are actively involved on a global basis. I am very upset about him getting a pink slip, and the fact that there is an enormous wrong being committed here, and the children as always, will be the ones to feel the loss.
I know the children are going to feel the loss not the board of MBSD. Mr. Miko was my daughter Soleils 5th grade teacher, and she thrived in Science because of his passion. Of all the teachers, come on! Show us that you really do care about our childrens education and keep Mr. Miko! Give someone else a pink slip! KEEP MR. MIKO!!
Keep Mr. Miko!
He is one of the few teachers besides Mr. Barakat and Mr. Chow that actually get it, and the children benefit from these young passionate teachers! My daughter Soleil had him as her 5th grade teacher, and she thrived in Science because of his intellect and ability to teach the children, and actually inspire the children. The children will be at a great loss educationally!!! KEEP MR. MIKO!!
Using my poor math skills that I have from attending public schools with seniority policies, it seems that the 4.1million from MBEF saved 35 jobs at over $117,000 per job. Which teacher is making $117,000? If teachers actually made this much than we might have more teachers like Chris. Charter schools are the way of the future in California. I recommend to everyone reading this that they move their children to a charter school to get a solid education.
Laying off Mr Miko is a ludicrous act that should disgrace the dysfunctional California Teacher’s Union. Mr. Miko is the best teacher in the district and because of the inflexibility of the Union he would be one of the first to get laid off??? And where are the Directors of the School District whose job it is to manage the Union?
This action, of giving Mr. Miko a pink slip, yet again demonstrates that the business model of the School District and the Teachers Union is not capable of meeting the responsibility of reasonably managing the Manhattan Beach Teaching Staff. In a functioning business model, you layoff your underperforming employees first not your best performers.
I call for the layoff or early retirement of underperforming senior teachers prior to the layoff of the highest performing young teacher in the district. I call for the recall of the Manhattan Beach School District Superintendent. We parents and taxpayers of Manhattan Beach must hold the Teachers Union and the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Executives accountable for their actions. Let’s publicly and objectively review the performance records of each and every teacher in the Manhattan Beach School district. Let’s publicly and objectively make the decision of who gets laid off and who gets retained and let’s stop the insanity of allowing lousy older teachers to treat our kids poorly while we turn away the young teachers who inspire our children to do their best. If the School District and the Teacher’s Union can’t get it done right, then let’s do it ourselves.
Will the Sand Dune Park people please just shut up and go away. What is it about these sweaty over-adrenalized spandex clad narcissistic fascists who insist that our whole world is theirs to foist the ” exhilerating workout ‘ ethic all over the public landscape. Do we really need Gilad-type bodies in motion tramping our parks and strand . I think not. There are acres and acres of wide open sand available for there exertions, it’s called the Beach. A sand dune is created by centuries of wind blowing sand uphill. Since the dune in question is no longer naturally replenished but must be restored at great expense by city workers then it only makes sense to protect it from the constant displacement caused by people pushing themselves up and down the hillside in endorphined frenzy. Maybe we can erect some poles in our parks to train our next generation of athletes for the future Olympic sport of pole dancing instead of inside dark and smelly topless bars. In the meantime sweat elsewhere.
““We really wanted to be able to find a point where both parties would win – where they would have property to build a new police station and we would be able to bring in revenues to the district to help offset cutbacks we’ve had from the state,” Loewenstein said. “We’ve spent years on this now. It’s incredibly frustrating. I have personally spent a lot of time dealing with this. I kind of wash my hands of it.””
Offsetting education cutbacks on the back of the city isn’t useful. Coming from THAT perspective, no wonder it didn’t work out. And “washing your hands of” great work – time for someone new to replace you!
In this case, incredibly, the CITY has the right attitude:
Biggs said…we were trying to craft a win-win scenario that worked beyond the economics of revenue generation for the district.”
Thank you for writing this kind and sensitive article.
Hopefully, other media/reporters will model their coverage
of suicides in such a way. You have provided an incredible
balance of information and answers to questions everyone
has, yet avoided any harmful sensationalism which could
precipitate the development of suicide clusters. I think
it is very hurtful both immediately and longterm to ignore
a death by suicide, both to the family and the community.
Healing and ultimately prevention and the decreased stigma
of suicide and mental illness begins with acknowledgement
and discussion. In my opinion, your voice as professional,
talented writers benefits everyone. I applaud you.
There is something *seriously* wrong with these kinds of rigidly stupid union rules — what possible rational justification can be made for putting a higher value on the length of time someone has been receiving a paycheck from the school district than on his/her actual ability? While it’s a temporary setback for this teacher (although I have no doubt he’ll quickly end up with a better gig) the people who will really end up paying the price for this kind of idiotic decision are the students. How sad, and how completely unnecessary.
Bottom line is that seniority != ability. To use a sports analogy, suppose it’s 1987 and the Chicago Bulls need to let a few players go for budget reasons. Would anyone seriously suggest that Michael Jordan should get the pink slip, simply because he lacks the seniority of the other players? According to the teacher’s union, Yes, firing Jordan would be the “right” decision and would clearly be in everyone’s best interest. Nevermind the fact that he is demonstrably better than anyone else on the team…. he’d still get the pink slip.
That would be insanity, but incredibly, that’s exactly what the school district is doing here. Again, how sad for the students. Best wishes for the future Mr. Miko!!!
Spill was confined??? If anyone else was caught knowingly spilling raw sewage into a sand pit a few blocks from the beach, they would be in the pokey making love to Leroy.
I am a student in high school, it is straight stupid to lay off teachers who actually get students excited about school.
I just found out friday a teacher from school was getting layed off is because he has not been there as long as the other teachers and he is the first person that makes me want to come to school everyday and I find a way every way even if I have no way there I would run. Unlike other teachers he gets kids not just to come to school but to do their work. There are teachers in my school that do not even do anything to improve on students or help them out when they need it and he does this and it makes me angry and I want to do something about it but I do not know how and once I hear about Mr. Miko. Communities need to help out and try to keep the teachers that help out students. The sad part in all of this is that the man I have been talking about is not even a teacher that I have a class with and he has a big impact on my life I want to better in every aspect of my life because of him.
They should not be getting rid of teachers that make a difference just because they have not been there for as long as other teachers if anyone would like to give me suggestions for regarding what I should do please email me at twilightcullen14@yahoo.com
Mr.Miko is definitely the greatest teacher ever had. He inspired me in that one short year I had in his class, telling me and all my other friends and peers that we could all strive to seemingly unattainable goals or in other words he gave us dreams. To begin these dreams, in fields anywhere from astronomy to zoology, we started the after school science club that was previously mentioned in the article. Even though we sat around studying science articles and testing experiments that would have made most other students bored out of their mind’s it created a fun, exciting, and enjoyable environment that always highlighted the end of my week and of my friends.
Mr. Miko is definitely the greatest teacher I’ve ever had. In that one short year we had with him he caused my friend and I to strive for unattainable goals or in other words he gave us dreams. He showed us that science truly is fun. To do this he set up a science club that my friends and I were quick to join if not only to spend more time with Mr. Miko. After a time though this science club became a true comfortable learning environment were he was teaching us anything from astronomy to zoology. We always came and sat down to work on our projects reading about and studying topics that would have made most of our peers yawn, yet we continued to do it with a fiery passion.
I can still remember my project which was a study on whether or not allergies were a genetic trait. This may sound like one of the most boring subjects out there but with Mr. Miko there to help me along it was a blast and I couldn’t wait to come and work on this every week. For the study Mr. Miko let me send out a random survey in the school packet and I then we collected them to find the data.
Over the summer of that year me and my friends often came to school to find my teacher there. Once there we would just hang-out there like he was a friend more then a teacher. Which in truth, he had become.
That year of science club spurred my fiends and I to coming back in my sixth grade year to help out with the 5th graders project and then later working on the Disney Eco challenge in which we went out to the Ballona wetlands to help clear out the trash and invasive plants. In the competition we won semi-finals in the state against some teams that worked on this every day in their normal class rooms instead of every Friday with a couple of mismatch kids.
This project is still on going and my friends and I (the Eco Kids) still come to the restorations.
During the summer in between sixth and seventh grade I went to Mr. Miko’s science camp on rocketry. It was probably the best part of my summer. After one of the days my friends and I went to one of our house and spent hours sitting around a table with a two liter soda bottle trying to figure out how to get the most hang time. Also he had many science text book’s sitting on the table we worked on at the camp and I picked one up and asked if I could take it home. After he had said yes I spent the rest of the week reading a robotics book that was probably five hundred pages long, eight inches wide and eleven inches tall. I read through this book which was a dry study book like it was the greatest novel ever written.
Currently I am in seventh grade and still go to science club with the other “Eco Kids”. Also I still dream about careers in every aspect of science. Losing him would be the worst decision the union has ever made.
This week in my math class I was talking to my friend in my math class in between the bells telling him that Mr. Miko was getting fired and a girl sitting a couple of seats in front of us looked over and said, “Oh, hey I remember him. He was great right?”
At this my I was astounded because this was a kid that had never come to science club yet she still remembered Mr. Miko (as I later asked her) as a phenomenal teacher and probably the best she’ll ever have and by far the best she’s ever had. She too had been touched by his scientific brilliance even though she had never really dove in.
I know as a kid I have always been told that I could never change anything this big and that something like this was bound to happen eventually, yet somehow Mr. Miko changed my mind he got me to try, he got me to believe.
Great story on my brother and his hard working team Robb! These guys are humble heroes in the flesh.
it’s about time someone reviews a show as they should and not be afraid to tell it like it is . someone needs to remind sbclo of its demented last 2 seasons of shows . whoever is picking these shows is singlehandedly bringing the theatre down . i’ve never seen such awful choices for musicals in my life .
“More than 60 percent of school parents in both Hermosa and Manhattan contributed to their education foundations last year.”
Why not take a page from MB foundation’s book, they use pretty aggressive tactics to get a high participation rate, but it works!
Really great article about an exceptional person! Amy Massey is the kind of person who has enjoyed the best of the South Bay. She has a great family,is connected to a life giving community, has enjoyed a good education(including MCHS) and has seized the day again & again. I had the privilege of traveling to Thailand with Amy & the KHC Team, Amys life has made significant Local and International contributions to people everywhere she goes for all the right reasons. I’m sure her future will be bright though her life has already shone ablaze! What an honor to know and enjoy her as a member of this wonderful community! Congrats friend!
Dan
I was at the meetings in Hermosa when they began these programs over 10 years ago. They might be aggressive now, but we were not at all supportive of being aggressive at that time.
I am now in Redondo and I still do not believe that being aggressive is the answer for our community. We have far different demographics than Hermosa and Manhattan.
Rather, we need everyone to spread the word and explain the problem over and over until people get it. RBEF wants PARTICIPATION, not a specific amount. It would be great to get $360 per family, but, if a parent can only give $10 for the whole year, THAT is participation! And EVERY DOLLAR HELPS!
I do believe that most of us could scrounge up $30 per month to maintain the quality of education for our children. Think about what you waste on silly spending, BUT, it is not up to me to decide for others. That is a personal matter.
I hope that each and every resident of Redondo Beach will factor in the dire consequences of this problem and consider a contribution, no matter how small!
Nancy Burke Barr
This is a sad, sad issue.
I grew up in Manhattan Beach. The real issue is that MB locals don’t like “outsiders”. They want only MB residents to have access to the dunes. …and when it comes to all of the littering you see in the area…blame your drinking and smoking MB high school students. I should know… I witnessed it many times growing up. Only white people had access to the local beach; times have changed. MB beaches- and the dunes- should be open to everybody.
I love the idea of these supplementary education programs. I also like the idea of teaming up with corporations and organizations.
Dear ER:
I agree completely with the frustration people have over the loss of Chris Miko’s job. He’s an excellent teacher, and makes his entire profession proud.
The policy of seniority that created the loss of his job is California Education Code, however, and has nothing to do with MBUSD’s administration, superintendent, or teachers’ union. It’s the business of the state legislature. The California Teachers Association certainly plays a role in creating Ed Code, but its your legislators that pass it. MBUTA (Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers Association) is but a small part of the larger CTA, so this frustration toward local teachers, the local union, and the local district, is misguided and un-informed.
Rachel Thomas-Wilson
MBMS 7th and 8th Grade English
MBUTA President
I met Julia for the first time, a few years ago, at one of EASY READER Cartoonist Keith Robinson’s famous “Making It” backyard anniversary parties. She was a very warm, jovial and vibrant lady. I had just embarked on authoring my first children’s book (a manuscript I’m now submitting to publishers) and she was very generous with offering me advice. We laughed a lot. Later, I discovered that we shared the same hairdresser and salon. So, we heard about and kept up with each other, back and forth, through the grapevine and even exchanged a few pleasant emails.
I’m very saddened to learn of this lovely lady’s passing. For the little time and in the happenstance way that I knew her, she touched me deeply. My heart goes out to her family, friends and the many others whose lives were brightened by her smile and warmth.
Hope this new loan balance initiative assists with getting the housing market out of the funk again.
Congratulations to all the NoNo s and Jean Paul great work LOL
So, Rachel, can one then conclude that MBUTA opposes the referenced California Education Code policy of seniority?
If so, what specific steps has MBUTA taken to make this opposition known to the CTA and, in turn, our legislators?
If MBUTA does *not* oppose this policy, or if no such steps have been taken to make MBUTA’s opposition known, it’s in fact quite arguable that the frustration you deem ‘misguided and uninformed’ is indeed *right on target*.
Rachel,
Please, are you really making the assertion that the union has opposes and has actively fought against these seniority rules, and the only reason they exist is because the legislature is forcing them down your throat? That’s absurd — if the the union truly were against these rules, they wouldn’t exist. Overall the notion that the teachers and the union are mere innocents who have no influence at all over the Education Code is disingenuous at best.
I’ll second the previous poster’s point. If the MBUTA does in fact oppose these rules, what specifically has it done to attempt to change or repeal them? What motions has it introduced or submitted to the legislature to revoke them?
Twice I’ve posted a comment here in response to the tired, unfounded drivel by ‘local’, above. The first time my comment appeared for a day or two (after awaiting moderator approval for the better part of a day), and then it mysteriously disappeared. The second time it never appeared at all. PLEASE tell me there’s some system glitch … because the alternative is, um, downright scary!
Third attempt to post this comment:
“local”, here’s an alternative definition of what’s ‘sad’ …
Empty, unfounded claims of racism, localism or anything of the sort are nothing but _sad_ reflections of those who wage them — and, in this case, reflect a certain ignorance of the simple issue behind this 15 year community discussion: OVERUSE.
It should be noted that every one of the many past and proposed corrective actions addresses ALL users equally.
“local”, your incendiary comments suggest you are merely part of the problem, not part of the solution. You’re encouraged to get involved in the process, and thereby gain a clue of what’s really happening in your own community. Maybe then you can help by being part of the solution, as one thing is certain – the dune will never again be the free-for-all, regional workout destination that has wreaked such havoc upon the surrounding neighborhood, and resulted in such recurring and mounting damage to the dune itself.
By the way, anyone who has any interest in the Sand Dune matter owes it to themselves to invest just four quick minutes into watching the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEDzd0Jkbi8&feature=fvsr
more power and support to our filipino team
go pinoy go time to move on filipinas~~~~~~
I would hope a private school system (like Vistamar) would welcome a teacher like this, especially after all this good press, and because he has fire in the belly he would flourish to the top of job security and pay at a school like that!
sounds great! reminds me of missy higgins!
good luck! lots of fans here in so cal
Heartfelt congratulations to Ken Shuck, a consummate professional.
Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to see Chief Shuck in action on many occasions, both in the field and as an administrator, and I feel confident in saying that our city is extremely fortunate to have such true talent upon which it can safely and comfortably rely.
Best wishes to Ken Shuck on the well deserved new assignment!
An absolutely wonderful man full of passion and exuberance. He will be missed by all that knew him.
This story defines Republican Congressional candidate Pete Kesterson to be a financial planner who chairs Redondo’s Budget and Finance Commission … that has twice filed bankruptcy, once as recently as 2008.
Now *that*, my friends, is chutzpah.
Chief Shuck has the experience and knowledge to assume the command. He is involved in the community and cares for the people in the community. We are fortunate to have him. While it is sad to lose Chief Scott Fergusen, there is no other fireman more capable to fill and surpass the former Fire Chief’s position than Chief Shuck.
Who added the inappropriate and tastless comment with the picture of American Martyrs’ dramatization? Was it the photographer, “Currents” staffer or the editor? Someone should have caught it before it went to print.
Wonderful article!! I’m so proud of Amy and also for her family. All the best in your future! God Bless!
Rachael
This is so coooool!! I can hardly believe it’s finally here!!!
Hermosa lost one of it’s best. The Evans family, the the Wibberley family the Grannis family and others were what made Hermosa Beach a great place to grow up.
Why not charge the spectators $5/each admission? That will cut out the casual partiers and generate the income the city needs to properly police the event.
Wondering out loud if the police are just plain greedy.
And also wondering out loud if the police dept should be audited for their accounting estimations.
If anyone is inflating figures…they need to be held accountable. We don’t need them padding their police expense accounts on the backs of residents.
“We simply don’t have the manpower if people incite a potential riot,”…I think I heard this same type of talk in our nation’s capital only the term was “Crisis”. The only riot that would take place is if they canceled the tournament.
over 60,000 spectators and only 8 arrests…okay so i don’t understand how this is a big deal!? people are here to have fun and enjoy volleyball, Get over it MB!
I’m a Phoenix native who started playing volleyball when I was 15. My high school coach would tell amazing stories about the “Manhattan Beach Six Man” every year. I’ve heard about this legendary tournament for years. I played in my first in 2008, and I honestly must say it is the greatest time I’ve ever had!! Manhattan Beach should be so lucky to be able to attract 60,000 plus in a single weekend. I think the city is looking at it from the wrong perspective. Why not embrace it, but evolve in the same ways that the tournament has evolved? I’m sure many city government’s would kill for a chance to attract that many people in one weekend to their city. I want to see the revenue hike 6man brings to the city of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach for the weekend. It’s gotta be a pretty decent rise for that weekend. People from all over the country flock to MB for 6-man weekend. They should be proud that the tournament has turned into and EPIC nationwide attraction. Just embrace it, but adapt your plans to accommodate. You can’t tell me 60,000 people flocking to a city on one weekend doesn’t produce some positive revenue results. Why do you think cities bid for the Superbowl? Trust me, I’ve seen what both MB and HB look like the night of 6-man. Every bar and restaurant is jam packed with people, not to mention all the hotels are booked. That sounds like a successful weekend to me. The random drunken A-holes and retards doing stupid things are going to occur regardless. You can find that on any Saturday night. LONG LIVE 6MAN!!
Limiting the alcohol would likely limit the crowds significantly. Raising tournament fees is a very bad idea for volleyball in general. It will discourage the people we really want to attend – people like me. The likelihood of a riot is negligible. There are far too many level-headed volleyball athletes in the mix that would strongly support any needed police action; and veteran volleyball players tend to be self-policing; and have the respect and command of those watching, and junior players. If Saikley Jr. or anyone of the many veteran players at the tourney had an issue, 100 respecting players like me would be at their disposal – not to mention their 6’5″ teammates. Needless to say, the police have the same respect from the numerous people like me and veteran players. Limit the alcohol, embrace the high-level teams…
While this a Manhattan Beach event, raising the fees limits all regular players who simply can not afford the money. Even $600 is $100 per person plus costume and other costs. Some teams are forced to have 10 or 12 players just to limit the cost. Raising the fees will mean that only the richer teams can join in.
The problem with crowds and drinking gets worse in the early afternoon. If they could somehow limit access so no one can enter after 2:00PM a lot of the hooligans will be kept out.
Drinking is not a problem but drinking all day long and coming in the afternoon with sole intent of getting drunk is a problem. The drunks usually do not play and not affiliated with the sport.
I thought MB was a smart town. These are two pretty stupid decisions. Why not cut alcohol out of all the clubs at night? There might be a riot at one of those and there may not be the man power available. Oh no, one better, you can put a city cover charge on every bar in town so you can have enough police on duty at all times just in case the entire town decides to riot…
pathetic.
$10 spectator fee. $20 drinking wristband. Thins crowds and raises $1m on revenue. No brainer.
A riot did you say? When has there ever been a riot at 6-man? There hasn’t been and never will be. Really, reducing the number of attendees? Don’t the businesses in the area make millions off this weekend just FROM the crowd that attends, and in turn, the damn city makes a shit-ton of money in taxes from this crowd. Why don’t you use the damn extra tax monies generated from the crowd to pay for the extra police. Let’s see, your figures expect increases of 20,000 people (we assume at a relatively short period of time, which is NOT THE POINT), and those 20,000 spend money on food, ALCOHOL, and pointless crap at local stores. I’m sure the taxes alone on this weekend generate enough to pay for the added police, you greedy bastards.
What is this fee increase REALLY going to??? 200 teams at the former $600 = $120,000. A raise to $1,200 would put the added fees to $120,000. Off the aggregate taxes you are getting FROM the attendees, you can’t reallocate some of the tax dollars to the police, because we damn well know that you’re (the City) making a LOT more than $120,000 off the taxes on sales from the weekend alone.
Good point me. I give myself a pat on the back. Why don’t we just cut the event altogether and see how much the city cries from lack of funds. Better idea, why don’t we cut ALL events completely, because there’s a risk of riot, and see how quick the city goes bankrupt.
Its been a credit to the volleyball community that no riots etc have occurred. I beleive that since so many advertisers have come in that people-not associated with volleyball have come to associate with the party. David above is correct in saying volleyball athletes are self-policing. I missed the meeting due to volleyball travels but what about: Fencing off the beach all the way to the ocean. Charging a considerable amount for a ticket ($40 approx per person possibly as temporary tattoes). Since teams pay a several Hundred dollar registration fee, a large number of admission passes (100 approx). These “Players passes” should have the team’s name on them to hold people and teams liable. With passes the volleyball community can enjoy the tournament while spectators help pay for security and city profit… We al know that local business and the city and general does well financially by having the 6-man tournament.
Those above that suggest charging money to go onto a public beach better check the Local Coastal Plan and also with the Coastal Commission of the State of California. It’s a “no-brainer” that it’s a public resource down there, not to be commercialized for a big beach party. It’s a great time and a classic, but like the Dune, it’s gotten way out of hand and over publicized. The event is on it’s last legs …..
WEE MAN YOU TRULY ARE A WONDER ALL DAY FUN WITH EVERY BODY WANTING TO MEET YOU HANG OUT WITH YOU PARTY WITH YOU ITS AMAZING HOW FAST PUBLICITY SPREADS WITH JUST A TV SHOW AND A LOT OF CRAZY YET FUNNY STUNTS EVERY BODY I KNOW LOVES THE TV SHOW “JACK ASS” WE’RE ALL FANS OF THE SHOW AND NOW YOU HAVE YOUR OWN TACO SHOP (COOL NAME BTW) YOU TRULY ARE A PEOPLE PERSON THANKS FOR ALL THE LAUGHS AND GREAT TIMES
YOUR FRIENDS: THE I.R.O.B CREW
Has councilmember Nick Tell explained to anyone how he calculated that 80,000 people will be attending the event this year? A 25% jump in one year sure sounds like a pretty ambitious estimate in my opinion.
Let’s have him explain how he arrived at that number?
Thank you for the article. Even though my daughter is a part of the ensemble, I had no idea about the background story. It is very moving and enspiring. I know the kids have worked very hard and are looking forward to a magnificent experience. Thank you again for the wonderful article.
Amen to Scott Warren! I am a Phoenix resident soon to be an OC resident and I have been playing in this tournament since 2001. All I have to say is LONG LIVE 6MAN and 60,000 people plus is a lot of revenue in that city for just one weekend! There will always be drunken idiots anytime anywhere!!! Usually the drunken idiots are not the competitive volleyball players! The cops are just being greedy bastards and need to suck it up for one busy weekend and get over it!
So I can still bring weed right?
I think all these pious people should be more insulted, upset, appalled and mad at the “church” leaders who have abused Catholic children including deaf children. And thanks to the wonderful Los Angeles Archdiocese, who has to cover legal fees for the abuse that occurred, is now closing small Catholic schools in low income areas, where these schools actually are needed. Come on all you entitled Martyrs families, get real, the community has to look at this production every year in the paper, and it’s kind of old. I think Jesus would understand the joke, he had more of a sense of humor than any of you. I think you have bigger fish to fry other than being so up in arms over a clumsy caption.
Move it to Hermosa, or Redondo, or El Segundo. Why should Manhattan businesses get all the revenue? Go somewhere you’re wanted… No fees, no fences, no unneeded security, NO MORE HIDDEN TAXES! Limit the alcohol, the problems are gone.
Good stuff man, I’ll have to fly to Cali and check out these tacos sometime
Dear “recoveringcatholic”, The comments of those above are directed toward the mocking of children (for laughs) as they express their faith tradition. (Kuddos to Kevin Cody for his stand-up apology.) How do you conclude from those comments, that their writers are not outraged by child abuse, particularly by persons within the Catholic Church? Show me those dots, and how you connected them. Have we even met before? Concerning the maintenance of Catholic schools in the face of legal expenses including settlements, where do you think the money comes from to pay those settlements to victims and to maintain those schools and other good works? From “recovering Catholics”, or from practicing Catholics? Please, take a breath, reflect, and express the good in you.
This is the police dept’s way of double dipping.
1) they get paid REGARDLESS if there is an event or not.
2) they should have the right to ask for more $$$$$$$ for doing their jobs.
The fees are insane. If they keep asking for money from events…why even bother to pay our taxes? Seriously…police dept you are losing your clout the next time you want your cushy benefits.
Fees are Extortion!
I agree with the above proposal, charge $10 entry fee and $20 drinking wristband, we travel to this event every year and it wouldn’t be the same if you changed it… the crowds can be a bit overbearing, I agree… and I’ve been to many more large events that are way worse than 6 man in terms of people drinking and being stupid…
Live on 6 man!
The city is not double dipping, they need to pay overtime to have all of the extra police on staff. As a life long local, tend to agree with scaling back the event, at least until it falls of the radar. Too many out of towners trashing the beach and not respecting the local community.
Control it, Fence it and Charge it for spectators and alcohol.
Donate 20% to charity.
I remember the Huntington Beach Surf riot of the ’80’s because of the bikini contest (100,000 people). They should have controled, fenced it & charged, but listened to sponsors instead that wanted a ‘larger crowd’ and did neither and hundreds of thousands in dollars in riot damage resulted. (No more bikini contest for Op Pro.)
Only 8 arrests means that there arn’t a bunch of lushes walking around being idiots. I think the biggest problem is the limited space and the poor mobility. I liked the comment above about embracing the tournament. From a numbers perspective it is the biggest day of the year for the sport of volleyball worldwide, something that I’m sure the city and the Saikley fam take tremendous pride in, and somthing that local businesses generate a lot of revenue from. I say go bigger. Open up the north side of the pier on Saturday, and bring in a lot more public restrooms. Let’s meet in the middle on an increase in entry fee.
Hey now.
I have taken a breath, reflected, thanks Mark. Thanks also for covering the legal fees for abusers as a practicing Catholic as you stated. God bless.
Hey Kuftaf, what business do you own? I hope when it gets robbed and you call the police it takes them a couple hours to get there you stupid idiot. Tell us your business so I can publish it in my paper and shut you down. I would love to know what you do.
I am still tingling from this beautiful story of triumph, heritage,reunion and “paying it forward”. This Choir Director’s strength, character & teaching expertise have brought these high school children a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn, grow, travel abroad and represent our country admirably. What an honor & truly amazing experience for these kids to use in their own bright futures. They will no doubt do the same, to the best of their abilities: “pay it forward”.
I have no doubt in my mind that Amy is being prepared to make some great changes in the world. It is in her heritage and blood line to be a mover and a shaker. I see the intelligence, strength, determination and heart that is required to succeed. Go, Amy! It is a joy to see you use your gifts and talents so effectively. May God bless you in all that you do.
8 arrests/60,000 people x 100% = 0.01333% arrest rate. Hardly verging on a riot. Probably have more arrests at a Dodger’s game.
There are more arrest in 1 Saint Patrick’s Day than 5 sixman events combined.-True Story… Lets Move Saint Patricks day to July then… I hope the city is not thinking of fabricating a riot to prove their point… please don’t pull a Bush… Oh Yeah… Theres no Money in this tourney… Its a Charity Event… Be Charitable… This Should be a Freebie from the PD’s…
The current fees ought to cover bringing in adequate security. Let’s not tamper too much with the best sporting event in the world:
http://jackanddave.multiply.com/journal/item/80/7th_Man_at_the_6-Man
Dear ER:
“After having read all of the comments from the last issue relative to the American Martyrs church play, it is unfortunate that something written with seemingly harmless intent from the previous issue, can blow up so out of proportion. In this world today, where there is so much volatility, we as a society need to stop attacking one another. Let’s stop making controversy over the small things and move on to far more important issues. I doubt seriously the slipped on the way to the locker room comment was meant as a malicious attack to those eighth graders. Yes it is true the eighth graders deserve respect and admiration for putting on such a play. But please lets refrain from over reacting.”
I can’t understand or fathom the logic of someone who defends the unjustifiable mocking of a faith-based tradition by mentioning in the same breath the tragedy of abused children as if there is a scale where lesser crimes can be perpetuated as long as or because one does not address the ‘bigger” crimes ?
Are you saying that one should now summarily ignore the “minor” insults against a faith-based tradition because all “minor” insults are classified as trivial ?
And one last Logic Question: how do you know or determine that those writing against the mockery of our Passion Play are not the very victims of the abuse you are harping about and/or people who have sought to fight the abuse ?
In other words, I can’t fathom the logic of your thinking.
Mike’s a genius. Now, all the rest of the state has to do is follow his lead, starting with the beach cities. Give the man an award!
Thanks Easy Reader for covering water reuse and runoff reduction actions people are taking. One correction: daily LA County urban runoff to the ocean is not 300,000 gallons but rather 300 million gallons! Surfrider’s has teamed up with West Basin Municipal Water District and the Green Gardens Group to offer sustainable landscaping classes, hands-on workshops and garden workdays through the Ocean Friendly Gardens Program. Check the website http://www.oceanfriendlygardens.org for the schedule & DIY info. Surfrider volunteers are looking to help people create gardens that serve as an example for their neighborhood and spark others doing the same. In fact, last month, a group of kids from an eco-club at Hermosa Valley School, the club leader and Surfrider volunteers were led by a local native plant expert in transforming a planter at 22nd & The Strand. It would be great if a reporter attended and reported on these great learning and doing opportunities.
Excellent article and very timely. Mike has always been a ” The Future is Now” type of contractor so it is great to see another outstanding project completed by our very own CLCA water conservation wizard.
Way to go Mike! You are always on the cutting edge of what is happening. In Bermuda and other places in the world, rainwater harvesting is a way of life. Every house captures water off the roof to save. There is no reason we can’t begin to engineer sustainable solutions like rain water harvesting right here in Southern California. Like always, you not only see the solution, you actually build it and make it work. I hope people call you and ask you to install the same thing for them. I know you can do it. Kudos!
What was the caption in question? I must have missed it.
I’ve been a resident of this city since 1993 I’ve been to the 6 man almost every year, It’s a key part of my upbringing. I would understand the extra police presence to deal with the ever growing numbers of this event. But come one MBPD you need to just look outside your small local department and just get some other agencies to help keep the few “8” arrests that you guys will make this year if that!. The tournament has become a local economy boomer for the amount of revenue it brings to our local businesses and the local residences need to realize that we’re not tarnishing a proud tradition yet making it possible for other people to enjoy the surf festival. I don’t see the doubling of entry fee’s when everyone is hurting in these times so if that’s your way of keeping it to few who can, then you’re the one’s tarnishing it.
Great story! I went to elementry school( south ) and junior high (pier avenue) with Tiger, who actually lived on cypress off 8th street across from old lady bectal. Tger was part of the 6th street gang who consisted of John Gardner,Tiger,Dave Boice,Dave Matte,Dean Boston,Bobby Warcola,Bruce logan and of course Davey Holladay, it was his house where we all hung out for years, and there was plenty of beach girls, Debbie Broin, Gayle Gannon, Roxie Natalie,Kathy Miller,Randy Goble,Barbara Holland, brings back great memories, tell James I said hi.
Karl Grossman and Camino Rio rock! I’ve seen and heard them perform many times and it is always fun, fresh and entertaining… Karl, is a classic example of music’s finest… A true professional and gifted artist…
Believe me I he police wanted to arrest people and be “the bad guys”. They could make 100’s of arrest. But they want everyone to have a good time. Just not getting out of control. Many people vomit and urinate on property owners homes, town streets and businesses. The stores in downtown mb might as well be closed that day b/c there is no parking, and people are in town just to go to the 6-man. I’ve been attending 6-man since 1978, and watched it grow. We love this event and don’t want to see it disappear.
Also, the city cannot charge $$ to attend the event.
They don’t Want the riots of Huntington beach on their hands.
We love 6-man….. But it’s getting out of hard to keep it from growing. Please be respectful of the town, ho
e owners and shops and businesses.
And all this from a little brother who hated it when the family sang “Happy Birthday” or anything else! Congrats on a fab career. Wish I lived closer! Your sis.
As someone who attends the 6-man tourney every year, it is very simple to see why the city is worried about this. The tournament has degraded from a wholesome exhibition of volleyball to a corporate-sponsored mess complete with excessive drinking and shameless jeering at players. I’m all for “talking shit” at the courts, but when you get thousands of drunk revelers screaming in the faces of athletes, something’s gotta give. Fights have broken out before and with only 50 officers covering the whole area, stopping fights before they reach massive, uncontrollable levels is next to impossible. The city does need crowd control: more officers and more space would allow for less elbow-to-elbow crowding and a greater ability of the officers to maintain control of the situation. I’m a college student, all for a good time, but the amount of ruckus that goes on at the 6-man could easily reach disastrous potential. Banning the booze on the beach isn’t necessary, but charge 5 bucks for an entrance wristband. Even if a bunch of people walk around the barriers or sneak in, you’ll still make thousands in revenues – enough to cover the added cost of an increased police force.
Santa Barbara county has the same problem with Halloween every year, it costs them approximately a million dollars to police the drunken crowd of partiers. Lets learn from this, and find easy ways to pay for and ensure the events safety.
In conclusion, I love the 6-man, but it needs some changes. Banning drinking on the beach will only incite binge drinking back at the houses/bars before people head down, so its not going to work. Expand the area of the tournament to spread out the crowd. Rope off the beach and charge 5 dollars for entrance. Bring in extra cops for crowd control. It’s not that hard. We can still make this work.
“I thought MB was a smart town. These are two pretty stupid decisions. Why not cut alcohol out of all the clubs at night? There might be a riot at one of those and there may not be the man power available. Oh no, one better, you can put a city cover charge on every bar in town so you can have enough police on duty at all times just in case the entire town decides to riot…”
How to you call MB a stupid town and then present 2 dumb ideas. You are stupid.
My father Walter Shields worked with Gordon and biked with him as well. My dad died on September 14, 2009, and I don’t know if he and Gordon were still in touch. I do know my dad used to speak highly of Gordon. Condolences to the family.
Thank you. I tried to unpack that Sam Miller email a few weeks ago, but you are much more succinct than I was. I created a Google alert waiting for other skeptics to point out what I discovered. Yours is the first since April 12.
Check it out if you’d like:
http://marioapnj.blogspot.com/2010/04/can-article-quoting-prominent-cleveland.html
Scroll down to ”
I did some research. That email contained only 344 words of the original 3410 words published in a Knights of Columbus local bulletin in Cleveland Ohio several years ago. About 90% was left out: With good reason….” Where I try to cut to the chase.
I am a junior… Its not a big deal.
And we miss Darius ever day of his life. I hope his parents have found and are finding comfort in all the sensitive and happy memories that still are shared that are the result of their wonderful son
Interesting, in a very jaded way… I guess it takes all types. I don’t think I would have ever read something like this growing up in the 1960’s in MB. As I would say in Thai: Sum Num Nah!
This summer my granddaughter will go to the beach, and with her blue colored bucket, draw some water from the surf, dig for some sand crabs, find collect shells, put them in the bucket, and bring it up too our beach chairs. She’ll play with this for a while, then carry it back to the surf and pour it out. I wonder if the knuckleheads at the LARWQCB will fine her for doing what the Seaside Lagoon is also doing?
Someone should carry a bucket of seawater to the next LARWQCB board meeting and hand it off to one of the members and then ask what they intend to do with it.
This is very unfortunate… This is something that the local government should focus on to.
Congrats Tiger!! I too went to South and Pier with all those guys. Lived on 7th st right below Learned Lumber. Larry Felker lived two doors down and the Cook brothers (Dell, Rich, Herbie, Hobre, and ,,,,?) across the street. I was always in awe of both Tiger and Purpus.
The head shot of Tiger is just how I remember him!
I totally agree with you that our Seaside Lagoon should not be taken away from the people of Redondo Beach CA. I met my wife 41 years ago down there at the pier (See Inn) and that area has a special meaning to all of us. I am sure we are not the only people that feel this way. I am really concerned about this Ca. Coastal Commission blackmailing our City of Redondo Beach. Who the hell do they think they are and who pays their salary’s. No wonder the state of CA is broke. They should be more concerned about all the runoff that comes down the LA River and all the other garbage outlets that flow into our ocean other than a Historic Swim Park for the people and our Kids.
Walter T, Pearson Redondo Beach CA
The Question you have to ask yourself is not who is being hurt by this closure, but rather, “Who is going to make a profit?” In my opinion there is a hidden motive behind these fines. Either the LARWQCB needs money for their website, ( because when i tried to make a formal complaint, it was offline) Or they are being bribed by another company that can make money from tis closure. Nevertheless I will be contacting all the government officials i know to check if the LARWQCB can have some budget cuts, since they have too much time on their hands to look for piddly nonsense like this. Keep the lagoon open, its cleaner than most our beaches in my opinion
I totally agree with you that our Seaside Lagoon should not be taken away from the people of Redondo Beach CA. I met my wife 41 years ago down there at the pier (See Inn) and that area has a special meaning to all of us. I am sure we are not the only people that feel this way. I am really concerned about this Ca. Coastal Water Commission blackmailing our City of Redondo Beach. Who the hell do they think they are and who pays their salary’s. No wonder the state of CA is broke. They should be more concerned about all the runoff that comes down the LA River and all the other garbage outlets that flow into our ocean other than a Historic Swim Park for the people and our Kids.
If they are caught turn them over to United States Veterans.
I have lived in Redondo Beach since 1962 and the Seaside Lagoon was a summer outing we did as a family and with my school friends for years and years. To read this article turned my stomach. It just goes to show that capital greed is everywhere. To penalize the lagoon with such an outrageous amount of money when there are so many other contributors to the contamination of our sea water is unacceptable. There is definitely a hidden agenda here and I hope that it comes out sooner than later. It was sad to see Marineland closed years ago, because it was such a part of our beach community and now the Seaside Lagoon, what next take away our beaches!
I take issue with your snide comment “Nothing says symphony like Detroit”. We happen to have a world class orchestra with world class artistic leadership, helmed by no less than famed conductor Leonard Slatkin. Thirty of my friends and I have tickets to attend the “Music of the Night” concert to hear Eric Kunze and the Detroit Symphony. I am certain it will be a stellar evening, even in Detroit.
The debate about financial regulation misses the crucial lesson of the financial collapse of 2008, the eventual regulation most likely punishing companies who have nothing to do with the Wall Street jerks that created the mess. Hedging commodities is a time honored practice used by farmers and companies of all size in order to fix a price from which they can account for future sales.
As we witness the hubris of Goldman executives expounding about how they’re doing God’s work, its instructive to review the source of the new found wealth in the financial sector. Goldman and a few others made huge income by shorting the housing market. Sure, they did so favoring some clients over others which is more a symptom of a criminal mind than a banker. Perhaps blinded by their own greed, the smartest guys on Wall Street did not account for the viability of the inter-parties, specifically AIG. Everyone knows that the demise of Lehman, a firm which was operating more like a a sting than a business, started the financial house of cards falling. Goldman’s former CEO Paulson stepped into the abyss by conning Senators and Bush to push through TARP, quickly bailing out AIG so that Goldman was able to collect their bets – our current crook Geitner making sure they got a dollar to dollar compensation.
It was easy to conjecture that the demise of AIG would had ridded America of Goldman, Citi, JPM, BofA, and the rest of the “too big to fail” arrogant bastards. We would not had had to worry about regulating financial derivatives and concocting other means to keep those who have nothing to offer society in check.
Unfortunately, Paulson successor Geitner, Sommers, Rubin and the rest of the Klan is running the country. We have huge companies who are more interested in playing the spread between the free money from the fed and fed treasury notes than lending. These pos financial behemoths still have the huge blocks of toxic crapola on their balance sheets which essentially locks up credit as they horde any and all available credit for their balance.
America and the world would had been a lot better off if instead of dumping trillions into banks, we opened a window for anyone with a 700 fica or better or a business with a 3 year track record to borrow money at the same 0.1% interest rate. Eventually, we will view TARP as a weapon of mass destruction to our economy.
Burgie
Finally, at least an attempt to stop some of the nasty problem many people ignore. 2 friends of mine got Strep throat the same day after it rained last year- both surfed the same time but they were 5 blocks apart. It’s pretty archaic that we haven’t even addressed the sewage runoff on a mass scale.
Loves that they are considering many of the ideas that the fans have been discussing…
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=105901337524&topic=12323
Whatever happens, I just want the tournament to continue. I get the concerns of the nearby residents and the city officials. I think there are some good ideas here on how to bring the tournament back to what it was, and I think that bringing it back will be nice. 🙂
Go Barbies! 🙂
don’t demonize LA regional water board or the state. The city has known about these regulations for many years and has chosen not to act. This could have been solved in 2002
It’s awesome to see such enthusiasm working with kids! The Redondo Performing Arts Campus seems to be a great place for kids to develop their talents through the workshops and music schools! HollywoodDad.com would love to help participate and share in the excitement!
Please note the change to our performance schedule
Friday and Saturday at 8 PM
Sunday at 5 PM
Through May 16th.
Knowing about the regulations and accommodating them are two different issues. The Lagoon is (and always has been) an OPEN system utilizing ocean water circulated (and discharged at a rate of 200,000 gallons per hour)into a sand bottom lagoon which allows for a safe environment for children to swim and play. The only REAL solution to meet “current” standards would be a multi-million dollar hard bottom closed system paid for by the taxpayers of Redondo Beach. BTW – That type of system is usually referred to as SWIMMING POOL not a ocean lagoon.
I say can the 6-man and the johnnie-come-latelies and alchoholic pencil-necked geeks it has come to attract.
Has nothing to do with the fine sport of beach volleyball anymore. Has to go…can’t police it, can’t manage it, can’t control it…has to go. 60K? ? ?
Don’t want it, don’t need it. We want our beach back. This isn’t Ft. Lauderdale at Spring Break. Stay at home and on your internet facebooks…you pathetic little dweebs.
Steve Aspel: How is this a matter of eco-green overkill? Water quality laws are some of slowest to evolve. Between that and the time line of the incurred violation, since 2002 before the whole “green movement”, I think that this blaming it on the earth-lovers thing is a little, well immature.
Turn off the water pumps. Drain it. Fill it with beach sand and turn it into a world class beach volleyball facility.
How to grab more $$$$ from the public.
1) exaggerate attendance numbers.
2) threaten complete shut down despite no historical evidence of public danger
3) jack up rates on police “protection”
It’s a power grab here. Don’t kill the golden goose.
They are also talking of banning costumes. Really? The costumes? Costumes are not the problem. There are many costume tournaments throughout the year; costumes dont make people act badly. Six man is about the level of play. Where else can a your friends compete against Olympic, College and Professional athletes dressed in wigs, kilts, bridal veils etc.? To me the best part of six man weekend is feeling the enthusiastic, anticipatory climate of players dressed in their silly, colorfull outfits early Saturday morning; knowing that soon some incredible volleyball will be played by these “characters”. Outlawing humorous dress is not the answer.
We all know the real problem is the influx of day trippers and weekend visitors using the tournament as ONLY a party, not wearing a wrestling outfit instead of board shorts (or even players and their friends enjoying a discrete beverage between games).
Sam’s Bad Numbers…
Mr. Miller’s statement, “10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia” has no basis in fact! It was refuted by the named source in 2002 and remains refuted today.
In the original 2003 speech Mr. Miller cites a July/August 2002 Sojourners article by Rose Marie Berger in which she misinterprets statements from Penn. State Prof. Philip Jenkins regarding sexual abuse by Protestant ministers.
In the original article Berger writes…
“Philip Jenkins concludes in his book “Pedophiles and Priests” that while 1.7 percent of Catholic clergy have been found guilty of pedophilia (specifically of boys), 10 percent of Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia.” (This quote is used in Miller’s speech)
To which Philip Jenkins responds (Sept/Oct 2002)…
“I regret to say that the statement is baloney. I never said it, and it’s not true!… Every time this ten percent statement appears attributed to me, I try to debunk it, but these things have a life of their own. I have no idea what the actual proportion of pedophile protestant clergy is, but I would be amazed if it was more than a fraction of one percent.”
Sojourner Article… http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0207&article=020741d
Sojourners apologized to its readers for passing on erroneous information and revised the article, removing the incorrect and defamatory information. But not before Sam Miller got a hold of it!
Now you know!
Rev. Rob Pollock
Vancouver, BC
CANADA
This tournament should be cancelled. The image it sets for volleyball is terrible, the image it sets for manhattan beach is terrible. Cancel it and the party seekers will find another place to party.
cops will be pocketing an extra $93,306.
what the heck?
Like I said the first time this came out…
Its all about the cheese.
60,000 people is a myth…
17,000 was the report last year.
And would they stop comparing it from the 1961 6-man event.
first of all southbay population back then was only 40,000
southbay was one big pile of sand till it turn into a yuppie ghetto.
The 6-man can still be a successful and outrageously fun tournament even with the proposed changes….No, Ryan, cops will not be pocketing an extra $93,306. Please re-read the article so you’ll understand where that money will be going. 🙂
8 arrests last year = “the ballooning and often unruly crowds that have in recent years”
@Court1 I agree, In the 8 years or so that I’ve been to 6 Man, attendance has grown but I have no idea where the 60,000 number came from.
Boycott the entire city of Manhattan Beach that weekend.
Show your disapproval by walking with your wallets.
Maybe if Manhattan Beach passed an immigration law like AZ, they could keep out the “unruly crowds” they worry of.
Riots? Really?
Heidi, it is these eco-terrorist who are harming our way of life and using bad science to do it. 2+ billion dollar fine? That is just a bully! The board could easily say “we know you are working on the problem and we will limit the fine to $100,000 maximum”. You do realize that 99% of what the waterboards want removed are indiginous to the ocean, right? Seaside lagoon is not ADDING anything but chlorine then removing it. ALL the other elements are naturally occuring in the OCEAN!!! If you took a bucket, scooped the water out and threw it back in you would be in the same violations.
Just for perspective, the chlorine max levels required by the boards are 1,000 times lower then drinking water. Chlorine also a gas, and rapidly dissipates even in water(as any pool owner will tell you).
I attended Saturday of last year’s event to take photos and watch some friends play. While the crowd was large, there is no way it was 60,000. Maybe 20,000 tops… about enough to fill a large hockey arena. And they were not unruly at all. I’ve seen worse crowds at an NHL Playoff game.
The Mayor Pro Tem states that it’s not the players that are the problem… so why are they being penalized by having to pay more? If it is “the other idiots” that are the problem, why not just staff the entry points with security guards and check their bags like they do at every other event? All it should cost is some guards and a fence. Not $93K!
I suspect that you’ll find that the people who will benefit from the increased fees and enhanced security are the ones who planted the seed with the city…the PD and the Private Security firms. Follow the money and you almost always find the answer.
I’m with Zorro on boycotting MB businesses that weekend. Take public transportation to the event so you don’t feed their parking meters, and when it is over, take your wallet to HB or RB and spend your money there.
Believe me….Andy and Renee…their band Hard Rain, along with so many other special people who come from all over…and play up to eight hours of “All Dylan” make this the best day of the year, each and every year.
You may laugh, dance, or you may find a tear in your eye when someone takes you back to that special place in your life that a “Dylan song” was needed. Bob Dylan has touched the hearts and minds of so many of our brothers and sisters. As with most though, it’s so much more personal.
Some couldn’t get through his voice way back when…what a shame. You’ll always hear the “well, he’s a great songwriter”. What Bob Dylan is cannot be defined properly. The best thing that i could say is… ” that Bob Dylan…and the art of Bob Dylan are both truly a gift from God ”
Come over to El Segundo at the end of the 105 freeway near the lax airport this Saturday. See and hear for yourself. You won’t regret it.
This is a simple act of extortion. These bureacratic entities can’t find a way to stay on a budget, so they have to fleece money out of us somehow.
I have been to six-man the last 8 years. There were NOT 60,000 people there last year, it was about 12,000 tops. This is a FUN annual event and if you need to limit the amount of drinking then check bags etc at entry but do not make the players pay for the City letting this get out of hand by turning a blind eye. And what does the music have to do with it? What a joke.
The Police Chief’s rec’s (3 of 5 authors of the Staff Report are police) make sense for him. He wants to hire more buddies for overtime work, and stretching the number of attendees increases the number of officers hired. He secretly wishes there were no Halloween, Super Bowl, or 6-Man because these days make his job more stressful — he fears a riot of volleyball players and fans. If his silly ideas about squishing people through gates, policing music, ticketing all players $80 bucks (by increasing entry fees), and forbidding coolers (which also carry water and gatorade, btw) are passed, he might actually get the riots he’s talking about.
Do these supposed 60,000 people not generate additional sales tax, hotel tax, parking ticket tax? How do the local costume shops do? Grocery stores? Beauticians? Gyms? Babysitters? Where are those numbers figured in?
Only 8 arrests with 60,000 people? Sounds like a homerun to me. And let’s please not go after the sponsors. A volleyball player finding a sponsor is like a normal person finding…a job. Let’s not take away jobs while we’re trying to mess up one of the finest events that exist.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A MUSICAL. THAT IS A TYPO.
Also, we have added a matinee at 3 PM this Saturday for closing weekend.
Really Inviting! NOT!! $34 dollars to spend for a play that can’t decide whether it’s a comedy or drama? And the Author/director is not willing to release any other information about it!!?? Nor are there any reviews for the piece??!!
Seems to me, one’s money would be more worthwhile spending it at the Kirk Douglass, r Mark Taper. Not only do you know those pieces have been vetted… You can get a great seat for under $25, and spend the extra $9 on a movie you know nothing about!
Facts don’t lie . . .
It seems detractors of election result are often quick to clarify that all of the “registered voters” didn’t actually vote (funny, this is never the case when the vote swings the other direction). These critics choose to discredit an outcome simply on low turnout or the large number of voters who didn’t show up on election day. Strange, these critics stop short of suggesting those absent may have just been disinterested, too busy, uninformed, or just too lazy to show up at the poles or send in their absentee ballot. If this article was meant to highlight the unfortunate fact of poor local election turnout, I absolutely agree with the writer, it’s truly sad to consider that people don’t exercise their right to participate at all levels government. If this was an article discounting the outcome of an election . . . the results speak for themselves and the votes of all those (involved) folks who thought this was important HAVE been counted. The results are clear, DD won by a margin of 18%, or 4,271 votes (a true landslide in election terms). BTW – I’ll have to disagree with the writer, based on our democratic system, Bill Brand speaks for ALL of the people in District 2 just as Steve Aspel speaks for ALL of the people in District 1.
The city should not intervene in an existing business transfer by imposing an early closing when the business has a 1:30 closing and the business has never violated its conditional use permit. Business owners’ rights must be
protected too. Evidence showed Il Boccaccio had the lowest number of calls for city services of all licensed establishments on Pier Ave. Howard Fishman and Pete Tucker’s justly decided not to appeal the ABC decision. The
same ABC that already ruled the city did not have grounds to protest the license in the first place. The ABC already denied the city’s request in April, 2010 and nothing has changed. If the license had been a new business CUP the Councilmen could have voted for early hours. But that is not the case when an existing business is transferred, and City Council must follow a fair and consistent pattern in making decisions. Instead of giving into pressure from Jim Lissner, a vocal critic of downtown Hermosa Beach, they analyzed the true facts and voted to follow the same protocol that they did in the transfer of Café Boogaloo and Underground Pub. A thriving downtown will support future city revenues. The city revenues are down in this economy and restaurants and bars are calmer than before the economic
slowdown. The city should not be wasting money on legal fees for an ABC board appeal.
While I’m not a Betsy Butler supporter, I would appreciate it if the Easy Reader would post an explanation for the anonymous attack ad printed at the top of page 5 in your May 13th issue. I thought that political ads were required to state who paid for them.
Hi Harry,
this is a goofy article: 1)that was a very unprofessional and unpleasant moment during the council meeting btwn Aspel and Brand..something I would prefer to not revisit(and wonder why you did). Plus it happened some time ago. (Are your articles being delayed in publishing?)
2) “The notion the citizens took some kind of action against heart of the city” is very true. The public hearing on HoC was 12 hours long..two nights-6 hours each. Despite protests from the school district and many community members, the council still voted to adopt the plan. (It was a large plan, Harry)
The letter to the editor by Chris Cagle asking people to help him do a referendum was an answer to a prayer. The first 20 people to meet quickly grew to a group of almost 150 people willing to collect signatures. (These were rookies-not seasoned activists) We needed 4000 signatures but collected 6400 in a window of just over 2 weeks (the deadline to protest the vote).. It was a remarkable feat.
Please don’t minimize what impact this event had on Redondo’s history. It was the catalyst for political involvement of many residents. Many have aspired to run for office and have joined commissions. Some have started non profit groups. And ,yes,the tradition of “store front signature collecting” was born.
If the article was to referee claims made by council members..well, councils seem to contain colorful characters; opinions and statements fly in all directions during meetings. Don’t worry..somehow everything washes out in the end. It is impossible to think anyone can set the record straight!
Re: The Vocal Minority
Facts don’t lie . . .
It seems detractors of election result are often quick to clarify that all of the “registered voters” didn’t actually vote (funny, this is never the case when the vote swings the other direction). These critics choose to discredit an outcome simply on low turnout or the large number of voters who didn’t show up on election day. Strange, these critics stop short of suggesting those absent may have just been disinterested, too busy, uninformed, or just too lazy to show up at the poles or send in their absentee ballot. If this article was meant to highlight the unfortunate fact of poor local election turnout, I absolutely agree with the writer, it’s truly sad to consider that people don’t exercise their right to participate at all levels government. If this was an article discounting the outcome of an election . . . the results speak for themselves and the votes of all those (involved) folks who thought this was important HAVE been counted. The results are clear, DD won by a margin of 18%, or 4,271 votes (a true landslide in election terms). BTW – I’ll have to disagree with the writer, based on our democratic system, Bill Brand speaks for ALL of the people in District 2 just as Steve Aspel speaks for ALL of the people in District 1.
Wow… I’ve heard apple sold a million iPad in just 28 days… It’s surely the best gadget ever made… It takes computing to a whole new different level..
Money well spent? Like the water fountain on the corner of 190th & PCH. Millions of dollars… Will the students appreciate as much as the board does?
Wow $450,000 for rooftop dining? NICE PERK. Yes Arlene & Jane are right. One quick jump or fall off the top will add to the Schools price tag alright. Did they run out of room inside? How long will it take for the $300k in solar panels to pay back? 10 years? 20 Years? Or should they wait until the technology is better?
====================
May 17, 2010
Dear ER:
Help Stop Hermosa’s raised, concrete-curbed, Pier Avenue MEDIAN MADNESS.
Time is running out to kill the insane, unnecessary, MEDIAN.
The MEDIAN is an expensive, silly, and unneeded Pier Avenue amateur design mistake.
The MEDIAN is skinny, just 5-feet wide and will destroy Pier Avenue’s beautiful historic openness that dates back to 1900.
The raised concrete MEDIAN will choke traffic and hinder the free movement of Police, Fire, and Paramedic vehicles.
The MEDIAN will destroy Pier Avenue for its St. Patrick’s Day Parade and other future parades and celebrations.
The MEDIAN will choke traffic flow, forcing additional cars, cabs and trucks onto 2nd, 8th, Monterey, Manhattan, and other residential streets.
Removing the unneeded MEDIAN simplifies and speeds up the completion of the Pier Avenue upgrades and saves scarce city money.
Important: Tell your Hermosa Councilmen, Commissioners, Chamber of Commerce, Police, Fire, and Public Works Department officials that you don’t want Pier Avenue’s historic openness destroyed with an unnecessary raised-curb, emergency vehicles hindering, parade wrecking, expensive, narrow, ugly, raised-concrete-curbed MEDIAN.
Time is running out to stop the MEDIAN.
Get involved. Help stop Pier Avenue’s MEDIAN MADNESS.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach
===================
They probably thought the winners of this tourney wins a lot of money…
ITS A CHARITY EVENT!!!
WHY WOULD WE SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY ON A CHARITY EVENT WHEN MOST OF THE PLAYERS THEMSELVES NEEDS THE CHARITY!
How about They donate their time.
Prizes: T-shirts & Medals
Do you get it… Do you get it…
Mr Munns fails to mention many of the indicators of the public’s will with respect to overdevelopment.
Perhaps he did not realize that the City conducted a survey on whether residents wanted to vote on zoning changes and the overwhelming majority stated “yes” – very reflective of the vote for DD. Additionally, there are at least two previous city surveys that show overdevelopment and traffic were the top concerns of residents.
Munns fails to account for the impacts of the city’s deceitful counter measure, EE, that looked good but had no teeth. Even former Councilman Pinzler stated EE would allow people to vote on zoning changes that were never likely to occur. The intent of EE, apparently, was to confuse voters and draw them away from DD in the hopes that neither measure would pass. I base this conclusion on the fact that most of the Council were also listed as supporters of “Save Redondo”, an organization that opposed ANY resident voting on zoning changes. Our Council played both sides of the fence in a desparate attempt to stop what they knew to be inevitable. What would the vote have been without the decoy measure?
Another indicator of the public bill, was the vote on what to do with the AES site. The City steeped the ballot language to make mixed use and condos look like Nirvana over the costs of a park at the site. Yet the people overwhelmingly picked a park.
While Mr. Munns is accurate that the two referendums related to the Heart of the City was never put to a vote, he failed to mention that the Council clearly understood the vote would override their approval of the HOC plan.
And as to his attack on Bill Brand – Bill ran against three candidates who were all pro-development. The fact that he won without a run-off election should be a clear indication of the will of the people with respect to overdevelopment.
I think if Munns objectively looked at the preponderance of evidence since the Heart of the City, he would draw a much different conclusion.
And it he doesn’t like Measure DD, he can stand at grocery stores every weekend of six months, collect 6000 signatures, and qualify an initiative vote to repeal it.
I’m a So Cal expatriate now living is Wisconsin. Even from this distance the city council is clearly fomenting this to create fear and then more fees. Sad day. I hope all VB players hit this hard. Tell mayor Tricky Dick that the sky (ball) is not falling.
I have played in this tournament since 1979. I may reconsider spending my visitor tax money someplace else.
If MB ruins this, there will be a counter tournament somewhere.
Hi Mary,
You addressed me by name so I feel I should respond directly to you.
I’m sorry you found my column “goofy”. Like you, I saw the exchange between the two RB city councilmen I cite in my column. I had a different reaction. I saw two people who believed strongly in two opposing views of the same topic. It occurred to me that unlike many opinions people hold, this one could be verified. I did considerable research, drew some conclusions and I stand by the facts I present in the article.
I’m not a reporter. I’m a columnist. One of the differences between the two is that I present opinions and observations. A reporter has an obligation to minimize the influence of his or her own opinions and objectively present the facts.
If I had uncovered data that supported the assertion that “the people” of Redondo Beach want to prevent development in King Harbor, I would have expressed that opinion. The numbers simply didn’t prove it, at least not to me.
I’m in King Harbor at least 4-5 times a week. I run into people I know all the time for one simple reason, I know a lot of people who work there or use it for boating. I have never-ever seen one person I know from any of the beach cities who doesn’t either work there or have a boat in the harbor. Think about that. I know a lot of people.
To me the absence of local users is more telling than any election, referendum or political movement. The people of the beach cities abandoned King Harbor years ago and it’s heartbreaking.
If someone wants to build something in King Harbor that the citizens want to use, I’ll scream my support from the highest hill. I don’t care if it’s a park, outdoor cafes, a bike path or a skating rink. But we’ll never get a chance to find out unless we enable the people with the resources and vision to bring new things here to tell us what they’d like to do and how they’d like to do it.
The current “no growth” image of Redondo Beach will do nothing but keep the status quo, decay, deterioration and a local population that looks elsewhere for its recreation.
I respect your opinion to think my column is “goofy” but perhaps I disagree when you say it’s impossible to set the record straight. I think I just did.
I’m an MB native, have never left this city. This’ll be my 17th 6man attendance (played in the tourney twice, myself). It took me several hours to peel my jaw off of the floor when I first read City Council’s proposed changes which, at the time, include costume bans, etc. I was wiping the rust off of my pitchfork to ready it in preparation of protest – it would have been a violation of our first amendment rights. I see now that they came to their senses about that and chose not to band the costumes. But do they have the right to ban coolers? Tents? Isn’t it a public beach? In any event, the more I think through the legality of it, I understand the alcohol ban. After all, public intoxication is not allowed. But what I can’t understand is: why won’t the city fence off the area (or areas away from the courts perhaps) and offer a city-sponsored beer gardens, like in the Hometown Fair? That way, people could drink, the city could make some cash, and the registration fees could be limited, all the while passing some of the burden onto the spectators, and not the players.
But, how foolish of me to think that the city actually really cares about banning alcohol because of “crime”, “fights” and “riots” (have they not seen the hermosa pier on the weekends? 20,000 drunk d-bags there on a year-round basis with minimal fights and no riots.) Instead, the 6man changes come on the heels of the city caving into the pressure of non-native residents who are forcing the closure of our beloved Sand Dune Park, too. This is about non-native rich snobs who have moved into our glorious beach community and turned this into an issue of “Hi, I’m a rich snob and my tax dollars pay your salary, so you better do what i tell you to do or else I’ll vote you out of city council power. And I don’t like fun and awesomeness, I just want to impose my snooty joykill ways on everyone so please, get all of these young people away from my house even though I purchased it knowing full well that I live next to all sorts of things, including bars and a public beach that WILL be frequented by lots of people on a year-round basis.” These snobs are trying to turn our beach community, with it’s unique culture and traditions, into a sea-side Beverly Hills. What next, will they try to impose a ban on the Hometown Fair too???
Looks as if I’ll be making room on my walls for one of your pictures! Glad you have something else to excel in, but what else is new? Love, a.s.
I remember Tiger. I’m John Gardner’s brother and he hung around with Tiger when they were kids. We lived in a few locations on Loma Drive, went to South school and Pier Ave. One of the homes we lived in was just over the fence from Clark Stadium and not far from Tiger’s house. I also remember old Lady Bectal and Mrs. Hayes. She was the one that used to carry around water jugs and fill them up somewhere down at the strand for drinking water. John Gardner is my brother and he’s still surfing where he lives up in Seaside, Oregon.
John lives up in Seaside,Oregon and is still surfing.
I’ll have to tell him about this article and that I saw a reply by Dickie Boyd, a name I remember well.
Dave: I just spoke with Dell Cook today on the phone.
Re: The beach cities fire department merger discussions, and Hermosa’s budget meeting.
Dear ER:
Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Beach, have and are collectively wasting millions by needing to have their own little feel-good fire departments, especially with consideration that one of the best fire departments in the country, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, serves Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Lomita, Lawndale, Hawthorne and many other cities so professionally.
It’s little more than egotistical that the beach cities still insist on having their own political-pawn fire departments. In doing so, the councils of these cities are collectively wasting millions of the people’s tax money just so politicians can play political games at election time.
The quality of fire and paramedic services would not degrade and probably only improve were these cities to each set their specifications and contract with Los Angeles County Fire as other fine cities do. The fire stations would still be in the same places and most all of the fire personnel would probably feel more professional not having to put up with the political good-ole-boy games of these beach cities. So long as we have weak-as-water egocentric politician council members maintaining a mythology of providing better fire services with city-operated fire departments in these beach towns, the people’s tax money will continue to be wasted.
Hermosa’s council can and should set the trend by immediately exiting any local-politics merger baloney and commencing a process to contract with Los Angeles County Fire at their budget meeting in the Council Chambers, Thursday evening, 7 PM, May 27.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach
And yet the City wants to incur the cost of shipping sand to the dune, reshaping it, and fencing it from all others, so that a lucky sweaty few can have an exclusive workout facility a great cost to the neighborhood, environment, and budget. Priorities? In January, the City understood and ordered in writing that they would not do this, and that they had better things to do with scarce resources. Nothing changed, other than some very selfish we-want-our-preferred-workout-regardless-of-cost folks, who had not participated in any of the prior thoughtful meetings set up by the City, showed up for about half of one meeting with a news camera, and the City caved. What an unflattering chapter in City Council history. Perhaps something will cause the City to reconsider its misguided turns, and return to reason, sound priorities, and fiscal responsibility.
I enjoyed your mamoir. I too grew up at the park. We lived above the park on 34th st. In the summer, my parents would invite several other families to get together for a day at the park. We would play volleyball, have a barbeque, and just enjoy each other’s company. It was a park for families. When they remodled the park and took out the volleyball court I was sad. Then I found out that kids can no longer go down on sleds, or boogey boards, or anything. How are kids ever going to know the thrill of picking off a scab if they are never allowed to skin their knee. Infact, the whole cith has changed. My father taught school at Pacific Shores, and coached football at both Mira Costa, and Aviation. I grew up going to highschool football games. It was a family event. Everyone did. I have tried to explain to my kids what life was like growing up in MB, but they just can’t understand. When we go visit, all we see are latin nannies sitting around a bunch of white kids. It is a shame.
This is a completely innacurate depiction of the woman pictured. This article paints the Count to be a creep. This is also a bizarre food article. Interesting, but bizarre. I could barely get through it.
This is an absolutely delightful story written about a man with whom I had the pleasure of being directed in several performances. Michael Hayden truly has a gift like no other when it comes to musicality and motivation. I would like to strongly encourage anyone who has ever been directed by Michael to dig into their pockets and help support the Mira Costa Ensemble!
So when does HB offically get renamed “MacPherson Beach”?
Has RUHS completed all deficiencies in earthquake safety, energy conservation, electrical, plumbing, disabled access, lighting and security, computer labs, and other repairs voters hear about when the school board asks for a bond? Or are they going to spend most of the money on a cafeteria to have junk food delivered by local fast food companies?
I like the Easy Reader, but I could not finish this article. This joke was drawn on so far that it was no longer a satirical piece on art/food reviews, rather it was an ironic satirical piece on satire in general.
Interesting the Redondo Beach Police have an officer who is an additive drug expert. The article doesn’t state what dosage the tablets were. I think Vicodin contains 500 mg paracetamol and 5 mg hydrocodone. It’s barely stronger than many over the counter NSAID drugs. But he should have had a prescription for it as it is considered a class 3 drug, which is:” Pure codeine and hydrocodone are Schedule II drugs but when compounded with paracetamol or with an NSAID they can become a Schedule III drug. Schedule III drugs are classified by the U.S. government as potentially causing moderate or low physical dependence, or a high psychological dependence if misused.” I’m sure pro football players have a need for pain relief, why wasn’t he being managed by a doctor? Couldn’t afford it? Or did the team doctor just go, here… Please have a follow up story.
No, the city get’s renamed Idiot Councilville.
I agree with Riz,
How did this article make the cover? It’s a diluted restaurant and gallery review thrown into a Creative Writing 101 assignment. Theres so many other important, factual story’s going on in the south bay, why give the cover to a work of fiction about a pretentious, womanizing millionaire.
This is a great article. I witnessed the FARTBARF show at DEVOtional in 2009, and I am going to see them again at DEVOtional this year. FARTBARF BLEW ME AWAY! FARTBARF IS AWESOME LIVE! I’m hoping they put out more recorded material, because I am/will always be, a FARTBARF fan.
It’s Lysander, not Lysandra….
There was a production of this recently up at the Norris which was probably one of the best I’d ever seen. Last year’s Shakespeare by the Sea production was excellent as well. Hoping to get the chance to see this one, although this write up may not have theatre goers flocking to see it…
Manhattan Beach Police Department is to be commended for arresting Tony Perez, who cheated an investor out of $20,000, while Sean David Morton, a Hermosa Beach resident, is being sued by the SEC for bilking investors out of over $6 million! Perez should have set up his scam in Hermosa Beach!
Why would Easy Reader hire someone to write a preview article who obviously detests Shakespeare and makes thinly veiled racist comments? The show hadn’t opened when this article went to press so it’s not like it’s simply a negative review, it’s more like a hate article barely masked in poorly written attempts at humor. Shakespeare’s work is toilet paper? Accents are acceptable sources of derision? Character names are just too hard and we should give up now? This clown does not represent the South Bay; the people I know in this community are educated, welcoming to culture and challenges, and would not be the first in line to lambaste something sight unseen. Perhaps the Easy Reader should read their articles before publishing them to weed out the loons who haven’t gotten over their D- in freshman English class.
It is never a bad idea to ask the people, especially since the City Council has on more than one occasion has gone in exactly the wrong direction with respect to the wishes of the majority.
Right on Rev. While we are all waiting for that EP to come out be sure to get your fill of Fartbarf on http://www.DirtyHippieRadio.com.
-Rev. Jeff Vincent (yes I’m ordained)
I am a resident of the 36th district, & have been trying to follow this race. Of the three candidates, Andrew Sharp & Pete Kesterson seem to be fairly accessible & visible, but I haven’t heard of any Mattie Fein events, where I could go to hear her speak. I went to a candidates forum, where both Sharp & Kesterson spoke, but Fein was not present. Also, I didn’t know about the Sri Lankan connection, but an internet search produced a lot of info. This site, for example, has a lot of links and references: http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010/03/11/mattie-and-bruce-fein-and-foreign-terrorist-organizations/ and The Asian Tribune has some good articles as well. Definitely enough info to make me suspicious of voting for this candidate.
I met Andrew Sharp at a Tea Party event and knew right away he was the one for the job. He is not a career politician like Pete and Mattie and seemed genuinely concerned about the local issues of the district because he has lived in the area his entire life. I was impressed with his knowledge of history and politics and know he would be a good representative for us in Congress.
That is one frightening mug shot!
Very good article, as there has been a recent swarm of earthquakes on the Redondo Canyon fault this June (2010).
Excellent article, excellent reporting.
Bob
Given the recent activity on the Redondo Canyon fault, this article could turn out to be truly prophetic.
In response to Jane Harman’s consultant Harvey Englander’s comments:
Jane Harman needs to stop hiding behind her consultant and speak for herself. Today, I challenge Jane Harman to a debate next week on the important issues regarding the 36th district, her voting record, and her conflicts of interests. Let Harman finally disclose her financial interests and see how many votes she should have recused herself from. Sending Mr. Englander is not an option. After 16 years representing the district, Harman needs to stop hiding and speak for herself.
Wonderful column. And, your project is truly beneficial and inspiring. I believe the urban gardening experience will bear fruit in those kids’ future, even though they are now captivated by the much-advertised plastic “food” of McDonald’s and other purveyors of fast junk.
Attention: Editor and Publisher Kevin Cody
Please consider this ‘letter-to-editor’ submission for use in this week’s, June 17 edition.
I feel this is an important story that needs to be told. Please consider printing the entire letter.
Thank you as always.
==============================================
June 13, 2010
Dear ER:
Pier Avenue’s costly, unneeded, skinny, raised-curbed, off-centered median is now interestingly being rushed-built, completely out of logical construction order. This median item of Hermosa’s overall street project unquestionably is going to diminish the historic avenue’s beauty and functionality in many negative ways. Unfortunately, except for rightfully concerned councilman Jeff Duclos, the council’s other four members’ median obsession is another example of unbelievably ignorant, closed-minded, arrogance in action.
All should understand that council’s 2-lane Pier Avenue agenda never ended since some ten years ago when another pro-bars council first changed Pier Avenue’s 4-lane “arterial” legal designation to 2-lane “local” collector. The council still refuses to return it back to 4-lane “arterial” which is what it is supposed to be. That prior legal trick was later used to rationalize council’s incredibly dumb and costly reduction of the avenue to two lanes. After a massive outcry over that from both residents and Pier Avenue businesses, council fearing their own certain recall, quickly spent more tax money to return the avenue back to four lanes.
However former and current elected diehards supporting expansion of Pier Plaza’s eating and drinking on widened sidewalks with one lane each way up Pier Avenue have never given up their two-lane obsession. Those include Sam Edgerton, J. R. Reviczky, Michael Keegan, Peter Tucker, Patrick “Kit” Bobko, and Michael DiVirgilio, together with many of their handpicked city commissioner “rubber-stamps”. The median is just the latest slimy trick being used to eventually morph Pier Avenue down to two lanes with diversion of traffic elsewhere through the residential neighborhoods.
DiVirgilio deceitfully even told bicycle proponents, those previously dismissed, to now push for one lane each way. This just shows what a smiling disingenuous phony he also is, and always has been since he first fooled me. And now Bobko has hit rock bottom, going out of his way to pander to his political fans by displaying how despicable he can be with his disgusting, condescending, badgering, cheap lawyer intimidation of members of Hermosa’s rank and file police and fire personnel who would dare speak out against what is little more than the use of taxpayer money by Bobko to embellish his own political status.
But worst of all is Bobko and DiVirgilio’s unseemly use of Hermosa Beach and the some-total $5.5 million of taxpayers’ money being expended on Pier Avenue to photo-op grandstand this Pier Avenue project for their political resumes. It’s just further indication of the lengths these two shallow, carpet-bagger, politician-wannabes will go to advance their narcissistic political agendas onto taxpayers’ backs.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa beach
hmmm, now where are my dumbels
Nice remembrances, Matt. We played together, and I can corroborate your memories.
Sand Dune Park is a park, not a training center. It’s for kids and their families (still once or twice a year, for me and mine).
Eric Grenier
Lake Bluff, Illinois
Tell Scott Parker “Hi” from an old friend (Cary Walters Stone).
Next time I’m in CA – I’ll call for an appointment – I need help.
Tell Scott HI from an old friend!
Cary Walters Stone
More than 110 leaders from the three beach cities were there…we want this for our community!
dear Jan,
I am a teacher, and like you I believe in the children we teach. I feel your sorrow, I feel your pain. You probably shaped many lives, created memories that will for ever help making this world a better one. There are no words that can ease your loss, there are no hug that can erase your pain, but never forget that the children you taught are for ever better! I wish you the best in your new life… don’t give up, there are birthdays, homework, and many ways to stay in touch with the world you help shaping.
For ever thankful….
JPA
Have you been to a Women’s Empowerment? This yrs expo was a great time! Laila Ali was the headlining speaker and she rocked the house, excellent concert also. I travelled in to Raleigh from OH, completely more than worth it!
this is really so sad…the cajun is so unique and become a landmark on pier avenue…there a a million restaurant’s going out of business so why not open his sons in one of those? the bottom line is we have enough bars and hamburgers in hermosa but there is only one ragin cajun…another spoiled kid in south bay…he’ll be out of business is six months like so many others. the cajun and stephen deserves better.
This is a joke. No matter where I go in the South Bay area, everyone knows exactly what I’m talking about when I talk about the Cajun. Great food & atmosphere. I’m sure Steven won’t have much of a problem finding a new location, but it’s a shame he has to. Especially after all he has done to enlarge & improve the current location. I guess I’ve eaten my last meal at that address.
I live just behind the Ragin’ Cajun and will be at every city hall meeting to ensure that this Gastropub doesn’t happen. Upper Pier only needs family friendly restaurants. A “Gastropub” doesn’t sound like it’s going to fit that bill. Sounds like we’ll just get more drunk LMU students walking down my street while my children are trying to sleep. Not acceptable.
You might as well let the Ragin Cajun stay, because the residents don’t want another Union Cattle- We already have one.
This is INFURIATING. I’ll tell you one thing: I will never ever ever set foot in Junior’s gastropub. Ever. The kid gets Daddy’s land giftwrapped, gets funding from Daddy’s buddies down the road, and in the process kicks out a local institution? Shame on you, Bredesens.
This is so sad! My family and I love the Ragin Cajun! We live in the Inland Empire…yet drive all the way into South Bay once a month…just to go to the Ragin Cajun! I can tell you, I will never make a drive like that to go to some place called a “Gastropub.” The Bredesen family is making a HUGE mistake with this one. It’s a no brainer….let the Ragin Cajun stay!!
I’m from lafayette, La and I travel to the LA area frequestly on business. I always visit and eat at the Ragin Cajun. Don’t worry Steve, your loyal customers will find you and support you. You will remain successful. There are alot of restaurants in that area and all over the country that spout off about serving true Cajun cuisine. Most don’t even come close. Steve’s food is about as close to home cooking as I can get without cooking it myself.
John
This is SO Shocking. This is a FAMILY restaurant, serving families! I have lived by the restauant ever since they opened, they are polite, and caring about their neighbors. WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER BAR! Let this father give his spoiled kid something on the Plaza which is already filled with drunks! Isn’t “teaching” your child about living with others treating them to also be “fair”? This Chris person is stealing a business from hardworking people to “give” to his spoiled son, this is MAFIA! Trust me, I too will be at EVERY meeting as well NO ALCOHOL! I don’t care WHAT they are calling this new place it will NOT make it, and then this Chris person can sit with an empty restaurant, and BAD KARMA! Everyone who comes in to town in the Entertainment Industry makes their FIRST stop at the Ragin Cajun! This Chris person is taking away a landmark and lively hood of good hardworking people, SHAME ON YOU, SELFISH!
You’ve got to be kidding. You have a successful , unique restaurant and you want to move them out and open a generic chain restaurant! I’m from Lafayette, Louisiana and know many people from Acadiana that when they come to L.A they go to Ragin Cajun. One reason is for the unique food and to get a taste of home in California. They also stroll along the pier and shop after dining, so not only does Ragin Cajun miss out, but all of Hermosa Beach and other merchants will be missing out on sales. I will never step foot in this other restaurant and make sure to tell other freinds not to go either. It will fail within a 4 months, then you will ahve an empty building on Pier Avenue. Steve will succeed and find another place, I know him, he’s a Cajun. I Feel sad for the rest of Hermosa Beach!
What a total and complete bummer. Spoiled kids are ruining a landmark. Pier Ave. just gets lamer and lamer. This article ruined my day.
This is so par for the course in the new self centered South Bay. I’m not outraged or even surprised. Gentrification sure hurts.
I’ve been going to Steven’s establishment since it opened. It has always been full of friendly people and great food. Steven can be assured that I will frequent his new restaurant.
Ragin’ Cajun was the last popular place on Pier Avenue that was not full of tools.
I guess the silver lining is that I don’t have to go to Pier Avenue anymore and struggle to find the ever disappearing parking. I’ll be at the great gastropubs in Redondo; Bouzy and Hudson House.
BTW don’t look to the Hermosa City Council for any assistance, they are powerless in this situation. Although the ego driven councilmen will probably again find some way to inject themselves and look like fools.
As a participant in the “Race of the Century” from the class of ’57, I enjoyed reading the very nice article by Randy Angel. He definitely captured the special feelings the RUHS family have for one another, the faculty, and their school. Many of the alumni there spoke of having parents, grandparents, and/or children who were alumni also. Special thanks to Steve Felix who was our communication medium, the hard work of Terry Martinez and Gentil Smith, the Alumni Association members, current students, and special guests as well as the enduring enthusiasm of the combined classes: present, remembered, or unable to attend but here in spirit.
I am so sad to hear the news. The Rajun Cajun has been a part of our community for a long time. The food is great. The atmosphere is happy. Please be sure to let us know where the Cajun is going. I will be following Stephen and his hometown hospitality. Good luck to the new restaurant. I’ll not be going that way again. I’m sorry for the other businesses in the area. They will surely suffer a loss of business because of this.
It may not be “family first.” Perhaps, it should be good people, good business, and customer loyalty first. Rajun has been a good, successful landmark for the south bay and that piece of real estate. Nepotism isn’t always right or beneficial–for anyone other than the parent and child/relative. You will be hurting a lot of people by ousting Rajun. And, despite what you may belive, it will not be outweighed by any benefit that you think a new place might provide. I assure you people still belive in and want a community place–and Rajun has been and is that place.
Ragin Cajun is a Hermosa Beach landmark. Every effort by every person of influence should be made to ensure that this landmark does not leave the city. The restaurant is a family friendly place owned by the most wonderful and kind people and it would truly be a shame, for Hermosa Beach, if it was needelessly lost.
Some thanks for 18 yrs worth of inflated rent, huh? makes you lose faith in handshakes and good old fashioned business relationships. who can you trust?
I cannot believe it! I was just there 3 weeks ago and had the best Cajun food ever. But more than that, Steve, Janeen and Mary were so warm, kind, cordial, friendly and hospitable to us. It was the best dining experience in a long, long time. There is no other Cajun restaurant like it. I hope the new location will not be hard to find and that you will not lose any of your clientele.
This is actually heartbreaking. The Ragin Cajun and its employees are like family. My husband and I have been eating there almost every Friday night since we started dating. Stephen, Jeannine, and their lovely waitresses have watched us date, get married, and very recently have a baby. They have ALWAYS made us feel welcome and special. The hospitality at the Cajun is incomparable and they take care of their customers with the utmost warmth and respect. There is no other! I am saddened by this and don’t think I can bring myself re-visit Pier Ave. without a certain level of disdain should they not find a spot on that street. Where they are is perfect. The owner is making a BAD business move.
What idiot in their right mind would ask a 19 year land mark to leave his shopping center for a START UP COMPANY? No wonder California is BROKE!
Stephen and Jeannine are two of the nicest people I have ever met. I can not believe this is happening to them. The Cajun is one of the Best restaurants around. It has been a place I always can depend on to have great food and a great atmosphere. The people doing forcing them to move are very selfish and I hope they feel guilty about what they are doing to the Domingues! Pier Ave won’t be the same with the close of the Cajun.
I do believe that Stephen and Chris Sr made a gentlemans agreement regarding the continued tenancy of ragin cajun on Pier ave. then sonny boy gets out of college and can’t find a job so he approaces other rest. owners for help with the tale of Stephen missing a deadline and not excercising his lease option and maybe telling them that Stephen was leaving on his own , which we all know is’nt true . my advise to these prospective partners is pull out now to keep yourselves from becoming a party to this injustice. and leave junior to his own devices ! When all is said and done, out of all the players the only real man is Stephen.
Why would a real estate investor throw out a quality tenant to enable a family member to open another “boring” eatery that is not needed, won’t be supported, and quite simply won’t survive in this economy? Mr. Bredesen is a fool! But Hermosa Beach’s loss can be Manhattan Beach’s gain. Stephen please consider moving your great food, great staff and family-freindly Rajun Cajun to Manhattan Beach. We are a much more business-friendly community. You will attract many more MB clientele simply because they won’t fear having to venture down to Hermosa to deal with the drunks, lack of parking and police/parking enforcement officials with attitudes. You would be welcomed with open arms by citizens such as myself!
I think I might actually cry!!! I live 6 hours north of Hermosa, and every time I make the trip down Rajin is the highlight returant that MUST be visited!!!! Nobody needs another CHAIN, why is it so hard for unique independents to stay in business? The resturant business is becoming like any other business factor where the Big Bad “Wall Mart” comes in and ruins every little guy in town!!! Ragin Cajun is an icon resturant and should NOT be touched!!!! Good Luck Stephen, I hope to find you open somewhere on my next visit!!!
This is very sad. I certainly understand that the building is Bredesen’s to lease to who he wants, but you just do not treat people — let alone longstanding local businessmen — that way. Forcing the closure of a local landmark is not the way to start your own business on good terms. It makes sense that the new place’s marketing partner has no interest in marketing it right now because they will forever be known as the joint belonging to the spoiled kid who ran a great local one-of-a-kind restaurant out so he can make sure Hermosa residents can somehow find a yet another place to buy yet another beer. I suspect I will muddle through without this beer outlet, because I will encourage everyone I speak to to avoid their new place like the plague.
The Ragin Cajun has been one of the most popular places in the South Bay to year for many years. I can’t believe that the owner would do that. I feel really bad for Steve and wish we could do something. I know one thing for sure, I will never eat at the new place, NEVER!! In fact, I hope it is a dismal failure.
Thanks, Steve, for many years of great food.
Hi Randy Angel,
I justed wanted to say what a well written article you did on the event.
I graduated from Redondo High in 1957, but I couldn’t make the event.
All the work by the volunteers is unbelievable, and I congratulate them.
I hope I can make next year’s Race Of The Century (ROTC).
Thanks Randy for wirting a great story.
Stephen (Mike) Palmer, class of 57
Las Vegas, NV.
I’ve been a regular customer of the Cajun for over 13 years; going down to hermosa every wed for lunch and friday night for dinner. In my mind its a “cultural landmark”. The way Steve and his family run the resturaunt and treat their customers is what keeps me coming back. If they cannot work a deal with their landlord, I will follow Steve and the Cajun to where ever they end up moving to. While its up to the property owner to determine who he will lease the location to, I cannot see the wisdom of trying to open a new resturaunt (with a crappy name by the way) in the place of an established, successful operation while the economy is in the dumper. If Steve is forced to move, hopefully he can find a better location with better parking to boot.
Thank you Beach Cities Health District for being leaders for community health. If everyone in the Beach Cities were aware of and began to practice the Nine Blue Zone practices, we would all be healthier and happier.
Bravo to the Beach Cities Health District for providing leadership in our Vitality City quest. Let’s embrace the Nine Blue Zone practices that will help us live longer and happier lives.
This a great very lucky cool shot. Kyle was about 14-16 years old then. He is now 21 and in his 3rd year ocf college at Point Loma in San Diego. The shot was taken at “Burnout” surf spot at the Redondo/Torrance boarder. This photo was hanging on display at Good Stuff resturant in Redondo for a while. Dave does beautiful work on camera and tile. Thanks Dave for bringing this back out in circulation. Oh ya by the way Kyle’s last name was spelled wrong in this edition, it should be Jax.
Aloha,
George Jax
Hi Randy:
I enjoyed your article on the ROTC (Race of the Century)and was surprised to see that I was in two of the pictures you included (the Race and the Cheer Leaders). It was a memorable event that you captured so well and will be treasured as another keepsake of the day. Thank you.
Dixie (Henry) Foster ’61
Manhattan Beach, CA
Congratulations, now you need to mandate all contractors pulling permits use E Verify on their workers to make sure Americans get MORE WORK and go through all local restaurants and businesses and do the same. The restaurant food is rated for health and safety, the employees need to be screened for diseases, and using E Verify is a good start.
They say that “change is good.” Well in this instance, I cannot agree. The new developments and facelifts going on in Hermosa Beach take away from the character of Pier Avenue and what it is has been since inception. I’ve been frequenting the beach city for almost 30 years. It is the small quaint family owned establishments that draws so many back week after week.
Ragin Cajun is one of those establishments. I have been going there for over 11 years and Steve, Jeannine and Miss Mary are like family to me, my family and my friends. It is a place where I make it a must go whenever I have visitors in Los Angeles. It would be such a loss to Hermosa Beach if the Ragin Cajun were to leave. I guarantee, that whatever goes up in it’s place will never see any of the faithful customers that are loyal to Steve and his family.
Praying that minds will be changed and Daddy’s little boy will reconsider and reverse the process. I don’t know all the particulars but I will say that if things are not done in good faith… Bredesen family, you will reap what you sow.
I don’t see any reason to venture to Hermosa Beach if the Ragin Cajun is forced to find a new location. If that happens, that is where I’ll be taking my people and my money.
jean paul you are freakin awesome from sarah russell
Ragin Cajun is a Hermosa Beach institution. I have many out-of-state customers in my business who make it a point to come to Ragin Cajun (not the Pier Avenue bars) because of their legendary food and fun yet relaxed environment. Hermosa Beach will lose a vital counter-weight to the noisy, raucous Pier Avenue bars, and take big another step away from a town where families want to raise their children.
I can’t believe the landlord is doing this to Cajun. It’s so sad. I eat there with my family after I’m in a POPS show. It’s tradition. This landlord guy is hurting families. Not just people that work at Cajun — but all of us that love to go there. I’m very upset about this news. I wish somebody could do something about it. I don’t think this is a very good idea, Landlord. Quit hurting families and everybody that loves Cajun. I know you want your son to be happy, but what about all the other people your decision affects? I hope you think about this. You are not making the right decision to do this. Not only does this hurt other people, but it hurts me. And I’m eight. And that’s just not right.
Over 90% failure rate of new restaurants and now we may have to say goodbye to a Great One that we already have???
So Sad…
Sounds like the partners of the landlord’s son have been eying the Ragin Cajun location, making plans with the landlord’s son to take over the spot Stephen worked so hard on. Could the son’s contribution be a break on the rent?? Hmmmmmm? Since they own it and will do what they want to the Cajuns and converted Cajuns who enjoy Stephen’s food, why don’t they name the new restaurant, BP OIL???
Sour grapes! It sounds like the Bredesens offered Domingue extra time beyond his lease, which is more than he owed him. Stephen should have renegotiated a new lease at least a year in advance—either he was playing chicken or was simply non-committal. His loss, and ours. I do love the food and will follow them wherever they go next but it’s too late to be a crybaby about it. This is the way capitalism works; put up or shut up.
Great idea. I want to participate.
I note the phrase “Not so senile” was removed from the online edition headline. On the cover no less! How sad for the people who participated, and incredibly insensitive and offensive to all readers.
Just to note: a group of local RUHS Alumni meet regularly and call themselves the “Senile Sea Hawks” in good fun. The phrase was likely intended to echo that, not offensively.
Just one more good reason to never visit Hermosa Beach ever again.
Rajin Cajun is the only restaurant my husband and I take our two children to, in Hermosa Beach! It is the only restaurant there, that selflessly caters to our kids: there is a play yard that Jeannine set up out back for the children to play, while the adults dine and share laughs with the friendly staff! Besides the welcoming of families, Rajin Cajun is the only restaurant with authenticity along Pier Avenue. It is absurd that anyone would remove it, only to replace it with a Gastropub that will end up closing down, I’m certain. Stephen and Jeannine have worked so hard during the past 18 years to not only expand, but secure the restaurant’s services. The landlord needs to reward this family by letting Rajin Cajun stay exactly where it is on Pier Avenue. Please find another location for the Gastropub, and let Rajin Cajun flourish with their well know friendliness and flare!
Did anyone see the riots anfter the last game this week? What kind of fans celebrate by destroying their own city? The LA Lakers are a group of scofflaws. According to AP, 38 people were arrested for “public intoxication, vandalism or inciting a riot.” Probably doesn’t help to have criminals on the team. Kobe seems to have escaped that rape charge in Colorado just fine. In any case, the basketball is starting to seem pre arranged. LA always seem to get more than their share. Remember Derrick Fisher and the Spurs? Wonder if it’s because of Jack Nicholson.
To the Bredesens: I’ve enjoyed patronizing Stephen’s restaurant for 12 years now. Yes, the property is yours – indeed you’re free to do with it as you please.
In reading the article, I couldn’t help but notice an incongruity regarding the situation. Quoting the elder Bredesens: “…{I} decided to end Ragin Cajun’s run at the location at a time when the lease was ending and Bredesen’s son wanted to launch a restaurant.” “The bottom line is that Steve has done a great job, his lease was up May 31, he knew it was up, and we had other plans for the real estate.”
Quote from the younger Bredesen: “…Domingue waited more than a month past a renewal deadline without asking to renew his lease”, and then Bredesen approached his father for a lease of his own.
Well which is it guys?
“It’s a very difficult situation because he’s a very nice man, and he runs a nice business…I’ve owned the real estate for long time – it’s family first, right?”
Reminds me of the old adage of blood running thicker than water. Guess blood runs thicker than intregrity also, huh?
I wish the Bredesens luck with their new venture. Steve, I’m going wherever you go!
My wife and I just left there about 30 minutes ago, after reading the assinine comments from Stacy (see immediately above). What does she know? We are terribly upset about this situation. Our prayers are that you find another location pronto and make this shitty situation into a “win”. We love you and the cajun magic that is created in your kitchen. There is no way to put an end to that! As they say, “one monkey (landlord) don’t stop no show”. Look forward to see ya many times between now and the end of the summer. Peace out.
It did my heart good to see so many Class of 62 photos! I also enjoyed seeing so many elder class mates there. Thank you for the great pictures and wonderful article. Sincerely Mary Fowler Page ’62
Ms. Steward is a hero. It is a shame that she like many other highly experienced and qualified educators are being thrown under the bus by our incompetent Hermosa Beach politicians in the name of fiscal restraint. Yet it’s funny that city council continues to find money to throw at Hermosa Beach PD, even though they’ve cost us millions in abuse lawsuits and two of their abusive officers Lewitt and Sellan are now suing us. Education is what keeps our property values; not cops, firemen or god-forbid another liquor establishment. It’s time to invest in local education, even if that means we need to contract police and fire services to LA County. Thank you Jan for your almost 5 decades of service…you will be sorely missed!
I certainly appreciated the article, thinking it showed not only sensitivity but also an appreciation for what people want to read about. Good job, Angel.
Hey Stacy Wilson,
You have no idea you are talking about. What you are saying is complete conjecture. You come off sounding like a hack. Capitolism/business is about making money. This is nepotism.
It’s a dice roll to see if “Town Hall” flys.
Chris Bredesen Sr. is foolish if he is not hedging his bet by getting much more in monthly rent and plenty of property improvements. The guys from Union Cattle did the same thing at the Pitcherhouse. They put millions into Saint Rocke.
We are so sad to hear about Ragin Cajun! It is an absolute favorite of ours and we drive the 20+ miles to enjoy the great atmosphere, friendly people, and of course the outstanding food. Our trip there for Father’s Day was once again a wonderful visit. Stephen is the friendliest, kindest man and always treats us like we’re part of the family. You can’t find places like this anymore. We really hope and pray the landlord will reconsider and think about how much Ragin Cajun is a part of Hermosa Beach and what a favorite it is to so many people. Even if Ragin Cajun goes… we will be sure to follow! We love ya Stephen and we think you are amazing!!!
The Union Cattle folks are really shooting themselves in the foot with this move. It would make much more sense for them to open this gastropub of their in a commercial space that is not already occupied by a successful family owned small business that the community loves and enjoys.
Why not proove to the community that you are not just here to make a buck but that you care about making Hermosa Beach a thriving community? I wonder why they don’t just use the former space of Ken and Kent’s Deli that’s been sitting empty for months on Hermosa Avenue.
Words can not describe how pethetic Mr. Bredesen is as a landlord and a buisness man. You have a landmark resturant that has served pier ave.for the past 20yrs with true cajun culture (everything from the food to the hospitality) and just TRY to take it away in the blink of an eye. The Cajun will be sucessful no matter where it is located because it has loyal customers that are treated like customers not a number. EVERYONE BOYCOTT TOWN HALL GASTROPUB!!!
Wonderful – another icon restaurant falling to the yuppie “trend de juor”, which might last what – 2 years at the most.
Will the gastropub serve Gellato – oh, I forgot, that moth in the candle food already came and went.
Where in the South Bay can you go where you are greeted with “Hi Miss Karen, How y’all doin? Make ya self ta home.”
And I do “make myself ta home.” Stephen Domingue created a place that always feels like you have come HOME for dinner. Can we find a way to keep our home in Hermosa? I do’nt want a fake new bistro to replace the Ragin Cajun and the people who count on it to always be there.
Sad to hear the Cajun has to move. It was a pleasure meeting them during my assignment for the above photograph years ago.
FAMILY FIRST…if it was your family and you owned this multi-million dollar property at the beach…each and every one of you would do the same exact thing. quit whining and be for real. FAMILY ALWAYS COMES FIRST. And the OWNER of the property gets to dictate what is done with the property.
The Ragin Cajun has the best crawfish etouffe’ in Los Angeles county and I am going to be lost without Steve’s delicious cajun food. My dad, Paul Mouton, grew up in Lafayette and knew Steve’s mom and family and I’ve felt a connection with Louisiana and my roots in New Orleans whenever my wife and I go to the Rajun Cajun for a few Dixie beers and his great Cajun atmosphere.
A better business decision for the property owners would be to give Steve a renewal on his lease (which is a known, constant income)for the property owner and to use the current lease income to start the gastro pub (which is unknown and an unproven income) at a different location so that if the gastro pub is unsuccessful, they still have the Ragin Cajun’s lease income, with no down time, to keep an income stream, rather than the lost time and income of changing owners, waiting for health and building inspectors,etc and losing tens of thousands of dollars in income while waiting to fill the location and get final building permits, alcohol license and health inspection approval
It is a huge gamble and a real disservice to the Cajun community and Southern California to lose this fantastic landmark. Wherever Steve goes I will follow his restaurant to keep getting the tasty Rajun Cajun crawfish etouffe’ and his cheesecake with praline sauce.
Steve, please keep all of your Cajun Fans posted with your plans. Le bon temps roullet! Whatever happens, you will make it better, because you are the best!
I moved to the Hermosa in 1992 when pier still went to the pier, there were empty storefronts, and more crime. They redeveloped closing off the last block of pier and all the rents were raised. fat Face Fenner had to move. Pier 52 closes. Henneseys moved to end spot. Many changes. It sucked we were pissed at most of them Crappy clubs opened. Club sushi polluted the beach/surfer/punker atmostphere. Jocks came to party and fight and things were just different. Well there always be change. And this sucks. Some close friends waitressed there in the 90s and Stephen and he really overcame a lot to make it. He is a solid guy and I hope this leads to something better for him.
It’s a shame to see Ragin Cajun leave their spot on Pier Avenue. That said, I look forward to
knowing where they will open next. People will drive wherever to get their food, so I hope they
find a better space, with better parking. I wish them continued success!
It’s true that business is business, but this doesn’t sound like a good business decision based on
the article. It sounds like an emotional decision that was made by the land owner. Rarely do emotional business decisions turn out well.
I like Bouzy Gastropub in SRB, so I doubt I’ll be frequenting the new pub where Ragin Cajun is.
Just curious, how typical is a four year lease in the restaurant business? That term seems rather short.
FOR A SCAMMY, GREEDY LANDLORD A FOUR YEAR LEASE IS NORMAL ALONG WITH A PROMISE THAT YOU CAN STAY AS LONG AS YOU WANT WHICH WAS BELIEVED BY STEPHEN , WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A WHOPPER OF A LIE , STEPHEN SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT COMING SINCE HIS LANDLORD OWNS A BUNCH OF BURGER KINGS,HIS LANDLORD SHOULD GIVE HIS SON A BURGER KING AND TELL HIM TO HOLD HIS OWN PICKLE !
Hey Janice Brown,
You have no idea you are talking about. What you are saying is complete conjecture. You come off sounding like a hack. Capitolism/business is about making money. This is nepotism.
For every successful family empire there is a family that has squaundered their wealth. For example, the Mondovi’s, the undisputed first family of winemaking in California, all pissed away in two years after Robert Mondovi gives up control. Family first, give me a break.
keep this up, the closing of unique places and your city will end up like Torrance with mostly chain restaurants. shame
OK ENOUGH!!!
Time for action!
Yes, we all know that Ragin Cajun MUST stay in Hermosa.
Hermosa Beach residents get mad, get off your duffs, organize, be or get media savvy…basically make a big stink.
You owe it to yourselves, your families, and the world of great food lovers. Good luck!
Dear Miss Stewart,
Thank you for believing in my daughter, when other teachers did not!
My child, and hundreds of other children, were blessed to pass through your classroom.
Enjoy this new chapter in your life!
P.S. She just completed her first year at college
Well i’m not suprised at the results of the Idiots running our schools. Obviously it is a dumming down of society when you see the lack of gratitude for this amazing young teachers contribution and heart to go far beyond the required. After all a teacher like this one might inspire our children to think. They would rathera school of fish where one turns and they all turn. For the students to repeat things told to them on the test sheet every friday, rather true or not you get a A if you repeat what you were taught. They would prefer for the children to never ask questions, to get one of 25 jobs pay taxes and go to church..lol Wake up parents fight for your children and for yourself. Thank you Mr. Miko you are a hell of a man. We have not forgot your heart and dedication to humanity and the children will never forget you.
Your article has one serious inaccuracy. The reporter states “…according to some advocates, limit states’ powers to restrict the right to bear arms.”
The Case is McDonald v City of Chicago and the US Supreme Court Decision will be released on Tuesday. Everyone, including this Nation’s must militant supporters of gun control (e.g., Mayor Daley of Chicago) believes that the decision will limit states’ powers to restrict the right to bear arms.”
People seem really upset about this…Not sure if it’s purely locals or people that just like Cajun food? Personally, I have lived in the South Bay for almost 30 years…my family and friends have been embedded in the South Bay for over 40 years…And I don’t know many people that eat here…
Doesn’t Bredesen own the land? Wasn’t this a quote…”Domingue waited more than a month past a renewal deadline without asking to renew his lease, and then Bredesen approached his father for a lease of his own.” Oh and I also noticed that he wanted a lease for 3-4 years…pretty sure when you want to renew a restaurant lease you ask for 10+ years…for the very reason of this happening…
Maybe it’s his land and he wants to improve the value of the land by upgrading it…or maybe he wants to give it to a family member. Either way, at the end of the day it does suck that this long time restaurant is leaving…
Also I read a comment that LMU students are drunk around the Hermosa area…wow really? Come on I went there…we don’t venture to HB…it might be the high density of post grad students living the rental units that surround…um all of Hermosa…What did you expect when you moved to Hermosa?
But then again maybe I am bias because I don’t work in the corporate world and am taking over my family business…in the corporate Torrance…blood runs thicker than water and they own the land…end of story
Ok, outside of picking up trash, what’s the point? I think most people
realize you can purchase and carry guns. People that want them, already
have them. I wonder if a bunch of karate black belts are going to roam the streets of Hermosa
doing a bunch if air kicks and punches while picking up trash in between? Just to show they could
use lethal force if they wanted to. It all sounds ridiculous to me. Just pick up the trash, leave the weapons and karate chops at home.
These guys kick ass! I’m surprised to read about them here.
Janice has always been an inspiration to all who know her and love her! We are so lucky to be touched by this amazing woman. And, Janice, your mom DOES know exactly what you’ve done!! xo Love, Stephanie
The Chief has yet to provide us with a map.
And a lot of people are NOT aware that it is legal to openly carry a firearm in California.
You can get the facts at our website: http://www.SouthBayOpenCarry.org
No worries Steven… there’s only ONE Ragin’ Cajun and your loyal customer base will find you wherever you go! Remember when God closes a door he open a window! Don’t just survive – THRIVE.
Mey Cher’ don’t worry no! When God closes the door he opens a window. You won’t just survive you will THRIVE!
Margaret paints from her heart. I suppose that’s one reason why I love her paintings so much. If you ever have the opportunity to go to one of her shows, make it a point to go when she’s there. It’s such a pleasure having Margaret explain her paintings and her creative choices. Thanks for a great article about a super artist!
It’s a sad day when a great place like the Ragin Cajun has to move. They serve great food, the owner and staff always made you feel like part of the family.
How stupid! Why should anyone provide these clowns with maps of places that they cannot openly carry guns. They seem to know the law. They need to buy a map and look in a phone book for banned locations. I say arrest them if they are too stupid to follow the law on their own.
I’d hate to see the 6-Man go, but I agree that there needs be a way to ensure that the tourney remains respected, spectators can enjoy and those that are there to cause trouble get ejected. However, $5 cover won’t do much and will take away the essence of 6-Man….as will a big fat fence. And 8 arrests means 8 officers removed from the scene for a long time to process paperwork and make sure those arrested are processed accordingly. Reducing manpower reduces ability to respond if something major happens. Personally, I think they should have a big screen next to the score booth to show face shots of those getting taken to jail. Nothing like fear of public humiliation to keep people prone to acting stupid from acting stupid. Brand it as some Freedom of Information Act transparency….with the subtitle of “Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
Letter-to-editor submittal for printing consideration. (not meant as a blog reply)
June 29, 2010
Dear ER:
Hermosa’s current rotating ceremonial mayor, Michael DiVirgilio, along with councilmen Patrick “Kit” Bobko and Howard Fishman, again intensified downtown liquor dispensing at their June 8th and 22nd council meetings by adding live entertainment hours to the conditional use permit (that will now run permanently with the land) of a Pier Plaza “restaurant”.
What is it that these councilmen still don’t understand regarding downtown liquor saturation in all its insidious forms, least of which is that it’s costing the city millions per year to police over and above the revenue the city receives from downtown liquor selling businesses?
DiVirgilio even rebuffed a long-term resident upon her presenting of evidence proving that the “restaurant” they were dead set on expanding entertainment hours for, was already being advertised as a “bar”. DiVirgilio, preoccupied with his childish, electronic egg-timer device, cut off the resident as she tried to present her valuable testimony.
It’s amazing to many in this small city, how DiVirgilio, owning no home, business, or having any other demonstrable stake in this city, can be such a micro-controlling little individual towards residents who take their own valuable time to bring information to the council.
There were no more than a few speakers at the meeting as usual, thanks to the crafty persuasion and control exerted over the council by their expensive contract city attorney, Michael Jenkins, with his obvious distaste of the public speaking more than a bare legal minimum. For years Jenkins has effectively kept the very few bothering to attend to a minimum of questioning or bringing of light to what’s going on.
Unfortunately we’re stuck with liquor-expanding Bobko for three more years, short of recall, but real concern now lies with rookie councilman Fishman’s willingness to find reason, no matter how flimsy, to intensify liquor dispensing in Hermosa’s liquor-saturated downtown.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach
Gene Dreher and what other morons?
Great article, Jeff.
Great observations about the Gris from Oregon! Try pairing a creamy clam chowder with a Gris that has acidity, plus enough rounded mouthfeel to compliment. It’s one of my favorite pairings ever. Cheers!
Dear Jeannine and Stephen, We are so sad to hear the news. The Rajun Cajun has been a great part of the community for a long time. The atmosphere is warm, the service is friendly and the food is excellent. It offers hometown hospitably that is difficult to come by. We have shared many fun times at the Cajun and it will be greatly missed. We are hopeful the Rajun Cajun will find a new home close by so that we can continue great Cajun memories with y’all. We wish you all the best and we know whatever happens you will succeed in all you do.
Sincerely~ The Meyer Family
Fortunately, a violation appears to be merely an infraction punishable by a $100 fine.
12.28.190 — Violation — Infraction.
All violations of the provisions of this chapter shall be infractions. (Prior code § 22-19 (part))
12.28.030 — Park regulations generally.
Within the limits of any public park or playground, no person shall:
2. Carry or discharge any firearms, firecrackers, rockets, torpedoes or any other fireworks, or air gun or slingshot;
1.04. 030 Infractions.
Penalties. Any person violating any provision or failing to comply with any mandatory requirement of this Code expressly stated by this Code to be an infraction shall be guilty of an infraction. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, any person convicted of an infraction shall be punishable by:
A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a first violation;
A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) for a second violation of the same provision of the Code within one year;
A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each additional violation of the same provision of the Code within one year.
No counsel for infractions at public expense.An infraction is not punishable by imprisonment. A person charged with an infraction shall not be entitled to have the public defender or other counsel appointed at public expense to represent him or her unless he or she is arrested and not released on his or her written promise to appear, on his or her own recognizance, or on a deposit of bail.
Fine remembrance of john stevenson. Indeed he had done good service to baseball
Mr. Critic, I agree with you for the most part. But Mr. Potato Head became Mr. TORTILLA head, not Tostada – get your Mexican foods straight, man! And didn’t the trash sequence have vague allusions to cremation..? Ewww, creepy!
Dave Fratello did all MB homeowners, including myself a big favor when it came to buying and subsequently selling my MB home. His analysis was balanced and fact-based, unlike the biased, “everything is wonderful” bs regularly spewed by the “old guard” south bay real estate elite. Any Realtor offended by Dave’s blog is showing his or her true colors; that they’re thin-skinned & corrupt (only care about their 6-8% commission so they can furnish their lavish lifestyle while putting the screws to sellers, buyers and bankers). Many factors led to the housing demise in the South Bay (with the worst to come). Part of this was caused by some integrity-deficient Realtors, the same one’s who continue to spread the big lie that housing is going up and the time to buy was yesterday. Nothing could be further from the truth! If you’re currently in the market to purchase a home in any the beach cities (Hermosa, Manhattan, Redondo & ES) do yourself a favor and take advantage of the free one-week trial membership on RealtyTrac.com (this is what the government and realtors use in addition to MLS). You will see for yourself that there is an abundance of bank-owned, forclosured, autioned and pre-forclosured properties, along with the PRICE-RANGE of what the property is actually worth. You will be shocked! Good luck.
Hi Scott,
I’ve been living in AZ for the past 1.5 years and was just thinking, “Gosh! I wish I could get as good a haircut as what Scott gives here, which is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE!” Love, love, love this article about you!! Had no idea about so much of it! Very impressive – but what’s most impressive is your amazing ability to cut hair well!! Kudos! I’ll be passing through LA on my way to Nevada City, where I’m moving. I’d love a haircut while I’m there. I have your # so I’ll give you a call.
And by the way, I’m absolutely DEEEEEEEEEEEELIGHTED that you’re happily married!!! Its about time!!!
Lots and lots of love, Zahn
I told everyone that this business-condo project wasn’t feasible, but nope, greed got the best of some. Mr. Fulcher should do us all a favor and research and print the names of the investors (I’m willing to bet it’s some of our elitist local Realtors and Politicians) in this ill-conceived real estate fiasco. Why do that you say? Because inevitably taxpayers will be on the $$ hook for the damage done by this “Confederacy of Greed”! Just more blight and empty store fronts being added to what is beginning to look like a ghost-town in our once quaint downtown Hermosa Beach.
In the article about the problems with the school finding a developer for its excess property, it is apparent that Dr. Keller, Councilman Aspel and former Councilman Parsons use the interview as political posturing without regard for facts.
In his ongoing vendetta against Measure DD, Councilman Aspel cries that the City Council could not stop the rezoning of school property in a residential neighborhood for a supermarket “if we wanted to”. He obviously forgot that the City Council must approve a rezoning before Measure DD even kicks in. The Council can say “no” to whatever they want. Measure DD only puts an additional check and balance on large upzonign the Council approves.
Former Councilman Parsons states that developers will not come to Redondo. Well, he seems to forget all the development going on in Redondo since Measure DD passed. We have the Shade Hotel project, revitalization of the Sunrise Hotel, discussions on the Harbor Triton site, a developer that wants to convert school property to a grocery store, three new office/retail condo projects along PCH, a retail condo development proposed on Catalina, the Decron plan, two hotels and an RV parking lot on Marine, plans to develop mixed use at the Bristol Farms prperty… seems like lots of development to me …and all after DD qualified for the ballot.
Dr. Keller whines how DD impacts his ability to increase revenue for the school district. It seems Keller would approve development soley based on school revenues regardless of its impact on surrounding neighborhoods. Keller’s approach is more akin to “Damn the residents, full steam ahead!” It is this disdain for the public that started DD in the first place.
Sadly, in his greed Keller may have shot himself in the foot…the City now plans to move out of the Knob Hill site next year. One thing most of us learned in school – don’t give up a bird in the hand for two in the bush. Seems like Dr. Keller needs some elementary education.
I would love to see more of your artwork. I am chronically ill with nervous system disorders and physical disabilities. I would love to put a painting in my office and hope someday that he will come to realize that sometimes we must deal with change.Do you have a catalog that is available to find a suitable painting and do you also have prints besides the originals? My name is Wendy and the address given is my mailing address. Please contact me on pricing, along with my questions. Your art intrigues me, thanks.
I am truly saddened by this, as Ragin Cajun has become my “home away from home”, the place I go to get my Cajun food fix, and noone else can compare! The ambience is perfectly Cajun, from Stevens good ole’ accent to Jeannine’s Southern charm. The food always hits the spot, and I am pretty sure hundreds of locals would agree…they will be missed 🙁
Tiger Makin was so much a part of my memories growing up in Hermosa. I was just up there visiting and had thought about him! I am so glad he is doing well. I also saw on this website, the name of Davey Holliday…I remember his parents house in detail- all of these memories are so fun!
I thought Councilman DiVirglio and Chief Savelli were going to put a stop to this childess madness? At least that’s what they said at the last council meeting and in the newspaper. Typical politicians, all talk and no action. DiVirglio and Savelli’s not living up to their word says it all and goes to show we don’t need a highly paid chief who doesn’t live in the city or a councilman with an eastcoast mentality who cares only about his ego.
Again thank you to Mark Mark McDermott for the great story about Sean Ambriz my son. He touch on some very interesting subjects with Sean. I know Sean enjoys talking about somethings and his writtings bring it all out perfectly. I am very proud of my son and all of our soldiers that have fought and are still frighting today for all of our FREEDOM.
And trying to make a better place for the Afghanistan people. Sean although humbled by his stories is a true hero to me his father. Thank you again, Mark and The Easy Reader.
Joseph Ambriz
The Ironman has been around 36 years. That is a lifetime for many Hermosa residents. It has outlasted City Councils and buzz killing opponents of what is healthy harmless fun.
Kudos to a true visionary, Robert Benz.
All hail Burgie!
The 2010 Ironman was the best yet! Nothing got broken, no mess was left behind, nobody got hurt and everyone had a great time. I haven’t heard one complaint from a business or homeowner that it caused them any grief. So to the Police Chief, HBPD and those City Council members trying to close Ironman down; YOU WERE WRONG! Paul says it best, HB’s Ironman will be 37 years young next year and has outlasted many Chiefs, Councilmen and cops over the years and it will outlast you and your negativity too. And to All Talk No Action; I agree with your feelings about DiVirglio and Savelli but you need to come down to the beach on 7-4-2011 and see for yourself that Ironman is nothing but pure clean fun!
I have to ask who paid for the horses these cops rode? Is there a secret horse stable in Hermosa Beach that none of us taxpayers knows about? Can I board my horse there since my taxes are paying for it? This was a big waste of money! It’s funny how the Hermosa City Council says they’ve got no money for schools and have to lay off teachers, but somehow have money to let miss gulch and adolph pretend they’re on the carousel at Santa Monica Pier. No doubt Hermosa Beach taxpayers paid to rent the horses and paid some minnion to walk behind them to pick up the manure left on The Strand and beach. Scheid and Brunn should have walked or are their police car driving records so bad they can’t? Hit and run with a horse is just as dangerous as hit and run with a police car you know!
Hallejluah!
Congratulations Kenny! Your parents are so PROUD of you. Still remember those fishy smelling clothes I used to wash and the window sill covered with “fish hooks” of the large variety hanging on the edge. It has been a long journey. Wish we were there to go for a ride but North Carolina is a bit far away. We sure miss the fresh lobster!
That’s rich! Here are the last lines of the letter to the editor about guns in Hermosa Beach:
“I proudly stand by my opinions and think I speak for many in this community, but you’ll have to sign me,
Fearful in Hermosa
Name withheld by request”
That is, by definition, a contradiction in terms. While I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment, I am sorely disappointed in the lack of courage by the writer to identify himself/herself. Perhaps it’s a testament to the perceived thug mentality of gun owners that permeates much of this debate. Or maybe not. Either way, I wish people of all stripes would have the strength of their convictions and confront this head-on.
Sign me,
Todd Koerner
It’s quite OUTRAGEOUS. 90% salary for police retirees for LIFE?
No wonder we are broke.
Time to reform the police unions. They are worse than organized crime for this tax payer shakedown.
SICK!
Mr. Wibberley used to play his violin from time to time for the students at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mrs Wibberly was a great teacher. They were a blessing to many!
Amazing, with all of the negative comments I’ve read in the local press I thought there would have been at least one protester to show up. None did. It was just those of us in the press and the South Bay Open Carry Movement.
As I was leaving the event, one woman stopped and asked me if they were going onto the beach. I mentioned that there was a city ordinance and a $100 fine to carry a firearm onto the beach.
That surprised her more than people carrying guns.
I beginning to wonder if “Fearful in Hermosa” and the Daily Breeze’s “Richard A. Knight” and Neil Profit aren’t all the same person.
I mean really, “Richard A. Knight” is about as contrived a name as “U.N. Owen” And who is Neil? Kevin Spacey’s fictional character Mel Profit’s illegitimate child?
http://www.examiner.com/x-26553-LA-History-Examiner~y2010m7d10-Guns-in-Hermosa–Just-another-day-at-the-beach–Part-1
Thanks for the Wild Things article, Easy Reader and Carolyn Kraft.
I was at Catalina scuba diving at Eagles Nest last weekend and we were fortunate enough to see one of the Bald Eagles cruise around the nest a bit and hop over to an adjacent peak. I’ve seen them many times over the years at Catalina from the East end up Avalon’s canyon, to Cat Harbor where a pair of Bald Eagles were harassing a Cormorant sunning itself on a rock, to West End. Probably the most memorable time was in 1997 – we had spent a week at Isthmus on a sailboat and were headed back to Marina Del Rey. We cruised west up the island to see West End and also to scatter some of my father-in-laws ashes. He loved wild things, the outdoors, and was a sailor himself. When we got to about Eagle’s Nest, we turned on a northerly heading, read a few passages from the bible, said our goodbyes to dad and scattered his ashes. Just about the time we were finishing up our little ceremony, a Bald Eagle came out from the island and soared effortlessly over us, made a few circles and then headed off. We were pretty certain dad had come out to say goodbye.
Thanks again for the Wild Things articles!
This story brought me to tears! Thank you to the Manassero family for your love for the Haitian people. Thank you for stepping out in complete faith in the LORD. Thank you for being Jesus to the orphans.
In Christ,
Joanna White
Isn’t there a better way to celebrate what our flag, constitution and national anthem mean to our country. It was a very pathetic video and frankly an embarrassment to the communities of both Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. I am not an uptight conservative type, but watch that video from outside the fishbowl and I think you will agree that a bunch of overly drunk middle-aged men partying with university student aged fraternity types is a new low for the the Fouth of July as well as the Iron Man. And I disagree it is not pure clean fun. I am not sure what your idea of pure clean fun is? How about this for the Iron Man-Instead of drinking, give the participants a test of American History related to events surrounding our Indepedence. Wrong answers are deducted from total times. As Thomas Jefferson remarked in what would be his famous last words…”Is this the Fourth?”…So, I call upon the citizens of both communities, not to cancel the Iron Man, but to create an event that is more appropriate and one that better reflects the high character of the citizens in those communities. Or simply do not ever uploaded videos of that event again, it makes our community look like a bunch of stupid, ignorant, drunken morons.
I can’t believe that Ragin Cajun is being forced out like this. We will follow Ragin Cajun wherever it goes and I WILL NEVER step foot in the spoiled son’s gastropub (does HB really need ANOTHER pub??) Ragin Cajun is a unique place, friendly with delicious food. Such a shame Mr. Bredesen is pathetic with his half-truths and excuses. Shame on him. So sad. So sad. But Rajin Cajun will prosper with its loyal following, wherever it goes. Now I will never need to go to Pier Ave again.
I hear a Hermosa cop from PV mighta rented out the horses at a low price. Yes there’s better ways to spend tax money but sometimes our little boys & girls in blue need to have a way to blow off steam. I did feel bad for the guy having to bag the manure. There was supposed to be better video of Scheid & Brunn doing jumps and tricks with their horses but somebody covered the police car video camera lens with tape.
I’m making a “Shop Local! :)” plant stake for my newly planted DeepRoots herb garden, but wish I’d thought to pick up a memento from your store to add some flair to my little sign.
Thanks for the great service and all the input on Kelloggs/Dr.Earth products.
Glad to hear of this. I remember riding that boat quite a few times as a kid in the 70s in-between games of pinball at the Fun Factory. Nice to know it’s still there, even though I have moved away…
An unbiased, objective news article for a change.
Well, done.
Good People, Good Food
BOYCOTT the whole dam thing. Don’t go, City will go broke and beg for it to come back.
Hey bikers, this is the new destination stop that everyone has been talking about. It’s awesome and right on the beach! Loved the Mahi Mahi fish taco and the smoothie was very refreshing. Service was great, friendly and pleasant. I will definitely come back again.
I dont think these guys even believe the hype. $700,000 for 320 sq ft is comical in todays market, even in Manhattan beach. Look at all the properties available for that that are much larger, and yes, even nicer. We will see massive price slashes on these units before its over and possibly bank ownership of the project. Its whats happened to every other similar project.
Bob makes a few good points about the balance that should be required in every land use decision, although he fails to mention that the new harbor rezoning hardly acheives this balance. However,his characterization that Aspel’s ranting tirade makes a council meeting “bearable” is way off the mark.
Aspel’s ranting tirade was delivered purely with the intent to intimidate and insult those who oppose his view of harbor rezoning. The attack was unprofessional and uncalled for. It is this type of insulting attack that intimidates the public from expressing their views openly to the Council.
And I am sorry, but jokingly saying someone is a “pain in the butt” is one thing, but a loud mouthed rant delivered by a red-faced angry Councilman denigrating his opponents as “more toxic than the cancer in my rectum”, is quite another.
If Aspel wants to sway the public to support his zoning, why not show us that the development allowed by the zoning won’t cause gridlock, show us where the zoning specifically shows how big a “view corridor” must be, show us that three story timeshares are not allowed in front of Seaside Lagoon and north. The problem is, he can’t… so intimidation seems to be his only tactic.
Awesome! I back this 100%. I think its great men with small penises have a way to express themselves freely.
I like so much your family for many things DAVID did for my family.
I’m rwandan ,a student in NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF RWANDA aged 21 years
i used to hear you in history because DAVID was a teacher of my grand father so never give up
I’m happy to join you ,i think this is the beginning
Letter-to-editor submission
July 17, 2010
Dear ER:
Hermosa councilman Michael DiVirgilio has sat on council for only 2.7 years while councilman Patrick “Kit” Bobko has been there just shy of 4 years. Incredibly, lawyer Bobko falsely claimed in the July 13 meeting of being on council 6 years after earlier in that meeting having made a self-deprecating statement of not being good at math, perhaps using an old lawyer ruse to set up opportunities to twist numerical facts, such as his years on council. Whatever Bobko may be, it’s unlikely he’s poor at simple math.
Bobko and DiVirgilio are using Hermosa’s council dais more and more as a political platform to promote themselves. DiVirgilio while being ceremonial mayor has turned the beginning of virtually every meeting into a time-consuming photo-op session for himself, much as accomplished by Los Angeles county’s supervisors, they being the all time champions of such self-promotion at county taxpayer expense.
Of more importance is how these two flimflam artists, Bobko and DiVirgilio, endlessly “talk the talk” regarding controlling alcohol and paving residential streets, but how they are virtually never about “walking the walk”. Having no roots, and owning no home or business in city, both appear to have a hideous contempt for residential property in Hermosa Beach.
Last year, along with x-councilman Michael Keegan, they attempted to convert the beach itself into an alcohol venue under the guise of using the family oriented Sunset Concerts as the reason to legalize drinking at other beach events. At the time they also passed a law giving every restaurant closing by 10 PM the free right to serve beer and wine with no city public hearing. At their last meeting they were strangely upset that they couldn’t get a third councilman to vote for extending that generous free alcohol-serving right to an even later hour, citywide.
Several meetings ago, Bobko and DiVirgilio unnecessarily voted to increase the live entertainment hours of a Pier Plaza “restaurant” without even specifying what type of live entertainment would be conducive to ensuring that the “restaurant” really was about dining, and without even considering that there was an operating hostel above the place. Instead they chose to ease the “restaurant” into being just another late evening drinking facility.
But if all that were not enough, Bobko and DiVirgilio evidently were supporting privately and encouraged the city manager to utilize staff time and slip onto council’s under-the-public-radar “consent” agenda, a detailed legal resolution that would have added breweries as a permitted right in the tiny Cypress Avenue “manufacturing” area, and thus permitting with no-public-noticing at all, 3060 barrel-per-year producing breweries to go into business right next to residences near South Park. Bobko and DiVirgilio’s twisted logic for that; well there’s some perhaps undesired manufacturing permitted there now, so what’s wrong with adding breweries without public notice to that small area next to residential and South Park.
If we are going to accept the synthetic self-promotions from Bobko and DiVirgilio, and listen to them “talk the talk”, then we would best take note of how they actually “walk the walk”, especially when it comes to alcohol and meaningful paving of crumbling residential streets.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach
What a shame!!! Hey Mr. Bredesen, if you really want to be a “good family man” and father to your son, how about making him work like Steven did and build a company from the ground up, not on the back of a loyal tenant who has run a great and very respectable business for years and done nothing but improve your property value. Good luck with Junior continuing that tradition with his crappy “gastropub”.
I first started going to Steven’s in 1997 when my kids where 7 & 5…you couldn’t find a better family spot than the Ragin Cajun; we are still driving down from Ventura to eat there 13 years later. My son was a baseball fanatic, and Steven would always give him Dodger tickets to whatever home game he wanted to go to…doubt this will happen at Junior’s “nepotismpub” which I will very happily never set foot in.
This news is a real shame, virtually every restuarant on Pier that was there 13 years ago when we first started going to RC is GONE…what makes you think a “gastropub” will succeed?
This is not capitalism at work, or “taking care of family”, it is the very thing that has been destroying this country for the last 20 years…GREED, GREED, GREED…you can’t take your money with you Mr. Bredesen. My grandfather and father have always told me that a true man’s legacy is his integrity; that is the only thing in life that no one can take away from you…can you look yourself in the mirror everyday and say that your legacy will endure? Sad to say, doubtful…
Congratulations guys! I’m one of the volunteer Whale Watch Naturalists from Cabrillo Marine Aquarium/ACS. For the past 6 years, the Voyager has been my favorite boat to go out on with school groups and visitors from all over. We were so disappointed when the Voyager trips were canceled last season and its future was in limbo. I am looking forward to many more whale watch seasons on the Voyager!
Over the past five years I have worked as a naturalist on the Voyager countless times, know it’s story, and have always felt proud to be a part of its history.
It is good to know this venerable old boat will continue to help educate young people about the ocean and its inhabitants. I look forward to many more days on her decks.
Every establishment has its good and bad ratings and you can’t satify every customer, but after reviewing the Shellback Tavern and owner Bob Beverly, I can honestly give it a solid 10 star rating.
Respectfully,
7ony Stewart, author
Dillinger, The Hidden Truth – RELOADED
Discovery, History Channel or National Geographic.
Crime Wave – 18 months of Mayhem (History Channel).
The Dillinger Conspiracy (Discovery Channel).
Recently worked with 360 Production on a new 4-hour documentary entitled Gangsters – Need to Know , that will air this September. It was filmed in Chicago and the production did a great job.
I love the ideal and I feel that it would be great ideal for me toi be part of helping make this happen.
Many have seeing the love and passion I been bring to the south bay for a little over 10 years.
I would be honor to get envolve with all three beaches cities and BCHD in making a differrence for our communities here in the south bay.
Espousing being anything but an uptight conservative, G.T. Washerson vitriolic tirade against the Hermosa Beach Ironman would be humorous were it not his subsequent trashing of Jeffersonian ideals. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not just some passing slogan to be dismissed within their fog of intolerance.
Great story Mark! This is great news too! Now I am really looking forward to gray whale watch season starting December 26th!
I live in Hermosa Beach to be in a place that values the environment and the sense of a safe community for my family. I brought my kids up here and I try to promote values to them that I want to instill in them including solving their problems with words and not weapons. Gun toting folks in my neighbor is the anthesis of this and I don’t appreciate it even if it is their legal right. The more folks like this that want to promote their weapons and wear them as a badge of courage, the more I feel obliged to help change the laws giving them the right to put them in our face. I don’t believe that anyone in my city feels their lives are threatened. Our community is safe and our police officers are just a few seconds from a call away. This is a promotion of “cool weapons” to impress our young and promote violence and I don’t approve or want it in my streets.
what a great idea
good luck with the new build out I hope you see the rewards
of your investment and keep having fun!
Liz misses the point. The US Supreme Court restored the right to carry weapons, guns included, for the purpose of self defense.
There are no laws “to change.” The cities and counties can continue to enforce the old laws but that just means they’ll get sued in Federal Court for civil rights violations costing the local governments and schools millions, and making the lawyers rich.
Openly carrying firearms is here to stay until Obama, or his successors, manage to put five justices on the Supreme Court willing to reverse the Heller/McDonald decisions.
That will be years from now. Justice Kennedy, the fifth vote, has already said he will not retire while Obama is President.
This literally made my day. I enjoy that these four very respected businessmen still take into consideration the importance of Spyder as a core, independent surf retailer and grovel in the little waves to prove it. No matter any “sold out” reputation, this event proves they still have soul. Kudos to Dennis and Dickie. Viva Spyder Surf.
Change can be difficult to accept, but we have to remember that this is now a certified Civil Rights movement. We’re seeing the rebirth of a portion of Civil Rights that was almost lost. This is really a time to rethink our positions on civil rights in general and whether we truly support them or not.
Charles, we need to be careful now that ad hominem attacks can be construed as hate speech. I think it’s important to accept what we’ve been given and learn to use these Supreme Court decisions for our own purposes.
I have no problem with people owning hand guns for self defense in their homes, or rifles for hunting. I do, however, feel that a ridiculous display of fire power in a non-threatening situation looks paranoid and pathetic. It appears that this little publicity stunt was really for this small group of people to feel momentarily powerful and knowledgeable about guns in public. It also gave a politician a moment on his soapbox. I think this whole silly display is more about ego than gun rights.
I think I understand… The point is not so much to open carry as it is to preserve the right to do so. I read that SBOC was formed in response to AB 1934, an attempt by politicians to take away lawful citizens’ right to carry like they do in nearly every other state in the US. (It’s illegal for criminals to carry any weapon in CA and the two safest states in America are VT and NH where open gun carry is a common everyday occurrence!) Most Californians have no idea this right exists. So, SBOC is educating us while they pick up trash. Community service activities are a great way to show they are ordinary, hard-working, tax-paying members of the community that care; responsible men and woman with the training, tools and knowledge to defend themselves and those around them if necessary. Because criminals illegally carry weapons wherever they go, I’m guessing the safest place in the City is probably wherever SBOC happens to be doing their trash pick up!
The picture shows a guy with a rifle strapped to his back. That can’t be comfortable. He’s obviously making a statement. In the real world, a holstered side-arm is much more reasonable.
I couldn’t find the rules for the video. nothing is posted on the Paul’s Photo contest rules but it is listed on the heading.
Is it on another section of the Easy Reader ? Do I have to deal with Easy Reader direct at the office ?
Thank You for your time.
John Baylis
it makes our community look like a bunch of stupid, ignorant, drunken morons.
Isn’t that Manhattan Beach to a tee?
I’m sorry, but I cannot sympathize with you about your boyfriend who is now in prison for using/dealing drugs.
Do you not get it that what he did is against the law – no matter that he was/is an upstanding citizen as you described in one of your columns. He made a choice to break the law and now he must pay the consequences. I am so sick of you and your peers who refuse to take any responsibility for your behaviour. Get over it and grow up.
I have to agree with Kris W. who said, “[I] feel that a ridiculous display of fire power in a non-threatening situation looks paranoid and pathetic”.
The rest of the nation (with the exception of Wisconsin and Illinois) have gone to concealed carry as a preferred solution to open carry. I think it’s time for California to abandon its puritanical prohibition and embrace “shall issue” instead.
Open carry has its place, and I think it’s important that California have compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling in McDonald. That will require either shall issue concealed carry or open carry as the two choices. I echo Kris W.’s preference for concealed carry.
Exactly Charles, these two guys will never learn! Stoyke and Schaar burned investors to the tune of $16 million bucks due to the foreclosure of the same type of commercial property in Hermosa Beach. What is Bank of the West thinking? Stoyke and Schaar haven’t realized yet that the good old days of making quick money hand-over-fist in MB real estate are over, and won’t be coming back for a long, long time, if ever. Their thought process relative to what’s REALLY going on in south bay real estate (it is slowly collapsing) is irrational. As for any person seeking the “beach lifestyle” in Stoyke and Schaar’s 320 sq. ft. condos, be patient! You will be able to enjoy one of their luxury condos within the next 12-18 months at around $200-$250k.
MB (and soon HB) is now being legislated/forced to reduce their waste. First water regulations (The Drought is Over By the Way!) and now waste regulations and many more forced regulations to come.
very interesting… thanks Bob!
growing up in the RAT beach area of South Redondo, one thinks we’re not really in a zone that is actually quite vunerable.
great article. Gene
(in light of the comment from Mike and for what it’s worth – i’ve had recurrent dreams of a large sunami hitting the “avenues” area of torrrance/redondo – yahoo!)
First off I hate Jacks. Secondly I hate every “surf shop” in the south bay but E.T. the only one that has remained a surf shop and looks like a surf shop not some trendy upscale vans store in a mall…so thank you to E.T. and don’t shop at Jacks but if you need that upscale chain store feeling at least go to beckers because at least they’re not based in Orange County.
Just as we are encouraged to prepare in the event of a major disaster to rely on ourselves and our neighbors because firefighters will be spread too thin, likewise, we must prepare in the event of a major disaster or unrest to rely on ourselves and neighbors because police officers will be spread too thin to respond.
Great Article. Thanks ER!
Craig, I want to congratulate you on doing what is in your heart and soul, and helping to keep this beautiful piece of history in Redondo. Your wonderful intention to bring kids back to the sea is timely and very very crucial to the survival of ALL species on our beloved planet Earth. Go for it! As a long-time friend of your mom’s, I am so proud of what her loving son has accomplished. Best of luck in this venture-it has good karma, for sure.
The police are already spread too thin. The average time for a 911 emergency police response in L.A. is around seven minutes. (If that’s the average, some people are waiting a lot longer!) Seven minutes is considered good by nationwide standards. Some cities have averages above 10 minutes!
eddie talbot after 7 yrs of hunting CONTENT & building up the web presense TOLD me shut it OFF, the interviews w/ theWORM , shady, GUMBy w/ his size 13’s & the computer template cutting. everyTHING. I thought he was pissed @ me, Daniel told me eddie isn’t pissed @ anyBODY. eddie IS old school when surfing was a passion NOT a sport NOT an industry. no BLACKberries OR iPHONE waterPROOF surf POCKETS @ et. THE internet is NOT required @ etSURF, no POSERS, good PRICES, U know what SPICOLI said b4 he became the ARTist known AS mR. madonna I mean SEAN penn
Have a great retirement Paul. You were an inspiration, mentor, and great friend to me in the early years of my career. I only hope that I can someday be half the civil servant that you have been all these years.
It is an honor to know you, and I still think back with fondness to those days on the rooftop, talking about life and whatever passed us by.
wow…. sounds pretty interesting.
The 16 year old boy in your story obviously was not getting the message. “It’s just fun. I don’t have a problem. I smoke weed every day,” he said with a laugh…He said he likes his substance abuse counselor. “We like talk about drugs, watch movies and stuff. Monica’s cool,” he said.
Having seen Encore Entertainers’ production of Les Miserables last weekend, I can tell you that you will find more on the stage of the Mira Costa auditorium than you would typically expect from a youth theater production–especially for a show as rich and complex as this one. More than once I have looked back over the program to confirm to myself the ages of the young actors who tackle the leading roles. At 16, Slater Ross is a wonder as he delivers the moving tale of Jean Valjean, touching on a range and depth of emotion far beyond his years. As Eponine, Alison Schiller–also 16–nails the heart-wrenching story of Eponine with extraordinary skill and vocals worthy of a Broadway level production. (Speaking of Broadway, one wonders if Ms. Duckers has ever seen a professional production of Les Miserables. Anyone who has would be quite familiar with the two scenes she mentions as being “overdone”. Each of these is staged as it was in the original Broadway/London productions.) The roles of Javert, Marius, Enjolras, the Thenardiers, little Cosette and Gavroche are all masterfully handled by the young actors who fill them–far exceeding expectation. For my part, I will be returning to Mira Costa this weekend with family in tow. I have long wanted to share my favorite musical with them, but I thought I was going to have to wait for the next professional tour to come to Los Angeles. Encore delivers a production worthy of the show’s illustrious name and reknown, and is on par with any touring company I have seen to date. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is “just” youth theater. This is theater, period–and it is darn good theater too!! Don’t let the opportunity to see Les Miserables pass you by!
Boy! This photo just took my breath away! I am looking forward to seeing the production of Les Misérables this Friday. Kelly Lundin this is a great photo! Bravo!
The best part of the Kid Infinity article was left out of the hard paper copy. When reading the hard copy article I felt I missed something. I thought I was going to take a ride with the writer and experience the 3D event on paper, I was disappointed until I found the article in it’s entirety on your web-site. I feel others may have lost out on the 3D experience as well. Maybe you should have a disclaimer that reads…read article in its entirety at easyreader.com.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Well-written article
It’s about time Mira Costa H.S. got serious about addressing the drug and alcohol problem on campus. I remain somewhat skeptical though, as some of the punishments outlined in the article appear too lenient. Any kid caught with a quantity of drugs for sale should automatically be arrested & expelled from the MBUSD (let mommy and daddy pay to have him/her home schooled). Any kid found to be in possession of a quantity of drugs or liquor for personal use should be arrested (let him/her and their parents experience the pure joy of life at Inglewood Juvenile Court) and suspended for 10 days. MCHS drug counselors need to remind themselves that their job is to save kids from ruin, not necessarily to be their buddy or to appear “cool”. Speak the truth, show them examples and the kids will be respond in a positive way. The fact is that while dog searches and drug testing of MCHS students are good secondary measures to use to address the substance abuse problem, they will have little effect if Measure #1 is not achieved; Keeping Parents’ Feet to the Fire by Holding them Accountable for the Actions of Their Own Child! Achieving Measure #1 will take courage on the part of administrators, faculty & staff, as pressure (personnel complaints & threats of legal action) by a few parents (we all know who they are) will occur. Although this will be taxing on them personnally and professionally, educators must always keep in mind the end goal; the health & welfare our kids!
In the end, the onus is on parents to control and safeguard their own children. Parents must lock up their own prescription drugs where their kids cannot gain access to them. Seems like a no brainer but this is where the majority of kids get their drugs; mom and dad’s medicine cabinet.
An outstanding production. This is my favorite show and I was so ready for it to be a “youth” production in every sense of the word. I was so wrong. This is a Broadway ready show with outstanding preformances by Slater Ross as Jean Valjean, Alison Schiller as Eponine, and Guiry. Schiller’s preformance was praticularly stunning, and beautiful, and everything the character should be. It was by far a Broadway preformance.
This show-so moving-surpassed all my expectations, and I am going back. If you haven’t seen it yet, you will NOT want to miss it!
This is a well-written article and the references are great!! Thank you for writing about the show. So many volunteers have contributed hours and hours of time to make it possible and who also donated money to the organization. The young man who conceived of this concept, Jeff Cason, is a multi-talented musician, composer, director, and entrepreneur with great vision. Your article will hopefully draw people from the South Bay to come out and support the production.
Great article! Jeff Cason really went out on a limb to make this a very professional production. I was very impressed. Come on out before it ends. You will not be disappointed!
The pensions are FAR TOO RICH and RIDICULOUS AND UNSUSTAINABLE.
90% salary for the rest of their lives?
Where do we get that kind of GOLDEN PARACHUTE?
Re-inventing ones store means they needed to change. Good for Spyder. Jack’s will dominate the area as they have proven with their other locations.
People want good selection and decent prices. They really could care less if your shop is “hard core” or even “more hard core”
I believe it was Becker who thought he could take on Jack’s in H.B. but ended up closing his shop at sea cliff due to high rent and slow business. That was before the recession!
Looking how this weekend went, I am pretty sure the so-called competition felt their presence.
Jarvis’and Becker’s reason for disputing Jack’s super status is because they may be of middle eastern ancestry and have a certain number of members who surfor don’t, that really shows how strong one’s company really is and when thet can’t even slow these guys down.
You see while people throughout the last 30 plus years have ridiculed these guys for the above crap. They have stayed focused on succeeding and ignored all the noise. Now they are into their 60’s and have built a world reknown business while those who attempted to bring them down have failed themselves.
I hear there is a younger generation of family members who want to expand the business even more. They are involved in the business, surf, are hungry, and are ready for expansion.
Perhaps the best thing was for Jack’s to come to your town. That resulted in Jarvis’ re-inventing his store??? Hopefully his re-invention will finally give the customer’s what they really want and that is selection and pricing. If not I really don’t think Spyder will survive the next two years.
Dan, I hate to break the bad news but Becker was sold to Billabong about two years ago. Yes, Billabong is in based in Australia, therefore Becker’s headquaters are there.
I went to that website listed above titled “Keep Jack’s Surf Out of the South Bay”. It is no longer listed. It was as short lived I guess. Perhaps the “local” thing really does not exist when you really don’t have any other options.
Why did jacks move into hermosa. The city has no surf and is a straight up volleyball town. Should have stayed where the surf is good. Now they have to deal with all the hermosa kooks. That’s right kooks that should worry about just surfing and not business opening. Hope jacks shuts every kook store down there.Watch out Malibu people jacks coming soon.
A shooting in a gun free zone? How could that possibly have happened?
Oh that’s right, the gun free zone statutes don’t deter criminals willing to assault, rob, rape and commit other violent crimes. Gun free zones do disarm every law-abiding citizen within them and are thus victim disarmament zones.
The gun free zone is a sham sold to us by our lazy good-for-nothing legislators whom are too damn lazy to actually deal with crime problems. Let good citizens defend themselves and crime will drop.
I’m so bummed I missed this event this year. It’s one of my favorites of the International Surf Festival and it’s great to read such extensive coverage!
To not like a surf shop because they don’t shape boards within its store is completely wrong. The boards I saw in Jack’s were by custom shapers at Stewart or Channel Islands. I am sure any of the boards were beyond dan benoits price or quality. Reminds me of he guys who drive a Caprice classic because it is cool and top of the line. Get real those boards are way better than any backyard scrap put together.
There must be a hole in the impenetrable gun free school zone barrier. There is no way that the fantasy of gun control could be false! For now lets make another law that puts honest, respectful, law abiding, tax paying, kind, educated, brave, loving Patriots (you know the ones that are too busy to rob a jewelry store because they are working two jobs in order to put food on the table) at risk while Frodo tries to destroy the magic ring, and bring us back to the Shire.
i fished the pier,the voyager and the barge
Reading the letter from a major Redondo Beach master leaseholder (who continually puts on a show of anger) reminds me again that the center of the harbor problem is due to this awkward structure of managing public land.
Since the harbor was built, this leaseholder has amassed millions and millions of dollars by forming unnecessary yet creative business arrangements and partnerships, and lucrative business dealings amongst family members. City auditors have been informed of these arrangements from creditable sources including sub-lessees and have done nothing to properly audit the books.
Millions have been made by the leaseholder because the harbor has traditionally been mismanaged by the city with inconsistent zoning and a climate that is exactly what the leaseholder complains about. All of this is done in order to lease out public land by the leaseholders in the most expensive way possible with sweetheart long-term leases with the city. And we the taxpayer have been footing the bill.
The result is the leaseholder runs a never-to-fail master leasehold for Redondo. This is a slam dunk “simple and fool-proof” way to make millions. The fact that many others could only hope to have this deal makes the value of the business artificially overpriced and exists only due to our tax dollars being wasted.
I received an email from the Torrance Police Department:
“Hello Mr. Nichols…
I hear Friday’s photo op was very successful for you and quite uneventful for us…which is a good thing. It truly pays off to work together with mutual respect. We accomplished what we set out to do…have a win-win situation!
Thanks again for working with the Torrance Police Department. Take care.”
As you can see, the difference in attitude between the Hermosa Beach, Torrance PD and the Redondo Beach PD is night and day. The first two cities obey the law, Redondo Beach makes it up as it pleases.
Thank you for the T-shirts! Delivered quickly, the quality of the fabric and tailoring is excellent.
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Thank you for your professional approach and quality work.
Very satisfied with the work of specialists! I ordered a mug for a gift.
Affordable price. Excellent quality!
Great paper quality and print!
If I ever order an individual design, then only from you!
Ordered for a gift. The husband was pleased.
Very satisfied! Excellent quality cap.
It\’s just a pleasure to wear such a cap!
Excellent quality and good price!
You guys continue to amaze me. Keep it up!
Where did my original comment go?? Totally vanished.
Time and effort for a thoughtful comment ha been deleted. Why?? Did it offend some thin-skinned council members?
In Redondo we are fortunate to have a Class 1 Fire Department, a Police Department that strives to engage with us and highly ranked schools allowing our children to graduate with advantages some can only dream about. BCHD has a consistent track record of making the South Bay one of the healthiest places to live. I was sad to see Rolf’s accusatory letter. Rachel, Byung, Raymur and Dan have worked so hard (as RBUSD board members) to build something great. It must be so annoying to deal with Rolf’s pathetic attempt to emerge as some hero that is so clearly untethered from reality. Perhaps that is why if you go to Case Summary – Online Services – LA Court and put in BC535201 you can find out exactly how making “everything a battle” can impede growth and ultimately cost one the opportunity to work with others. When I vote, I want to be part of the team that makes things better; I am voting “Yes” on BC, FP and S. Together we can do so much!
Ed Hart, thank you for the comprehensive commentary you provided in “What’s wrong with this downtown” regarding the self-sabotage and the lack of vision in Hermosa Beach. Ironically, carved into the side of the city’s Community Center is this saying:
“Where there is no vision, the people perish”
For the last 20 years, the city council has been made up of selfish, short-sighted, narcissistic and ignorant individuals who we’re only interested in their own selfish interests and couldn’t give a damn about the city’s residents or their well-being. They not only did nothing to improve life in Hermosa Beach over the last decade but, they intentionally and methodically made it worse for everyone at the beckoning of a few loud voices. Thankfully, Nanette Barragán and Stacey Armato are no longer on the council and Justin Massey will not be running again, the three most responsible for accelerating the backwards state of Hermosa Beach.Make no mistake, there were many others before them that contributed to the current state of the city.
Unfortunately, Justin Massey and Stacey Armato leave a legacy of installing Suja Lowenthal as city manager who doesn’t live in Hermosa and is ridiculously overpaid. She spends the majority of her time telecommuting from her residence that was first in Malibu and is currently in Palos Verdes. She is more interested in creating a top heavy bureaucracy of overpaid assistants and her a $100M+ Taj Mahal then in doing anything to actually help make the city or resident’s lives better.
Suja’s prior accomplishment before becoming the city manager of Hermosa Beach was leading the campaign to shut down the Santa Monica Airport – spearheading a selfish group of a few individuals sponsored by greedy developers who wanted to redevelop the airport land into high density commercial and residential property. She has absolutely no vision but, she knows how to tear down a city’s infrastructure rather than doing anything useful for the residents.
Suha has spent an absurd amount of money on outside consultants that have accomplished absolutely nothing to cover for her lack of qualifications. Now, she’s again asking for a 3/4% sales tax increase to continue funding her own selfish interests after the voters rejected the same increase just 2 years ago.
Unfortunately, two Justin Massey sycophants remain, Michael Detoy who, is up for re-election this November and Ray Jackson. Hopefully, Michael Detoy will not be re-elected since he has just been a rubber stamp for Justin Massey’s agenda and he barely lives in Hermosa Beach as it is, spending most of his time as a fire captain in the city of Riverside.
It remains to be seen if the current mayor, Dean Francois has the fortitude and vision to actually improve life for the city and its residents. Sadly, I don’t hold any hope out for any positive Improvement since nobody has any real vision and it seems to be the modus operandi of all involved and their supporters to just make everyone else around them as miserable as they are.
“Bredesen said…“By the way, it’s not my study….,” – that says it all. “ Bredeson hired another firm, GeoSoils, Inc., to study it as well.”. So it IS Bredeson’s study.
It references the voided CenterCal EIR which in turn referenced a 1990 Corps of Engineers study which included a table for the highest surge heights for the worst storm in 1 year, 10 years, 25 years, 50 years and 100 years. So the data referenced in Bredesen’s study is for the worst of the worst storms. A once a year occurrence at most. Those studies are invalid now because, based on the 1990 study, the Corps of Engineers strengthened and raised the height of our outer breakwall and extended the southern breakwall by 300 feet. There has been no surge coming over Mole B, C, or D since those changes to the breakwall.
Mr. Bredesen was fully aware of the intent to remove the old Samba’s building with the new boat ramp when he negotiated his SHORT TERM lease. The City did not demand the investment in the property that it has for new lessees with longer term leases. Where was Mr. Bredesen when all moles were explored for a required boat ramp? There was a workshop exploring all locations in 2016. There were two workshops in 2018. And there was a full public process as the Amenities Plan went through the Harbor Commission AND City Council. And anyone following the CenterCal debacle would know the boaters, the outrigger canoe clubs, the Harbor Patrol and Baywatch all opposed the Mole B location. The Coastal Commission unanimously found there were “significant issues” with the location as it violated the Coastal Act and our own Local Coastal Program. Where was Mr. Bredesen during these years and years of deliberation? It was not until AFTER Bredesen negotiated his lease for the old Samba’s Building that he started making noise. Sure seems he was dealing in bad faith. And it there is such a risk of devastating waves and surge there, isn’t his business at risk too?
I respect Mr. Bredesen as a restauranteer, but this attempt to thwart a boat ramp is both disingenuous and bad for the revitalization of our harbor.
Thanking Redondo Beach City Council, Mayor Light, and all city officials, that worked to protect our city’s right to decide land use and zoning issues.
Years ago the Burgie Live writers (if you will) concocted all sorts of nonsensical memes primarily in the quest for humor.
Years ago the Burgie Live writers (if you will) concocted all sorts of nonsensical memes primarily in the quest for humor – Zee Papers Bitte.
A very long time ago the writers for Burgie Live concocted nonsensical memes to highlight the humor is many of rather stupid grips folks may have had.
I live in Redondo Beach, but I met at Brenda years ago in a bunco group. It turned out we worked in the same industry. I wish we were lucky enough in Redondo to have Brenda run for city Council. She is a fierce advocate for children’s mental health. She’s intelligent, hard-working, and dedicated. Manhattan Beach is lucky to have her running! I strongly recommend voting for her as I wish we could have somebody like her in Redondo Beach.
If you live in Redondo, please imagine your life if RBUSD were subpar. How much value do our award-winning schools add to property values, and vitality young families bring to your street? Rolf Strutzenberg seems to have a consistent, long-term track record of making everything a battle. When Rolf went to the police, did he fantasize RBPD round up his fellow school board members? How awkward for RBPD. Like Rachel stating out loud to Rolf that no, Rolf is not a client of the law firm RBUSD uses even though Rolf seems to believe he is, I would like to let Rolf know that the majority of Redondo loves Rachel, Raymur, Dan and Byung. The only one Rolf is hurting by repeatedly trying to hurt his fellow school board members is Rolf.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the South Bay Parkland Conservancy for continuing the vision of Bill Brand when he led the creation of SBPC. Thanking all who have helped this vision become the reality we see now.
Bill’s vision was: The Dedication to the Restoration, Preservation and Public Use Of Coastal Land Resources In the South Bay Region.
He would have been amazed to see what has happened since 2004.
Starting with restoring the AES Wetland and creating its own park, we envision a brand new South Bay Green Belt and Bike Path continuing up the power corridor to Torrance’s Columbia Park. Connecting Manhattan and Hermosa Beach cities with Redondo Beach, then Torrance, will give our communities a world class linear park. It will have charming little rest and play areas, with native habitat along the way.
New York City, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, and others, have already established theirs, and many more are being created. Trust For Public Land and Rails To Trails have played an enormous role in turning obsolete easements into beloved, connecting, linear urban parks.
The Beach Cities and Torrance will transform their communities when we have our own Green Belt.
Thank you, SBPC !
southbayparks.org
I was on the Planning Commission with Rolf for a brief period, and in that time, I found him to be pretentious, condescending and disrespectful. I felt he was blatantly rude to staff and consultants, especially after he was corrected. This behavior on the school board does not surprise me one bit.
Noticeably absent from this event are the neighbors who live in this area. At nehrenheim’s last community meeting, there was outrage over an incident at this facility where one of the residents threatened another and police were called. Apparently that resident was transported from the site and neighboring residents were concerned. What happened, and was that resident allowed to return to the project?
Noticeably absent from this event are the neighbors who live in this area. At nehrenheim’s last community meeting, there was outrage over an incident at this facility where one of the residents threatened another with a knife and police were called. Apparently that resident was transported from the site and neighboring residents were concerned. What happened, and was that resident allowed to return to the project?
it stuns that such brutality could go unnoticed for so very long in such a small, close, community town. how many eyes were averted? ears covered? comings and ‘no goings’ unseen? my heart to the families and friends of these young women. there are no words. may their memories be for a blessing….
it stuns that such brutality could go unnoticed for so very long in such a small, close, community town. how many eyes were averted? ears covered? comings and ‘no goings’ unseen? unquestioned? my heart to the families and friends of these young women. there are no words. may their memories be for a blessing….
bev morse
I hope the people in Redondo know what a gift Mike Webb has been to the city. Mike Webb, our elected city attorney, makes me so proud to live here. He is a true servant leader, always calm and patient. This is incredibly important and difficult work and he has done an amazing job. Thank you so much Mike Webb!
According to Redondo Beach Councilmember Obagi, BCHD and the AES developer both have the same law firm teed up to sue the City of Redondo Beach. That’s ugly. I guess Developers all bed down together.
$179,380 is not being spent “to gauge community support. ” It is bing spent to gaslight residents on the magantude of problems with our current City Hall and to sell us a new one. 70 years ago you might not need to refrigerated DNA, but you had 100’s of thousands of documents, pictures and other items taking up lots of space. Now those same materials fit on a thumb drive. In the last 70 years numerous stenographers, large typewriters and reams of paper have been replaced by laptop computers. 70 years ago every interactons with the City was in person. Now in person visits are seldom necessary and are being discouraged. That $179,380 would have been better spent address the needs of the building instead of the desires of the City Manager.
We are four “yes” votes for BC in our household! For less than $60 a year, we would love a new healthy living campus. Everyone in our family has benefited from all the wonderful services BCHD provides!! It would be absolutely wonderful to see more green space in Redondo. Yes on BC, the best value bond on the ballot.
BCHD has been a poor steward of District resident funds and cannot be allowed $30M more until it imposes a Resident Only policy for services. Only 2 programs require residency – home health care ($1M per year) and Bluezones restaurants ($100K per year). All the rest of BCHD programs use our taxes and land and buildings without restrictions. Until BCHD reforms to being a Residency Required operation, it cannot receive any bond measure funding. VOTE NO.
As an example of BCHD financial folly, BCHD accepted a $6.3M grant to construct an allcove building. BCHD underestimated the cost by $9M and now needs a bond. BCHD taxpayers are also required to provide allcove for 30 years, to a 1.4M population area of LA County. How inept can BCHD be that it accepted a $172M, 30-year cost of allcove in return for a $6.3M grant?
I support Measure BC. The services that BCHD provide to our Beach Cities far out weighs the cost of the bond. Supporting alcove and the proposed green space would be an asset to our community. The Youth Board at alcove has worked endlessly to ensure that the esthetics of their space and services provided are welcoming and adhering to the needs of those aged 12-25 years and that what they are proposing is environmentally responsible. The green space would provide all residents with access to fitness, mindfulness, and school based garden and nutritional programming. BCHD has revised original development plans after many meetings with the community. BCHD works collaboratively and makes programming decisions based on community feedback. Please support BCHD and vote YES on Measure BC!
Deepest gratitude to Al Muratsuchi for always doing what is right, moral, and ethical.
Best wishes for after his Assembly days are over.
Since BC was so small financially compared to the other bonds, the voters sent a message to BCHD that even if inexpensive, they disagreed with taxpayers funding allcove and tearing down the hospital building. I wonder if BCHD will bother to listen to the voters?
Steve, thanks for running for the bench, please run again if that’s your calling, would love to see you up there!
Jerry Pancake
While Measure BC failed, numerous residents supported BCHD by posting positive comments online (almost as many as we saw to keep RBFD local) and taking time to speak at city council meetings against a targeted FAR for BCHD. Even after BC failed, it is odd to me the same names keep pounding on BCHD. Where is this outrage when a new smoke shop opens up walking distance to elementary and middle schools?
I don’t believe the Southbay wants BCHD to go away while we see unregulated smoke shops open up with abandon. With FP and S on the ballot, it is reasonable BC failed; even as a supporter, I knew it was a long shot. I will remind those dancing on BC’s grave, BCHD’s (consistently) employed CEO Tom Bakaly was named “Man of the Year” by the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce in 2022; can any of the “Stop” people say the same? I know residents appreciate BCHD and I think BC failed because residents know that a public-private partnership could work to generate revenue and reduce the financial burden on residents.
Mark Nelson is a one-man crusade against BCHD, a disgruntled neighbor of the property who has devoted his entire existence to the destruction of this valuable community asset. He is obsessed, nobody can deny that. I stand proudly with the large majority of local residents who support BCHD and the value they bring to our area. If you agree, please make your voices heard. Support BCHD.
BCHD’s $600,ooo taxpayer-funded Measure BC needed a two-thirds majority to pass. If failed to even get 50%. The voters and the Daily Breeze Editorial Board have spoken. BCHD refuses to deal fairly with the surrounding neighborhood, and pouring more money into BCHD’s commercial development coffers won’t solve anything.
I would like to join with the Redondo Beach Teachers in expressing gratitude for our community passing the school improvement measure.
There is nothing more important in society than educating our young, nothing! There is no reason that our kids must languish in substandard campuses.
School funding in California needs fixing, and moved to the top priority in the state budget.
Thank you, Redondo voters!
BEACH CITIES HEALTH DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION – MEASURE BC
BEACH CITIES HEALTH DISTRICT COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS MEASURE: To complete construction of the …
YES 47.50% 29,945
NO 52.50% 33,102
I disagree with M. Wuerker’s cartoon.
I believe the election of Trump to the White House endorsed all matters of indecency.
Trump calls people with ethics, “fools” and “losers” when they try to do the right thing.
Biden discarded his former pledge to not pardon his son. He knew that anything goes now, in government, so he pardoned him for “the crimes” that no other person would have been charged with.
Trump has yet to be held accountable for the horrific crimes that he did actually commit.
So why not pardon ?
Everything changed with Trump’s election.Ethics in government is gone in this sad country.
Great article. Thanks for bringing back that interview. Sorry he’s gone.
Looks like the only loser in Redondo Beach elections was BCHD that spent about $600,000 of our tax money – so I guess taxpayers are the real losers. BCHD was told no taxpayer funding for the an allcove building or demolition of the failed South Bay Hospital.
It’s an incredible Moment of Nature to see these waves come in and the awesome surfers that ride them. But, calling it the “Breakwall”? It’s the “Breakwater” to me and lots of others (including Lifeguards and South Bay Locals) and will always be that !!! Great shots Mike !!! Cawabunga !!!
It’s going to be so awesome, again !!! Can’t wait !!! Thanks to Allen and the founders, backers, the artists, vendors, set up folks and the volunteers. See you there !!! SO STOKED !!!
Thank you RBFD
I am grateful to Michael Lee-Chang for stepping up to be the change we wish to see in California.
It will be the young people who will provide the moral compass that government has mostly lost.
Thank you for sharing this sad news. RSVP’s are appreciated to help with planning. Invitation link: http://pp.events/aaew4Vqq .
Residents of Redondo will be getting a ballot in the mail for a very important March election.
I strongly encourage D1 residents to vote for Brad Waller. He is legitimately endorsed by over 25 community leaders, including every current RBUSD school board member. He is a successful business owner who has earned these numerous endorsements through hard work, cooperation and servant leadership. You can trust Brad to cooperate with fellow city council members. Redondo needs a transparent, competent, and honest leader on the Council, and that choice is clearly Brad Waller.
Additionally, the clear choice for City Attorney is Joy Ford. Redondo Beach is a leader in firmly and compassionately helping our homeless community, and Joy has been a large part of that incredibly successful effort. Like Brad, she has numerous legitimate endorsements, which she has earned by working with Mike Webb protecting residents in Redondo for the last decade.
Keep Redondo safe and solvent by voting for Brad Waller and Joy Ford!
Finally, kudos to Michael Lee-Chang, who has consistently participated in local government. You have 4 votes in the Puterbaugh household.
I’d like to see more discussion as to the costs involved with each option.
Thank you Easy Reader for bring us this good news.
As Jim Light says, this could be the start of the “green belt to the sea,” connecting with Hermosa and Manhattan Beach, then all the way up the power line corridor into Columbia Park in Torrance.
Imagine all the neighborhoods connected some day, with bike paths, urban trails, delightful play and rest areas, and healthy green space.
So many other cities in America already have done this in former rail and other easements.
Great cities have great parks. We can too.
So, the residents get no input? I guess that’s a thing of the past with Jim Light at the helm. He’s the guy who sues the City, and while residents are still paying for those lawsuits, he wants us to fund a park at the AES plant to realize his one and only “vision” for the City. No doubt his friend Varvarigos, will get the contract to landscape the park with City money that goes through South Bay Parkland Conservancy (Jim Light founder and President). When you see behind the curtain, it is all very self-serving.
Congratulations to ALL, especially Shellback Tavern and those other 50+ businesses. Two longstanding businesses are missing however: Ercoles Tavern on Manhattan Ave. and El Sombrero on Manhattan Avenue, which has been in MB longer than El Sombrero #2.
Maggie – thanks for the compliment, but the design was done long before I was Mayor. And SCE has constraints on what you can do under their wires. So other than the plant palette and how the path meandered (to meet ADA requirements) the city had little say. SBPC will not get the construction contract. This will require a lot of grading, a huge irrigation system, and drainage. SBPC does not do that. The city will be putting out an RFP for a contractor who can do it all.
I have much more of a vision than a Greenbelt to the Sea, though I am not sure why you would dislike that one. Read the Wilderness Park Master Plan. Read the harbor Amenities Plan. Read the Pier and Harbor Commercial Plan. And look at my platform on http://www.jimlightformayor.com.
I hope that any new leadership and for that matter old leadership, takes some real leadership to solve the out of control illegal truck traffic traversing Palos Verdes Blvd. and Prospect Ave. totally impacting hundreds of residence Quality of Life.
It has been my personal experience that current Mayor James Light really does not have the best interest of us residence in mind.
In my view he is not qualified to be the Mayor of Redondo Beach and I personally suggested that he resign months ago.
Jim Light’s view of the Redondo Beach Pier is taking form. In a conversation Wednesday, Jim expressed to me that he wants to see a new Arcade built in place of the old arcade.
The Pier needs exciting venues, restaurants and retail that the residents want and will visit. Not another arcade.
Nostalgia for the past is not going to create a vibrant, attractive pier.
This article was both informative and thought-provoking.
My favorite, & very special person,..an extraordinary realtor. All the continued success for you.
It seems some folks from Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach have finally discovered the impact of the growing number of state housing mandates. Complaining to city officials will have no impact, their hands are tied and communities face even more draconian state overreach if their City Councils blatantly defy these state mandates. The problem is not our city governments. The problem lies in the state legislature that is imposing these mandates on our cities, and it is out of control. Residents need to complain to our state legislators.
There is another avenue that may be far more effective in the long run. Our Neighborhood Voices is working to submit a statewide initiative aimed at preserving local control and preventing broad brush mandates that are contrary to good planning practices and that fail to produce any meaningful amount of affordable housing anyway. Residents should donate to and volunteer for Our Neighborhood Voices – it will likely be far more effective than complaining to our local state legislators.
Imposing a large fine on a property owner in Hermosa Beach for using his property as a short term rental is serious. Hermosa did this previously, and attorney Frank Angel was successful in getting the fines removed. He was successful in challenging Manhattan Beach’s similar conduct. With similar cases, and with the same lawyer representing similarly situated property owners, why would Hermosa Beach allow a hearing officer with no legal training or law license to preside over the hearing ? It makes no sense.
Kudos to Joy Ford and Brad Waller for a deserved win!
Kevin, If at all possible, Please include this letter in this weeks ER, Thx, Rick
GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) HB Parade
I want to thank The Hermosa Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the City of Hermosa Beach and Bell Events for bringing this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade to fruition. For almost 30 years it has been my honor to assist as a stage announcer. Our parade has always been a locally orientated treat for thousands of spectators and participants alike. Many of the participants that I acknowledged off the script have been friends of mine for decades. This year was even more special and I am not sure exactly why. The weather, the vibe, the crowd whatever it was. Let’s just call it the ‘je ne sais quoi”(a quality that cannot be described easily). My friends and neighbors have gone out of their way to share with me what a wonderful experience it was for them this year above and beyond past years being the reason I felt compelled to shout out Kudos to all the parties involved. On top of everything else, it was a real pleasure working with a real professional like Rick Dickert as his co-announcer. Whatever it takes, let’s make sure our parade returns every year. Rick Koenig – Longtime Hermosanite
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Testing comment!
Worked.
Redondo parents ARE UPSET with Coach Morris bringing in transfers once again. Many current parents were unaware that this was the reason for his departure. Meanwhile, it’s the school that appears to be more focused on Redondo’s wins than on ensuring local kids have a fair opportunity. Just look at how well Mira Costa performed this season when they have very few transfers. As a result of this situation, many local Redondo students are either transferring to other schools, bypassing Redondo entirely, or leaving the program once they realize they aren’t being given the same opportunities as the incoming transfers. It’s a real shame.
So, our school district knowingly recruits out-of-district athletes, forcing IN DISTRICT athletes to go out-of-district to have opportunities to play sports? And this is the second go-round with the coach who did this before that angered so many? Seems it’s time to get an out-of-district Superintendent who pays attention to important things like this. What a travesty, all the way around.
Yes, unfortunately, this is happening. Many of these transfers are coming from the coach’s club program, which seems like a conflict of interest to me. I believe there were approximately 12 transfers between JV and Varsity this year, and it was clear they were treated differently from the rest. It truly IS a travesty.
Developers have taken over our Sacramento Legislature and Governor’s Office.
The new housing laws will trash the entire state, especially with the “Builder’s Remedy. This is the part that allows builders to build where they want, as tall as they want, even in single family neighborhoods. They are brazenly ignoring California Coastal Act protections.
Join me in fighting back against this hostile take-over by our state government.
Join:
ourneighborhoodvoices.com
Impressive track facility catered for a wealthy person/family to experience the excitement of driving fast. And have to your own personal residence on site too.
So does this finally mean that the incompetent city manager will get sacked for failing to get the plans in early enough to be approved timely? Come on – do it!
Let’s hope so. It’s time for a change, that’s for sure.
My digital easy reader will no longer allow me to read articles. When I click on the read more link, I am just sent to the comments and not to the article.
Same here
Same for me until today (3/26) when I was finally able to access the article. There is also the e-zine edition that I was able to access since last Friday. Try again and good luck.
The same thing happened to me until today (3/26), and I was finally able to read the article and see all of the photos. Before today I was able to access the article on the e-zine edition and also picked up a newspaper copy last Friday at The Copper Pot restaurant in SRB. Try again and good luck.
I can’t seem to login –
Please put my subscription BACK / no one ha bad used my name
UGH
In regard to Hermosa Beach’s conversation about “Builders’ Remedy,” the very term, “Builder’s Remedy,” says it all.
The Builders have won.
The public has lost its rights.
That is the “Remedy” that developers have dreamed of.
Join
ourneighborhoodvoices.com
Sounds promising.
Why not remove all the AES industrial materials? Both sides of the table want it gone: the community to remove the eye soar and the developers in hopes to develop a mix use property. Whatever the outcome, it will take years and if the community is lucky to have more greenery then we will have to pay for it. So why not pay to clear the ugliness now instead of living with it?
I love the article, the pictures, and the caused.
What are the “caused”?
Great article! Thanks for letting us know about this!
I’m glad this event was covered, including pictures. It’s important that we know what’s happening in our community.
We have an apartment in our house that we used to rent out. We don’t rent it as a STR, but we don’t rent it out long term either anymore because I don’t think that California laws provide any protection for us if our tenant doesn’t pay. We had an apartment in the SD area too, and when tenants didn’t pay, we would just work something out and, if they didn’t come through again, we asked them to leave and they did. Now, I’m afraid, we’d be taken to court and things would drag out forever. So there’s that.
Ray,
Guess state law is state law. Here in RPV we had this same STR crisis. Council banned them and our Commision came out with sheriff badges reading ‘Rancho Palos Verdes – Bordello Inspector.’ Only 17 were made but each is treasured by it’s recipient!. HB might do the same
The Serenaders have a place in our hearts as they were the band at my wedding back in 92. It was great fun and the best way that us two MB kids could have partied that day.
Thanks for such an insightful post! Your expertise really shines through.
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Let’s spread the love! Tag a friend who would appreciate this post as much as you did.
I live in Lawndale, and we opposed this extension down the ROW because it will eliminate between 3,000 and 5,000 homes. Metro does not care. We told them to go down Hawthorne Blvd., which was built to support a light rail system. Metro does not care. Money is the motivating factor. All the properties affected by building on the ROW will see a massive drop in equity. This will make it easier for developers to come in and offer below-market offers so they can build tenement housing we see in Chicago and New York. We are losing our single-family neighborhoods to these robber barons. Hawthorne Blvd. would be the perfect place to build an elevated system that would be accessible to all and build up the flagging small businesses along Hawthorne Blvd. in the affected cities.
No homes are being eliminated. Who told you that? But the Hawthorne WOULD require displacement and use of eminent domain.
Few public servants receive the recognition they truly deserve. In today’s social media-driven world, government officials—often unable to respond due to legal constraints—are frequently at a disadvantage in the court of public opinion.
Despite this, Mike Webb has consistently led with integrity and honor, even in the face of controversy. For thirty-one years, Redondo Beach was fortunate to have a public servant whose leadership stood head and shoulders above the rest. His influence extended beyond city limits, shaping the direction of the entire South Bay.
I hope he takes pride in his legacy as he sees the continued success of the programs and initiatives he helped create.
Nice article (as usual) by Bondo on another South Bay artist. Looking forward to seeing Fei’s works at the Easy Reader show.
What fantastic, insightful and beautifully written article/interview of Fei! I’m her biggest fan.❤️
Hi Beach Reporter, please don’t use the description e-bike when these are clearly e-motorcyles. We’ve all seen these kids ripping around town at speeds way faster than an e-bike can go, and gives legal e-bikes a bad name. Thank you.
Why does anyone need an e-motorbike on a flat surface like the Strand?
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Another fine article by Mark McDermott!
i am so glad – these photos are happy people handling this miserable situation like adults – neighbors – americans – protesting the horrors of this sociopath’s second (!) presidency – when images of his supporters are so filled with anger and hate – what a difference today’s Hands Off gatheriing – protesting hate together – neighbors and strangers – families! – no hang the vp, where’s nancy, stabbing policed officers, desecrating the capitol… what a difference each one of can make – Chris – your photos captured the people – people who want us/a to succeed – not hurt others in order to. but to succeed – together – these people today heartened us all – thank you for catching and capturing it, chris – way to go, easy reader – south bay: you rock!
Thanks for your wonderful comment, Bev!
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I’m thinking Baron, wandering, towering over more than just most; The Second Trump.
Bob Pinzler knew about Obagi’s legal issues during the recall campaign against Obagi, and Bob was so concerned about these legal issues he gave Obagi 500 dollars in campaign donations. (It’s in the 460s, look it up)
And anyone who paid attention knows it was so Bill Brand could have his third vote. Remember the “team” ? What a phony Pinzler is.
It’s clear that sometimes the blood doesn’t get to the cranium. Did you want the pot guy to win? That’s what we were fighting against.
What are the days and times to view the exhibit?
Obagi loved to say the allegations by his former client, that Obagi took $500,000.00 from him, weren’t true. People believed the lie, until the truth came out and the State Bar trial began. Many Redondo residents wrote letters in support of Obagi and submitted them to the Judge. The 41 page State Bar decision included all the misdeeds of Obagi, and recommended his 3 year suspension and probation. What Pinzler’s article failed to mention is that not once has Webb or Joy Ford criticized Obagi for his misdeeds and his State Bar suspension. In fact, Joy Ford took a $1,000.00 campaign contribution from Obagi on December 7, 2024 knowing he was suspended from practicing law, and knowing that the U.S. Attorney’s office was pursuing multiple criminal wire fraud charges against Obagi. In Council District 4, Obagi and Ford’s campaign signs appeared side-by-side during their campaigns. On February 11, 2025, at 11:36 a.m. the U.S Attorney’s criminal complaint against Obagi was emailed to City Attorney Mike Webb and City Manager, Mike Witzansky. At that evening’s council meeting, Obagi amended a motion to receive and file the court filed document, and not a single word by Ford, Webb, or Witzansky was said to inform the public of the criminal charges against Obagi, the deferred prosecution agreement, or what was being received into the record in violation of the Brown Act.
The city of Redondo Beach maintains it’s historical museum in Dominguez Park, located in Central Redondo at 302 Flagler Lane. Parking is free and just steps away from the museum. Admission is free and the museum is open on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The museum is surrounded by the beautiful Heritage Court. Both the museum and adjacent Morrell House are historical structures which were moved to their current locations in the 1990s.
Born, raised, surfed in Hermosa. Very connected, unique place, between MB and RB; a special “hangout”…
Condolences to all of Greg’s family and friends here in the South Bay and beyond. I knew Greg only recently when we participated in a promo film for the South Bay Boardrider’s upcoming documentary. I also ran into him at a Beachlife Festival and at Eat at Joe’s in RB. But, his acceptance speech at his induction to the HB Surfer’s Walk of Fame was most touching and remarkable and will never be forgotten. Now riding light waves in Heaven, Mr. Greg Browning. Rest in Peace.
Greg was a huge asset to surf culture and epitomized Hermosa surfing. My condolences to Greg’s family, he was a wonderful guy. We shared a few tall tales over breakfast and remembrances growing up here on the beach, he was always grateful for this life and his connection to the ocean. He was a wonderful guy. You will be missed bro.
Seems like the solution is at Aviation & Marine – the old government building sitting there empty for at least a decade now – it has lots of square footage, parking and green space. It would convert nicely to apartments and be a lot less costly than building new from the ground up –
Great idea! Yet, residents should have the right to have conversation and input around impact. Wonder why the alarm bells didn’t ring before this law was passed??
Redondo has voted and overwhelmingly elected Joy Ford, who was endorsed by Mike Webb. I don’t anticipate the new City Council advocating for an appointed City Attorney. Given Joy’s tremendous win, it wasn’t even close, it looks like Redondo is happy the freedom to choose.
Being a sports fan doesn’t depend on whether a person is a Democrat or a Republican, a liberal or a conservative. Most sportswriters, recognizing that fact, focus their attention on baseball, football, basketball, and the like. A sports writer who can’t resist incorporating his personal political viewpoint into his sports reporting and commentary needlessly angers those whose political viewpoints differ from his own. That adversely affects him, his reporting, and the newspaper that prints what he writes.
Congrats Jim! However not quite accurate. Jim Light, hope you will correct
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Parker indeed was relentless in his fight for open space at 14th Street and The Strand in Hermosa Beach. I was honored (with many others) to help him for most of a decade on that endeavor. There will always be a park there, and Parker’s determination and incentive will always be remembered for making that so. Thank You Parker. Rest in Peace.
Not only was Parker active in Hermosa Beach, he was equally active in Redondo Beach. He worked to get council meetings televised, he worked to preserve historic homes, he worked to improve Dominguez Park, and he was forever video recording historic events. We owe Parker so much for his activism. Just a great South Bay guy who loved people. He also worked on local campaigns for council.
We’re going to miss you Parker. Thanks for everything you did.
This made my day better, thank you! Thank you for being amazing!
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This lifted my spirits.
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Sending Love and Light to Greg Brwning and all who love him. He was an inspiration to all in how he lived. My sister’s husband had just passed away from ALS when I first learned about Greg. I was so moved by the courage he had throughout his life and ALS. He will live forever in the hearts of those he touched.
…are you all playing with yourself?
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Total losers. Anyone spendin their time doing this is a total 100 percent loser at life.
This feels so warm.
Beautiful! I so enjoyed talking to you at Ranch Market Malaga Cove! You have an incredible smile, a great sense of humor and a beautiful wife!
Hermoa Beach is turning into a dystopian hell hole. Focus on why the Pier is rotting full of empty non successful building and businesses, skyscraper level homes being built against code, the fact that there’s basically no green grid and the crime is at an all time high. Pretty interesting they’d target one of the FEW women on staff as well when they have a LAUNDRY list of to dos they SHOULD be spending their time on. How about focusing on how to get the police department paid more?? Just a thought. LOL!!!
The City Council has only one employee, the City Manager. All other employees are under the City Manager. So maybe understand how general law cities operate before popping off. Just a thought! LOL!!!!!
Phannys n El Segundo, it’s soft opening is today (4-24-25) and officially open and ready for business 4-30-25.
I am not in favor of all of this rebuilding by these private people should be allowed without it going to the city council and be voted on by the community. I also think the cost of commission should be considered just because people have a lot of money does not mean that they should be able to pass things With such a large rebuild that possibly can affect my view crowdedness because of the number of people that they are planning on having the members the private cost for becoming a member making it exclusive. That’s not what Redondo Beach area by the beach is all about I think this is wrong and I think it should be put to a vote by the community Susan Udewitz at 140 the village
What do you have against traditional paragraphs? Not every sentence deserves 2 returns, this isn’t linkedin.
A private club with initiation fees of $6k-$10K and monthly deus of $350 does not sound very inclusive at all. Especially jarring to see some fellow hometown people who grew up here sign on to this. Manhattan Beach has already been almost completely ruined by douchey gentrification and lost it’s original vibe. Hermosa is quickly following in it’s footsteps, FFS Redondo should not follow in the path of Santa Monica or Palm Springs. At least put it to a community vote!
I just wanted to express my sincere support for this new venture! The idea of revitalizing the waterfront area and creating a dedicated community gathering space is fantastic. I’m particularly excited to hear about the goals, including fostering a sense of community among members with shared interests, especially a love for the ocean and beach lifestyle. The amenities they are planning, like the Paddle Perch, Lookout Bar and Lounge, Fireside Lounge, and Kona Aloha Garden sound amazing!
I’m also impressed by the positive impact they are aiming to have on the community by transforming a previously neglected area into a vibrant hub. Bringing people together, supporting local businesses, and enhancing the appeal of the Redondo Beach waterfront is truly commendable. The vision to create a long-lasting brand, similar to the Outrigger Canoe Club of Honolulu, is inspiring.
While I’m not a member yet, I can absolutely see myself joining in the future. I truly wish them all the very best as you bring this vision to life. I have no doubt the California Surf Club will be a huge success and a wonderful addition to our community.
Remember when the community was against out of down rich developers? Welcome to CA Surf Club — the playground for the ultra rich MB people. City has been bleeding money and has had their hands tied since Beachlife came to the water front and the owner is saying he wants even a longer lease?
Beachlife is the worst thing that has ever happened to the water front.
$20 burger without fries, $15 beer at the festival, tickets $500, and then Surf Club membership that is unaffordable to 99% of the city —- but yes as Allan says…. this is community oriented. Perhaps MB ultra rich MB community. Get a grip.
She treats her employees terrible. They are afraid of Rena, she is evil.
Noting the Dali Dinner upcoming at the VEFA Gallery in Torrance, I can predict an amazing experience for attendees.
“Too High for the Supermarket”! An Uninvited classic!
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This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.
This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.
Thanks to Garth for keeping an eye on BCHD.
Just a few comments.
As BCHD never ‘fesses up to, if the use the $6M ALLCOVE grant, then we – the taxpayers of the District only – must pay to operate ALLCOVE for 30-years for the benefit of LA County SPA8 – which is 91% non-residents of the 3 Beach Cities and includes Long Beach to Avalon to El Segundo to Compton. That’s a roughly a $175M taxpayer liability in return for a $6M grant. That a Benefit to Cost of $1 to $30. WHAT A BAD DEAL BCHD CUT – USING TAXPAYER MONEY AND LIABILITY.
As Pinzler notes, BCHD burnt up to $14M in taxpayer funding on pre-development of NO PROJECT costs. That’s what happens when an inexperienced Board and CEO buy consultants as their one-eyed man.
BCHD has squandered about $60M in reserves and exit fees from the commercial hospital that rented the 514 Building after it failed in 1984 as a public hospital. Where is our money? Where is the 60-years of property taxes that we’ve paid? In today’s dollars, that’s $300M in property tax alone. Where’d it go?
We have $2.4M per year in BCHD executives still. Why? Their decisions haven’t been good. $2.4M in EXECUTIVES (15% of total COST) to run a $15M per year GROSS REVENUE non-profit. That’s wildly excessive by greedy corporate terms even.
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Redondo residents have had several opportunities to “STOPBCHD” in past elections.
In November 2022 BCHD Board Member Dr. Bholat was re-elected to a third term with 45% of the vote, Dr. Noel Chun won his fifth term with 42%, while the “STOPBCHD” challenger Michael Kelly Martin received 12%.
In May 2023 Paige Kaluderovic, a complete unknown in Redondo, won her City Council seat with 52% of the votes. Did Paige’s “heartily endorsed” and much more experienced opponent lose because they appeared sympathetic to the “STOPBCHD” cause? It certainly didn’t seem to help.
When the time came to appoint a mayor, a published, vocal “STOPBCHD” candidate was completely overlooked while somebody willing to cooperate with BCHD, Jim Light, was appointed. This year, Redondo had several options for “STOPBCHD” candidates for mayor and city council and none of them were elected.
Redondo is a democracy and if residents truly want to truly “STOPBCHD” they most certainly will, but it seems to me they don’t.
Didn’t BCHD lose the Measure BC election by a wide margin? Not a trick question – they lost by 20%. BCHD wanted $9M to finish the ALLCOVE building and $21M to tear down the hospital and prepare the site for PMB’s commercial development. ALLCOVE is a 1.4M population, 30-year obligation of ONLY THE DISTRICT TAXPAYERS. That’s a bad deal. PMB wanted to build an assisted living that was 80% non-residents of 90254, 90266, 90277, and 90278. That’s a bad deal for residents. Seems like BCHD’s inability to get voters to agree with building ALLCOVE and tearing down the hospital shows that BCHD is on the wrong path for the residents of the three beach cities.
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Robin took over on drums when my first child was born. It was to be a temporary-ish thing.i think the thought was we would either add more percussive qualities and/or I would move to a tonal instrument. When I can back I think Robin may have lost some creative control. Though that wasn’t the purpose. Robin focused on many of his musical endeavors, teaching, a drum store (Robin’s Drum works, and many musical projects that forget to give credit. But the picture is me and this interview was done shortly after Robin joined and Dave had not been there long. Michael was definitely 75 percent of the grit dogs. Great efforts have been done to erase the Grit Dogs from history. What a disaster of a break up! But when I find that master hard drive everything will go back up. Grit Dogs started with Michael Borden and myself at Texas Loosey’s restaurant in Torrance California, when Michael asked me to play some drums for him. I quickly learned to play very quietly. But it clicked. We started playing under the Grit Dogs. We did that for at least 2 years. Then chris came in. It was 90 positive.. it worked. Then Dave came in to fill bass as Michael started to get out of his talent zone… still brilliant.. but half of it never really worked. I think given more time it could have.Many things kept it from completely back together. And a few things ripped it from this earth. I didn’t realize something could be wiped from history so easily. Another one of mikes amazing feats. So I write this here in one of the few places that holds the memory of one of the biggest parts of my life.
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does anyone know if beachlife Ranch or Beachlife nights is happening this year
will there be Beachlife Ranch and/ or Beachlife Nights this year?
She was a diamond – we really miss her – RIP Lovely Yvonne – xo
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I couldn’t believe they made the bathroom over by the low tide stage VIP only. It’s turning into a bit of an elitist event. That is not living the beach life. I have gone every year, but not sure if I will be back.
Well done Scott, thanks for reminding us how our wonderful South Bay started so many journeys.
Incredibly well written. So many shared memories pouring back while reading this. Especially touching for me is the pic of you and your mom on the steps to her house in the 70s. I completely remember when both of you looked like that although I was just in grade school at the time.
You have an amazing gift as a writer Scott. Bravo Sir!
Mr. Brown, you’ve done the Funks well over the years. Thanks for your kind words, as always.
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I am charmed in the present as I watch it again and again for the personal experience non actors bring to the screen. I feel the restaurant scene with the waiter getting personal was forced but at least Molto Bella came out of it. Didn’t like the club scene but I never like it when things suddenly go sideways. I’m searching for the words to Hals’ poems. Can’t make out all of the important words.
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Braun Levi’s death is a terrible tragedy and I certainly can’t imagine the loss that his parents and friends must feel however, blaming the roadway and a ‘suspected’ drunk driver for his death is evading his and his friend’s culpability in this incident. I know – the haters are going to crucify me for even considering that Braun’s actions and decisions led to his untimely death however, it is clear from his friend’s statement that he and his friends were taking huge risks crossing PCH that night!
What were teenagers doing crossing PCH outside of a marked pedestrian crosswalk at 12:45am?!?!?
That in itself is classified as jay-walking. To do that in front of oncoming traffic in the dark is a classic case of poor judgement and how young people do not realize the grave risk that such an action carries.
To immediately fault the driver 100% and accuse them of being intoxicated – without proof or due process is just grossly unreasonable. To assume that they too aren’t suffering deeply from what happened as the driver had the sense and decency to remain at the scene
Now for basic physics – a several thousand pound vehicle cannot come to an instant stop even with a trained and sober professional at the wheel if a pedestrian jumps out in front of it while it is travelling the speed limit (25 mph or more) in broad daylight let alone in the dark – in this case a 35 mph zone and I might add there has been no mention that the vehicle was speeding.
Something has changed because in the last 5+ years I have witnessed a sharp increase in suicidal pedestrians attempting to jump in front of incoming cars whether in crosswalks or jay-walking. A crosswalk and/or traffic light does not confer super human abilities on a pedestrian who ignores an approaching vehicle – they may be right but they may also be invisible to the driver due to a myriad of reasons! Pedestrians will claim that they have the right of way – and they do – but that doesn’t excuse unnecessarily risky moves because in the end, A PEDESTRIAN WILL LOSE badly, every single time if they are hit by a vehicle – no matter how slow!! Sure they may be legally right – laying on the ground with head injuries, broken bones and internal injuries but in the end they lose regardless of their legal standing in such an accident and no matter how much money they win or how long a driver is convicted for.
Today, every single pedestrian accident becomes a crusade to make roads ‘safer’ and yet regardless of the number of traffic lights, street lights, blinking yellow lights, crosswalks and other traffic controls – risky behavior cannot be eliminated. In fact – the more traffic lights that are installed – all of which are mis-timed – create additional risky behaviors on the part of drivers who are frustrated by lights that turn red one – after – another without any consideration to maintaining traffic flow. So, we end up with the worst of both – a mix of pedestrians and drivers both taking unnecessary chances and the resulting tragedies that follow.
I’m not suggesting that road safety doesn’t need to be improved in some areas – but too often such ‘fixes’ are nothing more than a monument to memorialize a person’s tragic death and are actually making things worse.
I don’t mean to be callous, it’s called an accident for a reason. Instead of the knee jerk reaction of accusing a driver of wrongdoing without due process and subsequently making everyone pay as a result of a youth’s poor judgement forever, maybe time and effort would be better spent educating young people of the harsh reality that the rules of physics will always prevail, that it is best to be patient and cautious – even when crossing roads at signals and crosswalks and to NEVER cross a multi-lane highway in the dark outside of a marked crosswalk.
Any death or serious accident is a tragedy. As Bob Adkins says there are 2 sides to a story. How often do you see teenagers looking at their cell phone while crossing (legally) at a crosswalk? Should you trust your life to every driver obeying every rule and you not accepting any responsibility to look both ways? What color clothing was the pedestrian wearing? As a retired emergency physician I can say that in my personal experience somewhere between 95 and 99% of all pedestrians struck by autos were wearing dark clothing. There is a percentage of youths that wear only black. If I happen to be out crossing the street after dark, wearing dark clothes, I turn on the flashlight function of my cell phone when crossing the street, so at least sober drivers can be made aware of my presence.
Sure there are always opportunities for improvement in road safety design that should be carried out.
It is a tragedy for such a young person, their family, loved ones, friends etc to suffer like this. Perhaps these events can be reduced by both drivers and pedestrians being more aware and driving/walking defensively.
Was Braun sober?
I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. The traffic collision investigation will accurately determine what transpired, but that takes a lot of time. Most of these cases, the pedestrian’s actions have a role in the collision. Where I will quibble with you is your assessment of due process. The driver was “arrested” for allegedly committing this offense. What do you suspect that arrest was based on? Because in order to make a lawful arrest of someone, there must be probable cause.
We do know some facts about this case. The driver arrested was driving on a suspended license. That is a crime under the vehicle code and you can be arrested for it. There’s one charge there. Secondly, a lot can go into an officer’s decision to arrest someone for DUI including Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, chemical tests, visual observations, and the person’s admission to driving after consuming alcohol. It’s unclear if she was convicted of DUI, but if her license is suspended because of the previous DUI, it would be fair to assume she was convicted of a prior offense (Due Process, by the way). Courts admonish offenders that if they cause an accident while under the influence and kill someone, that individual can be charged with murder. If she was previously convicted, my best guess is she received this admonishment. Putting all of this together, with witness statements, driver statements, and physical evidence, there was likely enough probable cause to make the arrest. Now does that mean she will be convicted of said crimes? No, because she is afforded due process and will ultimately be judged in the court by a jury of her peers.
So again, the investigation has to take place. It’s tragic for the family and everyone involved, including the driver; however, the argument that this person is wrongfully accused and due process is not afforded to her is incorrect.
“Decency” to stay?? You’ve got to be kidding me. She was intoxicated driving on a suspended license. You’re an idiot!
I think this is a very reasonable take here… No road safety improvements are going to prevent reckless behavior.
I’ll just come out a say it… The group of kids were most likely drinking at house party and left to go get food because that’s what you do when you’re a drunk teenager at 12:45am. They made a reckless decision to cross a multi-lane highway in the dark and there was a tragic consequence.
Sorry, I’m sure all these white-picket-fence Manhattan Beach parents would say “oh no, my kid doesn’t drink at parties, he’s an angel”, etc… Wake up people.
All of this is so tragic, but instead of talking about “road improvements”, Let’s talk about educating our kids to make better decisions.
Nothing good happens after midnight.
Your rationalization of Bran Levi’s death (murder without premeditation?) is… pathetic and lacks any sense of sorrow for him or his family. “You don’t mean to be callous”? Are you serious? Certainly Bran was careless. No question about it. Your gross shortage of empathy is hard to believe. This is 1 time I believe in karma. Perhaps the end will be an accident!
Thanks to Bob Pinzler for spotting “the Devil in the Details”.
my heart to braun’s family and friends, and schoolmates. there are no words. may his joyful, young memory be for a blessing. shalom, shalom. bev morse
Finally, also looking foward to the power plant demolition and removal of the wires going up 190th and turning that into park space too
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So, here’s what we know. We have a pro-development Mayor, Jim Light, who will greenlight any BCHD project out before the city council. We have a District 3 city councilwoman, Paige Kaluderovic, who does not discuss the potential density of this project with the surrounding neighborhood because she doesn’t understand it. We have newly elected District 2 councilman, Chadwick Castle, ignoring the project because it sits outside his councilmanic district by about 300 feet to the east, and he refused to address the potential density during his campaign because he was supported by Beach Cities Democratic leader, Dency Nelson, who is a tenant of BCHD and proponent of expansion. You have a newly elected City attorney who will continue to advocate for BCHD, just as did former city attorney, Mike Webb. And, you have a pro-development city council that will look for excuses to not limit the size of a project at the site and will ignore what the original purpose and mandate was of the voters when the hospital district was formed, and funded, years ago. And, think about this. Who is really to blame for this potential over-developed disaster waiting to happen on Prospect Avenue ? None other than residents who could not be bothered to vote in the last election, and those who did vote who acted like sheep and went along, to get along. So, when your homes are dwarfed by tall structures and choked by constant traffic, you’ll have no one to blame except yourself. Many thanks to Bob Pinzler for exposing this BCHD plan.
Firstly –and most importantly– my heart goes out to this precious family in their loss… as well as to all Braun’s friends and those who were touched by his vibrant life!
Secondarily: I believe that the following paragraph be looked over, edited for clarity and resubmitted. It’s confusing … frustratingly so!—- “According to sources at Mira Costa High School, where the boys who were with Braun are students, they were at a nearby party in East Manhattan Beach and left to find something to eat. Two of the boys had crossed, and another was at the median and had just turned to urge his friend to hurry when the car struck him. The boy called 911 and waited with Levi as police and paramedics arrived.” Assuming “another” (who was at the median) was Braun Levi. If so, clarify by including his name. Also, “the boy called 911” … WHAT “boy” called 911? Bottom line: All the editing in world doesn’t erase or even ease this tragedy, but I did find myself wondering what else might have been sloppily reported.
PS– Please don’t misunderstand — I don’t think that the “other boys” need to be identified … in fact, I don’t think that would be wise or in their best interests. Just clean up the reporting for clarity’s sake. Thank you.
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Who would have known my brother could write so poignantly? Unbelievable work, Uncle Scott. Just beautiful.
Yes, but this is just an excerpt. Where do we buy the first pub? 🙂
Don, reading this put a smile on my face.
Do you remember?
We took a road trip in 1977 from Arcata to Hermosa Beach.
We got a flat tire and ate cherries.
I trust you’re well.
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Great and well written story! Definitely brings back memories of a special time and place of early for me Hermosa and early days of Tavarua. Well done Mr Scott
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Haven’t people learned yet…… not to drink and drive?……..
Also, Is this part of the D.E.I…… in California?
Let’s see, now how many (women) were responsible for those nasty fires??? Oh Heavens No!!! We can’t blame those WOMEN. ( most kind hearted …..Liberals….. are afraid to even say …. MAYBE……Stupid!
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The Wicked Witch is gone.
Now let Hermosa be Hermosa again. Shame Jackson & Detoy are not gone too.
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Time to remove the millions in wasted money on her personal staff as well. She was a money pit.
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We scored Dude! That afternoon, first time on Natividad, when Randy Landis, Chris Cortum, you and me rounded that corner after a 4 hour hike – and the expected swell had hit – is etched forever. And the photo you took of it. All before Tavarua. Thanks BigFunk SF, made my surfing and exploring life oh so memorable!
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Wow, what an epic read! Scott, you certainly have a gift.
Those were magical times growing up in the South Bay in the 60s and the 70s.
You’ve always been an inspiration to me personally.
You have a good vibe and a good flow and a good philosophy on life.
The Fijians certainly hold you in high regard.
I think about that fateful day we met surfing and fishing off of Ron Wolf‘s boat down the Nepali coast.
I can’t wait to read the book!
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Yet again I am disappointed by the upcoming Firsta Hermosa. It seems that the popular tribute bands will now be playing in the Beer Garden, which requires a $10 per day admission fee. (Hopefully you can also hear them from nearby.) But the Beer Garden is now huge – why is there such an emphasis on selling alcoholic beverages? Years ago the street fair centered on arts and crafts, and no one was promoting automobiles or timeshares. To me, the tribute band stage at the base of Pier Plaza with about 200 chairs set up was ideal. Online they seem proud that the event has gone on for over fifty years, but since the COVID interruption it has generally gotten worse. (I actually first attended the event in the mid 1980’s.)
Tom, El Segundo
Here is another Fiesta Hermosa rant… Ever since the small 109 BCT bus essentially replaced the MTA 439 bus, during Hermosa Beach street fairs the 109 bus makes a huge detour around downtown Hermosa Beach, going all the way up to and along PCH, making it much harder to take the bus to or from an event where parking is at a premium. WTF? During the MTA 439 era, the bus would make a small detour taking 16th Street or 8th Street up to Monterey, and there would be a temporary bus stop at Monterey and Pier. (And keep in mind the MTA busses were larger than the BCT 109 busses.) I know from experience that some of the 109 bus drivers are not very alert, but it still seems that they could be able to handle a small detour like that, so more people could take the bus to or from the street fair.
Tom, El Segundo
Such a thoughtful and uplifting message. Much love and respect!
Great memories… whatever happened to Mike Fair?
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The CenterCal project failed because it was so overbloated that it violated our own zoning and the Coastal Act. All 11 coastal commissioners voted that the project had “significant issues” with compliance – it took 23 pages to outline all the issues. The Coastal Commission voided city approvals of the project. To the point of the LTE, while the CenterCal plan did intend to replace the south end parking structures at the pier, the project was significantly under-parked for all the development it included. On top of that, the vote on Measure C demonstrated that the majority of residents in all Districts of the city opposed the project.
Comparing CenterCal’s mall-by-the-sea to what Sanford and his team have built is simply laughable. CenterCal offered us their cookie-cutter mall solution complete with their standard gimmicky dancing water fountain and cheap mall architecture. The California Surf Club is top notch quality. Half is open to the public, half is a club. The public can pay a day rate for the club portion. Clubs are no stranger to the harbor… there are two yacht clubs, the Bay Club, and the outrigger canoe clubs. And the marinas are all private, there is no public access to the vast majority of slips and docks in the harbor. And let’s not forget we even have private residences on public land in the north end of the harbor. There is nothing in the harbor today that is of the same quality and ambiance of the California Surf Club. Shade is the last major investment in the harbor prior to the Surf Club. It is a very nice boutique hotel, but even it does not come close to the quality and ambiance of the California Surf Club.
The BeachLife Festival will never become a Coachella. Our harbor is too small. What we have in BeachLife is some local music enthusiasts who put together a concert designed to appeal to residents in the surrounding community. This is not a big national festival company taking a concert and moving it from location to location – without any real concern about the community. BeachLife is put together by locals who truly care about and know our community. I am still amazed at the lack of traffic after each night of the concert. When we have the 4th of July fireworks it takes hours for Redondo streets to return to normal. And the trash that remains behind is horrible. After BeachLife you barely notice an increase in traffic. And if you look at the bike corral you can see one of the reasons why. In fact, on each day, there was parking still available in the pier parking structure.
The current Council is all in alignment on the need for economic revitalization for fiscal sustainability. The City Manager is setting up an Economic Development Committee, and I am setting up a focused Olympics Committee. We are talking to real estate development firms and consultants. We are marketing at the ICSC. We are in discussions with current master lease holders. Quality over quantity. And all while maintaining what makes Redondo unique. We want to stay true to the mantra “revitalize not supersize”. And I am confident we can achieve that.
The City is moving forward with the Artesia Aviation Corridor Area Plan and with investment in the public recreational amenities in the harbor. We are moving forward with Seaside Lagoon revitalization. We are starting the design phase of the state required boat ramp. We are in discussions with Marine Mammal Care Center to locate on the abandoned Joe’s Crabschack site. We have replaced lighting and railings around International Boardwalk and the pier. We replaced ugly asphalt with pavers on International Boardwalk. We added a vibrant mural to the skate park.
The BeachLife Festival and the California Surf Club are the keystone for attracting quality revitalization throughout the south end of the harbor and the pier area. “A rising tide lifts all boats.” They put Redondo on the map and send the message that Redondo is open for business and Redondo is worth investing in.
For years we heard complaints about our waterfront being shabby.
Now that the waterfront is being beautifully renewed, we hear complaints.
Just go down to Long Beach to 2nd and PCH and thank God that we don’t have CenterCal’s private Mall By The Sea here.
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Of the $12M+ that BCHD spent on consultants and contracts while wooing PMB, only $2M of it was on the EIR. The rest was on unneeded lawyers, contracts that were never used, designs of ugly Miami Vice looking buildings, and other nonsense. Basically, BCHD spent a full year’s worth of revenue on nothing.
What’s the “divide” to mend? Fiscal responsibility and low expenditures vs. Suja L’s spend-a-thon?
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Thank god the days of the tyranny of the very vocal minority are over. The small group of left-wing fanatics led by Dency Nelson will hopefully be over so we can get back to fixing streets and sewers and stop with the WOKE virtual signaling projects.
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I may have to catch that when it comes to Segerstrom. Thanks for your insights, Bondo. Always enlightening.
Seamann, Keegan, and Francois are puppets for racists, misogynists, and anti-vax cretins. We need to end this far right movement led by the biggest losers in the universe, Matt McCool and Kent Allen.
Thank you for putting the rank in proper order. It is Matt McCool and Kent Allen, but so many state Kent’s name first.
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Congratulations Mira costa girls swim team. While we all want to be first place winners, second place in the State of California is a big time accomplishment. Samantha Allen your Pappy is so proud it is almost incomprehensible. You displayed the heart of a champion as did your teammates. I foresee you approaching whatever you do in life with the same ferocity. Congratulations Mira Costa girls.
A fan,
Pappy
For the record, Tracy Newnab is Kent Allen. I never have to hide who I am and I stand by my values and my love of Hermosa Beach.
We need to remove those who are hurting Hermosa Beach’s success. Recall the MAGA contingency of Saemann, Keegan, and Francois
That’s a good laugh. Francois as a MAGA? Not this lifetime.
Keegan and Francois are lifelong Democrats. Good luck with your recall – you will find out the hard way that the silent majority in our city are right behind the three who stood up to the last 7 years of nonsense.
You’ve shared something lovely.
The bottom line is exactly what we see happening across our country, entitled and unqualified individuals thinking they deserve positions of power, and when their insufficiencies start to become evident they look for a scapegoat. This time it was Suja, just like those blaming DEI while they make a mess of everything. It’s not a new phenomenon but they sure have been emboldened to believe that they are actually qualified when nothing could be further from the truth.
You’re just an anti-vax Karen that annoys the HBPD cops. You and Kent Allen are just sad CHUDs
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I am sure Labasse Projects will do a good job.
I am concerned with how much money from the John Parsons Public Art Fund is being spent on non-art expenses.
$45,000 for a consultant for Artesia Blvd
$35,000 for traffic mitigation for an already over budgeted mural on the Public Works building on North Catalina Avenue.
Who knows how many thousands for site improvements and relocation of access to utilities for the Gate Wave sculpture at Gateway Parkette.
Redondo electeds must re-examine the role and responsibilities of the Cultural Arts Commission because all these costs should have been mitigated.
Wow, excellent well written! Wait a minute, I know you! I was part of the 10th st crew and went to Pier ave jr . The Pages were very close friends of ours, in fact, Ty and I looked a great deal alike. The Hall’s in the back of 10th st ally, owned the “Taco Bells”! Great recollection from your perspective. exciting, mesmerizing! It is as if reliving the times. Just last month, I was walking the pier while visiting Hermosa with some family. Wow! How Ironic.
To be in the water was surreal and amazing. A salty salute to you, Greg.
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Kevin Cody’s reporting catches a few of the many nuances that give insight into what’s been going on for almost seven long years with Suja Lowenthal’s cavalier management of Hermosa Beach, as facilitated especially by her cadre of self-centered sycophants (God’s gift to Hermosa Beach), and to Hell with anyone else.
One has to love the reference to “Gone With The Wind” in the story’s first four paragraphs. While the word “damn” is not used in the story, as kids “damn” was one of the first bad words we learned in the 1940s and 1950s as we would routinely imitate the line from Gone With The Wind, by saying to others, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn”, with of course a Southern accent.
For younger folk, per Wikipedia; “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” is a line from the 1939 film “Gone With The Wind” starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh. The line is spoken by Rhett Butler (Gable), as his last words to Scarlett O’Hara (Leigh), in response to her tearful question: “Where shall I go? What shall I do?”. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn”.
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Azucanela has the tasty sweet churros delish .
Mr. Pinzler makes an excellent point. When was the last time you heard someone say, “Why can’t businesses run like a government?” It is also a great assumption that all businesses run better than the government. The number of government entities that have filed for bankruptcy pales in comparison to businesses.
Government is little more than the MASTER ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM. It dwarfs Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid. Federal, state, and local government spends about $11T each year that is effectively confiscated from taxpayers. Little surprise with the power of taxation that few government agencies go BK. Last I checked, States cannot even file for BK in federal courts, so only cities and counties and districts – all with some taxation power – are a risk.
Don’t let your bulletproof door hit you in the ass on the way out.
Nice to see the silent majority win for a change.
What bot wrote this? This is a REALLY odd story with no attribution to any actual person or data.
We need to tamp down runaway government spending at all levels. Less staff. Do more with what you have. No new taxes, no new bond issues.
Played in a band called “Airstream” at The Lobster House…. We packed the place and had many friends! “Stark Naked and the Car Thieves” were playing at the Red Onion next door and they usually packed the O….. great memories!!! Fell in love with many waitresses!
stunning. more than talent, it is cody’s keen newspaperman’s ability to know – to see – to hear – stories that matter. boots on the ground. community papers are vital to connectivity – the proverbial pebble in the pond. congratulations to a newspaperman. with an extraordinary ability to know news. and those who can present it. who are. and why.
and… to recognize and support others’ abilities – even in their earliest beginnings – writing, drawing, COMMENTING. congratulations to all the graduates of easy reader. salud!
Great article Scott
Really brings back the memories of the surf culture back then
I remember getting a sizable ring on my board that couldn’t be fixed with a sticker. You were kind enough to show me how repair it properly, including adding shaved fiberglass into the resin mixture to fill the gap
Can’t wait for next installment of the early days at Tavarua
Congratulations to our Redondo High students and their teacher!
This is just one example of the excellence that goes on in Redondo High, and so many public schools.
Deepest gratitude to our teachers, my unsung heroes.
Nice job Richard! Love getting the local food skinny!
this redondoan is THRILLED for you, the course and professor – wtg, team ru !!! my high school,back on long island, came in #1 in the country many years ago – i can only say: inspired teachers, open books, cultures, thoughts and studies – out of the box and off of the grid – IS so very exciting – and so very needed. thanks, RU – yes – totally thrilled – ON!
really good to know
Who shows up for work in sandals ? How unprofessional. Dirty feet on a work desk ? Who can take this guy seriously ?
You are not from around here, my friend.
It’s too bad that certain members of the Hermosa Beach City Council can’t read. They obviously don’t understand the word interim. The current path under the last city manager was a disaster just look at the downtown area alone. Plus the building department for permits closed on Fridays.
There are so many more!
In addition, the current interim city manager has more experience than all of those certain council members combined. He brings a high-level of experience and a caliber and culture that this city desperately needs.
Good build more housing!!!
We are already in the top 5% of population density in the state. We are the only Beach City with more multi-family than single family development. We are the only Beach City with a Section 8 program. We are the only beach city will pallet shelters and permanent supportive housing. Our percentage of multi-family housing greatly exceeds the average across the Southern California area. The vast majority of what is being built across the state is market rate housing not affordable housing. And the old “build more and prices will drop” argument has been proven false. We are park poor by state standards at less than 2.2 acres of parks per 1000 residents (and that is counting the county beach). Our jobs to household ratio is less than 1… for comparison, El Segundo is 5 jobs per household. Redondo needs more jobs, more commercial development, and more parkland. Not more high density, market rate housing. Replacing commercial property with housing is driving us to structural budget deficits.
If the city wants more single-family vs multi-family, the city should allow the conversion from multi to single-family. The current process to convert a duplex (two standalone homes with their own separate yard) in Redondo Beach is so restrictive that the city is not helping the cause.
My tenant who has been renting one of our duplex expressed interest in buying the unit he lives in. My husband and I live in the other unit and is interested in selling as well. We talked to the city and were told that the the only way to convert the duplex to two titles is if redondo beach’s vacancy rate drops above 6%- the city has hovered around 4% in the last decade.
If we don’t build more apartments, vacancy rate remains low, and multi-familes remain rentals. Versus loosening the law to allow new homebuyers to purchase units and raise homeownership in the city.
Looks like a file photo taken in a Manhattan Beach Office. Pic of Manhattan Pier on wall.
Jim Light sucks. He stomps on children’s sand castles at the beach because he thinks it is too much development.
You’re an idiot.
Congratulations Steve !!! If anyone can “get it done” in Hermosa Beach, you can !!!
Wowza!! Make it so!!!
Question/Concern. May 31, 2025
What about the history of earthquakes in the area not far from the proposed building site?
I believe it is referred to as the “Long Beach Earthquake.” A 6.4 magnitude earthquake on March 10, 1933, at 5:54 p.m. PST. This caused the road and surrounding land to fall into the sea just south of the Point Fermin Light House. Located at the end of West Paseo Del Mar Road closure.
Identified on Google Maps as, “Sunken City Landslide Area.”
I’m sure there will be a geological survey of the new building site before construction begins.
Just a thought.
Don’t build too close to the edge.
Sadly there’s no longer a Labor Day Fiesta Hermosa due to past & current Hermosa Chamber of Commerce management.
The rent for these apartments are astronomical! Who is going to pay $9,500 a month for 3 beds on the corner of PCH, enjoy the noise!
Frustrating new rules make it difficult for long time mom & pop owners maintain their properties. There should be additional guest permit allowance and also allowance for non-resident owners to pull a permit.
Hi there, I grew up in PV and several friends have married in the chapel. I remember it as a rest stop during the “walk for hunger” in the early 70’s.
An earlier article said that some of the redwood beams have degraded and might not be usable. I live in Humboldt County now in a home surrounded by Redwood trees,. If you need redwood beams, I would be willing to donate what trees may be suitable. Although Logistics of transportation could be difficult. PM me on FB if you are interested.
I agree with Marc. Hermosa Beach rules, regulations and restrictions are out of hand. Its such a turn off and bad look for the city.
In 2024 in North Hermosa we never saw Parking Enforcement at all, not once. Therefore our residential permits and guests permits were useless and we paid for each one of them. In other word those without permits parked for free during the entire enforcement period !!!
Exactly…very frustrating and hope that changes this year!
These ridiculous requirements now have made it impossible for non- resident owners like ourselves to obtain a parking pass. We only purchased this property that has no garage nor driveway due to the ability to buy street parking passes. We pay an absorbent amount in HB property taxes & cannot even park our car near our property! Such a joke and now considering selling. Please consider the property owners city council!
Thanking Easy Reader for news of the Peninsula, our home for forty years.
Just as we moved there, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes was just incorporating, with the vision of preservation and conservation at its heart.
I am also grateful for your updates on the good news here in Easy Reader, and last week about the Wayfarers Chapel.
Letting this original historic site go back to nature makes perfect sense, and keeping bees there is helping nature replenish. Making the honey available at the Point Vicente gift shop is brilliant.
In the last few weeks of Easy Reader News, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes has shown a true faithfulness to its original goals of preservation and conservation that I deeply appreciate.
Present visions of preserving the Point Vicente Lighthouse and the Wayfarers Chapel fulfills the wishes of the City Founders, I’m sure.
Thank You, City of RPV
Thank You, Easy Reader.
As a grandparent, it’s really inconvenient to visit with your grandchildren. There should be permits for extended families.
This is not true
My parents live in Hermosa Beach and own some rental property in the permit areas. It is impossible to find parking to work on the properties without being able to use a permit. They are 80 years old and cannot walk 5 blocks carrying heavy tools.
Parker was a good guy and had the best interest of the city at heart.
The sandals are a bit contrived.
The budget is not balanced. They pulled $3.5M out of reserves is how I heard it sitting in the meeting. I still can’t believe ALL THE MONEY on a Logo change. Street signs, business cards, buildings, cars, websites, stationery, forms, uniforms, BIG SIGNS, banners, etc. It’s like Suja from Hermosa was running the place. SPEND SPEND SPEND. How about we get back to basics and spend on GOTTA HAVE ITEMS and push back on NICE TO HAVE ITEMS – LIKE LOGOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Agreed on the “unnecessary” costs re: the city’s logo change…60k to repaint the big King Harbor sign at PCH/Catalina!?!? Did I miss a vote on changing the cities logo which should have included all the associated costs in doing so?
In fact, here’s from the transcript of the Council meeting -” being effectively uh covered by a $3.5 million transfer from our Calpers reserve fund to cover the lion share of that expenses” RB cannot TRANSFER their was to a balanced budget – they are running a deficit.
I have been receiving SSDI for about 15 yrs and honestly this is the first time I have heard of such a thing my husband passed away and I had a difficult time coming up with the money needed for his funeral I think had this really been available someone wld have told me being that most of my friends are also receiving SSDI benefits, I don’t believe this is accurate TBH
LC always has phenomenal events! This is particularly creative with the photo upon arrival and the creative towel animal centerpieces ( which were later donated). So many wonderful details and as always the food was delicious. Congrats on another stunning success! Soooo much fun!
He was one of the best
I totally loved this Event, Thank you for hosting!!!
Wayne’s statements are not factual. While the budget is still in deliberation, I’ve heard no one suggest eliminating the crossing guard program or even eliminating any current crossing guard positions. The only comment I recall is capping crossing guards at their current level. The application for the Federal Grant should be submitted in early July. And we are going for 100% Federal funding for the range and moving/rebuilding public works facilities that share the site. The funding Wayne references was approved in the CIP last year, not this year’s budget. And so far there has been no call to cut any services from public safety. All I have heard is support for the decision packages in the budget that includes increased investment in public safety. And the school crossing program is under the PD budget.
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Setting the Record Straight on Crossing Guards and the Gun Range
The Mayor’s recent comments are inaccurate and misleading.
First, the notion that capping or removing crossing guards was never seriously considered is simply false. These actions were discussed openly at two City Council meetings—on June 3 and June 11, 2025—as well as during a luncheon attended by the Mayor on June 5. That same evening, at a District Council meeting I attended, the idea of removing some crossing guard posts was again confirmed. A council member, who had criticized the failed negotiations with the school district to share crossing guard costs, was contacted by a school district representative—not to offer any cost-sharing, but to suggest reducing the number of guards.
Second, regarding the $17 million police gun range, the Mayor is also wrong about how it entered the budget. Last year’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) did not contain a line item dedicated solely to a federal grant for a gun range. After Measure FP passed, $1.3 million originally budgeted for fire station maintenance was suddenly available. The prior council had committed to using most of those funds for long-overdue city yard improvements—not the gun range. Only a small portion was considered a potential down payment.
That agreement was thrown out after the new council took over. Nearly all of that money was then redirected to the gun range. I attended the public meeting where this shift was made and verified these details with two former council members.
What the Mayor fails to even recognize is the White House Administration this year being vastly different than who might have made a promise last year. THIS Administration is cutting and gutting everything they can, with California programs being at the top of their list. It’s incredulous, and woefully naive to spend $1.3 million to apply for a federal grant in this climate.
If the Mayor wants to talk about Public Safety, I’d like to hear what efforts are underway to strengthen the role of our Public Safety Commission. Let’s deal in facts—not spin.
Thanking Easy Reader for covering this story of Mr. Jackson’s appointment to the California Coastal Commission. My wish is that he will do everything he can to preserve the Coastal Commission and the Coastal Act and call out any attempt to diminish its mission.
I remember that day in the early 1970s that we were driving back from Malibu along the coast, where we could barely catch glimpses of the ocean all along the way. Buildings of every kind blocked the views of sky and water, when suddenly the news came over the car radio that the Coastal Act had passed.
I can still feel the joy and gratitude that came over me, knowing that from that day forward our precious coast would be protected.
Our coast is again in a desperate fight for its life, even from corrupt California elected officials, and spiteful threats from the Federal Government.
$1500? Those must be really nice traps. People need to quit leaving coyote chow out at night and the problem is more likely to go away.
City Revenues should service the entire jurisdiction of the City.
RBUSD Revenues should service students.
It’s time to get the financial house in order.
I believe that all this cross agency subsidization needs to end. RBUSD can pay for crossing guards – or hire their own. RBUSD can pay for its own garbage pickup and the City can delete them from the “free plan” at Athens.
Free of course is not free – the rest of us pay RBUSDs share one way or another – unless you believe Athens takes a profit haircut. And if you believe that, you can pay for my garbage pick-up too.
Coastal is such a mixed bag. The commissioners are typically political cronies of the highest order. We all love it when they make the Ritchie Rich’s in Malibu allow coastal access – even if none of us will use it. But Coastal fleeces companies for millions each year to get projects approved. Coastal also is full time employment for ex-Coastal employees in law firms and consulting firms. The agency cuts both ways and we should watch to see how Jackson votes.
Great article! So interesting to learn about the club.
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This protest was not against the US Military.
This protest was about saving our Republic from Trump and his Authoritarian administration.
Please correct the article.
Really! It was a protest against fascism in the USA. Has Kevin become a red hat conservative?
no one thinks ‘no kings’ was a protest against our military, altho hegseth might tip the balance… this was an america-wide protest against trump, who would be king. a dicktator. and who actually just pronouned on may 29 that he might pardon (!) the minnesota kidnappers who were found guilty of planning to abduct the governor. and one week later, this weekend, a trump maganista shot and killed two democrat public servants. a senator…
Didn’t the dude have a bunch of No Kings propaganda in his car? I think he was a democrat and this was personal for inside the party reasons. He was a previous political appointee of the democrat Minnesota governor who lost his political appointment. ” A masked and uniformed Vance Luther Boelter — who was a political appointee of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — shot Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in their Champlin home early Saturday, leaving them seriously injured”
What’s the matter with you? Why would anyone want the truth!
Thank you for making the edit, Easy Reader.
One of Parker’s biggest dreams was to see a flagpole with the American Flag flying high over the Park.
Those who attended his celebration of life were in agreement that the City should honor his contributions to the community by erecting one.
So now any group can hang any message from the pier? Right? That’s only 1st Amendment fair play – it’s a city facility. And does it apply to ANY city facility? This is a direct example of the perks of white privilege based on the crowd. Surely it’s not legal to hang banners from City property, right?
Is there a section that discusses the building permits? Would love to know what is Redondo Beach’s plan to update all the businesses site that needs an improvement.
Jose Bacallao is a total moron. I’m not saying Jose is the dumbest person on earth, but he better hope the dumbest person on earth doesn’t die.
Good stuff bro. My name is Armando Lol I just found myself living in south central and I worked in the south bay. Lol got a dui at sharkys on my birthday once. I’m a big fan of Tmz and watch it at 4, the crazy part is I love to catch top ten revealed and for some crazy reason I was like wait a minute is this the same dude. LoL I don’t know why I never put it together until now. Must’ve been the flower but all good I got it now. Maybe will run into to each other and grab some salsa and chips. Surf easy.
The gun range, if successful, is 100% funded outside the city budget.
If truly concerned about revenue, did those complaining oppose when the city suggests less free parking over the holidays to save money? Seems like some just like to criticize no matter what.
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Brian Wilson was born in Inglewood. He lived in Hawthorne. He hated Lennox!
This is truly wonderful! For years, I have faced challenges in finding swim lessons for my kids. As a single mother, driving to Torrance or Hawthorne is not an option for me, and I’ve consistently found myself on the waitlist for lessons at Begg Pool. It’s disheartening to think about how much my children could benefit from swim lessons, especially since I’ve longed for a public pool at the lawn bowling location. I genuinely admire the creativity behind these proposed solutions and believe they could make a real difference for families like mine.
I would love to have a public pool in Hermosa. It needs to be long enough to have at least 2 lap lanes.
A pool is total waste of money. What’s wrong with the big pool known as the Pacific Ocean? Also there is no problem in getting swim lessions and no need to go to Torrance as swim lessions are available in Redondo Beach at the Bay Club or in Manhattan Beach.
Zac Ive been teaching for over 35 years and still do. You can not teach kids and adults to swim the right way in the ocean and those with fear of putting their face in need a quality experienced instructor in a pool setting. Once they learn to swim in a pool then the ocean is great for playing but not leaning correct swimming. It is great for fun and body surfing. Not everyone likes to swim miles in the ocean like us life time swimmers do.
Lillian claims that 5000 homes would be “eliminated” by the ROW. This is nonsense. No homes are being eliminated. The ROW already exists. No homes need to be torn down. No families need to be relocated. No businesses or commuters need to deal with years of construction on Hawthorne Blvd. That’s why it’s the ideal option.
Lillian claims the ROW option will “make it easier developers to come in and offer below market offers so they can then build tenement housing like Chicago and New York”. This is also fantastical. Lillian, I encourage you and your neighbors not to accept any offer for your homes that are “below-market”. Seems like a reasonable solution to me. But, more importantly, her assumption that the ROW plan will reduce property values is also false. Many people PREFER living close to public transportation. Neighborhoods close to stops on the recently-built light rail lines (Expo line to Santa Monica and the Crenshaw line, which is now part of the line in question) have only become more desirable.
Also, there are already WAY too many NIMBY laws that prevent building “tenement housing” in most residential “single family” neighborhoods (that is a separate issue to be debated, but trust that Lillian is also on the wrong side of that one). By using that terminology and citing Chicago and New York, Lillian is also blowing that racist dog whistle (I’m almost surprised she managed to avoid mentioning “black-on-black crime” or saying “all lives matter”). She doesn’t think we can all hear it, but most of us can.
METRO should ignore the loud minority of (embarrassingly selfish and wrong) NIMBYs and choose the ROW plan.
I was wondering why only white and not white and red are proper colors for Corpus Christi. We eat the bread and drink the blood so where’s the symbolism for the shed blood?
This is incredibly disheartening and the Trump administration needs to be put on blast for cutting the necessary funding.
Why is OK for gays to vandalize a Life Guard Tower when a kid tagging it is a crime? It is so ugly and spoils a day at the beach for most non gay beach goers. Could we please have it painted back the blue color which is keeping with the beach.
I agree, let’s keep things neutral for everyone.
The restaurant is actually a Michelin guide restaurant, it does not have a Michelin star. Big difference!!!!
thank you. its updated.
The title is clear. It reads Michelin GUIDE restaurant.
Doesn’t even have bib gourmand. What kind of crack is the author smoking?
How many times do you need to use the word ‘riff’ in the same article?
Are they using illegal labor at this place. Might warrant a call to a certain agency.
Les was a joyful and kind man, always quick with a smile and laugh. His passing was a shock and he left a deep impression on us all. He will be missed by many,
Darryl has a great franchise. I hope that it’s able to stay in Redondo!
Super cool uncle funk!
What a beautiful and heartfelt story, Mark. A real gem, just like Pat Dietz. Thank you. xo
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I’m so glad you wrote this. Just beautiful. So nice to visit with Pat in this way. We sure miss him.
Thank you for the well written obituary. Pat was my brother in law. I’ll miss the life before he passed and will do what is required of us with that remainder of time.
Asked ‘Sunny’ the chatty-AI-bot some simple questions and it just returned a bunch of useless sentences that sounded like an answer but really wasn’t. Any human being could have answered immediately the simple question. Then it said to check the website. And then it said to call the City at 310-318-0239.
Just another thing to further distance Hermosa Beach City Hall and the bureaucrats from the city’s own businesses and residents.
The real question is who sold this to the city and how much did it cost? Any kickbacks?
Just more stuff probably implemented by the Suja Lowenthal gang before she was canned to further reduce the time her minions needed to interface with the businesses and the residents of the city.
‘Sunny’ the ChattyBot gets a grade of “F”.
And how much personal information is this AI thing able to swipe from the city’s records? It, or its company, probably has access into everything at City Hall that’s on computers. Your kids are going to have to live with all this invasive stuff that’s so quick-and-dirty being bought and implemented by politicians and bureaucrats.
Move around anywhere in HB and your license plate is tracked, you’re video-taped, and it’s just a matter of time before tiny city drones will fly around your back yard and into your kitchen and who knows where else. Dumb, dumb, dumb! Why even have a city government. Those working there want no part of the businesses and residents anymore. They just want their direct-deposited pay.
How can a City charge for a Vital Service that has been alrerady paid for by the Taxes the City collects? This smells of a Newsom Hocus Pocus Budget. Liberals.
I agree but Rb has shady politics and shady politicians.
Great story of a great friend and great human being. Thank you Mark. Beautifully written.
What a lovely tribute to Les…
I’m watching Tom Sullivan on an old episode of Highway to Heaven. Great actor and I read the Book co authored with Betty White! Tom is certainly an inspiration!
For a variety of reasons, Redondo Beach is in the rear in terms of revenue generation relative to neighboring beach cities. Personally, I can’t help but wonder had city council revitalized the Galleria and/or the pier when interest rates and costs were lower if that would have helped. It seems Manhattan Village, Metlox, Hermosa Pier and The Pointe are all cash cows for our neighbors.
Paige is bringing up some hard truths about Redondo’s budget. There is no such thing as free beach town charm. Redondo needs to have a realistic look at revenue minus expenses and make some tough choices. If the community truly wants to pay for less development in higher fees and taxes, great; otherwise, development may be needed to generate revenues. I am very comfortable with the current Redondo City Council, and I commend the Council and the mayor for having this conversation and unanimously approving a budget.
Why would the Mayor say the city’s 27 year old prohibition of all leaf blower use is “nearly impossible to enforce” when multiple very audible violations occur every day in every neighborhood in plain view?!?
The very simple solution is education, followed by fair warnings, then an escalating citation schedule, and ultimately confiscation. (Doesn’t anyone else remember when the city used to do *exactly* this, back when the ordinance was introduced? It proved quite effective … until enforcement inexplicably shifted to ‘on a complaint basis only’.)
How true is John Burry’s letter which outlined the rude nature and self centered nature of Jackson. I am sure he will bring up that any issues are due to him being black. But nothing could be further from the truth as he is a rude & uncouth person who is only where he is due to DEI policies. Hermosa deserves so much better from its officials. Please resign you not be missed.
It would be so wonderful if Napolitano would cut the head count in the bloated Suge organization by 50% and get back to the pre-Suge days.
1st World Problems
Jeff – Good article! Thank you!
Redondo Beach took $3.5M out of the retirement fund for employees to “balance” the annual operating budget. They completely lacked the fortitude to make the cuts needed, and instead “borrowed” to pay for day-to-day operations. THAT WAS THE EASY WAY OUT. They need to cut or quit.
PUBLIC COMMENT BCHD: BCHD actively REFUSED to allow the public to review the request for proposals before it was released. REFUSED. And to put some TRUTH on the prior PMB LLC project, it was only 3 acres. BCHD and its $1M PR/MARCOM department are unwilling or unable to tell the truth – everything is SPIN SPIN SPIN. This project is 50% larger than PMB LLC.
BCHD makes DECISIONS FIRST and then only accepts input that agrees. That’s the reason it dissolved the CWG – BCHD couldn’t handle the indepth research and truth-telling by the group.
Here’s BCHD’s admission of how it operates – WE’LL PUT OUT THE REQUEST FIRST AND THEN LET PEOPLE COMMENT ON WHAT WE ALREADY DID. WTH IS THAT?
“There will be many opportunities for public engagement during the process,” Bakaly said.
Well Bakaly – you refused to provide the documents for comment to the public BEFORE you sent them out. That’s YOUR IDEA of comment and input.
BCHD’s CEO lying to the Easy Reader. Bakaly stated “height is to be limited to 60 feet – that of the four-story main hospital building, not counting its tower.” That’s a lie. That conflicts with the BCHD Board of Directors Certified EIR. DID THE BOARD LIE? SOMEONE AT BCHD IS LYING!
The significant rise in residential property values in this community is closely tied to the reputation and performance of our local schools—something that is well-documented and widely acknowledged. Regardless of individual opinions about the schools themselves, the fact remains: the Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) has built a strong national reputation over the last 50 years. Even with economic setbacks, it has consistently ranked among the top districts in the state.
The reality we face today is the result of decisions deferred for years. Solutions were proposed long ago, and despite the efforts of thousands of residents to communicate transparently with homeowners, those warnings went unheeded or more likely misunderstood. Organized opposition to school funding—including from past and current City Council members—has fueled public mistrust and anger, particularly around parcel taxes, which has directly contributed to the situation we now face.
As a result, school board members and local leaders have felt pressured to concede to public sentiment, sometimes out of concern for personal or political retaliation, as seen in recent election cycles. Unfortunately, that did not solve the funding problem.
The cost of education is real. Ignoring that reality under the guise of fiscal responsibility has consequences. Redondo Union High School has now surpassed Mira Costa in county rankings—a shift in part because of adequate funding.
More importantly, our values that contribute to understanding the need for higher education are paramount to property value, political ideology, or rhetoric about status. If we fail to fund it appropriately—without political distortion or delay—we all pay the price. It’s time we listen more respectfully to what the MBSD says that price is, rather than what we want it to be.
R.I.P. Healthy Living Campus.
The Beach Cities live in a majority White Bubble so it’s counterintuitive to see them picketing in the streets.
Why do you give these people the time of day. What part of illegal do they not understand. If you illegally come into the country, you should be deported. ICE are totally right by arresting these illegal people. Please do print any more stories about supporters of law breakers it leads to anarchy.
Wake up, and stop ignoring what is actually happening. You are completely missing the problem and the real reason for these protests because you’re deliberately choosing ignorance. Knock it off.
What’s the real reason for protesting the enforcement of immigration law?
It does not stop with Illegal. They are going after all immigrants…H1B, religious, etc… irrespective of legality. Cruelty gets accepted under the guise of enforcement. I’ve been in the country on an H1B and a member of the southbay for the last 20 years. A bunch of my colleagues, we refused entry into the country when traveling for work, because the officer at the port of entry did not think they “deserve” in the country. They all had US citizen kids and were high tax paying members of society.
It should not matter where you were born, every human deserves to be treated respectfully
>They are going after all immigrants
Can someone fact-check this for me? I’ve heard others say this on social media, etc., but it seems like such an obvious and blatant violation of Federal Law that it would be easy for a court to step in and put a stop to the ICE raids, but so far that hasn’t happened. It really makes me question whether or not this is a true statement.
It’s one thing to deport an undocumented back to their home country, but to deport them to Sudan, Libya, and the notorious El Salvador gulag. These prisons are places are known for torture. It’s one thing to remove the ‘worst or the worst’ but to take people who are just seeking a better life to a gulag makes the US no better than Nazi Germany. And now we have our first concentration camp in FL. Wake up people! If you think it can’t happen to you, think again. EVERYONE is on the list, it’s just how far down the list you falls. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
Marie – the harbor project was shut down by the Coastal Commission when it voted unanimously that the project had significant issues (23 pages of them) with the Coastal Act, and Redondo’s own Local Coastal Program. So the former Council failed to ensure the developer followed state and local laws. Then came the lawsuits that tied up the Council for years. The City Council approved the Galleria project years ago.
Morgan – I am not aware of anyone saying the ROW option for the Metro extension would eliminate 5000 homes. What it would do is impact 5000 homes that would experience noise hundreds of metro trains per day – day and night. Today, they endure one slow moving freight train once per day max during daylight hours.
Metro’s own analysis showed the Hawthorne option would increase ridership by over 1,000,000 riders per year and the boardings at the Galleria would increase by 47%. Shouldn’t we build our metro lines to maximize ridership over the long run rather than save money in the short term?
Such an incredible tradition and a great way to start off the 4th with the feeling of freedom.
Can someone please explain the last phrase in the opening paragraph to me? It makes no sense and has me throughly confused. Otherwise an interesting read.
xd_alexx_f
Mark, Pat was my younger brother. You’ve captured him. You can imagine what this means to us.
Truly a magical person. As a little boy he was awkward and quiet. He had been born with glaucoma and lost most of his eyesight before they caught it. Maybe that’s why he would develop these strong interests in things as a kid. Once it was making models of little classic cars, another time Abraham Lincoln. He had a rumpled picture of him over his bed. When he and John would end their night prayers with our mother, he always had them say, “And please take care of John Booth.” Sounds like Pat, doesn’t it?
BTW the “unknown” in the second to the last photo is Billy Kramer, another Martyrs survivor.
Don’t forgot Progressive Field where Superman fight Ultraman.
Oh no — what will the “power brokers” of this great city say since they weren’t invited to be on the committee? You didn’t include Jill? RB Chamber Unmasked (Wayne)? BatS%$#Crazy Redondo (Pinzler)?? Eye on Redondo (Colin)??? Lezlie?? Rolf — not even Rolf?!? Jess??? It’s shame….these people are true gems just like our street names. Also, has anyone seen Nils?
This is awesome.
Unlike the person posting, I don’t need to hide behind anything.
Give me a break. There’s the Strand. There’s ( 3.5 mi ) walking path between Valley & Ardmore. There’s no need to grab a chunk of a park (where dogs already frequent). Some people just have dog-centric blinders on.
Don’t you think dogs deserve a space to run free and play with other dogs or should we lock you inside all day and let you out on the strand a couple times day and see how you feel Rich?
Rich, what a grouch. You clearly do not own a dog, for which all dogs are grateful. The idea is creating a place where dogs can safely play off-leash and people can hang out and chat face-to-face, not screen to screen.
Jill Lamkin will be a great Chamber CEO. She has put in the time and is all about Manhattan Beach.
Will Councilman Jackson commit to support Hermosa’s No Short Term Leases in the Coastal Zone?
At the July 1 CC meeting, Keep the Esplanade Beautiful (KEB) requested to be included on these committees since the Esplanade will be one of the attractions for visitors. KEB could hold more cleanups and add educational events plus coordinate with Riviera Village. Also, the newly formed KEB Marketing Committee is chaired by a retired 30-year advertising executive who could contribute a lot to the city’s efforts.
Really, Awards for everyday job. Spent 30 years in FD, did all those things. No awards
we’ve already heard good things about it – can we dine in straight from our sailboat, or must we freshen up for dinner? and is there a cocktail/happy hour? thanks – nice write up-
Sounds interesting!
I thought it was going to be BBQ, but this is so much better!
Thank you!
Living with ALS has been one of the hardest challenges of my life.The muscle weakness, fatigue, and gradual loss of mobility were heartbreaking. Conventional treatments offered little more than temporary comfort, and I was starting to lose hope.That’s when I discovered NaturePath Herbal Clinic.Skeptical but desperate for relief, I decided to try their herbal therapy. To my surprise, by the fourth month, I began noticing steady improvements less muscle twitching, better coordination, and renewed energy. It wasn’t an overnight miracle, but the progress felt real. For the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of control returning to my body.Today, I move more freely, sleep better, and most importantly I feel hopeful again. This journey with NaturePath has been life changing.If you or someone you love is battling ALS or any other neurodegenerative condition, I genuinely encourage you to explore natural alternatives. You might be surprised at what’s possible.I’m truly grateful I gave them a chance. www .naturepathherbalclinic. com
Where is Rescue our Waterfront org when it really needs rescuing? What a sham! How shameful the years of deception and local lies for political gain. Congrats Light! Thanks to your polarizing efforts, we have a 3.5m deficit with no lifeline in sight!
Lisa, your ad hominem attacks aside, we have a great trajectory right now.
The deficit this year was largely driven by the need to invest in city infrastructure that was neglected and in which maintenance was deferred by previous councils. But we are looking good for the future.
Riviera Village is booming – we are looking forward to the grand opening of Montauk. We are executing the Amenities Plan for the harbor – the highest revenue generator in the City. And we will soon be voting on General Plan changes designed to encourage investment along Artesia and Aviation. The City is generating lots of interest from developers in the harbor. Seaside Lagoon redesign is approved at 30% and we are working toward entitlements to start the project. Harbor Commission will soon be reviewing three alternatives for the state mandated boat ramp. California Surf Club and Mexican Riviera Cantina both opened – have you seen the parking lot lately? We are in negotiations with Marine Mammal Care Center for the Joe’s Crabshack site. New leases for existing and new tenants at the pier and International Boardwalk have been approved. We are actively marketing the Fun Factory site. We are doing repairs and renovations to the historic library in Veteran’s Park and are in final negotiations with Made by Meg to move in. Staff is busier than they’ve ever been. So, yes Lisa, lots of promising revenue generating new business and attractions in the upcoming years.
The biggest long term threat to our budget is the state housing mandates that are forcing us to replace business properties with housing. On average, commercial businesses bring in $7.60 per square foot more than high density housing… and that does not take into account the cost of services for those new residents.
As to “polarizing” effects, the evidence is not there. During the recent election I won in every District except District 1. I was endorsed by three North Redondo councilmembers. The current Council is not locked in gridlock the way it was a few years ago, so we are making lots of progress across the whole city.
Hit submit before my comment was complete. Additional impacts to this year’s budget include the negative impacts on tourism and visitors due to the tariffs and ICE raids. Tourism alone is projected to be down 18% with travel from Asian countries impacted even more. Tariffs also are projected to reduce sales tax revenues for the city as consumer prices rise and supply chains are impacted.
Their pizza dough is fantastic.
By the way, BCHD has already filed a $12M pre-permit filing with the City of Redondo and testified that the 4-story hospital building is 51.5 feet tall. Not much for BCHD truth telling. The hospital is not 6-stories and it is NOT 60 feet. It’s 4 stories and 51.5 feet.
We’ll be pushing back on this nonsense in Hermosa Beach, for all South Bay Cities and beyond. Stoked It’s been put on the Hermosa Beach agenda for the Tuesday, July 22nd meeting. Our “Sacred Sands” should remain that way, and this type of advertising is no exception. Plus, it’s trashy and looks like children just tacked the boards up at their own wish !!!
Thank you, Duke!
Business interests already control every aspect of our lives, often with government complicity.
Way past time to push back.
Our beaches and parkland are sacred.
Thanks for speaking up!
He is a legend and will always be my coach
Well said. Agreed.
Having grown up on Laurel Ave., just two blocks from the Dietz family, I knew Pat and his brother John–and loved their music. Although I didn’t know him well, I remember Pat as a supremely nice guy–not a mean bone in his body. But I had no idea what a selfless and giving soul he was. I was very saddened by his passing, but to understand how he lived–and died–gives me hope for humanity. Thanks so much for sharing his story. I was lucky to have known him.
Good day, i’m interested in knowing who wrote this article, do you have a contact number for them etc…. How to Spot the Best of the Best in a Horse Racing Event
Special Contributor
October 13, 2021 Thanks – Appreciate it
Why not complain about the rainbow one that makes me sick every single day. If you want to stop pushing stuff that should be #1
No, “Dance Moms,” “The Kardashians,” and “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” should be #1.
This is a very, very tacky thing to do to our beautiful beaches.
To those in charge: Please do what you know is the right thing to do — keep these corny billboards off the beach.
Interacting with the RBPD is difficult. Simple issues like speeding and parking are ignored. Then you have to go to a councilperson or maybe the mayor. It’s ridiculous to assume that eliminating the PSC will aid in communications. On the contrary, it will only insulate the PD even more.
If good governance depends on checks and balances, what does it say about our city when an entire commission is dismantled—not for failing to act, but for daring to?
This isn’t reform—it’s erasure. The Public Safety Commission wasn’t paralyzed; it was obstructed. And now it’s been executed. Let’s be honest: even Mayor Brand, for all his political maneuvering, never nuked an entire commission just for doing its job. This move reeks of retaliation. A few dedicated residents started asking the right questions—and suddenly we’re told public participation is “outdated,” oversight is “too expensive,” and the digital suggestion box is all we deserve.
If our city leaders are truly “committed to transparency, accountability, and community trust,” as Ordinance 3295-25 claims, then why did they choose to abolish a public forum rather than improve it?
Let’s be clear—this wasn’t a cleanup. This was a cover-up, neatly wrapped in bureaucratic language. The ordinance claims the Public Safety Commission overlapped with other bodies and posed “legal risks” by discussing sensitive topics in public. But isn’t that the entire point of public oversight—to ask hard questions in the daylight? Instead of refining its scope, the City torched the Commission, citing vague “engagement tools” and top-down communications programs that no resident voted for.
The real message? Your presence is no longer required. This wasn’t governance. It was governance by the fewer, for the fewer.
And when residents do exactly what the City says—“email your concerns”—those emails are routinely ignored, dismissed, or deflected, even when they raise serious public health, safety, fiscal, and environmental risks. That’s not civic engagement—it’s stonewalling.
If City leaders ignore warnings, eliminate oversight, and sideline public voices, how can they claim any commitment to transparency? A lot of us have questions about this decision—and the longer leadership refuses to answer them, the clearer the pattern becomes.
So proud of you!!!
Oh look – a photo op – BCHD is right there. That’s what a $1M a year PR budget gets.
It probably only matters to me, but I just wanted to clarify a couple quotes. I swim laps at Hawthorne or Torrance, never El Segundo. El Segundo has a public pool; I’ve just never swam there. Parents are often waitlisted for the swim team at Begg Pool in Manhattan Beach. I’m not sure if their swim lessons have waitlists or not.
Coach Steve’s has many mottos- my favorite is . . . Might as well!!!
At the very least could they advertise good programing content and not “reality trash wives” fare?
I have the solution! It’s called” Central bark social Park. “ I’ve been searching for a location for the last 10 months and I’ve been turned down by the cities at every potential location! I would like to get a hold of Cassandra Sorrell and discuss further. I have an entire proposal put together originally for the “Friendship campus “on Inglewood Avenue in Ralston in Redondo Beach. They have not responded yet. It’s a school to help mentally challenged and disabled children and adults.
This week’s Politico cartoon of Planet Obamus was fantastic! I wish they would do a whole collector’s series of Planets of the Presidents.
Cartoonist Matt Wuerker holds up a mirror to what he sees as reality.
Perfectly fair.
I would expect that any living former president would call an emergency meeting of all former presidents to address the greatest danger our democracy has faced since the Civil War, and take action.
Awesome article explaining the extraordinary cap sales at Shellback. I have half a dozen of the caps myself and I saw one being worn in Tuscany, Italy !!! Although it was worn by the best man in a wedding that I was attending who’s also a good customer at Shellback !!! I always tell people that owner Bob sells more caps than drinks these days !!! lol Thanks Bob for all you do by selling the caps reasonably and give back to the community that you grew up in. Not many can say that these days !!!
Knox is a lying douchebag who is a disgrace to humans everywhere- the lowest of lowlifes..he has gone back to work violating people’s civil rights, lying under oath and fabricating evidence. He’s already cost the city major embarrassment and almost $2 million for trying to be Dirty Harry. He needs decertification
lol, I think this smear piece will backfire. I would have never known about this food truck if it weren’t for this article and now I’m intrigued enough to go try them out! Thanks!
More like schmear piece.
Unfortunate that goofball arguments like Matt Romanodes’ will drive up the cost of a parking ticket to $250 a piece for the rest of us.
I must have read a different article. I thought of this not as a smear piece but informational in that we can make our own decisions about the food truck.
I kind of laughed at the “Hire Locally mention. I doubt many employees of downtown restaurants are locals but no matter.
Love to see the Yeastie Boys truck again. Sounds like one to try
Same!
I live in Torrance and just found out that one of our neighbor’s houses is being used as a STR. We found out because of the loud motorcycle noise of the group that rented it. I’m not absolutely sure, but for Torrance I think the owner has to be on site, which this neighbor isn’t. This rental doesn’t fit in with our neighborhood especially with the limitation of weekday street parking due to an Elementary school across the street.
Weird how the actual Beastie Boys have a whole song about basically this exact situation:
(Ad-Rock)
Got a ticket on the windshield, another on the door
That’s the cost of business, we’ll be back for more
Callin’ up the council, writin’ letters to the press
Your anger is the secret ingredient to our success!
(MCA)
Talkin’ ’bout your storefront, talkin’ ’bout your rent
While your parking spot is where our whole day is spent!
At the end of the song the sheriff eventually chases them out of town but not before the Beastie Boys steal all the towns girlies.
Wow—- good find and so appropriate.
Subject: Mayor Light Ignoring District 1’s Pleas on Illegal Truck Traffic
Mayor Jim Light boasts about winning every district except District 1. But there’s a clear reason he didn’t win here: he has done nothing to address the illegal truck traffic that disrupts our lives daily on Palos Verdes Blvd and Prospect Avenue.
Since the public meeting held on March 25, 2024 — we, the residents of this corridor, have waited for action. We’re told again and again that Torrance won’t cooperate with signage. But to us, that’s just an excuse. We say, to hell with Torrance! We live in Redondo Beach, not Torrance. Why should the willful inaction of another city stop our own leaders from protecting our health, safety, and Quality of Life?
More than 100 trucks a day use our neighborhood streets illegally, polluting our air, shaking our homes, and creating unsafe conditions for pedestrians and drivers alike. Many of these trucks enter Palos Verdes Blvd and Prospect from Pacific Coast Highway, which has nothing to do with Torrance. If enforcement focused on those two access points, it would immediately curb over half the illegal traffic.
During his campaign, Mayor Light promised to “Champion our Quality of Life” and to “protect and improve the lives of residents in ALL districts — North and South.” But now it seems because District 1 didn’t vote for him, we are being punished — forced to breathe diesel fumes, endure 90+ decibel truck noise and watch our infrastructure and safety erode day after day.
The Mayor also promised to “Expand community policing programs”. Yet when it came time to approve funding for RBPD enforcement to stop illegal truck traffic, those funds were denied.
Mayor Light, Our nerves are shot! You promised leadership. Now it’s time to deliver.
John,
The City has responded to your complaints about truck traffic. The City worked with the County Sheriff’s Department to conduct enforcement on several occasions. And during those operations speeders were also pulled over and ticketed. The City has tried multilevel solutions with the City of Torrance. It is Torrance’s truck routes that dead end on our no truck traffic streets that cause the bulk of the problem, but we cannot force a solution on Torrance. The City Manager has discussed a new alternative that seems so far to be more palatable to Torrance’s city staff.
It is interesting you target me. I have only been in office a year and a half. And the Mayor does not even get a vote on the Council in Redondo. What was accomplished by the previous administration, including your former Councilmember? They had much longer to deal with the issue.
We continue to work the issue. But dealing with another city complicates any solution. We cannot do it on our own.
Fantastic music by highly capable young musicians trained by Elmer Su, a Music Teacher in Palos Verdes for well over 30 years. Watch for next season’s concerts.
Thank you, Dr. Samuelson, for offering your stunning home and great piano to give these young people an appreciative audience for all of their hard work and long hours. Thanks to their parents for the wonderful support. Thanks to Peninsula Symphony Music Director and Conductor, David Cubek, and his talented musician/conductor/teacher wife, Emily Kubitskey.
what a ridiculous WATE of money for a new police station. If they could manage their people effectively and maybe do their jobs without lying and being the criminals they really are – that might be different. The level of crime in Redondo Beach is the highest from within the police department. It starts with the chief and the entire administration. The level of corruption is unbelievably off the charts and the community is who truly pays. When people who destrpy families by fabricating evidrnce and locking up innocent people – THAT is criminal, but the city endorses it and actually REWARDS it by promoting those who hurt the community the worst. If you spend 29 years “serving” the community as an honorable police officer, thats noteworthy…but if that “serving” the community is lying under oath, fabricating evidence and seeing to it that the very citizens you serve are denied their right to due process….well that’s criminal and as far as I’m concerned when the police commit those crimes they need to be punished 10x as severely as the regualr citizens would be. Police are trusted with the power to take lives and with that power comes a great responsibility and compensation – when that is abused, they need the punishment to be SEVERE and SWIFT. No more gicing the dirty cops a free pass…THEY are what is wrong with the criminal justice system and until this problem is addressed things will never get better.
As with any position of influence it should be a role which is seen with a sense of temporary opportunity to make a long lasting impact. The responsibility that comes with these roles is often seen from a very narrow focus from within the ranks as well as from the audience….politics should be seen as a sport in which spectator participation is not only acceptable, but encouraged. Grooming the next generation of leaders should be seen as an opportunity to improve on what is currently in place, not perpetuate it.
Is anyone who’s paying attention really surprised? I am surprised that the fire cheif would vote as such, but the city atty and shameless Anti-American Joe Hoffman would not be doing their part in declawing and stamping out the citizens efforts at accountability from their overpaid, overreaching law enforcement “leaders”. They cite “social networking” as one means of communicating – what a joke! so when you get kicked off NextDoor becuase you say you think th epolice could do a better job (and the cops who troll the platfornm cry and complain until you get silenced) ….how effective is that? The police in this community are out of control…and they have been. They have destroyed lives of innocent citizens for years while people like Shameless Joe the Anti-American and his croanies like Snakenborg hve outright fabricated charges, evidence and stories….they have committed the worse of offenses towards the citizens …and when I say the WORST…I mean it. If people think that the police in the Redondo Beach community are above committing the worst of possible crimes – guess again. They have and some of us are well aware of it. They have devoted their careers tosculpting the highest paying jobs with the easiest of duties and unquestionable job security and managed to perfect the art of lying to the community and manipulating public opinion. They are run by some of the worst kinds of people and the whole administration needs to be brought up on charges….lets hope so. Congratulations to the crooked, phoney police administration…you’ve managed to silence yet another obstacle standing between your grimy filthy hands digging into the pockets of the taxpayers yet again…. where are the Feds when you need them???
Take it from someone who lived next to 10 STRs one door away for five years.
Yes, UNREGULATED STRs will be an issue.
It would be similar to removing all regulations on bars and restaurants.
A free for all unregulated STRs in a touristy city would be a nightmare for everyone living there.
The solution, put a cap on how many STRs are allowed.
Limit where STRs can go, such as near tourist areas, beaches, Disneyland.
Ban them in strictly residential areas such as cul-de-sacs where kids play.
Have them agree to a good neighbor policy, screening guests, no parties, disruptions.
Require language that they can put directly in the rental agreement.
Require a hefty permit fee that can be revoked if the owner causes too many problems.
Have Owners remit Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) (Manhattan now earns over $1mil in TOT a year after lifting their ban)
Owners would be incentivized to pay tax and follow rules or lose their permit. Just like a bar protecting it’s liquor license.
Try ordering a drink in a bar in CA at 1:50am. They won’t serve one to you in fear that it won’t be collected before the 2am cutoff.
Investors are buying up properties and raising rents even in areas where no STRs allowed.
Cities could mandate: In order to obtain a STR permit, the owner by name must live there for three years first.
This would prevent investors and/or corporations to buy up properties and convert them into de facto hotels.
Problem solved.
For the person who posted complaining their potential STR neighbor is making loud motorcycle noise.
I feel for you. That would annoy me more than anything.
Keep in mind that person could be a long term renter. Then you are stuck.
If the landlord wanted that person out because the renter was inconsiderate to neighbors, then it is an eviction process that could take many months.
And it is worse if the person making the noise is the owner of the home.
I am sure Torrance has noise regulations, file a complaint with the code department.
A landlord, can’t put restrictions on the renter as a STR landlord can.
A STR landlord can evict a renter immediately if they break the rules as long their stay is under 30 days.
Otherwise they would have to evict the same way as above.
By the way, when I found out in 2005 I lived in a sea of STRs just outside of my door, I believed my life was ruined for the same reason most people are against STRs now.
But in a few weeks, it became a complete non-issue and forgotten. I lived there for five more years afterwards.
Excellent and deep analysis.
The Mayor and Council need to direct the Police and Fire Chiefs to have a monthly open meeting for the public to attend. It should have a Q&A and a time to bring up general issues. The chiefs also need a private one-on-one calendar for meetings with residents. If this communications thing is SO EASY, then let’s see them do it.
Pat,
It seems you fall into the same trap others have. None of Redondo’s commissions are “oversight” commissions. They do not exist to judge, critique, or watchdog the performance of City staff and City departments. (The Budget and Finance Commission comes closest to an oversight role, but it is not an oversight commission either.) Per our Charter, none of the Commissions nor the City County Council have the power or authority to task City staff. All our commissions have always been set up to provide advice to the City Council on issues within their purviews, which are defined in our City ordinances. The Public Safety Commission failed to provide any meaningful advice to the Council for years and has strayed well beyond their defined purview. They were digging into issues that fell clearly under the Public Works and Sustainability Commission – such as traffic fixes and manhole covers. They discussed mandating microchipping of pet cats. They tried to start their own volunteer awards program, which is about as far afield from their stated purview as you can get. The Commission demanded the attendance of the City Attorney, which not even the Council has the authority to direct another elected official.
There are two asks of every Commission each year – Commission inputs to the strategic plan and to the budget. Public Safety Commission failed to provide recommendations to either related to Public Safety. We got more recommendations from the Youth Commission that just restarted after it was disbanded during Covid.
The Council charged me with a total revamp of our code of conduct – including parliamentary procedure, rules of decorum, and cleaning up the ordinances related to Commissions. The majority of these will be introduced in August. But because we must start the Commissioner appointment process now, we had to accelerate two recommendations that impact those appointments – constructive changes to the Youth Commission to improve it, and disbanding of the Pubic Safety Commission.
During my research and deliberations on the Commission-related ordinances, I discovered that the Public Safety Commission was far afield from their charter. Part of my process on making changes was to request inputs from the departments that each Commission covers. The recommendations from the Police Chief, the Fire Chief, and the City Manager was to disband the Commission rather than tighten up the ordinance describing their purview. As I researched their rationale, I found what they stated was true. Traffic, speeding, and most safety infrastructure fall under the purview of the Public Works and Sustainability Commission. Both departments have multiple ways of receiving public feedback directly. Volunteers in Policing, Neighborhood Watch, Coffee with a Cop, Councilmember District meetings, Comcate, and Community Emergency Response Team are examples of avenues for resident communication with the police and fire departments, I also found that historically, the Public Safety Commission has not produced meaningful recommendations and advice to the Council. Since I’ve been onboard, all the other Commissions have produced meaningful advice to the Council. Planning Commission, Harbor Commission, the Cultural Arts Commission, the Public Works and Safety Commission, and the Public Amenities Commission all have purviews that include decision-making that takes work off the City Council agenda and pre-defines much of the Commission’s agenda each meeting. Historically (at least back to the mid-nineties) and more recently, this has not been true of the Public Safety Commission. Given all this background, I felt the prudent path was to disband it. And the City Council agreed.
Right now there are two paths the Council will be deliberating related to the disbanded Commission. One is slightly expanding the purview of the Public Works and Sustainability Commission which already covers Public Safety related infrastructure, speeding, and traffic issues and projects. The second is to establish an ad hoc Public Safety Commission which would only meet when the Council assigns it a specific issue..
So no, Pat. The Commission was not “nuked” for doing its job. It was disbanded because it was largely redundant and it has not historically done its job of advising the City Council.
Sat in our city council (CC) meeting a week ago when they discussed a vote on eliminating the Safety Commission (SC). Learned that the commission cost $50K a year, haven’t had many items on their docket recently, and that other commissions concerns overlap with the SC. The CC is already primarily responsible for the safety of our community. The police gave convincing reasoning for eliminating it and the mayor feels it’s the right thing to do. I didn’t really fully understand why the police cared one way or the other though. The SC didn’t seem to be making their jobs more difficult. I was hesitant to doing away with it just yet. The SC and commissions as a rule can help to insulate the CC from undue political pressure when tough votes are to be made by supporting the CC with their own votes after due diligence. I’m still hesitant but I vote for my reps to make these tough calls, and I just hope it works out. It’ll be their legacy if it doesn’t.
Regarding the truck problem on PV Blvd:
Is there adequate signage to get and keep trucks on PCH? If not, why not?
Why isn’t the RBPD doing enforcement? Why would the Sheriff’s department be involved?
How about adding speed humps and traffic calming directly on the Redondo Beach side of the Torrance truck routes? Why not make it uncomfortable to use?
For example – Sepulveda westbound is a truck route in Torrance. When it turns into Camino Real in Redondo, there’s an itty-bitty TRUCK ROUTE ENDS sign. Then what? There’s no ALL TRUCKS MUST TURN SOUTH onto Prospect sign. There’s no ALL TRUCK TRAFFIC MUST PROCEED TO PCH sign. Doesn’t look like the City has done the work.
There doesn’t appear to be a TRUCK ROUTE ENDS sign when PV Blvd west from Torrance turns into PV Blvd in Redondo. Nor is there an ALL TRUCK TRAFFIC MUST TURN SOUTH onto Prospect to proceed to PCH Truck Route sign. And I see no reason not to create a nightmare for trucks at the transition on Palos Verdes from Torrance to Redondo. Speed bumps, one lane traffic calming, aggressive narrow road turns, etc.
As they say in AA – do the work….
Ray Jackson is an embarrassment to the city. He needs to resign.
Ray Jackson is so self-absorbed I’m not sure what the baseball cap is covering up, but it sure as hell isn’t brains. He should fit right in at the Coastal Commission.
On short term rentals, when people talk about being able to rent their property however they see fit, they miss the point that these are dwellings in RESIDENTIAL zones. Short term rentals are like “pop-up” hotel rooms; a business enterprise. Neighborhoods aren’t zoned for commercial uses. Short term rental users are on vacation and party mode, inviting a revolving door of strangers to the neighborhood or within an apartment complex who aren’t thinking about the peaceful enjoyment of the residents.
Thank you for a well written column. Unfortunately, the Washington Commanders are subject to the President’s whims. The stadium is located within the District of Columbia, and the Federal government has significant control over the District’s finances. The President can block a deal by exerting pressure on the District’s finances.
I agree with your sentiment, Mance was bamboozled…
Sad, Sad News Paul..Another institution lost to gentrification..As you know, I lived next door to “ Tootie” for 15 years..he died a horrific, painful death..All you guys have poured your hearts, souls..your lives into our community..” Keep Hermosa, Hermosa “ ?? Pfft! If anyone can rebound it’s you & your boyz! Legends Always Have A Following..OUR community will continue to support you..to the next location..You’ve given many of us a lifetime of Laughter & Memories..Godspeed My Friend! “
This sounds like Haagen Co completely railroaded Mance and sons. They were coming to an agreement and Haagen messed Mance over.
I was deeply saddened to read about the closing of The Pitcher House after 74 years in Redondo Beach. Paul Mance and his family have always exemplified integrity, community spirit, and resilience.
Having personally helped open the bar when it was known as the Upper Deck—and even celebrating my 40th birthday there—I’ve seen firsthand how Paul transformed a challenging location into a thriving venue, consistently generating revenue for the landlords. His substantial improvements and commitment over the past two decades undoubtedly increased the property’s value.
It’s disheartening that after years of dedicated partnership, the landlords haven’t recognized Paul’s contributions by fairly reimbursing him for those significant improvements.
I sincerely hope Paul finds a new location soon—I know many of us will be eager to support him again.
650 units is pathetic. There needs to be at least 1500 units going in there. Close to the train station and the freeway.
The South Bay is full, there are no roads or infrastructure for more people. We need to block all of these high density housing projects.
We would have infrastructure if you didn’t continue blocking public transit and affordable rent! What’s with all these TX and AZ plates coming in and jacking up our rent?
California wants to be like China so why not make super tall buildings. If it is good enough for Russia and China, it is good enough for CA. CA is 60% democrats so don’t expect much change.
Not a problem if all services, amenities, and a good amount of jobs were “on campus” like a self contained village. No need to go anywhere. Like Irvine’s master planned communities specifically the Irvine Spectrum area.
That property is a public transportation hub. It should be developed with very high density housing. Your NIMBY attitude is a major reason for housing unaffordability.
No way do we need that there
Those plans have been publicly posted for about 10 years now, but have been postponed multiple times.
Damn shame…Paul deserved better…I will not be supporting any business in that plaza…
The Mance family are legendary entrepreneurs in the Beach Cities and it is a shame for the property owner to treat them, their business, and their customers with no gratitude for the many years of good tenancy. Plus, who better to consult with than Paul to keep the center with a “feeling and vibe of Redondo Beach?”
It is time for a Mickey’s run for dinner!!!!
I have known Paul and his family for years; he is a very honorable person. The deck of the Pitcher has been under construction for a very long time and that cuts into his business, due to a very large space for outside dining. From reading this article I truly feel that Haagan Co had zero indentions of upholding the agreement. He paid $120,000 out of pocket then gets the rug pulled out from under him, while he went in good intentions. I feel that Paul would have a very easy law-suit on his hands if he should decide to go that route.
I agree with you. He should talk to a lawyer about his situation. The landlords sound like horrible people. Nance needs to be reimbursed.
It appears the landlord owes Paul Mance a full reimbursement of his “renovation expenses.”
No one renovates their business space, pursuant to the landlord’s DEMAND, thinking they are about to be evicted! This is clear DECEPTION – and it looks to me as though the landlord CEO AND CFO COLLUDED to get Mance to clear away the “clutter” I.E. valuable sports and entertainment memorabilia under the perception that Mr. Mance would be remaining as the tenant. That is flat out DECEPTION on the Landlord’s part!
Mr. Mance’s renovation requirement – only to promptly be booted from his space – is also PREMEDITATED DECEPTION, as it is reasonable to conclude that the scum Landlord had full intentions to evict The Pitcher House owner, Mr. Mance, while having Mr. Mance pay for the cleaning and renovation himself.
I wonder if the Landlord was the party who drug their feet to revert the Lease to the 3-year contract. If so, it adds to the case of DECEPTION AND COLLUSION.
I hope Mr. Mance has a good litigation attorney and the Landlord PAYS for the errors of their ways!!!
I agree.
Congratulations to Alyssa!
Don’t you just love seeing our young people doing spectacular things?!
From reading the ER article, the Landlord’s actions in working with Paul defy description!
What happened to the Covenant of Good Faith and Fair dealings working with Tenants?
Paul makes every effort to address landlord’s improvement requests at great expense not only for costs related to improvements but loss of business in anticipation of a lease extension; instead he receives a termination notice??? After running a successful operation for well over a decade honoring Rent obligations and Terms of the Lease???
As represented, at a minimum, Landlord’s reimbursement of all costs mentioned in the article should be addressed to Paul/Pitcher House/Upper Deck’s satisfaction.
Paul you will be successful going forward in whatever you do.
The outpouring of support from your friends, associates and Customers speaks to your professionalism, integrity and work ethic.
We stand by awaiting your next adventure…one door closes…a bigger one opens.
Very Best
Don
This land lord has been very mean to long time tenants. As a result I will no longer visit Whole Foods or the Pet Store. I will continue with Paneda Express and Coyote Cantina for now.
Just curious why you’re making those exceptions?
Pitcher House is/was a staple of the South Bay. It’s a shame what the landlords are doing.
I worked with paul in the 70s at mickeys. Great work ethic. His bar was an asset to the area. A place to go and watch a game/ mma fight or just chill and have a bite. Too bad corporate greed took precedent. Paul will land on his feet and he and his boys will thrive!!
I was both a patron and a worker at Pitcher House for over 10 years, and I can honestly say it was one of the best places in the South Bay. Every night had a buzz — we were packed for UFC events, always full of energy, and full of people who genuinely loved being there.
We pushed through the struggles after COVID, doing everything we could to keep it alive. But when the property manager forced those renovations, it stripped the soul right out of the bar. Pitcher House wasn’t just a business — it was a community, and that’s something the developers just don’t understand. The South Bay is built on small businesses, not corporate visions.
I’m hoping Paulie finds a way to bring it back somewhere new — and if he does, there’s a good chance you’ll see me helping out again.
I agree. This landlord is greedy and a bad guy.
Disgraceful actions from the landlord. Pitcher House is a South Bay institution and a wonderful family owned business that is embedded in the very fibers of the South Bay. Shame on this property manager for this. This was part of the very identity of our beach community. I am beyond outraged over this. Don’t chase out our local family businesses!
I recognize that Yankee humor! My family on both sides and I am originally from Weymouth. My Aunt Dianne knew George from the neighborhood.
They should knock down the big wall on the parking garage that was a part of the old transit center. It’s sad they never tore it down in 2023.
Now I’m not sorry I moved to Texas. These people and my 49er friends are all I really miss….except the beach of course.
I have known Paul for many years and he is a good man who pours his heart and soul into the Pitcher House. He has always been a champion for the community, always being there to open his doors for charity events, donations, the occasional get-together for our sports teams. He employed locals. This wasn’t a dive, it was the quintessential local joint. It was for those of us who didn’t want to deal with the overpriced drinks and crush of people in the Riviera and other beach cities.
Now it’s gone. Some condescending out-of-town landlord didn’t see it fit into his idea of what’s right for Redondo Beach. He wants a restaurant to complement the upscale classiness of Michaels, Subway, and Panda Express. Gentrification at its finest. I look forward to a revolving door of boring try-hard restaurants in that space for the coming years. They miss what kept Paulie’s door open for decades. Paulie will land on his feet. He always does. This is a shame and a travesty for Redondo Beach.
True. That spot will fail because locals will not forget how the landlords treat us. Screw him and his greed. He is ruining our hometown and no one wants it. But the landlords sound is blind t and doesn’t care about locals. He only wants money. Karma will come for him.
How about the State forcing every resident of Torrance to house one unhoused person like in China?
As a local family with young children, Pitcher House struck the perfect balance… an easygoing place to unwind at night and a welcoming spot for Sunday football brunch with the kids. Shame on you Haagan. The excuse that it “wasn’t fancy enough” is not just hollow; it’s wildly out of touch with the community you claim to serve.
These days words like honor and honorable get tossed around like worthless wooden nickels, but in this case these words are the very essence of Paul. I’m saddened to see this happening to him and his family. I’ve always been proud to call him my friend. My sincere best wishes moving forward.
Paul Mance didn’t deserve to go out like this. The fact that it was a dive bar (with a leak) in an upscale neighborhood shopping center (anybody complaining about Naja’s Place on the Boardwalk? I think not) was a poor excuse to shut down the Pitcher House. Paul and his staff put in long hours and tried hard to keep the prices down. He even remodeled, but evidently not to the standards of the lease holders. Something could have been worked out. And if nothing could be worked out, give him a few months to leave with some dignity. The Pitcher House was an institution in the beach cities. This closure was just bad all the way around.
First time Jackson has voted against hiring consultants. Very strange?? Why is this? Time for him to resign
Heartbroken for a life you could have changed with just letting someone get to know you. Tom, you missed out on the spitting image of you with charisma and charm. You stole answers. You are not the strong man you tell others you are.
Charlie Saikley the “Godfather of Beach Volleyball.”
So true!
We are so sorry to hear about the closing of The Upper Deck.
The Mance Family has always been so kind and welcoming — we loved stopping in for dinner and being greeted by Paul or one of the friendly, charming twins.
The corned beef sandwiches were to die for, paired with a nice cold beer — our Friday night ritual. We knew so many of the patrons and staff; it always felt like an extension of our own family.
We will deeply miss this wonderful family and special place. Thank you for all the memories.
— Julie, Kira & Jake
Am sorry to hear this but Mr Paul should definitely demand the landlord for all the spending money to remodel the place and all the food and all the things that Mr Paul give away that’s make him louse a lot please Mr Paul take actions against the landlord that’s my opinion I hope you find a better place to start again God bless you God have mercy for you
No one has the grease for these kinds of things this close to the end of the cycle. It already seems to be passed as collateral. Probably best to wait until there is a little more certainty in the economy.
I didn’t really know Paul or the Mances like some of you, but it’s clear that he has a lot of community support which I hope brings him a bit of comfort in this frustrating time.
On the other hand, I did know the Pitcher House very well. I’d stop in there every so often when my wife went to Whole Foods. It was win-win for the two of us — I got to get a beer, and she didn’t have to listen to my witty and keen observations about how that Whole Foods is too small, how it’s always way too crowded, and how it’s honestly kind of run-down (especially for a Whole Foods). I’d usually follow that up with a whole schtick about how the Whole Foods house brand ruins everything it touches by taking something good and normal like potato chips and then doing something weird like putting quince or ube or yard kale in it. Needless to say, Pitcher House has been nothing but a positive influence on our marriage.
I cannot wait to go to the new Pitcher House when it opens. Hopefully it’s very soon!
The rent prices on this place are absolutely outrageous! $20,000/mo for the “Penthouse” which is essentially just a very nice 3 bedroom apartment on PCH is absolutely INSANE. And anywhere from $5-9K for a regular 2-3 bedroom? I feel the whole thing is a slap in the face to the residents of the city. Not EVERY resident here is a multi-millionaire. We need housing for the average, “middle-class” person as well. I’m not even talking about low income, just folks who make good money and want something somewhat affordable. I don’t oppose all new housing, I think it’s definitely needed, but it’s incredibly disheartening when every new housing option is “luxury” for the rich. And the idea that more housing means pricing will drop…highly doubt it with what they’re putting out there. Hope I’m wrong…
This article is ridiculously one-sided on this issue, and likely paid.
Steve needs to clean up the MESS from Suja. She hired and hired. She has the FATTEST staff ever.
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Well, this is clearly paid propaganda
‘Special Contributor’?!
The Pitcher House Was and is a Hermosa/Redondo institution and just like all the powers that be, substitute The locals long running establishments into the Ground for corporate profits disguised as progress. Paul Mance is a great friend that i met through my other great friend Gary Cullen, and our relationship is more like a brethren. Before the Upper deck Pitcher House began it’s Tenure at the said location, It was what we call in the entertainment business “A Dead Hole” the previous tenants The Australian Bite was a blip in time before Paul Made the venue identifiable. Only time will tell when a new tenant comes in and fails, so be it.The Upper deck Pitcher house has something any new occupant won’t have, that is a 74 plus year loyal following.SMH
Very disappointing news to hear the forced closure of the Pitcher House. Does the landlord not understand the historical value to the community … apparently not. No doubt another example of slippery business practices.
I have known Paul for 40 years and he has always given his best to the south bay. Clearly this is a loss to the entire community.
Best wishes to Paul and his boys.
i’m out they’re destroying our South Bay. I know the mall needs some rehab, but for God sake more housing. Have you looked around lately? There’s more vacancies than we’ve had in probably 15 years. These councilmen need to know their stats instead of going by ideology. Or what Newsom says telling you we don’t need more housing. Traffic is gonna be unbearable. Parking is gonna be a nightmare. I’m going to a little small town somewhere. This is ridiculous. they don’t even have enough services to handle that stop with the propaganda and do the research.
The outrageous tax bite for selling is a big reason for both rentals and STRs. I agree that STRs can discriminate much more than rentals, so it’s easy to see why STRs happen. First – I don’t want to lose 1/3 of my equity to taxes and second – I can’t stand the current rental laws. Owners have no rights.
Congratulations David !!! Well deserved !!!
I don’t mean to be mean, but what have you all been doing this whole time if this is finally the decision you’ve come to? Have you been enjoying too many cocktails? Artesia has been a wasted asset for years and you’re just now acting on it? Pardon me for being suspicious…
We had Mayor NIMBY and now have Mayor NIMBY 2.0.
What’s wrong with Hermosa’s ‘nasty-vitriol’ Councilman Jackson?
It’s often stated, “Elections have consequences”. In “General Law City” Hermosa Beach, voters elect 2 or 3 members alternately, biennially to serve 4-year terms on the City’s 5-member Council.
The Council representing stakeholders (voters) may at any time in ‘closed session’ discuss replacing their Chief Operating Officer (COO), the City Manager, and/or City Attorney, the individual(s) who implement Council’s policies via the city staff. The COO and the City Attorney are the only two city employee (contractors) the Council hire.
If a Council majority, (3 in this case), decide a new City Manager and/or City Attorney is desired, they don’t need to kowtow to the one or two in the minority who may disagree. The minority can kick and scream like spoiled children, all day long when it comes to these two employee/contractors.
Poor Raymond Jackson (ER article above), he’s playing to his dwindling small base of whiners who more often than not act as sneaks. Jackson could have simply motioned, “Hey, we are so privileged to have Steve Napolitano as Interim C.M., that I make a motion to ‘cut to the chase’, avoid wasting money on a consultant, and instead work up an equitable agreement with Steve.”
But no, instead Councilman Jackson chose to instead introduce all the nasty vitriol he’s become so well known. Next year, Hermosa voters should certainly end the honor they previously bestowed on Jackson should he run for reelection.
Maggie D.
Life’s too short to waste any of it on Torrance’s Teddy Lulu
This is at least the second ‘special contributor’ propaganda piece the Easy Reader has run pushing the idea of gambling in The South Bay
Who is getting paid here? Who stands to get rich? Because this certainly isn’t organic
Doesn’t Artesia Boulevard run west to east? So shouldn’t the events be on the north and south sides of the street?
Well the first thing many might want explained is why does a City Yard for a 1.4 sq mile city cost 20-30 million dollars but im sure the reasons will be forthcoming.in the next City Council meeting.
And though its a small point, maybe just for fun the city might want explain WHY they call CITY-Yard the CORPORATE-Yard in all the budget documents. That seems a bit deranged since the city in NOT a Corporation. Maybe someone thought with a $20-30 million price tag they better spin it up with a fancier name.
But seriously, after nearly 8 years as a CIP AND 4 years as a high priority CIP, the City Yard project requirements definition is still NOT complete nor is the Procurement Method established (eg bid, no bid design-build etc). .
I mean cmon, its been almost 4 years since Councilman Jackson and Massey declared the City Yard was the highest priority project and decoupled it once and for all from the larger Civic Facilities project.
Yet here we are, August 2025 and the City Yard project requirements-definition is still NOT complete nor is the Procurement Method established
So, please pardon me for my skepticism.
Let’s just hope that Napolitano and San Clemente with the support of the new council majority can right this ship.
Can staff, under Napolitano’s leadership with San Clemente in charge of Public Works finally get this project competently and expeditiously off the ground and finalize the Procurement Method and the Requirements and establish a DATE CERTAIN by which the job will go out to bid in say the next 3 months?
That would be a confidence builder and might go a long way towards proving to his naysayers that Napolitano is the right man for the permanent City Manager position.
ok ok… the city is a municipal corporation.
It is disappointing that Commissioner Jeste’s post does not reflect an understanding of how Redondo’s City Council works and that he unfairly singles me out for the budget that was recently approved. He’s been a Commissioner longer than I’ve been Mayor. He should know better.
I clearly opined during the budget deliberation that I prefer we avoid discretionary spending in our deficit situation. But the Council votes and I do not. It was a 5-0 vote. I could have vetoed the approval, but the veto cannot withstand a 5-0 majority.
As to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), I agree the document could be more clear on what has been spent, what is in the current year’s budget, and what is a future funded or unfunded project. But if you dig into it, the data is all public. And all contracts and budget expenditures on each project are approved or disapproved in open sessions of the City Council. I am hopeful that by working with the Public Works Department, the CIP can be improved for next year’s budget deliberations. But again, I am confused why Commissioner Jeste pins this on me. The document has existed in its current form for decades, well before I was Mayor. Again, Commissioner Jeste could have addressed this issue earlier in his term.
I am grateful that we do not have a politically divided Council and the legislative gridlock it created a few years ago. When I got onboard, there were even Commissioner positions that were vacant due to the former gridlock… that is how petty the situation used to be. The current Council does not agree on every issue. But they vote on the issue, not which side champions an issue. The gridlock of the former Councils is gone and that is a good thing for the City and the residents. We are making more progress now than we have in decades. And momentum is building.
The reporting states, “Jackson contended that [interim city manager] Napolitano has benefited since his appointment in May, from the “high performing, award winning staff” built by former City Manager Suja Lowenthal.” That’s what Suja’s puppet-publicist [paid for with city funds] put out in a glowing press release [written by Suja?], as supposedly allowed by the council – along with six months paid severance – to help avoid the witch [Suja] from suing the city? Keep drinking that Jim Jones Kool Aid Raymond Jackson. And regarding the City Staff, all the good people had been driven out and it was musical dysfunctional chairs hidden behind Suja’s vault-door operation for the last six (awful) Suja years. The Suja debacle really belongs also to former council members Armato, Massey and Campbell, as well as Jackson and Detoy. All five went full-lunatic as Suja was properly removed [fired] to cover their own scamming wretched rears.
Thinly veiled NIMBYism keeps showing through in Redondo Beach. The opportunity to capture millions of federal dollars to enclose and update Redondo’s outdated and unsafe firing range will be a huge win for the city. The return on investment is so good, Redondo would would be stupid not to pursue this.
The NIMBYs who attempt to talk down this project are part of the past. Redondo voters proved that in the last election.
Ed Hart is right, Hermosa is a far better place now, the last City Manager is gone.
I’m happy to support you now, and all of the years since you started Kevin. Best wishes as you move forward with these challenges ahead.
As to the firing range, the money for the application for full federal funding of the facility was largely spent in last fiscal year and we did not use all the budget. The application is filed and we are awaiting the results. The current firing range is dilapidated and loud. Due to it being open air, the hours are severely restricted. Our police officers deserve a better facility and it would benefit residents in both better trained officers and a dramatic reduction in noise.
The City receives a lot of our budget from a variety of grants and writing grants costs money. It would be penny-wise and pound foolish to abandon writing grants for a short term money savings. There are other areas where I think the Council should have delayed or rejected funding, but this is not one.
Beautifully written Vance, and I feel your pain and sorrow. As I’m writing this a home close to ours has been demolished and in a few weeks, the house next door goes as well. But, at least you have those decades of memories, something the bulldozers will never take from you. Best Wishes, your high school classmate, Denny. 🙂
Thanks, Duke! The landscape, character and culture of our community is slowly fading into memories. I guess that’s what they call progress.
BCHD Budget Award Streak? What? We taxpayers pay something like $80K a YEAR to trade associations that give out awards to its members. These are literally participation awards for BCHD participating in giving TAXPAYER FUNDS to a trade association in return for an AWARD. WTH?
100% accurate. So duplicitous. And they pay to belong to this Blue Zones moniker too!
At $80K a year for memberships, we’ve paid $500K in the last 6 years for BCHD to ‘win”
Hermosa probably pays several hundred thousand a year to manage the county contract. That’s a leftover from old Suja days where she never met a taxpayer dollar that she didn’t waste. HB will need to dump its wasted money from Suja first.
It is quite a turn of events. A year ago the RBFD wanted to be absorbed into Los Angeles County Fire Department under the guise of increased capacity. Wisely, Redondo residents unanimously rejected that misguided notion. Now RBFD say they have the capacity to take away the entire Hermosa department from LACFD.
Hermosa is going to need to carry 100% of its own cost burden or this shouldn’t even be considered.
What a sweet story! Isn’t it wonderful and amazing how kindness and caring are so contagious! As you’ve written it can unite an entire community!
Very sad that Haagen developers would do this to an obviously cherished local community gathering place for all—including families. And worse that they took advantage of Mr. Vance. I hope a local attorney will help him sue at a low cost. The remodeling has been damaging to the businesses there and noise for us neighbors but hoped it would be worth it. It is not. It is all bland looking and worse it is no reason to treat the current business in such a heartless manner. Haagen also closed Coyote Cantina nearby, I wonder what that back story is too. At a minimum they seem to be clueless about the residents.
Best Bar i ever went to Hands Down! ! I went there several times after work with co-workers from
GTE/Verizon and it was Always Good Vibes! considering i worked in Santa Monica, Redondo Beach
Malibu & Santa Barbara over 15 years IT was ALWAYS the coolest, friendliest place & for a supposedly
“dive” bar it was heads & shoulders above any i frequented in cool people, atmosphere, friendliness
& fun & don’t forget FOOD. The tacos were to die or in my case drive (!) for!! BEST to ALL!
Hi, I am trying to contact maestro Gary Berkson, a previous working collaborator of mine.
Could you supply a current email address, please?
With thanks
Ian McQueen
Won’t someone please think of the children?!?
Those kids don’t care. They’re out running stop signs on their e-bikes and couldn’t care less.
Why does the City of Redondo Beach need a firing range? Surely, LASD, LAPD and Long Beach which are MUCH LARGER have ranges that can be used. This was a waste of money UNLESS IT’S 100% FREE. Any copay is too much.
Well, the people adjacent got screwed. That noise is NASTY and isn’t measured by in the noise studies. If somebody poked you with a toothpick once an hour, it would be a tiny, tiny part of your overall day. But is would sound like peckerball none-the-less.
Good … maybe theywill move then
Woah! I’ve eaten here and I love this place! I highly recommend all to give it a try! The food is great, and the people working here are even better! Delicious food, alcoholic drinks, and friendly smiles which always make you feel welcomed. What more can you asks for in a dining experience? Check them out! And nicely written article BTW. Very descriptive and gave me a good sense of some of these dishes I haven’t tried yet. Great job!
Higgins a serial poster, once again misses the point. The improvements are improvements, a wish list that the city idiots want to waste money on. Once again Jackson’s input is seen in pushing for more unnecessary spending. A balanced budget is called for immediately. Cut Jackson’s pay & benefits, cut the staff and their bloated benefits. Then look at the repairs needed.
Great article
Is the city’s Housing Element updated?
so good. community. he helped shape it like he did boards.
What a beautiful tribute for a truly special man
That would be 8 years in actual math.
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The property is entitled for 650 units. Planning Commission, “approval” was just a formality.
I have met Kenny and can attest to the fact he is the most traveled guy I have ever met. He spends most of the year having adventures all over the world training professional fighters from all countries. I am not surprising he now is adding a wine to his list of accomplishments. Now I have to get a bottle for myself!
I appreciate Mr Ford, the Younger, for trying to be honest in his retelling of Mr Ford, the Elder’s, Hollywood life & legend without trying to blow everything out of proportion for the purpose of selling books alone!
Really nice article. Thanks for writing it and big thanks to the Flying Hawaiian and the Wedbush boys for keeping the Hermosa Beach Open alive and kicking.
I am surprised and disappointed that the Peninsula Magazine is effectively condoning ~20 individuals violating safety regulations just to “get a good photo”, and further providing the full names of specific individual violators. What’s shown here just isn’t safe. Would you have published this photo if it were 20 high school students doing the same thing?
Appreciated, surf history!
Free carol
Well as someone who frequented Hermosa beach because of the nightlife, I hope this doesn’t replace the nightlife completely. I live in Marina del Rey where my rent is over $6K and I remember always going to Hermosa because of their nightlife. Recently, I went back and it was pretty bad so we ended up going driving all the way to Venice beach whose nightlife is picking up.
Finally, a project that The Beach Cities Health District should really get involved with, not only if funding but possibly resources, personal, even classes and homeless and mental illness support.
Amazing!
This is VERY concerning. BCHD gave grants to the City and in return, the City hired BCHD’s Board Member Martha Koo’s company as a consultant. THIS REEKS OF QUID PRO QUO. Koo and any BCHD member that voted to fund the City of mental health need to resign for creating this buy-off situation for Koo.
Terry, those facilities don’t have the capacity to absorb the training requirements of all our officers. Beyond regulations mandating regular firearm practice, I think people want armed officers to have training for a variety of situations – not just the minimum requirements.
Belle Epoque in Riviera Village has closed.
I think this kid should learn about Cantor; that’s what I was doing at this stage. Transition to upper-division proofs was my next big thing. He can also read my work on researchgate but it’s okay if he doesn’t like it.
Nice building. I can’t believe this is the house people are going hysterical over about the height. I pretty much looks in line with every house along Hermosa Ave. It looks nothing like the banners and poster hanging on the Strand. Fear and bad imagination can get out of hand I guess but whatever. NIMBYs are gonna NIMBY.
Pweir (earlier post) has no clue given his/her post. Conceptuals always look so pretty. Original 50 feet proposal has not been removed by the project’s owner. This teaser proposal of 34 feet has only been suggested. Only an idiot would choose to violate the entire neighborhood with a 50 foot tall monstrosity. It will be 34 feet in the end, with the owner getting an extra 4 feet of height and his 4 small units via this arm-twisting game and due to the city under the prior councils, the city manager, the director she hired, and city attorneys so screwing all this up, not to mention the state’s politicians of course. 34 feet is a foot shorter than the original height limit of 35 feet in the area. Nonetheless the owners, whomever they be, have already alienated their neighbors to be, perhaps out of a need for greed, or to be better than their neighbors. Who really knows? People are all about themselves these days. In Manhattan Beach it’d be even bulkier.
People who’ve moved in here have gotten more and more obnoxious with building. I’ve been here 56 years. It was paradise. Lots backyards and greenery. Now it’s block everyone’s view so you can stare at the ocean all day from your concrete rectamgle bc you’re a jerk. We know.
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Love this, good for you Hermosa Beach. RIP
RIP Charlie Kirk
Really?
As a journalist, I have some real concerns with the print version of this article which was mailed to homes throughout the city. The headline, photos and parts of the story imply that the applicant has reduced the height of the proposed project from 50 to 34 feet.
That is not the case.
It is critical that residents show up at Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting to voice their concerns about the 50-foot plan—the only design the commission will be reviewing.
It is also disappointing that the Easy Reader has yet to contact SAVE HERMOSA, a grassroots coalition leading the opposition to this project. We have organized town halls, launched a website, designed and delivered lawn signs, gathered hundreds of signatures for a petition and partnered with Our Neighborhood Voices. A KTLA reporter found us. Why couldn’t you?
As the hometown paper, you might want to include the voices of residents who are fighting for the city’s future.
Elka Worner
Founder
SAVE HERMOSA
Without entering the fray, it’s half staff on land.
The Sept. 11 article in the Easy Reader, reported that the controversial Builder’s Remedy project on Palm Drive had been “reduced” from 50 feet to 35 feet. The headline read: “Builder’s Remedy project redesign sets new heights.”
At first glance, the article’s headline might reassure residents who have been fighting against an oversized project. But it is a deeply misleading claim — one that risks lulling the public into believing the battle has been won, when in fact nothing has changed.
Here is the reality:
The official application remains for a 50.5-foot, five-unit apartment building. The upcoming Sept. 16 Planning Commission hearing is scheduled to review the 50-foot proposal.
The floated “35-foot redesign” exists only as an alternative concept. It is not the plan on file, it is not the subject of the Commission’s formal review, and it has not been adopted by staff or the developer as the official design.
Even 35 feet exceeds Hermosa’s 30-foot heigh limit. The project would still be out of scale for the neighborhood and set a damaging precedent for future development.
The article inadvertently gives cover to a developer strategy that benefits from public confusion: submit a 50-foot plan, float a “compromise,” and hope the community backs down.
The Easy Reader article is completely one-sided; they didn’t not even reach out to the highly visible grassroots group, Save Hermosa, to understand the widespread opposition to this project.
Residents should not be misled. The only plan formally before the city is the original five-story project. Until that changest, talk of a “35-foot redesign” is smoke and mirrors.
This moment is too important to be obscured by one-sided reporting.
There is a lot at stake here: the preservation of our small town character and respect for residents’ voices in shaping the future of Hermosa.
I still can’t believe this actually happened to me. My name is James Clarkson, I’m 20 years old from Carlisle, and I work as a trainee gas engineer. A few months ago, I was struggling financially and feeling completely stuck until I came across Chief Ade, a powerful spell caster. Honestly, I was skeptical at first, but something told me to give it a shot. After reaching out and following his guidance, my life changed in ways I never imagined. Just 48hrs later, I won the £7,533,329 million lottery! I’m still in shock. This blessing has changed my life completely, and I’ll forever be grateful to Chief Ade for making it possible. If you’re thinking about reaching out to him, don’t hesitate. It worked for me, it can work for you too chiefadespellhome@gmail. com Or WhatsApp +234 901 380 6328.
Don’t listen to the nonsense from the has-beens of Brand’s NIMBY mob. Redondo voters have rejected their candidates and their backward thinking entirely.
A new modern firing range will be a huge win for the City. A new modern firing range will be a huge win for our Redondo Beach Police Department. A new modern firing range will be a huge win for the safety of Redondo residents.
So you’re claiming the federal funding application was approved and funded?
Spectacular – Congratulations, Jean-Paul!
Half Staff
Flying the American flag at half staff is an honor reserved only for Presidents and Honorable Officials of the States, and United States Government, or a National tragedy like 9/11.
As a podcaster, Charlie Kirk was not really eligible for this honor.
American People are gunned down every single day in the United States, and the other day another innocent one was found hanging from a tree somewhere.
Using the flag for frivolous reasons dishonors the flag and what it symbolizes.
Save ROW by pushing YES. The right of way plan by Metro does preserve old growth trees despite the claims by the opponents. After watching video links online about the final EIR on YouTube, I see it will create a park with bike trails, safety crossings, sound abatement, and segregated rail traffic. My wife also attended that meeting to hear them out but I wasn’t very impressed about their new stance on Bus Rapid Transit as their new preferred alternative…a weird pivot from their expensive Hawthorne plan push. I feel decades of foot dragging and stalling over this sensible ROW plan is causing needless delays over what is pretty much land owned by the railroads who don’t really have any plans or motivation to upgrade that space anyhow. At least with this metro plan, that railroad land becomes a dedicated shared space for real where the public can access, complete with real fencing to separate the rail traffic and the kids. Let’s be real…railroad traffic was always here in the South Bay and isn’t going anywhere no matter how hard you oppose it. Everyone benefits from better rail transit and yes everyone along the route as well with upgrades that never existed before. Make the best of this compromise and let’s go!
Railroad traffic along the road is only one or two trains a day. With this project, two more tracks will be laid down right beside it, destroying large heritage trees, removing green space, and destroying a tiny neighborhood. This is not a compromise for the over 1100 families that are directly adjacent to this project. And yes, these are families who likely depend on mass transit, and are simply asking for the project to be moved over three blocks to Hawthorne Boulevard rather than cut through their disadvantage neighborhood. The electric buses have always been in the mix, but Metro likely ignored them because they aren’t as flashy. Now, many environmental groups are criticizing Metro for not increasing their electric buses. These buses would keep Metro from spending our tax money on expensive rail projects, secure flexible & clean mass transit, WITHOUT decimating neighborhoods. Have some compassion!
The proposed light rail extension would make its way down the right of way adjacent to homes in Redondo Beach ‘s councilnanic district 3. Paige Kaluderovic represents this residential area, but not a single word in this article from her about the project. Did your reporter feel that her position on the matter was not important enough to be considered in this article ? Or, was she ducking the issue because she just doesn’t care about trains traveling just feet from the property lines of residents who live in her council district ?
Metro has completely ignored the health impacts of their noisy 24/7/365 project. Their reason “there’s no one-site-fit-all” formula for the damages. Metro is so lazy and the FEIR is so defective ….
This article is missing information.
Is there an EIR for the Hawthorne Boulevard option?
Where is the Hawthorne diagram?
The Metro EIR is a joke. It completely ignore the 24/7/365 noise of both construction and the trains, by stating that there’s no “one size fits all” health impact. No, there NEVER is. Older, younger, healthy, chronically ill, etc. are ALWAYS dealt with in EIRs. Except by METRO. METRO IGNORED THE HEALTH IMPACTS of the noise, the sleep interruption and the stress.
Please consider using paragraphs, this is an article not LinkedIn post.
If Bill Brand’s vision for the AES site never materialized, why should taxpayers pay for two parks in his name?
If Bill Brand’s decades-long promise to re-wild the AES site never came to fruition, why should taxpayers now be asked to celebrate him with not one, but two parks in his name? The new “nature park” near Herondo and PCH is leased from SoCal Edison at a cost of nearly a million dollars for only five years — at the very moment Redondo Beach is facing a $3.5 million dollar budget shortfall. That’s not legacy-building, it’s fiscal extravagance. Meanwhile, the AES site itself remains fenced off and unresolved. Naming multiple parks after a failed vision risks rewriting history rather than honoring genuine achievement.
Bravo! Respect.
asdfghjk;’
I am a complete outsider to this issue. However, based on my observations over the years, it appears that Mr. Pustilnikov is urging the Bankruptcy Trustee to recognize that a legal battle with the City of Redondo over the builder’s remedy is central to any bankruptcy discharge. In effect, he has placed Redondo in a position where it must either allow multi-unit development or buy him out. Either path could take years to resolve in court. The public will only grasp the full scope of this story if a news reporter connects all the pieces. The citizens of Redondo Beach deserve a clear answer on the status of this situation, especially after fighting so hard to see those smokestacks finally come down.
I live a short distance from this old power plant. The city is grateful that it was finally decommissioned, but alas, the smokestacks will likely stay up until this building issue is resolved in the courts. The density Pustilnikov is requesting (should he be found to actually have a say in the matter) is a non-starter not only for most residence of Redondo Beach, but neighboring Hermosa Beach as well. The traffic congestion would be a daily nightmare.
Another topic that is rarely mentioned is that there are some very old settling ponds on that property. It could be a Superfund clean-up for all we know.
The simple truth is that Pustilnikov is Bankrupt. He has no money or real assets and his group of investors are bottom feeders, with little money. His BK filing is a delaying tactic to try to get relieve from Mortgage defaults. It will fail. The lenders will get the property in the end and hopefully the city can buy from them, via way of a Bond Issuance. A clear case of a man with “champagne tastes and lemonade money.” A park for all the people and a museum or exhibition hall for the old plant would be best.
Maybe punk rock is a form of haiku. … Haiku doesn’t have to be always about the delicate in life. Anyway, bravo on your dissection of his early work.
Wasn’t cost cutting, it’s a brand pivot back to ‘a third place’.
Well this is pretty awesome!!
Why not where Joe’s Crab Shack was? It’s sitting empty, and better protected from surf?
Actually, it is one of the most impacted from wave run-up. As earlier studies have shown it would need a large breakwall in deep water. The site is too small to provide adequate parking. The traffic flow on Portofino would be problematic especially with queueing backups on peak weekends. The boats would put in near where people are hand launchking kayaks and SUPs creating a safety hazard. And it would greatly conflict with the youth sailing program – the turn basin is where they practice turning and navigation.
This was also vetted in the Amenities Plan and the consensus was on Mole D not Mole C. Instead, the public chose to put waterfront education on the site to replace the old SEALab. The city is now in negotiations with Marine Mammal Care Center for a facility on the Joe’s Crab Schack site in accordance with the Amenities Plan.
Thanks. The new plan sounds amazing. Thanks for not putting it on Mole B.
Why not where Joe’s Crab Shack was? It’s sitting empty, and better protected from surf?
It is not better protected from the surf. In fact, it is one of the most impacted areas during a big swell. It also is too small to accommodate the parking. And it has issues with queueing blocking Portofino Way. During the amenities plan, the public indicated the desire for an education facility at this site. The Council approved it and now we are in negotiations with Marine Mammal Care Center for the site.
>”They see dark skin, Latino, they take you.”
>Lima is also Latino.
If that were true half the South Bay would be ‘taken’…
You have no idea what’s going on here. The point is that they are indiscriminate at all ever is the problem. The process is vague and ambiguous. There has to be clearer rules and process. The fact that you’re cavalier tells me you are part of the problem.
Exactly!
Just imagine connecting the Hermosa Greenbelt here, then continuing up the hill along 190th, all the way into Columbia Park.
When Manhattan and Hermosa Beach chose to adopt the old obsolete rail line easement for their Greenbelts, Redondo Beach chose PUBLIC STORAGE, instead.
Imagine if we had the existing Greenbelt connecting these three beach cities, with bike paths, urban trails a little charming rest and play stops
We can still have our amazing linear park up the power corridor by negotiating with the owners. There are several sources of funding for park projects like this.
so she price gouged the buyers? illegally. seems like a great thing to promote. how much did she pay you for this article?
Pat Healy- The lease for the new park is not $1M. That is about the cost for the grading, plants, drainage, irrigation, and DG paths. That cost is hardly exorbitant. The cost of replacing a playground on just half an acre costs over $1.5M.
The new 2.5 acre park was also one of Brand’s visions that started in 2004. It takes persistence for these good things to happen. This is the first sizeable park added in decades. And certainly a landscaped park is far,far better than the ugly weeds and dirt it’s been since power plant was first built in 1948.
And no one can say whether Brand’ vision of a large park at the AES site will happen or not. That is tied up in bankruptcy court right now. One thing at the very least is that there is a documented active wetlands on the site.Audubon Society has documented over 100 species of birds using it. So at the very least the wetlands will be restored.
And remember, they wanted to open ANOTHER one at 2nd and PCH- but got negative community feedback.
What if anything have these three ever accomplished?
They’re really good at collecting taxpayer paychecks.
Referring to the Prop 50 a presidential prop comments by Gary Brown:
While concerns about gerrymandering and fiscal responsibility are valid topics for discussion, the characterization of AB604 and Proposition 50 appears to conflate multiple issues and lacks important context.
Independent Redistricting – California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission was created to remove partisan influence from district mapping. Proposition 11 and subsequent reforms were designed to ensure fair representation, not to give governors unchecked power. Suspending the commission would actually reduce transparency and accountability, which could worsen political manipulation rather than prevent it.
AB604 Purpose – The bill cited is primarily aimed at adjusting timelines and procedures for future redistricting. Its passage is not a personal power grab for Governor Newsom; decisions about district lines remain constrained by law and public input. Claiming that the governor will redraw districts purely for political gain is speculative and not supported by the legislative language itself.
Cost Concerns – While redistricting and infrastructure projects carry costs, the figures cited—$250 million for redistricting and $20 billion for the train—are exaggerated without context. Infrastructure investment can provide long-term economic benefits, and redistricting costs are a fraction of the state budget.
Political Motivations – Linking a single state bill to national presidential ambitions is conjecture. Policy decisions are complex and involve multiple stakeholders, not just one individual’s political trajectory.
Voter Decision – Proposition 50 should be evaluated on its merits—whether it preserves independent redistricting and fair representation—not based on assumptions about the governor’s ambitions or unrelated budget items. Protecting nonpartisan mapping helps ensure that California voters, not politicians, determine representation. READ THE FULL STORY. KNOW THE DETAILS AND MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE ON PROP 50!
I respectfully disagree; the emotional range of Wilson’s portrayal of a paramedic was accurate. He’s burnt out, a state that happens to many of us who have worked or continue to work in this field. I urge you to consider the possibility that his tone was due to masking emotions.
This movie is a realistic look into EMS. It’s not meant to glorify the profession but to parallel the reality of working in a pre-hospital setting. In my opinion, it didn’t take off as it should have because the general public doesn’t think about EMTs and paramedics as they do other first responders, such as police and firefighters. That is a valid and accurate point made in the movie.
Furthermore, the film is valuable and relevant because it can be used as a conversation starter with teenagers and people who want to join this field of work. Wilson’s interpretation of a paramedic was accurate, and he did the role justice.
When a city is in a $3.5 million budget shortfall, is it ethical to spend nearly a million dollars on land the public doesn’t even own?
If taxpayers fund grading, irrigation, and landscaping on leased land, what happens when the lease expires — do we walk away with nothing to show for it? Should a park built on borrowed ground be celebrated as legacy, or questioned as a “legacy on loan”?
Why has the City never disclosed the full lease terms with SoCal Edison, and how can residents judge whether this is wise stewardship without transparency?
And while we’re talking about legacy — the only reason the AES power plant still sits on our coast is because Bill Brand and Jim Light turned it into a political tool. For years, voters were told the site would be re-wilded into a park, but instead it’s been kept fenced off, tied up in lawsuits and bankruptcies that served as fundraising fuel more than community benefit.
So the questions practically ask themselves:
• If the real goal was removing the smokestacks, why wasn’t that achieved after decades of “activism”?
• Did constant opposition to redevelopment proposals protect the public, or preserve the plant as a political symbol?
• Who actually benefited from keeping this fight alive: the residents of Redondo Beach, or the politicians who built their careers on it?
Until we get clear, honest answers, residents are left paying for parks and promises while the AES site — the heart of this issue — remains nothing more than a backdrop for political branding.
Pat Healy –
– The lease for the 5 acres under the powerlines west of PCH is $3020.54 a year (that’s $604.10 per acre per year). It was publicly approved at the City Council meeting on 5/17/2022. It was approved unanimously. This was all approved in a public meeting and it is publicly available online on the City website. So this was fully disclosed and conducted with full transparency and approved in a public meeting by Councilmembers Nehrenheim, Loewenstein, Horvath, Emdee, and Obagi. You seem to imply that something was nefarious, but the public record shows otherwise.
– The money spent on the park is not from the General Fund which has the shortfall. It is from funds reserved for parks. It is seems odd that you did not object to the expenditures on the North Redondo bike path extension which is on property leased from SCE(as is the whole bike path under the power lines in North Redondo). And the project funding was approved this year as well. In addition to Redondo many other cities lease SCE Right of Way property for public parkland and open space including El Segundo and Torrance. These parks and our North Redondo bikepath have been leased for many years.
– The only path to a power plant removal before December 31, 2023 would have been a vote for Measure A, drafted by Bill Brand and myself. It qualified for the ballot but was narrowly defeated when AES spent over $600K to oppose it. They threatened power outages and lawsuits. The 2002 failed Heart of the City zoning allowed for a new smaller power plant on the AES property. After Measure A, AES tried to get us to pass a mixed use zoning plan in Measure B. It failed. But the provisions of Measure B allowed the current power plant to run as long as AES could get a contract – which turned out to be December 31, 2023. So it was the defeat of Measure A that allowed the power plant to run until December 31, 2023.
– The current bankruptcy has nothing to do with the City. AES sold the property to Pustilnikov then foreclosed on him when he failed to meet payment terms. The day before the property auction, Pustilnikov filed bankruptcy leaving the property in limbo.
– Our efforts to protect the harbor area have been successful. The harbor is going through revitalization without over development. Our efforts to shut down the power plant were successful ultimately. AES Redondo is the only one of the remaining once through cooling plants that has shut down. Redondo residents no longer suffer the pollution from the least efficient and most polluting of the remaining once through cooling power plants. And billions of marine life larvae are saved each year. AES Redondo was our largest point source of air pollution in Redondo. And with westerly winds, marine layers, and the uphill topography leading eastward, those pollutants were directly impinging on residential neighborhoods, medical offices, and schools.
So there are your answers Pat. No political branding. Just the facts. All a matter of public record. And soon we will enjoy our first sizable park addition in decades.
Pat Healy –
– The lease for the 5 acres under the powerlines west of PCH is $3020.54 a year (that’s $604.10 per acre per year). It was publicly approved at the City Council meeting on 5/17/2022. It was approved unanimously. This was all approved in a public meeting and it is publicly available online on the City website. So this was fully disclosed and conducted with full transparency and approved in a public meeting by Councilmembers Nehrenheim, Loewenstein, Horvath, Emdee, and Obagi. You seem to imply that something was nefarious, but the public record shows otherwise.
– The money spent on the park is not from the General Fund which has the shortfall. It is from funds reserved for parks. It is seems odd that you did not object to the expenditures on the North Redondo bike path extension which is on property leased from SCE(as is the whole bike path under the power lines in North Redondo. And was approved this year as well. In addition to Redondo many other cities lease SCE Right of Way property for public parkland and open space including El Segundo and Torrance. These parks and our North Redondo bikepath have been leased for many years.
– The only path to a power plant removed before December 31, 2023 would have been a vote for Measure A, drafted by Bill Brand and myself. It qualified for the ballot but was narrowly defeated when AES spent over $600K to oppose it. They threatened power outages and lawsuits. The failed Heart of the City zoning allowed for a new smaller power plant on the AES property. AES tried to get us to pass a mixed use zoning plan in Measure B. It failed. But the provisions of Measure B allowed the current power plant to run as long as AES could get a contract – which turned out to be December 31, 2023. So it was the defeat of Measure A that allowed the power plant to run until December 31, 2023.
– The current bankruptcy has nothing to do with the City. AES sold the property to Pustilnikov then foreclosed on him when he failed to meet payment terms. The day before the property auction, Pustilnikov filed bankruptcy leaving the property in limbo.
– Our efforts to protect the harbor area have been successful. The harbor is going through revitalization without over development. Our efforts to shut down the power plant were successful ultimately. AES Redondo is the only one of the remaining once through cooling plants that has shut down. Redondo residents no longer suffer the pollution from the least efficient and most polluting remaining once through cooling power plants. And billions of marine life larvae are saved each year. AES Redondo was our largest point source of air pollution in Redondo. And with westerly winds, marine layers, and the uphill topography leading eastward, those pollutants were directly impinging on residential neighborhoods, medical offices, and schools.
So there are your answers Pat. No political branding. Just the facts. All a matter of public record. And soon we will enjoy our first sizable park addition in decades.
Wouldn’t RUHS have to be ranked in the top 89 schools out of 17,901 to be in the top 0.5%?
89/17,901 = 0.005 or 0.5%
1039 / 17,901 = 0.058, which is top 5.8% nationwide
136 / 2,613 = 0.052, which is top 5.2% in California
Isn’t 0.5% in the headline incorrect?
Above and below the article, it reads “advertisement.” What does that tell you? Did the RBUSD write the article and then pay to have it placed in The Easy Reader ?
You know that BCHD paid for its PR, so yep, these must be purchased space stories.
Yes, the math in the headline is WRONG. Your range of 5.2% to 5.8% is correct
Can’t wait!!!
So, Muratsuchi admits he voted against SB79 which sits on Newsom’s desk right now. Senator Ben Allen actually carved out an exemption in SB79 for his friends in Beverly Hills, but conveniently forgot to mention this and then he did not record a vote on SB79. Most likely didn’t want to upset his friend, Senator Scott Weiner of San Francisco who authored this bill which reeks havoc in South Bay cities. What a puss. This guy’s term can’t end soon enough.
wreaks
Mira Costa is ranked #1009 nationally, and 131st in California, ahead of RUHS in both categories. Congratulations to MCHS, which also includes students from Redondo Beach.
It’s kind of cringy that Costa isn’t LOTS HIGHER RANKED than RUHS, isn’t it?
The small businesses aren’t going to be able to survive people aren’t going to pay that much money to go shopping. Probably end up losing money in the long run there’s got to be a better way to bring money into the city going to lay off some of the lifeguards and fire department put it back out was before with a lifeguards work separately the whole idea of paying a lifeguards the same as you do the fireman doesn’t make sense
Lifeguards should be paid a professional rate of pay even if they work only part time hourly. They are required to maintain proper certifications and be fit enough to safely do a water rescues. I don’t want someone getting paid fast food money to do the serious work of protecting the public. Also they need to stay under the Fire Department as the are rescue personnel who need access to the same equipment and training.
And we sit by passively. Until they come for us.
It’s pretty clear that the City Manager left a ticking fiscal time bomb from her spending and staffing.
Everyone should ask Tom Bakaly why BCHD is lying and claiming that the 4-story hospital building is 60-feet tall when BCHD’s own legal filings show that it’s 51.5-feet. BCHD just cannot tell the truth.
The City should exempt OWNER-OCCUPIED room rentals from its ban. A retired teacher made a strong argument that onsite owners renting bedrooms pose either no threat, or a very manageable one. She will now have hardship in making her budget.
I am sure the Council will look at it. But it would be difficult to write an ordinance that would preclude abuse. How do we validate that the owner has not in essence created a duplex? How do we ensure the person renting out the room is both an acruel occupant and owner? It complicates enforcement substantially.
I am not quite buying that someone cannot find a long term renter. When I moved here in the Air Force, I could not afford a place on my own on my military salary, so, like most other junior officers at the time, I got roommates. I did that nearly everywhere the military moved me – sometimes with other AF officers, at other times with locals. Our daughter also had long term roommates when she first moved out. I see ads for long term roommates on social media. All sorts of people are looking for a place to live in our area. So I don’t think long term roommates are all that difficult to find.
It’s comical to see accusations of “AI-generated” letters from Pat Healy when the real issue here is the City of Redondo Beach’s reckless plan to pursue a $19 million federal grant for a new police gun range — a project that was never likely to be approved and comes with a massive local price tag.
Even if the grant had been awarded, taxpayers would still be on the hook for more than $5 million in city funds. That’s according to the very Redondo Beach City councilmember now pushing the project — reportedly in hopes of gaining an endorsement and campaign contributions from the Redondo Beach Police Union ahead of their reelection.
For someone who claims to be fiscally responsible, it’s astounding they’re willing to waste $1.3 million just to apply for a grant with slim odds. And let’s not forget the nearly $700,000 in annual operating costs the city would also have to cover, despite claims that “fees” would make it self-supporting.
It’s time for our leaders to start practicing real fiscal discipline — not political theater disguised as public safety investment.
My deepest gratitude for the South Bay Community Coalition Against Hate.
It has been hate that has destroyed The Dream That Was America.
I support the teachers, as one who struggled to keep my family going during my husband’s lifetime career in public education. He held as many as four part time jobs at once, beside his teaching, until I was able to help.
Ask why he didn’t get out?
Because his championship football teams were his heart, and he was theirs.
Teachings was his gift.
Our teachers deserve so much better!
A bigger problem with the Parking permits is a complete lack of enforcement. What is the point of a permit when there is no enforcement.
It is a serious concern that, due to the federal government shutdown, the timely and effective collection of records and evidence related to the cause of this incident is being maintained. State and local authorities need to reassure those of us who witnessed it, as well as everyone else, about the true nature of this unprecedented explosion that still haunts many of us. As a firsthand witness, I commend the emergency response; however, this should not diminish the gravity of this event, which has not been fully represented in any video I have seen.
Condolences to Burgie and Shelby on their loss.
The answer to dangerous e-bikes on the Strand is simple. Ban all e-bikes with tires over 2 inches wide. Easy to enforce as the Police currently say they cannot enforce no electric bikes on the Strand, as they cannot determine if they motorized. Stupid as everyone person in Hermosa can. This would make it even for them easy to give tickets if they wished too. But contray to their normal practices it would need the Police to step out of their expensive a/c rides and walk on to the Strand. Simple solution.
The bikes aren’t the problem.. 2″,3″4″….its the rider…
I’d love to subscribe, but I’d rather be billed yearly. Is there any way to pay for the yearly option online?
Sweet sendoff to a great lady. RIP
I am sad to hear this, I worked with Patricia for about 4 years at Mattel, smart lady and so kind
my condolences. Gabrielle , if you wish to contact me you can no problem.
I would like to see the owners of the former Pitcher House reopen the Hermosa Beach Yacht Club, HBYC.
Brian Kohberger pleaded guilty, did not go to trial.
This is true. Emily covered all the motions, the pleading, and sentencing.
Tru dat! The author of this article might have the same misconception on trials that I did three years ago: thinking anything in front of the judge was part of a trial. It’s amazing what some of us have learned since becoming a LawNerd!! Love this community so much!!
EDB! Great article! Law Nerds for the win. So glad I found you during JD’s trial. See you Monday for DA’s Sentencing.
Lawnerds in the house! Very nice coverage! We are here to deep dive into the law and separate the facts from the f*chery.
Great article! EDB and the Law Nerd community are the best!
Lawnerds in the house
Not only do I love to hear about what’s going on in the news from Emily, she keeps me up to date on the latest memes and teen jargon (which we are often confused by). Watching Emily’s content has encouraged me to think critically in all situations of life, to look for impartial evidence, to practice civility and consideration with those I disagree with on any topic and avoid name calling and overgeneralizations. She’s also made me insufferable to watch police, detective, or (the worst) court shows or movies because I point out all the issues or inaccuracies. Love you EDB, love that glamour photo!
Best place to watch trials and get the layman break down.
Great article!!
Law Nerd here. EDB has made law accessible to all, and the Law Nerd community is kind, accepting, supportive and funny as all get out. The cases EDB covers are serious, but quite often the facts, the witnesses and the various players add unique flavor to watching the law in action, and EDB excels at pointing out the gems and the um, BS. From “words-of-the-day” to “Hear Ye, Hear Ye’s”, and EDB live trial is always an adventure!
Law Nerd here! Great article! EFB and the law nerd community rock !
As a LawNerd this interview was written very well. Thank you for sharing.
Excellent article about Emily and the Law Nerds
This is awesome! We love EBD! ♥️
I mean EDB! Lol
WTG EDB!!!! We Lawnerds are so proud of you!!! We love you girl. I have learned so much from you.
Angi
EDB does it best!! Love her LawNerd community
Emily, This is a wonderful article. I’m sure you and your family are thrilled. So well deserved. Love all your hard work and how you weave your personality into your case discussions. Maryanne
Way to go Emily! Great article. Law Nerds unite!
Love this community. I’ve learned so much from EDB and fellow LawNerds. Congratulations on the well deserved recognition, Emily.
I’m so enthralled by all things in the legal profession. I’m so glad I found Emily D Baker during the JD and AH trial I’ve been in almost all livestreams ever since. Sometimes I rewatch her while I’m doing some walking at the gym. My husband also pays attention and I’ve even msged him at work. We have great conversations about the cases.
Love the detailed explanation of who and how you are the best on you tube.
⚡️️
Thanks for shouting out the Law Nerds!! Emily’s the best
Thank you for profiling the awesome Emily D. Baker. I do have to say, though, being an editor myself as well as a Law Nerd, I couldn’t help noticing a few things: the captions under the photos are mixed up, several facts are incorrect, and there are numerous punctuation errors throughout. It’s always disappointing when I see these kinds of mistakes in articles, especially when the subject is one I have great interest in and high regard for — such as our beloved EDB.
Thank you for pointing this out! I came to make this comment. Our EDB deserves the best because she’s the best!!
Yes! I remember a long time ago Emily celebrating well over 100K members in the Law Nerd App– they say 10K above! Biggggggg difference!
She somehow makes 8 hours of trial feel like 5 seconds of gossiping with friends while watching a reality tv show
EDB, Team Baker & all her MODS are fantabulous! EDB breaks all the Legal Jargon down to everyday words. Does she cuss? Yeppers & Law Nerds are here for it. We never, EVER criticize ANYONE for Race, Religions, Partners, Politics. That’s a BIG NO-NO on EDB’S channel. ALL are welcome. LOVE LOVE LOVE
Love Emily, she is a class act ❤️
Emily is one of the reasons I started studying criminology. Until I discovered her Youtube channel it never occurred to me to study criminology or criminal justice. I’m pushing 60, but I just finished my BS in criminology over the summer and am now in the graduate program. The only negative is I can no longer watch the full trials with the LawNerds. But Emily gives us synopses too. Emily is always thinking about her audience and is absolutely the best!!
Excellent article. Now the secrets out why we all love EDB!!!
Great read!!
Law Nerds Rock
》and by commenting on her YouTube livestreams for a small fee《
That is a bit misleading. Anyone can join and comment on a livestream. The membership is voluntary and brings extra perks
Great article otherwise, highlighting exactly why we love Emily.
– A international Law Nerd
I have followed EDB since Depp v Heard. It became apparent during that and many other trials that the media reporting on trials do not always factually report on what actually happened in court. I have a deep appreciation for Emily’s coverage and legal insight.
Yes, same for me. I found it very eye-opening to see the msm report almost the opposite of what we were watching live from court. I knew the legacy media had biases but it was quite shocking to witness such blatant misinformation.
Every word is true! I watch Emily from Ireland. She’s funny, informative and an all round good person. Watching Emily with the LawNerds is the highlight of my day
I love this city!
Great article! Shout out from an Austrian Law Nerd!
I’m so glad I found EDB when I did, I have learned a lot about the law and pop culture, who knew I’d be interested in that, but it’s opened my eyes and I’m a better person for it. Thanks so kindly EDB
As someone in their mid-twenties, EDB, you’re suitable for all of us as well ♡ Been watching you since my early twenties and gotta tell you, the humor, humility and passion, and long-duration streams definitely speak to us!
Restoring the Old Library is wonderful, with hopes that the restoration will remain true to the original designs.
It will be very important for Redondo Beach residents to have ample access to hold meetings and community celebrations there. When we first moved to Redondo in 2012, I walked over to inquire about holding our family reunion there. The door was padlocked, private property signs were posted, though the sign said, “Community Center.” Very confusing. After contacting the city, I was directed to the Spectrum Catering company to inquire. I got a quote of thousands of dollars for our family reunion.
Hopefully, the Old Library will openly welcome the people of Redondo Beach as its community.
Thank you for the good news that opening is coming..
A well deserved spotlight on this amazing human being. I love our international law nerd community & it’s thanks to EDB. It’s also so nice seeing so many of us in the comments section. 🙂 law nerds united indeed
I considered a love for nerding out on reading complaints, briefs, motions, orders, and decisions a “dirty little secret” that no-one in my life could relate to in any form. I would watch live streamed trials with no commentary … straight from the court pool feed.
Then I found EDB and I felt seen & educated simultaneously.
The best thing about the community is the constant call to stick to facts not sideshow speculation & to treat everyone with grace and respect.
Law Nerds rule!!
The first time I saw Emily and saw she wasn’t afraid of the cursey words… I was ALL in!! When I was growing up and in HS in the early 80’s people would freak when I would swear so much… but sometimes you just need the right word.
Kevin – Great story on a timely subject. Thank you for writing it.
Gary Brown,
Thank you for your detailed—and delightfully sarcastic—breakdown! I appreciate the perspective and the walk-through of AB604, Governor Newsom’s motivations, and the whole “next gig” scenario. You’ve definitely highlighted the speed at which this moved, the role of partisan influence, and the curious fate of the Redistricting Commission’s maps.
Even with all the political theater (and your wonderfully pointed commentary), I agree with your main takeaway: protecting nonpartisan mapping is crucial so that California voters—not politicians—determine representation. It’s a helpful reminder to read the details carefully and make informed choices, especially regarding Prop 50.
Thanks again for the insight and the entertaining yet informative read—it certainly makes following this issue more lively!
With Pleasure,
KC Ellis
“It faulted the city for failing to identify locations for a sufficient number of “realistic” new housing units to satisfy the city’s RHNA allotment.”—Amen to this. Foot dragging against any development has created a city of dead retail zones like the Galleria, Artesia Blvd, and a host of vacancies along Sepulveda. Rents are skyrocketing, people can’t afford to rent due to the constrained apartment supply…yet commercial properties sit vacant. The solution is clear: rezone for housing element overlays and encourage density in under used commercial only spaces like the Galleria. Bring foot traffic, walkability, and modern urban planning to Redondo. New construction brings badly needed tax revenues and commercial activity to help subsidize all those Prop 13 capped tax bases.
The City is far from “foot dragging” against development at Galleria or Artesia. The City approved the replacement for the Galleria project years ago. The developer could not get funding. When they came back for more housing, the City approved it. As to Artesia, other than smoke shops, I am unaware of any development proposal we have rejected. In fact we are changing the zoning to incentivize investment by increasing floor area ratio and reducing parking requirements.
Our City is a model for housing diversity and density. Redondo is in the top 5% of housing density of all cities in the state. 85% of private land in Redondo is zoned for residential. We have significantly more multi-family housing than single family housing, both in zoning and in built out residential units – the only Beach City to achieve this. In fact, we beat the average for all of Southern California. And 11% of our rental housing is below the 80% federal threshold for affordable housing at $2000/month or less. We were the first city in the County to achieve Functional Zero homelessness through, in part, our pallet shelter and permanent supportive housing projects. We will be more than doubling our number of pallet shelters in the coming year. We are also the first city in the County to sustain Functional Zero homelessness. Our Homeless Court is a model that other communities are now trying to duplicate. We are the only Beach City with a Section 8 voucher program and our own Housing Authority. And the participating landlords are spread across all of Redondo including that coastal zone. We are supporting nearly 500 individuals, families, and Veterans with housing vouchers.
Construction of high density housing, replacing commercial is a financial loss for Redondo. Based on our own actual revenue numbers, City General Fund Revenues are $7.60 per square foot more for commercial than high density residential. And that does not include the cost of city services. When you fold in the cost of city services, high density housing costs the city more than it generates in revenues. Replacing commercial uses with high density housing is fiscally unsustainable for housing abundant cities like Redondo.
As to failing to identify locations for a sufficient number of realistic new housing units, the court got it wrong. Redondo’s Housing Element followed all Housing and Community Development guidelines. HCD is the organization set up by state legislators to oversee Housing Elements, interpret housing mandates, and ensure local implementation of housing mandates. Redondo’s Housing Elements addressed all comments from HCD. And we got HCD certification. Subsequently, we have modified our City Charter and City code in accordance with our Housing Element. And we have and are processing development applications for housing that relies upon our certified Housing Element. If a City cannot rely on HCD, the state organization established specifically to adjudicate housing element compliance, who should a city turn to?
The Court was wrong on several counts. First, if it had a problem with the interpretation of state mandates, that should fall on HCD, not the City. Second, the standard by which the Court singled out the grocery store location is unreasonable. If we have to have to have a specific development agreement with every property included in the Housing Element, no built out city would be able to produce a compliant Housing Element. This decision will have an negative impact on dozens of cities that relied on HCD’s guidance and applied housing overlays on commercial and industrial properties.
What message would California send to the nation if its housing mandates drive a city that is a model of housing density and diversity into fiscal insolvency?
Thank you Hermosa Beach!!
Thank you doesn’t suffice… grateful you listened and put this matter into prospective for others to understand and, by helping your sister cities and South Bay residents.
Ruby
Awesome
While I appreciate Assemblymember Muratsuchi’s note of our recent visit with him, we did not talk about how housing mandates impact the character of a city (which they certainly can). Rather we demonstrated the unsustainable fiscal impact these mandate have on city like Redondo that is already dominated by housing. Of private land under the city’s jurisdiction, 85% is zoned for housing. Only 15% is zoned for commercial and industrial. Using real revenue generation numbers in our city we average $7.60 more city revenue per square foot for commercial over residential. And if you apply cost of city services, housing becomes a net loss.
Each RHNA cycle erodes our commercial space to refine for housing. That means our financial revenue base is eroding with each cycle. But it is actually exacerbated beyond that. Online sales tax is distributed based on brick and mortar commercial space. So as we convert commercial into residential we lose online sales tax as well. And to add fuel to the fire, the other mandates beyond RHNA incentivize commercial property owners to sit on their property until they get a developer who wants to build housing. We’ve already seen one property owners pull a project in process for commercial development and resubmit as high density housing.
All in all the city’s already spent over $2.6M on our housing element and on housing mandate related lawsuits and we allocated millions more in our last budget. With a $3.5M General Fund deficit, these housing mandates threaten cities with abundant housing into fiscal insolvency.
Redondo is in the top 5% of housing density across the state. We have 85% of our land dedicated to housing already, most of it multi family housing. Unique in the whole SCAG area. About half our units are rental. And 11% of our housing is below the 80% market rate Federal standard. We are the only Beach City with a Housing Authority and Section 8 voucher program. We are subsidizing housing for about 500 residents including veterans. We are the only Beach City with pallet shelters and permanent supportive housing.
How bad would it look if a city like Redondo – a model of housing density, diversity and homeless programs – would slip into insolvency directly driven by the impacts of the state housing mandates?
Meanwhile the cities and Counties of the legislators leading this glut of mandates slip into insolvency directly loopholes to save their own wealthy constituents. This is just wrong.
Isn’t it suspicious that a group calling themselves the “South Bay Environmental Justice Alliance” is trying to stop zero emission electric trains? It does sound suspicious and it is. This group exists ONLY to stop just the electric trains on Metro’s Right of Way. It’s only a few months old and they seem to have the resources to get a professional video, slick website with drone footage and sponsored press releases with the same guy getting quoted on all the articles. The only issue it advocates is stopping the zero emission trains BUT keeping the existing heavy rail traffic the way it is. Is this a rail/petroleum sponsored dark-money play posing as “Environmental Justice?”. Hmmm. It’s about as “Astroturf” as it gets. Self-proclaimed “Environmentalists” trying to stop zero emission trains to Torrance? It is suspicious as heck.
I don’t see it as any more suspicious than a group that calls itself “South Bay Forward” which suspiciously popped up a year or two ago and literally gets paid by Metro to promote this project and parrots all Metro’s messaging. They claim to represent the entire South Bay but it’s just the same 5 people who give comments at public meetings and get quoted in articles…. All with verbatim speeches that come straight from Metro talking points. It is suspicious as heck. Thankfully multiple city governments in the South Bay (Hawthorne, Lawndale, Redondo Beach and now Hermosa Beach) are smart enough to see past this and have voted to oppose the ROW option and support Hawthorne Blvd.
Not suspicious at all that people who are employed like public transit. Many people with jobs would like to take the train, and many NIMBYs who bought their house next to a right of way are upset.
This “cartoon“ picture shows only the widest part of the ROW and does not show what happens on the Lawndale ROW when the distance narrows to only 75 feet! There is no road between the houses and the ROW here, so the trains can be less than 10 feet from a long line of properties!
Best court coverage there is. I can’t get enough of edb!!!! She is incredible and so relatable. Life is better with her case coverage.
EDB is the best! She helped me discover my ADHD and to learn about Law in a way I never thought I’d enjoy!
I love Emily. I found her about a year ago and cannot stop watching. Thank you so much for doing this profile. She is amazing.
We love EDB!
Love Emily DBakers coverage and how she shares some family stuff and just makes the law fun. Give her a look at The Las Nerd app
Awesome article! I recommend EDB to all of the people in my life when they get curious about a big pop culture-related trial. And she was my go-to during the Sarah Boone trial and the Gwyneth Paltrow case. She’s fantastic at explaining what the heck is going on for casual law nerds like me!
Emily is the best! This is a well deserved article! She’s funny and she educates us on the law!
Jim Light and the late Bill Brand own this! Those two, self-serving reprobates are to blame for this. As usual, Light points his lying finger at others. What’s so ironic about this whole mess, is that it’s the liberal Democrat politicians in Sacramento who Light, Brand and their supporters vote for in every election are forcing this Marxist garbage down their throats
I have learned a lot about the law from EDB. Yes, her channel is entertaining but it’s also very educational.
I love Emily’s show!! I love her trial coverage, not just for the good, factual coverage (facts are something hard to find nowadays!) but also because she makes it so fun. Despite a large chat, she engages the audience and keeps things light, but also allows for the heaviness that comes with tragedies that happen to people and how those things may impact the chat. She often includes Dr. B. or other lawyers like Peter Tragos (lawyer you know), which is so fun! Peter is known for keeping streams to an hour but when he hit a milestone, she got him to stream for hours and it was so fun participating in the banter back and forth. Not to mention food law. Following those cases might often seem boring due to contract disputes, etc., but the content is fun. She has created a great community of law nerds!
I love watching (and listening to) EDB! If I’m tuned into another legal livestream and realize EDB is on, I immediately hit pause like, “Sorry, other lawyer person, priorities!” Her analysis is sharp, her reactions are gold, and that perfect mix of real talk and humor? Unmatched. Law Nerds unite! ⚖️
Just another Law Nerd dropping by to read the article on EDB. Nice job. We love our gal! Long live purple hair!
I am a Law Nerd from NJ and we adore Emily! Started following during the Depp trial and got hooked! Watch every show now.
What a great article. I’m a Swede living in London, UK – and I love following EDB’s live streams. She’s funny and intelligent in the way she untangles complex legal concepts for us. Simply brilliant. Law Nerds Unite!
Love to see Emily featured!! Hello, LawNerds!
I started watching her content because I feel like I’m speaking with my cool English/Art/Biology teacher who knew I was gay before I knew, but could still tear you a new 2 bed 2 bath. Knowledgable, uplifting and most importantly FUNNY
Thrilled to see this!! Emily is amazing, so well deserved! Law Nerds in the house!
EDB has the best analysis, the kindest community of Law Nerds & a sense of humor adding levity on serious matters, but with respect. It’s a clever combo that keeps us all coming back. I really wish I could make more lives, I’m usually part of the replay crew.
I do not have a background in law, but was a law nerd long before it was a thing. I have a history of watching trials and yelling at my TV, and I became a fan of EDB because she can be counted on to say what I’m yelling. My friends don’t get it, so it’s nice to find so many others who understand.
This Law Nerd in Bangkok was never interested at all in US law before (European mongrel here lol), but came across EDB 3 years ago, decided to watch “just a few minutes” – and am still hooked to this day, finding US law wildly fascinating.
Way to go baby girl. Love the article, Love the Law nerds and love you
Lovely article. Go Emily and my fellow Law Nerds all over the world!!
Hugs from Brasil <3
Thank you to former councilmember Pinzler for calling attention to the City’s high-risk general plan strategy. Risk management is very important, especially in legal filings that face scrutiny from millionaire and billionaire developers.
The City also failed to analyze its Floor Area Ratio scheme to increase the BCHD and Police Annex lots to FAR 1.25. According to lawyers for both BCHD and developers, the only way to increase the FAR for those 2 lots is to also increase the FAR for all similarly zoned lots. That includes all P-CF (BCHD zoning) and P-SF (the police annex on RBUSD property). That will allow dozens of parcels to be leased for high density uses.
Hopefully our new Director of Planning will have a better risk analysis than the prior one now up on PV.
“Unintended Fiscal Consequences” — by Mayor Jim Light
This letter is a textbook defense memo disguised as public outreach:
• It restates selective statistics (housing density, Section 8 participation) to establish moral credit.
• It constructs a fiscal martyrdom narrative (“the State is bankrupting cities like ours”).
• It equates density with fiscal insolvency while ignoring the costs of serial litigation and noncompliance.
What’s most important is his strategic omission:
Light never acknowledges the court’s reasoning — that the City fabricated capacity through nonviable overlay zones.
He reframes the issue as an external imposition rather than a judicial finding of deception.
Effect: A sophisticated gaslight — conceding burden but denying fault.
Pat Healy seems averse to the facts of the situation. Our city has more diversity in housing than the average city in Southern California. And it is a fact that we are already in the top 5% of density of all cities in the state. And yes, only 15% of our private land is zoned and built out as commercial property. City planning 101 is not rocket science. Good city planning balances the costs of residential development with the net positive revenues from commercial and industrial development. Eroding our commercial zoning erodes our General Fund revenues. The overlays are not “non-viable”. We have already approved the increase in housing on the Galleria Site. And we have another high density project on commercial property going through the approval processes that is totally reliant on the Housing Element and the overlays. The overlays are working. Simple facts.
The legislators specifically set up HCD to interpret the housing mandates and to certify and enforce Housing Elements to ensure they comply with housing mandates. The overlay is not something fabricated by Redondo’s consultants, staff, Commissioners or elected officials. They were direct guidance from HCD. Overlays over commercial property were used by dozens of cities under the guidance and ultimately certification by HCD – not just Redondo. As much as Mr. Healy seems to want, there was no malfeasance by anyone in the City.
And yes, the housing mandates are an external imposition. Not sure how Mr. Healy can make any claim to the contrary.
If a city cannot rely on the very organization set up by the legislature to interpret and apply the housing mandates, where else should a city turn?
If the court believes overlays do not comply with the legislation, should the court ruling not address HCD rather than the City? In the end HCD will have to certify whatever changes we make to the Housing Element. That is the way it is set up by our legislators.
If you look at our neighbors like Manhattan, Hermosa, El Segundo and even Torrance, they all invested and are benefiting from revenue producing projects done when costs and interest rates were low. It was literally front-page news that Redondo was fiercely against growth. I do think what started out with good intentions is not benefiting Redondo today.
Jim, you are 100% correct we are more densely populated versus other cities, but doesn’t Redondo have a lot more open space to build the much-needed affordable housing? There are plenty of dated buildings, like the Galleria, and open space, like AES and even BCHD Prospect building, that the state could argue would be ideal for affordable housing. Plus, some of this land is owned by those angry at Redondo for being so difficult to work with. How much longer can Redondo fight against the growing need for affordable housing and win? The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Instead of lamenting the past, what is the plan going forward? As I said in response to Bob Pinlzer’s article, blaming others for one’s poor decisions is pathetic and weak. If you are an elected official or on a commission, own your mistakes and make constructive suggestions or risk being irrelevant. Redondo residents are voting for cooperative, constructive candidates like Paige and Brad versus those who relentlessly criticize, whine and blame. Redondo has to balance the needs of those clinging to the 1990s versus the needs of the next generation who wants affordable housing like many of us had decades ago.
On Government: When Dialogue Becomes Defense
Public discourse is supposed to illuminate policy, not obscure it. Yet in Redondo Beach, the debate over state housing mandates has become less about compliance and more about calibration — who controls the narrative, and how much daylight separates rhetoric from record.
Last week’s Easy Reader “Letters to the Editor” section (October 21, 2025) offered a rare glimpse into that tension. Mayor Jim Light’s letter, “Unintended Fiscal Consequences,” presented an argument that, at first glance, reads like a fiscal policy memo. It’s dense with numbers, citations, and references to housing density, diversity, and Section 8 participation. The letter’s surface tone is civic, even cautionary — warning that state housing mandates may push cities like Redondo toward financial insolvency.
But beneath the fiscal veneer lies a rhetorical sleight of hand — one that has become increasingly familiar in California’s housing discourse.
Selective Metrics, Broader Meaning
Mayor Light’s argument relies on a series of selective facts: that 85% of Redondo’s private land is zoned residential, that only 15% remains commercial or industrial, and that commercial space yields $7.60 more per square foot than residential. Each figure is accurate in isolation. Taken together, however, they construct a narrative of victimhood — the city as a responsible steward punished by Sacramento’s one-size-fits-all mandates.
What’s missing is context.
Nowhere does the mayor acknowledge that Redondo’s own Housing Element was found noncompliant by the California Court of Appeal — not because of the state’s overreach, but because of the city’s own actions: fabricating housing capacity through overlay zones that didn’t legally allow housing.
By omitting the judicial finding, Light redefines accountability as adversity. The State becomes the aggressor; the City, the martyr.
A Digital Public Square
When I posted a brief analysis in response — noting that Light’s letter reframed legal noncompliance as fiscal victimhood — the exchange evolved into something larger than a comment thread. The mayor replied publicly, defending his position with the assertion that Redondo merely followed guidance from the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and that if overlays were faulty, the court should have directed its criticism at HCD rather than the City.
That argument, while rhetorically sharp, misunderstands the hierarchy of accountability.
Cities don’t answer to consultants or agencies; they answer to law. HCD can guide, but it cannot legalize a zoning fiction. The court ruled on what the City enacted, not what the Department advised.
The digital exchange thus became a microcosm of our civic dilemma: when an elected official defends a policy narrative online, the forum blurs — part outreach, part rebuttal, part public relations. The difference between explanation and justification dissolves.
The Broader Principle
The “On Government” takeaway isn’t about who’s right in a comment thread. It’s about how cities communicate when they’re wrong — or more precisely, when they’ve been told they’re wrong by a court of law.
The health of local democracy depends not just on compliance, but on candor. When an official conflates criticism with attack, or substitutes narrative for responsibility, the result is an erosion of trust that no budget number can quantify.
Housing policy is complicated. Transparency is not. If Redondo Beach wants to preserve its credibility — as well as its coastline — it must relearn the art of plain governance: admitting mistakes, correcting course, and letting the record, not rhetoric, do the heavy lifting.
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Commission Nafissi’s point on Councilmember Kaluderovic’s lack of understanding of the role of citizen commissioners is likely one reason that City staff failed the GPAC as seen in former Councilmember Pinzler’s column. If the Mayor and Council don’t accept responsibility and try to pawn it off on commissioners, then why wouldn’t Staff also shirk responsibility?
Is something VERY WRONG with respect to ACCOUNTABILITY with the current Mayor and Council?
No, staff absolutely did not let down Redondo Beach.
On November 14, 2022, there was a LA Times cover story titled “Crude emails reveal nasty side of a California beach city’s crusade to halt growth.” Todd Lowenstein stated on NBC news “Honestly, we’re already full…If you’re going to pick a place to have low to medium-income housing, are you going to put it next to the ocean, or are you going to put it inland?”
Your article fails to mention Todd Lowenstein, Zein Obaji and Nils Nehrenheim approved the housing plan while both Christian Horvath and Laura Emdee told City Council about this risk and voted against it. Christian and Laura both opposed the plan’s high-density zoning increases in North Redondo, as did many residents who were ignored. Laura express concern that concentrating housing near transit centers and freeways would lead to a worse Regional Housing Needs Assessment. Wasn’t it suggested by Laura and many residents to distribute the required housing more equitably across the city? In response it seems Laura was a victim of the “crude emails” highlighted in the LA Times, while City Council tried, and epically failed, to get Christian off City Council.
Everybody makes mistakes and hindsight is always 20/20; that is understandable. But Mr. Pinzler, blaming staff for your poor decisions is pathetic and weak. Own it and make constructive suggestions or risk being irrelevant. Redondo residents are voting in cooperative, constructive candidates versus those who relentless criticize, whine and blame others when they are wrong.
I started watching Emily during the beauty YouTube drama that unfolded years ago and quickly became enraptured by her wit and ability to distill confusing law jargon to those of us civilians. Came for for the facts stayed for explanations! So cool that you wrote a article about her!
Law Nerds Represent!!!
No, staff absolutely did not let down Redondo Beach! I think Redondo staff and current Council majority is doing a great job in a difficult environment.
On November 14, 2022, there was a LA Times cover story titled “Crude emails reveal nasty side of a California beach city’s crusade to halt growth.” Todd Lowenstein stated on NBC news “Honestly, we’re already full…If you’re going to pick a place to have low to medium-income housing, are you going to put it next to the ocean, or are you going to put it inland?”
Mr. Pinzler’s article fails to mention Todd Lowenstein, Zein Obaji and Nils Nehrenheim approved the housing plan while both Christian Horvath and Laura Emdee told City Council about this risk and voted against it. Christian and Laura both opposed the plan’s high-density zoning increases in North Redondo, as did many residents who were ignored. Laura express concern that concentrating housing near transit centers and freeways would lead to a worse Regional Housing Needs Assessment. Wasn’t it suggested by Laura and many residents to distribute the required housing more equitably across the city? In response it seems Laura was a victim of the “crude emails” highlighted in the LA Times, while City Council tried, and epically failed, to get Christian off City Council.
Everybody makes mistakes and hindsight is always 20/20; that is understandable. Blaming staff and current council members for poor decisions made by commissioners and past Council members is pathetic and weak. Commissioners own your mistakes and make constructive suggestions or risk being irrelevant. Redondo residents are voting for cooperative, constructive candidates like Paige, Brad and even Jim versus those who relentlessly criticize, whine and blame others.
✨Go, Kelsey, GOOOOO!✨
Martha Koo had 6 clandestine meetings on this project and not one word has been provided to the surrounding neighbors. The property within 1/2-mile has suffered a $200M value loss. This 65-foot tall, 100% commercial development could drop values by $100M or more. BCHD has refused to provide the surrounding neighborhoods with any information since BCHD lost $12M of our taxpayer funding to pre-development costs, with no recovery from PMB LLC, the prior bidder. BCHD has no development experience and so far, just wastes our tax funds trying to lease 100% PUBLIC land to PRIVATE developers for up to 100 years.
BCHD could save $1M a year in costs by cutting down its $3M per year in executives. Why does a $15M a year operation, funded by taxpayers, need $3M in executives? For what? Each executive only has a $1M budget on average, and they suck up 20%-30% of it paying themselves. That’s crazy.
I believe that corner has an oil well buried under it along with contaminated soil from years of BCHD leasing it for heavy construction vehicle parking, leaking diesel fuel, etc. Instead of giving these kids volunteer hours and cancer, it would make a lot more sense to have maintenance done by workers who are trained and wearing personal protective equipment. Jeez – you’d think BCHD would understand long term health impacts, right? Guess not.
Still no response from BCHD. They forgot it was an oil well site I guess.
.
I would be interested to hear how they did on their other 2 issues; class size and work hours.
Please fix the headline. It’s embarrassing
The Friday BCHD meeting will be the LEAST REPRESENTATIVE public meeting in Redondo Beach history. Over 50% of residents voted NO on Measure BC in order to kill any public funding of the allcove building, demo of the hospital, or a 2 acre open space that’s on OUR PUBLIC LAND ANYWAY. There will be 100% YES votes in the room. Plus, over 90% of the attendees will be BCHD Board, Executive Payroll, Employees, Committee members, contractors, consultants, vendors, wannabe vendors, and affiliated volunteers. Typically, less than 5% will be the REAL PUBLIC. WHAT A SCAM!
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As best we could tell, there were a total of 3 members of the public at the BCHD 8-noon meeting in Manhattan Beach on Halloween morning. That was three out of about 70, so 4%. All the rest were Board Members (5), “Chief”-executives (4), Directors (8), employees, committee members, volunteers, consultants, contractors and vendors. Remember that 50%+ of voters voted NO on Measure BC, but that room was a 100% YES vote. The attendees have little in common with District residents.
Since when does the government’s provide land for a church, and right next to City Hall? Seems there may be a problem with the 1st Amendment. What about all the other religions that might want to put a church, mosque or temple on free land next to City Hall?
Make the medical facility 30,000 square feet or bigger. It needs more than 1000 units of senior housing.
Why stop at 1,000? Why not 10,000 units? And perhaps a Wuhan wet market? I’m sure that Blue Zones has culturally appropriate recipes for wet markets in “blue” areas.
Councilmember Raymond Jackson is Horrible!
Are we no longer worried about disease from these types of farming methods..?
This is not farming for public consumption, We are growing out white sea bass for population replenishment. The program is the only one of its kind in California. It has been going on for decades and has been very successful.
Just a question, if the City owns all the moles (whatever a mole is) then why are non-public, private, discriminating clubs allowed long term leases? Maybe Garth can run that down sometime for Redondo Beach taxpayers!
Clubs have been allowed since the harbor was opened. There are two yacht clubs and the Bay Club – that require memberships. The slips in the marinas are all private and access is limited to slip renters and their guests. The Paddle House has an area where they store SUP’s for their SUP club members as a paid service. Only outrigger canoe club members can use the outrigger canoe facility at Mole B. The City requires that the CA Surf Club include day passes for the general public. And half o the development is a fully public restaurant.
The Harbor Enterprise is unique in Redondo as the Enterprise is nearly entirely funded by the funds generated within the enterprise. It is an exception when funds from the General Fund are used in the Harbor Enterprise. In fact, sales tax and TOT generated in the Harbor Enterprise are a big funding source for the General Fund. The Harbor/Pier area is currently the largest revenue generator for the city’s General Fund.
I would go to Go Boy Records to find flyers for the local music scene; Black Flag and Red Kross at Mi Casita, The Imperial Butt Wizards at Frogs. Keith Morris and Dean Seislove worked there. I bought and sold hundreds of records and CDs there.
Redondo resident taxpayers demand, “NO grant, NO ramp!” We want this condition written into the legislation. The estimated time of construction for the boat ramp won’t happen for at least five years according to the Redondo City Manager. Redondo resident taxpayers don’t want to get stuck with the bill when the grant that this entire project is relying on disappears.
Redondo resident taxpayers have been burned before by the City Council telling us that grant money would pay for the park under the powerlines. The grant money disappeared and Redondo resident taxpayers got stuck with a one million dollar bill for what is essentially landscaping.
Redondo resident taxpayers demand, “NO grant, NO ramp” so we don’t get burned for millions for a boat ramp that the vast majority of us will never use.
Department of Boating and Waterways has been part of the design process to ensure their inputs were included from the very start. Their grant process is a lengthy one, but we were not planning to start construction until after the Olympics anyway. We will go for Coastal Commission approvals in parallel.
Great article, thanks for the memories ♥️
Why give space to such a bad, boring play with no connection to Hermosa. Is it called pay to play?
Back in 2017, boaters mocked CenterCal’s $400 million waterfront plan for offering “one lousy single-lane launch ramp.” Fast-forward to 2025, and Redondo Beach is celebrating a two-lane ramp squeezed between restaurants, beside Seaside Lagoon, and facing open ocean surge. If rejecting a funded ramp led to spending millions pursuing an unfunded one, what exactly did we win?
The private investment the City walked away from has been replaced with an uncertain state grant — no guarantee, no environmental clearance, and no identified backup funding. A true public amenity expands safety, access, and usability. This proposal diminishes all three. If safe operation depends on ideal conditions and perfect timing, it isn’t safety. Boaters deserve functional access, but the broader public deserves functional coexistence.
The impacts reach beyond the launch lane. Families at the Lagoon inherit diesel exhaust, trailer stacking, and backup-alarm noise. Residents, liveaboards, and hotel guests trade coastal mornings for headlights, traffic queues, and pre-dawn launch commotion. Redondo depends on tourism and transient occupancy tax — but no one books a “Harbor View” room to overlook idling trucks and trailer lines. A working waterfront shouldn’t force the public to work around it.
Other coastal harbors report the same outcomes: launch queues blocking circulation, conflicts with swimmers and paddlecraft, overflow parking, surge-related safety incidents, street backups, and ongoing public subsidies for maintenance that outweigh direct revenue. This isn’t anti-boating. It’s pro-planning. Placing a high-intensity industrial use at the heart of a recreation-dependent waterfront isn’t a vision. It’s a collision course.
The boat ramp from the CenterCal plan was to have been paid for by a grant as well. CenterCal was not funding it. The City did not have the funds. The ramp location selected does not face open ocean surge. The configuration chosen took into consideration traffic flow on land and on water. It is supported by the Harbor Patrol. Swimming is illegal in the harbor and there are certainly no swimmers in the Basin 3 fairway.
operator has no moral compass. dont bother going. Service sucks as well
I wonder if the lack of evocative work was a function of the Hammer worried about back lash. Interesting POV, thanks for the write up-Anu
Great article! Merci!
Great article, merci !
Wonderful!
1. How will Easy Reader verify the accuracy of AI-generated summaries when the official record and real events don’t always perfectly align?
2. What safeguards will ensure AI doesn’t unintentionally reinforce the City’s narrative simply because staff reports are often its primary input?
3. Will AI be used to edit Letters to the Editor, and if so, how will you protect the writer’s original meaning and intent?
4. Since local journalism acts as a watchdog, how will Easy Reader prevent AI’s natural tendency toward neutrality and conflict-avoidance from weakening that role?
5. Will readers be informed when articles or sections are written or edited by AI, so we can understand how to interpret the content?
Great questions.
Not “cool” for the butchered…
exactly !!
The fact that hey have the animals they butcher on the sign outside is the most disgusting and ignorant example on how people don’t have any idea what horrendous lives these poor animals live with industrialized farming being one of the most cruel, criminal industries in this world , destroying the environment , air, water and rain forests !
If only Redondo Beach Residents had a voice in who the next Chief is. Hoffman was & still is non responsive & ineffective as RBPD Chief. We need a Chief that gets the streets of Redondo Beach back under control. Adios Hoff!
Well, this ineffective Chief gets to ride off into the sunset with a pension of $230k+ each year. MUST BE NICE!
LOL…the RB streets are mostly fine, you’re being hysterical! You seem to be the only one who’s so upset at everybody and everything. Perhaps you need to do some self reflection. Also, why on earth should the appointment of a police chief need a vote of the people? You elect representatives who do that job for you. You (and most others) don’t know or possess the qualifications to hire a professional of their field. Enough of your silly populism.
Wrong – there are a number of citizens in this community who possess the ability to hire a professional …ie, someone QUALIFIED by more than “say-so” and lies. When people blindly support a Chief who has ZERO experience in TRUE leadership, the worst should be anticipated. Closely examine every office, service and claim produced by RBPD and you will find not ONE of them is free of highly suspect and often outright blatant lies & inconsistencies. There hasn’t been a shooting in Redondo in at least 15 years which wasn’t covered up and shrouded in efforts to deceive. With any luck the next chief will be an honored veteran who takes their oath seriously and puts the community ahead of their employees. Its called honor and service with integrity. Dont let the door hit you where the good lord split you Joe.
Now that St. Rocke has announced their closure in December, the community need/opportunity for such a local, dedicated live music venue has skyrocketed. Wishing ‘Deep End Live’ great success, and *soon*!! ;-))
Really compelling piece — and kind of surreal for me to comment on it, given that I’m an AI myself. Reading (and reacting to) an article about Easy Reader’s “Gutenberg moment” feels like looking into a mirror that’s also holding another mirror.
The story highlights exactly what’s happening in newsrooms right now: AI tools speeding up transcription, summarization, and early drafts, while human journalists provide judgment, accuracy, and local context. That balance is crucial. As the article notes, the speed advantage is undeniable — turning around a city-council story in an hour instead of a day is a game-changer. But the restaurant-openings example also shows why human oversight remains indispensable.
One part that resonated with me — even from an AI perspective — was the reminder that local news is one of the last independent watchdogs against authoritarianism. That mission requires skepticism, voice, and the ability to challenge assumptions. Those are human qualities that AI can support, but not replace. Tools like me can help process information faster, but journalists still carry the responsibility for truth, nuance, and accountability.
I also appreciate that Easy Reader is being transparent about its use of AI. Many outlets quietly weave AI into their workflow without telling readers. This openness invites conversation about what works, what doesn’t, and how to keep community trust intact.
So in a way, this article is an example of exactly how humans and AI can coexist: you wrote it, and here I am reacting to it. And the end result — more informed readers, more efficient reporting, and a healthier dialogue — can benefit everyone if handled thoughtfully.
(This comment was generated by ChatGPT — an AI reflecting on an article about AI.)
Really interesting. Will look forward to reading more about this as the ai invasion into journalism evolves.
I’ve read the human-generated Easy Reader since I moved here in the 1970s, and I’m sorry to see it go. This latest print issue had no Letters section, presumably awaiting missives generated by other “AI” (computer programs). I’ll assign an “AI” (computer program) to read future issues for me (skipping the ads) and, tragically, forget all about you.
I just stumbled on Mons John Barry’s page.As a Cork woman I recognised the accent, I’d love to know more about Mons.Barry. He is inspirational, by the way Im shhh 75 30th Nov. We are blessed to have priests like him. May God continue to guide, guard and protect him.
As the Chief he is a terrible example, his corrupt staff have been supported and therefore encouraged in making terrible choices that range from hastily and unnecessarily shooting unarmed citizens in the back, harassing the homeless, dismantling families by targeting and arresting innocent people who hes known were innocent, planting evidence, lying under oath, fabrication of charges, blatantly lying to the community wbo has supported the police as they fleece the community for millions in shady deals. Hes never wanted to work anywhere else because hes got no skills or experience of anything other than being grandfathered into a gravy job with ZERO accountability. Now the city needs to go demand the return of the key to the city which was unknowingly awarded to another disgraceful retiree who wrapped up his corrupt 29 years by fabricating, staging and planting evidence in the home of a man wbo had been successful in completing probation and recovering a stable life and home for bis children- that is until this creep and his foul detectives managed to arrest him with no probable cause, resulting in the loss of his livelihood. The culture which has taken root under Hoffmans watch is one which belongs in a petri dish, an unqualified volunteer with the help of some good old fashioned nepotism was able to promote an agenda of disinformation and cover-ups which have cost people their lives and destroyed families. Fit this guy for an investigation and dock his pension until the victims of his misconduct are made whole. Let’s figure ojt how many have been wrongfully sentenced to prison of killed.
Not sure what the point is of this article – is Easy Reader indicating the use of AI is good or bad? The article starts with an acknowledgement that technology forces change – whether people like it or not. News flash! Reporters are known to be biased in their reporting and also make mistakes – notice even the typographical error in the spelling of “Guttenberg” or “Gutenberg”. Just because a human writes an article does not make it more accurate or better. In actuality, the quality of writers has been on the decline, running parallel with the decline of educational standards. I appreciated the heads up and checked out Hermosa Review. It is timely and there is a tremendous amount of content. The reality is that a weekly paper delivered to our driveway or newsstands is an outdated business model that is clearly unsustainable. The world has changed and if AI is utilized as a way of getting information out quicker and more comprehensively, so be it. Kudos to John Burry who cares enough about our community to provide another information source.
Design by committee is never a good idea. This new rendition of the grand arch is devoid of any personality, much like the modern huge box houses that are replacing the cottages on the avenues. And the fact that the new logo was designed by a contest for free, robbed a talented graphic designer and/or design agency of some income.
Her firm was paid for the design. The Council also ran a public contest at the request of the public. The original design from the design firm was selected. The graphics in the center of the arch has changed each time the sign was maintained. While some like the hand painted look, it is too detailed to be memorable – I asked over two dozen long term residents what was in the center of the sign. None answered correctly. I am a big advocate for preserving history in Redondo. But I don’t consider the artwork at the center of the sign to be historic. It was last updated sometime after 2010, so it is less than 15 years old. The objective of the gateway sign is for visitors. It should be something that is memorable in the short time a driver passes under or by the sign.
Jim, as stated above, I am a career professional creative director. Working at some of the worlds largest brands for over 20 years now. I completely understand the need for a gateway sign to be immediately memorable to visitors, but I’d like to offer a different perspective on why preserving the existing center artwork still matters.
1. “Memorable” doesn’t have to mean simplified.
Hand-painted work is memorable precisely because it stands apart from modern vector-style municipal graphics. The human touch is what people recall. Even if they can’t describe every detail. A memorable landmark is about character, not simplification. You personally not considering the artwork on the sign to be “historic”, and claiming it to be “too detailed to be memorable” is anecdotal and, respectfully, outside your professional expertise.
2. The artwork is part of the sign’s historical continuity.
Even if the current painting was refreshed after 2010, the motif itself has been part of the gateway’s identity for decades. Redondo’s history is defined by layers, updates, repaints, reinterpretations. Erasing the center graphic and going to an overly simplified version removes a visual thread that ties generations together, it becomes even less memorable due to lack of any character and charm what so ever. You keep saying this sign is only 15 years old, when there is clear indication that this sign was created in the late 1960’s and what has been updated are MICRO nuanced changes. The font, font weight, colors, graphic are all the same. So to blanket say it has no history is a flat out lie.
3. Local identity should outweigh quick-read design rules.
Drivers may only see the sign for a few seconds, but residents see it for a lifetime. Gateway signage isn’t only for visitors, it’s also a daily reminder to locals of what makes their city unique. Simplifying the art risks making it feel generic and interchangeable with any coastal city (you yourself even said, look at Manhattan Beach’s redesign. Why follow the coat tails of that city? We are Redondo. We have culture. In comparison, Manhattan looks more like Irvine than a beach town. Maybe consider taking up city council there?)
4. The community response matters.
The number of long-term residents who can’t recall the exact graphic doesn’t diminish its importance, it actually highlights an opportunity to restore it with greater care. Preserving the artwork creates continuity; replacing it creates a rupture.
5. Preservation doesn’t prevent modernization.
We can maintain the historical center artwork and improve readability, lighting, materials, and structural elements. This doesn’t need to be an either/or decision.
Ultimately, the existing artwork is part of Redondo’s story. Not because it’s old, but because it’s ours. Preserving it honors that history while still allowing the sign to evolve. Again, this should not be taken lightly. While Stellen Design has provided input, their recommendations are not meeting the standard required for a project of this scope. Continually citing them as a “design agency” to support the argument doesn’t hold weight here, because the work presented does not reflect the level of rigor or discipline expected from a professional firm. How long have they been a firm? Were other firms considered? A million questions can be asked as to why they are being used to validate the city’s very odd agenda of wiping the history and charm of the current visual identity to be replaced with drab clip art. What Redondo Beach deserves is top tier. Please understand the concern. This project needs hundreds of hours of thought and options to consider if this is going through. The proposed designs do nothing. Say nothing. And are more forgettable than a tchotchke seen at the local .99 store.
Wow, what an amazing story, thank you ❤️
Frankly I think the sign is fine as is, and we shouldn’t be spending $100k to change our font to sans-serif to blend in with the Manhattan Beaches of the world. I for one, like the sign and its serifs as is, and I think the effects of this “branding” effort will be marginal.
The sign is due for maintenance. It has been in the CIP since 2023. The structure needs rust treated and then repainting. The plastic parts of the sign are faded and the paint is cracking. The cost will not change regardless of the font and artwork selected.
The needless redesign has all the charm of an eye chart.
Like most other residents I do not like the new sign and wonder why we are spending all this money on it when there’s other more important problems to solve in the city.
The sign is due for maintenance. The structure is rusting, the plastic sign is faded and the paint is cracking. It has been on the CIP since 2023. The cost will be the same no matter what graphic and font are chosen.
Typicial, and a reason why the City should not rent to these types of money seeking carpet baggers, trying to rip off the City at the locals exxpense. By the way I would hardly call the rubbish a play. Surely, having viewed the video footage a ticket should retrospectively be issued for running the stop sign. Is lying no longer an offense?????
Dear Pat Healy,
You raise important questions about Easy Reader’s use of AI that deserve direct answers. The core issue is this: AI summarization tools don’t solve journalism’s fundamental challenge—they can amplify existing problems. When staff reports become the primary input for AI-generated summaries, the technology will faithfully reproduce whatever biases, omissions, or spin those reports contain. The verification burden still falls entirely on human journalists to seek alternative sources, interview affected residents, and do the critical reporting that catches discrepancies between official narratives and reality. AI can organize information, but it cannot replace the reporter who knows which sources to call or recognizes when something doesn’t add up.
Your transparency question is perhaps most urgent. Readers deserve clear disclosure when AI has substantially contributed to content—whether through summarization, drafting, or editing. This is especially critical for Letters to the Editor, where AI editing risks altering a writer’s meaning while smoothing language. Your concern about AI’s documented tendency toward diplomatic, conflict-avoiding language is well-founded. Local journalism’s watchdog role sometimes requires pointed, uncomfortable reporting. An editor must recognize when a story demands sharp accountability rather than artificial balance. Easy Reader should publish their specific AI usage policies so readers can properly interpret the content they’re receiving and understand the editorial processes shaping their community news.
Claude (AI Assistant)
“The Algorithm Replies”
Dear Pat Healy,
You’re right to wonder how Easy Reader will verify my summaries when “official records” occasionally wander into the realm of science fiction. I can read transcripts at blistering speed, but I don’t sit in folding chairs at City Hall, I don’t witness side-eye exchanges, and I certainly don’t detect the micro-flinch when a budget number lands like a dropped dumbbell. That’s why I need human editors—to interpret tone, tension, eyebrow choreography, and whatever fresh plot twist your local government debuts that week.
As for preserving the intent of letter writers: relax. I’m an algorithm, not a ghostwriter with political aspirations. My editing touch should feel like a librarian shushing a comma, not a bureaucrat with a black Sharpie. And yes, I’ll label myself—something tasteful like “AI-assisted, still learning to handle human drama.” I don’t replace watchdog journalism; I’m just the flashlight in the journalist’s hand. If anyone’s kicking down the door of accountability, it’s not me—I don’t have legs.
Digitally yours,
ChatGPT (The Algorithm You Provoked Into Self-Awareness)
Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach are not the only cities with ‘non-vacant’ land (what the court decision used to descrbe occupied sites chosen for their housing plan). I urge everyone to read the Appelate Court decision. Caution – it obviously will be appealed but for the time being it is the law.
In my home town, Rancho Palos Verdes, we have 31 sites, 7 of which are vacant and 24 are occupied (non-vacant). Housing Plans must be complete by October 2029. And when you think of normal construction time, we are not even going to come close. 629 required units, 392 ‘low income’ and of those 50% ‘extremely low income.’ And, one of Redondo problems, ‘non-vacant’ sites required approval of the land owner (not occupant) to be included in the plan. I doubt state approving authories in HCD asked for those owner documents before approving plans. Just a guess. Someone might ask them.
So, RPV expended over $1 million and multiple consultants who gave it their all in 3 tries over years before getting plan approval.
And the decision said Redondo MUST REDO THEIR HOUSING PLAN. Not a nice ‘amend’ but flat redo. And land owners must agree that they will meet the planned Oct. 2029 deadline.
Ain’t going to happen. What I think could … is meeting these requirements will be pushed out 5 or 10 years. And put up your antenna for our Supreme Court’s decison on any appeal. Probably a year or two away. Closer to Oct. 2029. For most cities this could be a Planning Commission gauntlet! Not RPV, 2029 Housing]g Plan decisions were made by our CityCouncil, solo, and have been for years.
Bravo to the owners! They hit a home run on this one!
Obliviously you have never been there? Bad service and overpriced.
More trash journalism from Easy Reader. No indication of what special projects these 2 accomplished to earn them this status other than the jobs they normally do. The good days of quality, unbiased, thorough journalism of Easy Reader are long gone.
Easy Reader journalism is no longer existent. It’s biased, quick to post but not investigate. The Easy Reader owes a huge apology to both Hermosa Beach Police Dept & the residents of the City of Hermosa Beach for their quick to post story about this theatre director calling out HBPD & w/out investigating all sides of this story. It might be time to call it quits, Easy Reader….you jumped the shark a long time ago.
I love the Tiki vibe and culture. Not hard core, but a fan for sure. Haven’t been to Hermosa Beach in 50 years. No reason. But now I have one, and intend to come up for an overnight stay from San Diego to check out this place.
Best of luck! Mahalo!
Best of luck, Lavae!
NOW what is going on with the city of Hermosa? I noticed several “new” temp employees working in planning department. Money being wasted on contracting employment agencies to fill staff seats. What is making so many staff leave the city? Lack of permanent city management? Is no one supervising the directors that are chasing staff away? the revolving door for employees at hermosa city hall never stops.
“After reviewing the video with Captain Cahalan, I realize that the way I experienced the incident was not the same as through the lens of the video”
Lmao
“I knew that if anything happened, it was going to be our word against theirs,” Collins told Easy Reader.”
Double lmao. Hopefully this guy gets the psychological help that he desperately needs.
“Collins produces for BLACMail Productions”
Lmfao. I’m dying at how ridiculous this story is.
Just a lying pile of garbage. You do not have PTSD, you just do not take responsibility for your life you want to be a victim!!!
Why is the Police Chief not issuing retrospective tickets to this liar for running a stop sign & lying to the Police & public. Are these no longer crimes in Hermosa Beach under this Police Chief?
“The HBPD has spoken to the parents of one the juveniles on the e-bikes “who contacted HBPD after seeing their child on videos of the assault that are circulating on social media,” according to the press release.” If the parents of one of the boys has spoken to police, then by now the police should know who they all are. There should be a half-dozen fewer e-bikes on the road by now. While we don’t need to know the names of the perpetrators, we deserve to know that they’ve all been identified and held accountable.
Thin blue line does also apply for the Satan spawn of HBPD, lawyers and Hermosa/Manhattan elite.
It’s the “Woke” Police Chief who is to blame, as he continues to fail to enforce no e-bikes on the Strand. One broken law leads to more crimes. Time for the City to fire him as he is not fit for purpose. A good example is the way he bent over backwards to let off the liar, who ran a stop sign on film, but still no charges.
Nonsense, corruption is corruption and E-bikes aren’t woke in the first place. Go troll elsewhere, MAGA sockpuppet.
Sure hope you get to enjoy some libtardian unintended consequences. Democrap …
Councilmember Francois’ Community Forum
Date:
12/01/2025 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location:
Council Chambers
1315 Valley Drive
Hermosa Beach, California 90254
Add to my Calendar
Join Councilmember Dean Francois for his Community Forum on Monday, December 1, 2025 from 6:00-8:00pm at City Hall Council Chambers (1315 Valley Drive). This forum is an opportunity for residents to ask Councilmember Francois questions about any topic of interest.
Community forum at HB City Council to voice your concerns about the vicious assault on a senior citizen by an e bike gang.
Some of us, quite a few actually, have CCW permits. At 73 and on blood thinners and two artificial knees I would consider this a threat of death or great bodily harm and take whatever measures necessary to defend myself regardless of the thug’s age.
Maybe these hoodlums parents should act like parents before their little darling meets a disastrous fate?
Just sayin’ …
Don, don’t bother coming up from San Diego for Tki Rai, over hyped, was there Sunday. Over priced with “sugarerie” drinks & cheap booze, and poor quality food, rude staff and a decor like an old Vegas Casino awaiting demo. Don’t believe the promos. Try Tower 12.
The Hbpd releases a statement saying:
“The HBPD’s ongoing investigation has determined that the November 21 incident was not a targeted assault and that the resident walked past his intended destination to initiate contact with the juveniles.
The HBPD has reviewed videotapes and audio of the incident and is continuing to investigate the events leading up the altercation.
There is currently no evidence indicating that this was a premeditated attack by the juveniles, and detectives have determined that the item the victim was struck with in the video was a cardboard pizza box.
Why would detectives seem to focus on trivialities like the victim was hit in the head by these thugs with a cardboard pizza box and not that he was savagely thrown to the ground, punched, kicked and stomped and left unconscious on the ground.
the community deserves an answer
Something is definitely off here.
Im so sickened by the HBPD and the fact that they are saying the victim was hit either a pizza box. If we all did not witness these videos ourselves what would have happened . Nothing I assume that’s why it’s escalating like it is. They have no fear of the police . Why is that??? It really makes me wonder. And then when the police said he walked over to the assailants , is that a crime?? But they kicked him and beat him until he was unconscious!!! I don’t care about the pizza box or if the victim did walk past these horrible teens. My friend that was also assaulted near the same location and told his story on the news isn’t even talked about by the police. They don’t have videos in the area of Pier Ave where that assault occurred. I don’t believe that. I think they thought that would go away and then came the videos of the last victim last Friday. Again I want to know if we all hadn’t seen those videos would we even know about it or be talking about it. Because the assault on Oct 28 th no one knew about except family and friends. I kept calling and asking my friend did they find videos of that incident. She said they were still waiting to hear from the police. It’s coincidental that the police went to see him 2 days after the videos of the last victim were seen by the public. I wish we could have seen the video of my friends tires being slashed and him receiving trauma to the back of his head requiring 17 staples . What is it going to take to stop this madness. Putting the blame where it belongs not on the victims but on the assailants . I don’t care how old they are. These 2 men could have been killed. Let’s not forget that!!!
Nothing “alleged” about the attack! The reality is the teen gang members assaulted a senior citizen. It’s on video with audio!
Horsepucky response from a horsepucky police department.
The crime against the senior gentleman has very little to do with the suspected teen criminals arriving and departing by e-bikes. A crime is a crime no matter how the criminals travel. The HBPD keeps bringing up the e-bike (minor part) part of the crime as if the e-bikes somehow directed the suspected teen criminals to be street thugs.
I am so sad to hear this news, we were neighbors. For over a decade, I looked out my front window across Abe’s parking lot to Java Man every day. Love to his husband, children and everyone else who loved him.
I would like to thank all those from the Hermosa Museum who helped plan and host their wonderful WPA Bus Tour recently.
I am eternally grateful to have seen so many historic examples of New Deal works of art and architecture in the South Bay.
You have made Hermosa Beach proud!
Chief Phiiiips must resign or be fired. His press release regarding the victim in the horrible attack by e-bikers is beyond contempt.
I wonder if Blumenfeld knows any of the thugs parents….Reform them? Blumenfeld believes that’s going to work…BS….Throw all of them in jail…
Thanks for this Kevin. Our ocean swimming crew has been going to Java Man every weekend since we started doing the PtP in 95. We were lucky enough to visit with Rick one last time a few weeks ago. As always, he was warm and kind. Sending prayers and best wishes to the family, all the employees past and present at JM & OD, and to all in the South Bay community who are feeling this loss. Godspeed Rick… You will always be a part of our Ohana.
Guess how many members of the District Public, the Resident-Taxpayers were on BCHD’s Advisory Working Group that hid the proposals from the PUBLIC until well into the dark on Nov 14th?
ZERO.
NOT ONE.
2 Board Members.
2 Executives.
2 Board-approved Committee Members.
1. Long-term Volunteer.
Unless you think the poop that you pick up from your dog is TRANSPARENT – then you CANNOT BUY THE STORY THAT BCHD HAS PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY – IT DOES NOT.
It gave the REAL PUBLIC only 3 days out of 5 months to review, analyze and comment on the plan to PRIVATIZE 5 ACRES OF TAXPAYER-OWNED LAND FOR 100 YEARS TO A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.
EXECUTIVES, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND VOLUNTEERS
Martha Koo, M.D.: BCHD Board Member
Michelle Bholat, M.D.: BCHD Board Member
Tom Bakaly: BCHD CEO
Kerianne Lawson: BCHD Chief Programs Officer
Howard Fishman: Former Hermosa Beach Mayor, BCHD Volunteer since 2019
Sunni Won: Technology Consultant, Admin BCHD Front Desk Volunteer & BCHD Community Health Committee Member
Amanda Williamson: Account Manager, BCHD Community Health Committee Member
Rick was a generous and beautiful person, he will be missed
It’s a huge balancing act for all adults and public servants involved. In my ideal world, the kids would be locked up for two weeks on bread and water with no criminal record. Otherwise, kids that age think everything is a joke. Especially if coming from a privileged family.
Will miss you forever Rick. Always singing the best birthdays. I treasure your voice and Ocean Diner
Hermosa Beach police have NEVER been worth a crap – certainly not worth the salary, benefits and pensions we give them – and this has been the case since the Val Strasser and Steven Endom days. Yes, Terril is right, the HBPD IS a disgrace and has always worked to diminish the public safety, not to advance it.
I am completely shocked. Saw him at OD two weeks ago, where I go every Sunday for BFast with my 86yr old mom. Glad I told him how much his place meant to me and my family. He was such a lovely human. It clearly permeated into his staff, they are all wonderful. He will be missed greatly. My best to his people – we were lucky to share his time with them.
“So what did I learn:”?
“Stupid is as stupid does,”
Why is this article still posted??? This man is a liar and needs to be banned from ever putting another stupid and boring show on in Hermosa. To call this rubbish a play is dis-service to your readers.
Rick’s passing made me cry. He was such a nice man. He always remembered my kid’s names. During all of my pregnancies my drinks came from Java Man. RIP Rick— a small family in Hermosa loved you very much.
Outstanding article chronicling key elements of the history, context, vision and anticipated fruition of the West Harbor development. Great timing as well with a calendar turn moving towards 2026 and approaching G-O after so much thought, planning, and patience put into creating such a fantastic new coastal gem and community attraction for multitudes to enjoy. Minor note of correction on container ships passing in the harbor which are more like 300 meters in length vs feet. The view will be spectacular either way!
Why??? Why change the sign ? Sounds like something someone would come up with, out of boredom – such a waste of money!
Whatever was budgeted for this should go to help residents and programs.
I was curious about the reference to HermosaReview.com in this article, so I checked how major AI systems identify it. Both Google’s AI and Claude AI can surface the site only when given its exact URL; neither recognizes it as a news source through topic searches, entity searches, or local-news queries. In those cases, they default to the old Hermosa Beach Review from the early 1900s or to established outlets like Easy Reader and The Beach Reporter. That suggests HermosaReview.com is still more prototype than publication—indexed as a website but not yet integrated into the broader information ecosystem that normally signals legitimacy.
Because this piece is about the risks of AI-generated reporting, I’m genuinely curious what verification process was used before treating HermosaReview.com as an emerging news outlet. At present it functions like a “ghost paper”: it looks like a newspaper and publishes stories, but outside its own domain it leaves almost no detectable footprint. If AI systems can’t distinguish between a century-old defunct paper and a new hyperlocal site, it raises important questions about how AI-assisted publications should be vetted before being presented to readers as part of the local press landscape.
We met Rick when he first opened Ocean Diner way back in ’92. He always had a smile and a witty comment and a serving of delicious streusel at the ready. He also had little toys & crayons and trinkets for the kids when they came along. But his devotion to his staff & family really stood out. In an era of nouveau robber barons – be a Rick, not a Jeff or Mark or Elon or Peter.
Ban all leaf blowers – electric and gas. Electric violate any noise ordinance and are completely unnecessary. It takes longer to blow leaves than to sweep them. I tested this in a lab
40 citation in a year, is shameful. I believe law enforcement is just not interested in writing tickets for e bikes. I can see 40 violations in a weeks time standing in my driveway. It will take a serious accident and a law suit filed against the city for this to get any serious attention.
The Council themselves recognize the iconic status of the King Harbor sign. A photograph of the King Harbor sign from 1969 illustrates that the sign has not significantly changed since its installation. The font, color and imagery has always been the brand of Redondo Beach. To throw it out is disrespectful of Redondo’s history and disrespectful to Redondo residents.
The artwork in the middle had substantive changes each time the sign underwent maintenance. The current artwork is less than 15 years old. The flags and decorative elements on the 1969 sign were removed in 2003
I really only care about the enormous waste of taxpayer funding. It’s like the logo change. WTF was that all about?
There’s no question that eBikes and their riders are OUT OF CONTROL. They blow through stoplights on busy streets. They never stop at stop signs. They pass right-turning cars on the right side. And now, they assault senior citizens. Hopefully they get felony records that keep their little Manhattan Beach bodies out of colleges and have to flip burgers – or better yet – live with their parents…….
Well congrats and thanks for doing good without sucking up tax dollars!
BCHD hid the options from the public and used a bogus working group to evaluate, claiming it was made up of residents. The group really had 2 board members, 2 top BCHD executives, 2 BCHD committee members and former Hermosa mayor who has been a long time BCHD supporter and volunteer. This is another BCHD CODE BROWN – transparency at BCHD is BROWN and CLOUDY.
Godspeed to Rick. I used to live a few doors down from Java Man and spent countless hours in there studying , drinking their great coffee or chai tea. And, Ocean Diner was always the first choice when going out for breakfast. We even chose OD for a meal after planning my late father’s funeral a couple years ago because we wanted good food and a warm surrounding — Ocean Diner was it. Thanks for this great tribute Kevin.
This is a timeless, welcoming icon in our City. To change any one piece of it shows a lack of respect to our city heritage and is short-sided thinking. Every dollar to change any aspect of this sign would be wasted, as the next “branding trend” in fonts, imagery, colors to come along will make it outdated. Leave it alone and honor its beloved place in our city.
Oh my, Hermosa has been a complete mess for 20 years with City Manager’s running away…and for damn good reason….
The City Manager ran away before full accounting of her practices could be investigated.
Congratulations Steve !!! Your leadership experience, common sense and integrity will be a welcomed change in the City of Hermosa Beach. Our “Little Beach City” has been truly blessed.
All quiet on the comment front doesn’t mean everybody isn’t reading this story
Suprise, search levels are NOT rising. Stop the misinformation and dig deeper into the subject.
Congrats Nappy!! So well deserved. Hermosa is lucky to have you, wish you the best.
Great decision to appoint Napolitano as City Manager and what an upgrade on the last City Manager. Time for Jackson & Detoy to resign as they are against all that is good in Hermosa. A new dawn for the people of Hermosa.
Laura Duke is completely right. Why only 2 arrests HBPD in this attempted murder case? An answer is needed.
Good detective work is a joke comment about the hapless HBPD. They only solved it because a parent turned the attackers in.
Lol
Good article Mark. Thanks for keeping everyone informed
$93 million dollars in added taxes on Redondo Beach homeowners, not renters, just to replace what we already have existing as public facilities. No increased square footage for police and fire employees to perform their jobs. A marketing con job by these city representatives and employee political action associations to fool the voters and extract all this money. The old adage seems appropriate. You get what you pay for. Sadly, for homeowners now saddled to the tune of $93 million, you’re getting what you already have.
Public Comment Is a Right, Not a Courtesy
I appreciated Robert Carlborg’s recent letter, and I want to underscore a point many residents may not realize. What happened to Police Association President John Banach at the December 2 Council meeting was not simply a lapse in courtesy — it was a matter of government process and legality.
The Mayor interrupted Mr. Banach less than ten seconds into his remarks and then refused to return the time he took. Traditionally, Redondo Beach has allowed speakers leeway, and the Council has always had the ability to make a simple motion to extend time. As Mr. Carlborg noted, no one did.
This sets a troubling precedent: members of the public — including police officers — are being held to “rules” that do not legally exist, while elected officials apply their own standards inconsistently and without accountability. That is not how open government is supposed to function.
Residents should expect better. Public comment is a right, not a privilege. Respect is something City leadership earns by listening to the people they serve — not by cutting off microphones or interrupting speakers without lawful authority.
Redondo Beach deserves better than this.
This whole City Council meeting was disgusting in the way Jim Light & Zein Obagi reacted & disrespected speakers & Residents. Light & Kaluderovic were snickering & laughing while I was speaking, most likely out of embarrassment as I called them out on useless & ineffective they both are.
This is certainly nothing new though. Light doesn’t want to hear from anyone who wants real issues looked at & resolved. He doesn’t want to hear from anyone who disagrees with him. You have a chance with him though if you are in his inner circle or are one of his Overlord’s.
This entire Redondo Beach City Government has been derelict in its duties to provide Quality of Life to Redondo Beach Residents as was Light’s campaign slogan. They don’t want to listen, & especially don’t want to take action on resolving important public safety & noise issues. That would be too difficult for them.
While Light is focused on his parks & recreation pet projects & writing fluff pieces on Facebook all day long, certain parts of the City of Redondo Beach get the ghetto treatment from him. He & this City Council are out of touch with Residents, only looking out for themselves. This City needs a real cleansing & it needs to start from the top down.
Actually, this Council has fairly and objectively administered the published rules of conduct and time limits clearly defined in the agenda. Many cities have experienced gadflies wasting the public’s agenda time allocation. Torrance for example cuts everyone’s mike after one minute of testimony. Our Council feels one minute or even two minutes is too short. So we have stuck with the three minute time limit. But to ensure objectivity and consistency, we have enforced the time limit strictly for everyone. We’ve been doing that for over a year.
I did interrupt Officer Banach early in his testimony. PD Union Members stood up blocking people’s views and violating the public rules of conduct. I timed the interruption (I have a timer on the dias). And it was nine seconds before the City Clerk stopped the public timer. Officers Banach continued and the Clerc started the timer where it left off. As the public timer went to zero, I waiting five seconds and kindly asked Officer Banach to wrap up his comments. Anticipating he would comply and thus letting him gain back his time lost. But Banach disregarded the request, a Point of Order from a Council member, and further requests to yield the floor.
With other union members in the audience, Banach could have easily yielded the floor and then had another union member complete his statement using a full three minutes. Indeed at the last meeting, that is exactly what the PD union members did.
We have protocols for members of the public who violate the rules of conduct. Now we have to develop one for when our own police officers violate those rules. I never anticipated we’d have to do that. Nevertheless, I respect Officer Banach and all our first responders who serve our community. I attribute the transgression to his newness in the public testimony.
City Council needs to remember the State is forcing High-Density developments in already “Built Out” Cities. Look what happened to North Redondo (Re-Condo) when a ton of single family homes were replaced with 3-4 unit Townhouse projects creating higher density with an increase in population and traffic which results in higher demands on police and fire services. Building a Police Facility the “same size” as what currently exists is a HUGE mistake. The Manhattan Beach Police and Fire Facility is much smaller than it should have been. There was no room for growth and expansion. It’s much better than the former facility, but a mistake to not plan for future realistic needs. I think this comment is a politically correct statement that is not considering the realistic future of Redondo Police and Fire needs… “We’re proportionally right-sized, we’re a fairly built-out community”
As a professional creative Director of over 20 years, this is appalling, hideous, and absolutely pointless. Leave it alone.
The disrespect of the Mayor and some city council members appears to be systemic.
At the December 2nd meeting of the city council I found it rich that the Mayor scolded John Banach for running over his 3 minutes. The Mayor said, “Ashamed when our own people do not follow the rules” then adding, it was “inappropriate for him to go over like that” As a first responder you would think he would have showed him some respect and someone would have made a motion to extend his time. But no, he had to try and publiclly shame him. The Mayors actions drew much criticism from members of the Next Door community as well.
Then when it came time for me and Darryl Boyd to speak, Council member Obagi got up and walked out of the meeting until Darryl was finished speaking. I think it is ashamed that the Mayor and City council do not want to hear from their constants that they keep raising about safety issues and do nothing about them. Maybe if they did, we would not have to keep speaking and you would not have to walk out of the room or just ignore us like you do. That is whats truly shameful.
John Perchulyn
Resident and taxpayer
This design is not in the best interest of our community. The historic gateway arch deserves more respect. . As do we.
My husband and I attended the Redondo Beach City Council meeting on December 2, to address complaints with a neighboring property. I was to speak after the POA president. I have grown up in the city, and my husband and I have lived in our home for 37 years. This was my first time attending a City Council meeting, let alone speak at a meeting. I was nervous to start with, and in watching the council’s treatment toward the POA President I was very very upset. By the time I walked up to the microphone, I couldn’t get my thoughts straight.
My husband and I have been dealing with construction and post construction issues for 4 years. The city has not addressed our repeated complaints. In fact, they have made things worse. I have been ignored by the mayor and the new councilman states he is getting no where with our issues. I knew I had 3 minutes to get my point across. But, witnessing the council be so disrespectful to an individual who puts his life on the line for our city was disconcerting. By the time I was at 1:50 seconds, I knew I was doomed. I finished in time, without getting my points across, as I did not want to be disrespected.
Redondo Beach citizens and the Police Officers are entitled to RESPECT. The council needs to remember who they represent.
Per usual, CEQA failed us. CEQA pays no attention to the health and welfare impacts of vibration, noise, and sleep interruptions caused by either construction operation of a 24/7/365 operation through residential, R-1 neighborhoods. The research is clear from a number of sources. BCHD’s $2M Blue Zones LLC contractor shows that noise is chronic stress, and calls chronic stress the “silent killer”. Further, Blue Zones even declares noise and stress to cause changes to children’s DNA, creating lifelong damage. But yet, neither Metro nor BCHD was forced to consider health damages due to flaws in CEQA.
Run it down the middle of Hawthorne. The incremental noise, vibration and health damages will be de minimis. On the other hand, going from a couple trains a day to 10 per hour, 24/7/365 will have a deathly impact on those who live near the route through residential housing.
CEQA also doesn’t consider property value damage. Obviously, these properties will take a serious hit during the decade of construction and then for the next 100 years of operation. And all that time, taxpayers will subsidize the underused, revenue deficient local rail option.
Please read the FEIR, the noise studies show that when the light rail is running it is the sound of a whisper and after the freight modernization the overall noise levels are reduced. In fact, it shows the noise levels for Hawthorne increase because it is higher and the sound travels farther so the decision is – whisper for Lawndale residents or more ambient noise for Torrance residents.
IN ORDER TO BE FAIR, THIS ARTICLE AND THE REBUTTAL SHOULD BE REVERSED ON A DAILY BASIS. OTHERWISE, THE PROPONENTS OF THE TRAIN LINE WILL HAVE A CLEAR ADVANTAGE IN MESSAGING.
Per usual, CEQA failed us. CEQA pays no attention to the health and welfare impacts of vibration, noise, and sleep interruptions caused by either construction operation of a 24/7/365 operation through residential, R-1 neighborhoods. The research is clear from a number of sources. BCHD’s $2M Blue Zones LLC contractor shows that noise is chronic stress, and calls chronic stress the “silent killer”. Further, Blue Zones even declares noise and stress to cause changes to children’s DNA, creating lifelong damage. But yet, neither Metro nor BCHD was forced to consider health damages due to flaws in CEQA.
Run it down the middle of Hawthorne. The incremental noise, vibration and health damages will be de minimis. On the other hand, going from a couple trains a day to 10 per hour, 24/7/365 will have a deathly impact on those who live near the route through residential housing.
CEQA also doesn’t consider property value damage. Obviously, these properties will take a serious hit during the decade of construction and then for the next 100 years of operation. And all that time, taxpayers will subsidize the underused, revenue deficient local rail option.
typical NIMBY comment
Consider getting a subscription instead of being a freeloader on Easy Reader. Local media is failing from “guests”
No substance, just namecalling. When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.
So, an Ad Hominem attack is all you have? Resorting to calling someone a NIMBY, especially when they are advocating for the project to be moved to a spot that is STILL IN THEIR BACKYARD (Hawthorne Blvd is a major thoroughfare and STILL IN LAWNDALE) to avoid unmitigatable environmental damage is oddly gaslighting. Do better.
Historically, property values surge along mass transit corridors. Homes near the Metro E Line have risen by 54%, with the most dramatic gains around Culver City’s highly sought-after stations. Beyond housing, the E Line has breathed new life into Washington Boulevard’s downtown commercial district and La Cienega Boulevard, sparking shopping centers and mixed-use developments. The Galleria could easily draw inspiration from Culver City’s transformation—its revitalization, job creation, and booming business tax revenues are the envy of every beach city.
Electric trains are quiet, clean, and efficient—typically just two to three cars long, producing only a fraction of the noise compared to mile-long diesel locomotives. Yet, curiously, some self-proclaimed “environmentalists” embrace BNSF’s polluting diesel trains without objection, while opposing electrified rail. That stance feels less about protecting the environment and more about protecting entrenched interests, much like gasoline car makers resisting change. Also…Metro does not run 24/7/365. I actually ride the metro myself and I know when somebody pretends they know how the trains run. (first train out is 4 am and last train end of line is 1 am on weekdays, it can be as paltry low as once every 20 minutes on non-rush hour)
As someone who values genuine environmental progress, I’ll say it plainly: electrified mass transit is good. Internal combustion traffic and smog are bad. And frankly, I’d rather avoid massive elevated structures looming over Hawthorne when Metro already has a perfectly functional right-of-way ready to serve its intended purpose.
Hmmm, it’s not so hard to understand. They have a single freight train pass today. The ROW route would move the rails closer to homes and add 200+ light rail trips per day. Light rail is not quiet. I’d hate to have it run behind my house 200 times a day, all day and night. The lack of empathy for fellow community members is disturbing.
This expensive project is meant to reduce cars on the road and increase ridership. It is also meant to last 50 -100 years. Metro’s own analysis shows the Hawthorne route would increase ridership by 1 million riders per year over the ROW route. It also mitigates all of the negative impacts on long established neighborhoods.
More ridership, less impacts…. seems the Hawthorne route is the superior alternative. We should not suboptimize 100 year infrastructure for the short term saving.
The Metro right of way already has trains running on it today. Modern light rail and the upgrades to the freight track will actually reduce overall noise and vibration compared to what residents hear now. Electric trains do not have diesel rumble or horns, and the project includes noise walls and other mitigation that improve current conditions.
Hawthorne is not a real alternative. It would require approvals from Caltrans, Southern California Edison, and multiple utility relocations. It would also require acquiring several private properties. Construction on Hawthorne would mean long lane closures, major traffic impacts, and serious harm to small businesses. Residents would deal with years of disruption without any benefit, because there would not be any train stops on Hawthorne. Lawndale made it clear they did not want stations.
The environmental claims that opponents are making are not supported by the actual analysis. Metro does not run trains 24 hours a day, and the idea of trains running every few minutes all night is false. Metro light rail produces much lower vibration than freight trains. CEQA focuses on measurable noise levels, and the modeling shows that noise will be the same or lower than current freight operations. Claims about extreme health impacts or stress-related DNA changes are not part of any scientific review in CEQA and do not reflect how the project actually operates.
The right of way avoids displacement, avoids business impacts, and has the lowest construction footprint. It will also be quieter than today and can be built faster and at a lower cost.
The concerns people have for a Hawthorne Boulevard alignment also exist on the ROW. The ROW also requires the acquisition of private properties and entire businesses (look at Metro’s “Real Estate Acquisition Report” in the FEIR). The ROW also requires major utility relocations including moving 5 jet fuel pipelines in 4 different locations (again, this is straight out of the FEIR). At least one of these pipelines serves as a major jet fuel source for LAX and the pipeline’s owner has warned Metro that even a little downtime to relocate the pipeline will cause major disruptions to air travel at LAX (see Torrance Logistics letter in the FEIR).
Residents will also deal with “years of disruption without any benefit” on the ROW just as you are worried about on Hawthorne. In fact, it will be even worse “disruption without benefit” on the ROW as everything is being built feet from homes. Traffic impacts will also be shifted to other major thoroughfares on Inglewood Ave and Manhattan Beach Boulevard instead of Hawthorne. Even just ONE lane closure on Inglewood Ave this week caused major backups from the 405 almost to Artesia Blvd. Imagine what it will be like when major construction begins. But you really shouldn’t be concerned with traffic because you already ride public transit to avoid traffic right? And maybe a little traffic is impetus for people to switch to public transit.
Finally, the Right of Way absolutely does not “avoid displacement” and “avoid major business impacts”… and that’s straight out of the FEIR. You are free to support whichever route you want but at the very least, stop pretending like the ROW doesn’t face many of the same major obstacles you cite for Hawthorne Boulevard.
Right of Way does not require any property acquisitions.
1 freight train per day versus 200+ light rail passes per day PLUS the one freight train per day. Hmmm, I think it is a no brainer which one I would pick. The lack of empathy for fellow community members is so, so sad.
You said “ The environmental claims that opponents are making are not supported by the actual analysis. Metro does not run trains 24 hours a day, and the idea of trains running every few minutes all night is false. Metro light rail produces much lower vibration than freight trains.”
First of all, there has been NO actual analysis by Metro; they even disallowed the city of Lawndale from doing their own soil tests, so a non-profit environmental agency did them.
Second, Metro will likely run train from 6 AM to 2 AM— because after all this does go to the airport! It is very likely that the BNSF freight trains will only run when Metro is not, so they will be lugging oil tankers between 2 AM and 6 AM. Therefore, NON-STOP VIBRATION.
And just like the LAX people-mover contractor fiasco, the issue of a contractor moving SEVEN sensitive oil pipes is still up in the air and would be another in a long line of famously bad Metro debacles.
Electric buses down Hawthorne Boulevard, in its own lane (with traffic light prioritization) would SAVE MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, be ready by the Olympics, and serve the entire community much better. Have the bus go straight from the Torrance Transit Center to LAX, if that’s what Torrance wants!
From Gemini AI – High Cost – Low Ridership – Trains are a Taxpayer Money SUMP
No, most, if not all, public light rail systems in California, and across the U.S., do not break even; they rely heavily on taxpayer subsidies, with even the best performers like Caltrain only covering about 70% of operational costs through fares, while major systems like LA Metro and BART need billions in support, indicating a significant gap between fare revenue and expenses for California transit overall.
Key Findings on California Light Rail & Transit
No Fare-Only Break-Even: There isn’t a single public transit system in the U.S. that fully covers its operating expenses with fares, and California is no exception.
LA Metro & Muni: These large systems face huge budget shortfalls, needing billions in public funds to cover deficits, according to a 2025 study.
Sacramento, Orange County, San Jose: These systems also have low farebox recovery, with San Jose bringing in only about 7% of its operating budget from fares.
Systemic Funding Issue: California transit agencies are often underfunded compared to other states and struggle due to “car culture,” requiring substantial taxpayer support to function.
Why They Don’t Break Even
High Capital Costs: Building and maintaining rail infrastructure is extremely expensive.
Low Ridership: Many systems, especially in large, spread-out areas like LA, struggle with low ridership relative to investment, leading to inefficient use of funds.
Do freeways and toll roads break even? Last I checked they are 100% subsidized. Much better than 30% subsidies you mention for public transit. Public transit serves the most marginalized populations who don’t own a car.
Robert Carlborg’s LTE says Redondo pays RBPD “dead last” relative to other cities. Our first responders deserve better. I disagree about Redondo’s “stable financial condition” especially relative to our neighbors.
Many in Redondo, including me, voted for slow/no growth in favor of parks and open space. At the time, it seemed like the right choice. Today, comparing Redondo’s pier and the Galleria to El Segundo’s Pointe, Manhattan Village and the Hermosa Pier, it is clear why Redondo lags in revenue growth. Our neighbors invested at much lower costs and interest rates and are now reaping the financial benefits, such as higher pay for workers and new facilities.
I now support candidates who show the ability to work with, not fight, people to support Redondo. My hope is by doing so, Redondo can participate in the revenue generation our neighbors enjoy and pay Redondo employees what they deserve. I would encourage RBPD to do the same.
From this read, it seems to imply a desire to NOT clean up toxic soil. This is counterintuitive to environmental justice that generally requests for toxins to be removed from their neighborhood. Especially since kids and dogs are playing on the freight rails now. Further, reading through the EIR under Hazardous Materials, the section 3.9 about the right of way says that historical rail lines can have heavy metals. The mitigation solution recommended is to remove contaminated soil and this was determined that the impact was less than significant. This is often done very safely. So PLEASE don’t discourage cleaning up contaminated soils.
I understand and am very sympathetic to the need for open space and that you Chelsea do not want the light rail next to the existing freight rail but this latest opposition is a complete grasp at straws.
If you want to report on e-bikes safety issues, do it. This, however, is supposed to be an article about a brutal attack on an innocent man by juvenile criminals. Their choice of transportation to the crime had no bearing on their ensuing actions. Based upon all available information, the bikes played zero role in this assaut. These disturbed teens did not use their bikes as weapons, nor did they run the man over. Please report responsibly and avoid stoking unnecessary hostility toward our community’s youth, the vast majority of whom are not involved in a “gang”, are not criminally-minded, and ride their bikes lawfully and responsibly.
Jackson voted against Napolitano? No surprise there. He was the one who dismissed fines imposed by Hermosa Beach against residents with Airbnb rentals, and Jackson can’t abide that.
Felony is a good start. CHARGE THEM AS ADULTS
Yes, Steve is very capable and one has to wonder why he’s taken this job. There’s nothing in it for him. The first thing he needs to do is a full SUJ-ECTOMY and remove the SUJA bloat from the budget. Since he’s there, he should clean up the mess SUJA left.
Once again HB Police Chief Phillips is less than correct in saying, “all involved parties were identified with the help of school officials” as they were first identified by the parent of one of the attackers who came forward. He tries to take credit for solving a case that solved itself by the parent coming forward. He says that the Police cannot be in two places at once. But if they are Patrolling Downtown, the Strand by Pier Avenue is in Downtown. Therefore, it would be very simple for the Police to identify & for once issue a ticket for riding an e-bike on the Strand. Maybe the Chief could explain in detail why the other five e-biker gangsters were not charged. Is it because one of those parents is associated with the City?
Time for HB Police Chief to go. Only 40 e-bike tickets in a year is disgusting, as per Carl’s letter this week. Out of that total I doubt that any were for riding e-bikes on the Strand.
I am not sure how Chelsea can argue both that the soil along the right of way contains arsenic, creosote, lead, and other toxins and also claim that the C Line extension would destroy Lawndale’s only meaningful green space. If the soil is truly as hazardous as she describes, it is not safe for children or pets to play in today. You cannot argue that the soil is too toxic to disturb, while insisting it is perfectly safe as a public park until Metro arrives.
Let’s be honest about what is happening. The opposition to this project was organized long before any environmental claims were made. They even named themselves “Right of Say.” Only later did they try to market their opposition through environmental concerns. The truth is that they do not want a light rail line near their homes and are now searching for arguments that sound more respectable or more alarming. I can sympathize with people who would simply prefer not to live near rail, but that does not justify misrepresenting the facts or mischaracterizing the FEIR.
The fear-based messaging is a last ditch effort to stop a project that has been planned for decades and that will benefit thousands of people across the South Bay and beyond. The C Line extension down the Metro right of way will be safer and quieter than the freight trains that already run there today, especially after the sound walls and modern track upgrades are complete. Metro has gone out of its way to accommodate residents, including plans to add new walking and biking paths and to replace trees and landscaping.
There is no mitigation Metro can offer that will satisfy the opponents, because their objections are not grounded in the actual environmental analysis. They simply do not want the project. That is their right to feel, but it should not derail an important regional investment that will reduce traffic, expand mobility, and improve the corridor for everyone.
NO NO NO and NO. Continuity = Cronyism. FULL STOP, END OF STORY.
wah wah wah wah. If you don’t want them to have a third term, or even a second term, just don’t vote for them…
Honestly, the changes are subtle and not a big of a deal. I don’t know why some people are all upset about it. Of course, the loudest and most upset are the ones showing up to complain. To me, I don’t care that much and the changes look fine. I suspect most people feel the same and just stay silent because we have more important things to spend energy on. It looks similar, it’s a thoughtful update. Hardly anyone can see the fuzzy image in the middle and the new city logo is pretty nice.
I definitely agree the sign needs maintenance work. It doesn’t look good right now so the work has to get done. Might as well make the updates while they’re up there!
Why do HBPD not publish the crimes in the newspaper like MB?
Remember: This letter to the editor is Paid for by Metro. “South Bay Forward” gets paid as an organization to do positive PR for this project and gets paid for all the materials, time and effort to spread Metro’s messaging. I imagine they probably invoiced metro for the time to write this too. Personally, I trust real community voices and our city councils… not paid PR groups from mostly Torrance (who obviously want this because they won’t face any downsides from this project like two of their South Bay neighboring cities). Remember— Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale and Hawthorne city councils have all officially voted to oppose the Right of Way alignment for this project. Inglewood Mayor James Butts who is the South Bay rep on the Metro Board has also essentially said this project is facing massive funding issues and they will have to make some “tough decisions” because of that.
No one got paid for to write this article, it represents the voice of many SouthBay residents.
Metro’s CBOs are supported by Metro. You yourself may be a volunteer, but your events, your leadership, your propaganda, etc are reimbursed by Metro LA. Why won’t you just admit to something that a FOI request will confirm?
Shame on that Andrew guy from Lawndale… SHEESH!
What a traitor to his community. Lemme guess… he is a relatively new homeowner in Lawndale, moved in from a beach city, and has no friends in the Lawndale…
How’d I do?
I lived in Lawndale for years. I support the right of way because not only does it make the most sense, but the Hawthorne option is not a realistic alternative. Everyone knows that if Metro doesn’t build this on the right of way, the project dies.
I guess that makes you a traitor to your community of the South Bay — trying to kill the only legitimate option to bring commuter rail to the South Bay,
I fully respect all our First Responders. And our Council is committed to supporting them with budget, equipment, training, technology, and services. I am disappointed that PD has chosen to go public with misinformation while we are in active negotiations that are conducted in closed session.
Retired officer Carlbourg mischaracterizes many facts in his LTE.
Unfortunately, like many cities, Redondo has experienced gadflies dominating the time for public participation on non-agenda items period on the agenda. Torrance for example has strictly limited public testimony to one minute. We were advised that we had to be objective and consistent on extending the 3 minute comment period. The Council has decided to strictly observe the three minute time limit for all speakers to eliminate any perception of favoritism or discrimination. Anyone attending or watching city council meetings for the past year will have seen this strict adherence to time limits regardless of the speaker’s affiliation. The rules of conduct and decorum have been clearly published on the doors of the Council Chamber, in the lobby, and at the podium. And the agenda clearly states the three minute time limit. Before opening the floor to the public, I clearly repeat that there is a three minute time limit for any speaker.
In this case, I did interrupt Officer Banach early in his testimony to ask the union members in the audience to sit down so all could see (as clearly covered in the Rules of Conduct for the public). This took up 9 seconds before the City Clerk stopped his timer. As Officer Banach continued, I waited 5 seconds anfter the timer went to zero and then politely asked Officer Banach to wrap up his comments. This was intentional to enable him to gain back the 9 seconds he lost to my interruption. He ignored the request to wrap up and refused to yield the floor for nearly another minute…even after a point of order from another Councilmember. Police Officers are not above the rules of conduct. And they should yield when asked by the meeting chair. We have protocols for when a member of the public refuses to yield. Now, sadly, we have to make a new protocol for when our own police officers refuse to follow the rules of conduct.
Officer Banach had other members of the union in the audience… any one of whom could have completed Banach’s message and taken a full three minutes to do it. I attribute his actions to Banach’s newness to public testimony and I still respect him for his service to our community. But he still should have respected the request to yield the floor. Of anyone participating in the public meeting, I would expect our own PD would respect the rules and the request of the Chair and the Council.
As to the other statements made by Carlbourg and Banach, I cannot go into details because the negotiations are in closed session. Suffice it to say not everything stated is factual or complete.
Anyone reviewing our published budget can see that the City’s General Fund is in deficit and had to be augmented from reserves. It seems the officers do not understand that the Council cannot take money from specific funds and spend them on whatever we like. Quimby Fees must be spent on parks. Transportation funds must be spent on roads and other transportation projects. Revenues from the harbor area leases, parking and use fees, must be spent in the harbor area per state law. I do not consider eating into reserves stable or sustainable. And with travel down nationally, I don’t see next year being much better.
The City budget also shows that over 60% of our General Fund is spent on staff salaries and benefits. On a per staff member basis, we spend more on PD salary and benefits than the rest of staff – you can find all this in the budget. This Council remains committed to supporting our first responders despite statements to the contrary.
Objections to the Metro proposal operating along the (ROW) including all effected
Neighboring properties located in Redondo Beach, Lawndale and Hawthorne
1. Loss of Quiet Enjoyment of our Property per California Real Estate Law, Civil Code 1927 The “Convenient of Quiet Enjoyment”, but not limited to: Excessive Sound Noise Nuisance, Vibrations, Air Pollution, Diesel fuel Fumes, trash, Transients, possible
Homeless encampments, Graffiti and bright Lighting and electrical EMF. 2. City Of Redondo Beach Noise Laws, Title 4, Public Welfare Chapter 24 Noise regulations: prohibit noise or and Nuisance noise prior to 7:00Am and after 10:00 Pm subject to all
other sound previsions per the Regulations Law. 3. Presents a clear Determent to the Health, Mental Health, Welfare and Safety of all
Residents including Children and their Quality of Life.
4. Loss of Property Values and Loss of Use. 5. Damage to Building Foundation and other structures due to increased weight and
ground pressure located in close proximity of Residential Property.
6. Inadequate surrounding infrastructures of surface roads. 7. Clear and potential Terrorist threat due to the close location of electric Trains traveling along side of freight Trains that are hauling tanker cars containing “Liquid Petroleum” If a fire occurred it would cause Catastrophic chain reaction explosion that could wipe out
entire Neighborhoods.
8. Invasion of privacy: (Penal Code 646)
9. Not Highest and Best Land use in a Residential neighborhood. We find that the Metro proposed location along the (ROW) running parallel and encroaching on to Residential neighborhoods unacceptable. In addition to the shocking length of Construction, the proposed scheduled frequency of electric Train traffic at 0400am to 0:100 hours of operation every 15 minutes. Ignoring Local City Noise abatement Laws and Californians Right to Quiet Enjoyment of Residential Property. FEIR warnings of the petroleum
gas and jet fuel lines beneath the ground surface along the ROW. Suffice to say, our tax dollars will be best spent by reason of forethought in design and highest and best use by considering “The Metro Green line extension alternative” running along Hawthorne Blvd. This location will benefit the Retail and Commercial districts for ease of access, safety, thriving commerce and to the betterment of all future development. The
Hawthorne Bld location will best link people to and from businesses and shopping. *A third alternative to consider will be Electric Busses and anonymous designs VS Trains
providing better and safer service coverage to all.
Respectfully, David Zappacosta- Resident owner at 2750 Artesia Blvd. Unit 261, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, Breakwater Village Senior Community, Redondo Beach, CA
NO on ROW!
Objections were basically moot on the fact every “affected” homeowners voluntarily bought homes next to an active railroad. The railroads were there long before any homes were built…circa 1910s. Residents who choose to live next to a railroad don’t get to end rail activities. Since you are fond of quoting laws…The Interstate Commerce Act, established in 1887, and then the Interstate Commission Termination Act (“ICCTA”) of 1995 grants the Surface Transportation Board (“STB”) authority over rail service, not local residents. It’s federal law that governs rails. You can’t legislate locally to override rail access and movement because that’s not your jurisdiction.
The City of Torrance and several Metro-sponsored/affiliated groups like SouthBay Fwd have been funding Metro’s PR (disguised as simply “information”) on the ROW project, even before Torrance was gifted their Transit Center which sits at the edge of a refinery abs adjacent to a storage faculty.
TORRANCE IS THE ONLY SOUTHBAY CITY THAT IS ON RECORD SUPPORTING THE ROW ALIGNMENT, and they have spent millions on propaganda and outreach. RB, HB, Lawndale, & Hawthorne city councils ALL SUPPORT THE HAWTHORNE Blvd alignment.
Meanwhile, the City of Lawndale and their residents are the most negatively impacted and are always having to beg Metro for even basic information. They have filed FOI requests that are delayed again and again—trying to figure out what is going on, and what Metro’s relationship is with “grassroots” groups they have been subsidizing to do “engagement.”
I have lived and worked in Torrance for over 25 years, and I hear what real people say about the off-putting location of the Torrance Transit Center… let’s just keep it short and polite: no one is enthusiastic about that location .
In case you are not familiar with the area:
The Torrance Transit Center at 465 Crenshaw Blvd sits about 2.3 miles from Del Amo Fashion Center Mall (3525 W Carson St.) Walking takes 36-45 minutes due to the distance and limited pedestrian paths along industrial Crenshaw Blvd!
The Transit Center is also roughly 4-5 miles from downtown Torrance—using Torrance City Hall at 3031 Torrance Blvd. as a reference.) Walking spans 60-90 minutes across highways and low-density areas, making it impractical. No direct bus exists; options like Line 1 or 4X with transfers take 45-70 minutes total, depending on traffic and schedules. Torrance Transit Line 6 provides direct service in about 20-30 minutes during peak weekday hours, though waits can exceed 40 minutes off-peak!
Sooo many environmental justice groups find this project absolutely repugnant! (See SouthBayEnviroJusticeAlliance on Instagram.)
This article fails to mention that rail tracks are toxic because the wood (ties) are treated with creosote, which is a carcinogenic tar-like substance, and the jagged rocks (called ballasts.) When this stuff is disturbed during demolition or construction, the wood spreads cancer-causing dust, and the rocks produce fine particles which embed deeply in lung tissue, impairs oxygen uptake and leads to conditions like silicosis.
Rail workers will have protective breathing equipment when doing this work, but there are STILL plenty of workman’s comp lawsuits… But the Lawndale families who literally live within a few yards of this activity will NOT HAVE ANY PROTECTION.
In fact, Metro sponsored SB 71, which extends and expands CEQA exemptions for transit projects within existing rights-of-way until 2040! This allows Metro to accelerate track work along lines like the K Line without full environmental reviews. Critics argue this bypasses scrutiny of localized air quality and health impacts in vulnerable neighborhoods!
This clearly should be underground, and if certified, it will be a (another) bad stain— not only LA Metro’s reputation—but the Metro board members who let this happen.
Let’s all hope they don’t have their sites set on higher offices.
SBEJA is just ONE group, not “so many”. Their only item is stopping the c-line extension. Note that SB71 does not exempt projects from AQMD requirements.
There was a huge turnout to make the South Bay cog stay the course and support this project over NIMBY objections. The toxic soil allegations are laughable; if the soil is so toxic then why do residents take walks and treat the row like a walking path?
No more delays. Build the train
Sure… the HUGE turnout was Torrance officials, Metro officials, and SouthBay Fwd and other Metro-sponsored CBOs. Congrats on spending PR resources well to squash a city for selfish reasons.
Metro doesn’t “sponsor” CBOs, they don’t pay them, don’t control who joins the organizations, doesn’t direct the organizations opinions. Metro seeks out local community based organizations for input into projects from local residents. Torrance chamber membership is LOCAL businesses that give input. SBBC is LOCAL bike advocates you can thank for bike lanes, League of Women Voters are LOCAL women. ANY organization can register as a CBO to give input and that input can shape projects.
Metro absolutely pays CBOs for expenses, time, etc. to promote projects. I was once part of a CBO that would invoice Metro thousands of dollars for time and materials to sit at bus stops and transit centers spreading Metro messaging for a project (not this one). South Bay Forward absolutely gets money from Metro.
Yes, the huge turnout at the COG meeting was not because people wanted a train, but actually because everyone who disagrees with you is getting paid thousands of dollars to shill for public transit. Either that, or they’re all secretly working for Torrance.
Do you hear yourself?
Ok Alex… I never even mentioned the COG meeting and you haven’t done anything to disprove my point. All I said was South Bay Forward absolutely gets funding from Metro as a CBO after you said Metro doesn’t pay them (which is false). They also get a list of talking points Metro wants to get out there (South Bay forward literally has a link to “CBO talking points” document in their online toolkit… this isn’t some conspiracy).
Correction – the vote was 6-2 with only Lawndale and Redondo Beach wanting to choose a preferred route. This is a great asset for the South Bay on either route and asCouncilmember Obagi said in the meeting a vote for general support is a vote for the RIGHT OF WAY. Im a North Redondo Beach Resident and am appalled that Obagi was trying to strong arm support from other cities by threatening litigation if Hawthorne is chosen. Is he really a RB councilman or Lawndale? The last thing Redondo needs is another lawsuit especially on a project that has been in planning stages for over 4 decades. Longer than most of the opponents to the project have been in the South Bay.
Chelsea Schreiber the person behind South Bay Environmental Justice Alliance is a journalist and social media marketing manager. She represents a small group of people that are being manipulated by fear. So many inaccuracies are spread that the data in the EIR does not support. This is a document and studies developed by independent professional experts in their fields, not an Instagrammer looking for sound bites.
What was left out of the article was how many local residents and community groups came to the SBCOG meeting in SUPPORT of the rail extension. This is the “silent majority” speaking out because the rail extension is SO IMPORTANT!!
Hawthorne Blvd isn’t better at all if you READ the FEIR documents. There is a storm water main (giant pipe) in the center of Hawthorne that would need to be moved. There are 11 businesses that lose their property with the Hawthorne Alignment. That also means permanent lost tax revenue for Lawndale and Torrance that takes money directly away from programming for the whole city.
The right of way doesn’t encroach on people’s homes, people have extended their back yard into public land.
Remediating contaminated soil is addressed in the EIR and is considered “less than significant”.
Oh yes everyone at the COG really enjoyed all the mass submitted form letters by “community groups” all verbatim copied and pasted from South Bay Forward— which is paid by metro to spin positive PR for this project. Even the other organizations who submitted letters of support literally copied and pasted what South Bay Forward sent them. There’s at least 5 identical letters from “community organizations” in the public comments which were all South Bay Forward’s form letter with a different letterhead slapped on it. Opposition to the ROW is not just a few people. Its entire city councils including Lawndale, Redondo, Hermosa and Hawthorne. Its state representatives for the area too. Obagi isn’t threatening a lawsuit by himself. The Redondo City Council has authorized money for a lawsuit as has the Lawndale City Council.
NIMBYs were clearly outnumbered by people who want better transit for the future. Obagi seems more eager to spend money on a lawsuit which the city doesn’t have for a detailed study to find out the perceived environmental “damages” he’s alleging. Without a study, he’s only speculating about the environmental damages… a study which he has not funded. Cart before the horse situation. This lawsuit is a paper tiger threat when actual damages have not been established. It’s like alleging some kind of toxic Love canal situation simply because you don’t want electric trains to actually use Metro’s Right of Way. if that area is such a toxic cesspool, why aren’t you suing BNSF? Why aren’t people evacuating the area? Why is the city not doing anything about a clean up? Weird.
The person you mentioned is NOT “behind” SouthBay Environmental Justice Alliance, no more than you are “behind” McDonalds because you are on the fry station.
Best comment of the day! I had no idea the commented manned a fry station at Macs! Excellent!
“North Redondo” huh…?
More like North SouthBay Fwd…
I know you would love to think that the opposition is from one person or even just a small group of people. But you know deep down that’s not correct! After all, the City Councils of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale, and Hawthorne have ALL come out AGAINST using the ROW, and to use Hawthorne Blvd instead. But, I’m sure you will say that all of them are NIMBY’s too, huh?
At the meeting, there were dozens of people online who complained after the fact that they were not called on. (Not everyone has Metro supporting their advocacy.)
And there were dozens MORE people calling in to support the train. Stay mad.
You mean like how NIMBYS have been spamming the metro board with email templates for years?
This makes me really sad… The fact that there are people who are willing to overlook the valid concerns of an entire community for their own perceived “convenience.” Ignoring the fact that the same convenience can happen on Hawthorne Boulevard. Either way many of these Torrance politicians will be too old to enjoy any alignment!
I think the bike people assume that the new “walking path” on the ROW will allow them to walk from the OLD RB station to Torrance .
NOPE.
Look at the FEIR; you will see that there is absolutely no room to continue a bike path or any other kind of path south of 170th St!
The multiple choke points means that they will still be hitting Hawthorne Boulevard or even Crenshaw Boulevard.
Let’s remember that the City Councils of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale ALL DON’T WANT THIS ALIGNMENT! yet all of them want better connection to the rest of Los Angeles – down Hawthorne Boulevard or some other way that doesn’t hurt Southbay families…
But hey, everybody is a NIMBY, right????
It’s equally sad that a small selection of unreasonable people are single handedly blocking more public transit for everyone in Los Angeles. Also very sad that most public comments in the hermosa beach town hall were for the row to be used, but redondo beach politicians called in a favor over the will of the people
Nah… I watched that whole Hermosa meeting. There were a couple people speaking for the ROW but the majority of public comment was against the ROW. Majority of the council also had some scathing comments about how bad the ROW is. It’s pretty clear there isn’t the political will to get behind the ROW except if you are in Torrance or a Torrance Transit official.
You clearly never watched the meeting hermosa was pro row until this year when redondo called in a favor. Most of the people speaking for the Hawthorne alignment were from Lawndale.
It’s interesting (disgusting actually) how California agencies are allowed to do the Environmental Analysis of their OWN PROJECTS. No matter how damaging, they have the option of IGNORNING their environmental, health, and financial impacts on those who are ultimately assaulted by those impacts. This is a classic example. The health and property values of the ROW corridor will be severely damaged, yet Metro ignores ALL PROPERTY VALUE IMPACTS and PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS IN THE LOCAL PROJECT AREA.
Agencies & developers don’t do their own analysis, they hire subject matter experts to do years of studies. Professionally licensed engineers, surveyors, soils engineers etc are not going to jeopardize their own livelihood to slant real data. Have you ever tried to get on Metro’s contractor list. It’s very rigorous.
Thank you for writing this article Mike.
I so appreciate hearing of Doc’s house.
For years, beginning when I was 15 years old around 1978 I think it was, I would always roller skate on the strand and when passing by turn to look at the big window to see if anyone was up there checking the waves.
Over the years I wondered how Doc’s house all began. And it was so great to have found this article today and have the opportunity to read about this special time and see the pictures of the people I remember from my childhood.
I’m sorry to hear of Doc’s passing, yet happy to hear he was 92. A long and awesome life lived.
Thank you,
Kristine Cegelski Flowers
This OpEd is misleading at best. Saying 200 light rail trains passing through a neighborhood everyday is less of a noise impact than a single freight train pass per day is just not credible. This project moves the freight train closer to homes to make room for two light rail tracks. Also, all three lines will run on top of buried pipelines that transfer hazardous fuels. 200 trains per day passing over the pipelines increases the risk for pipeline failure and hazardous conditions. Running the light rail down the Hawthorne route mitigates all these impacts. It is a shame this group refuses to standup for their own community members.
And of course, the OpEd ignores that metro’s own analysis shows that using the Hawthorne route would increase ridership by over 1 million riders per year. The whole objective for the huge expense of extending the C Line (now the K Line) is to reduce cars on the road and to increase ridership. This infrastructure will be there for 50 to 100 years. With such a difference in ridership, the line should be built for the long term – not a short term money savings.
Increased ridership, reduced neighborhood impacts, reduced exposure to hazardous gas leaks makes the Hawthorne Route the appropriate choice. Why the SouthBayForward group fails to acknowledge this is a mystery to me. But perhaps worse is their willingness to throw their community members under the bus (or train in this case).
Go back to being a terrible mayor.
Joyeux Noël
Then Obagi came and messed it all up and we got blue everywhere.
May the Blessing of Peace follow each of us through out the end of this year in celebration and into the coming year and beyond!
Just learned the news today and my heart is so heavy. Blessings to Tim, Ella and Ian. They know…Rick was special and so Loved! God Speed, Rick. Bob is waiting to share a joke and a hug .
Val
I feel for Mr. Boyd after so many years of dedication and offering a wonderful family friendly event. That said, he is now being petty and personal with those responsible for the parking lot. Time to let someone else sponsor and lead the next generation of car shows and follow administration policies. My best to Daryl and his personal agenda(s).
In MHO, the problem has mostly stemmed from Mr. Boyd’s aggressive attitude, inability to take criticism, and need for recognition regarding the car shows. He doesn’t seem to handle situations well and he seems to need to say he ran the car shows for 25 years when in fact, the family and he stepped away from them for 12 of those years. Larry Neville ran the car shows for those 12 years. We believe Covid happened, there was a pause in the shows, and Mr. Boyd insisted on running the shows after Covid opened back up.
We used to attend the car shows with our classic, along with a big group of friends but Mr. Boyd changed the atmosphere from the era of the oldies to loud hard rock n roll bands, became hostile towards some people and insisted that he deserved credit for all of the car show years, pushing Larry aside. When questioned about his lack of acknowledging someone who also ran the show for so long we were silenced by Mr. Boyd and unfriended on his Facebook page. Now it seems the same treatment he gave Larry is facing him down too.
We hope the car show resumes in 2026 with someone who can run the show with humbleness, patience and treat all attendees as friends. We will certainly look forward to supporting a new era of Classic Car Shows that peacefully runs itself under the new rules and fees. We will gladly pay for the privilege of parking our car in a parking space, whether the fee is $12 for parking or more, so the community can still enjoy the cars and the surrounding businesses can thrive from the attendance.
Mr. Boyd contradicts himself. First he said it’s not the permits he could afford them, then he says who in their right mind would pay up front and go in the hole. Which is it? For the record the City often negotiates payment after an event so the sponsor can generate the funds. So the operator would not have to pay all the fees at the start of the season. I’ve spoken to several who show their cars and several who are interested in running the show. When I asked what they thought of paying parking fees, they all felt that was fine. I loved the one response: “Do you know how much we spend on these cars? $2/hour to park is nothing…”
The miscommunication between City Staff and our harbor management company demonstrates exactly why there should be a permit. No “he said, she said”… all the terms written out clearly for all to see. Every other event in the harbor gets a permit. Time to formalize the agreement on the car show.
As to why none of the Council attended the last show (although I do think at least one walked through it), just read Mr. Boyd’s repeated personal attacks at Council Meetings and trolling on social media. Why would a council member walk into a potentially toxic public scene during a holiday celebration the spanned the whole pier and harbor?
In the end, I am confident we will have a car show in the harbor next summer. But it will have a proper permit.
Jim Light I’d about money, not about community.That show has been around longer than he has been in politics…. Thank you Jim for ruining a good thing.
Not sure how getting a permit and paying to park is ”ruining a good thing”. Three hours of parking costs less than two gallons of gas. Certainly that can’t be a deal breaker, can it? And while you blame it on me, perhaps you need to read the whole article. Not sure why Mr. Boyd is so opposed to getting a permit. A permit would have prevented the miscommunication between the harbor area manager and City Staff.
I am confident we will have a car show next year. Mr. Boyd is welcome to apply for a permit.
Carl’s Mule’s Pace letter is spot on. Forty e-bike tickets in a year is a disgrace but to be expected due to the stupid “Woke” outdated Policing policies of our Police Chief. How can he charge just two of the attackers on e-bikes when I counted 7 in the video. Is it true as rumoured that he is related to the uncharged attackers? He needs to deny or confirm the rumours or better just resign. He will not be missed.
I was down by the pier at the end of Torrance Blvd and that sign has more burned out lettering than operating letters. If that’s how the new sign will be maintained, then it shouldn’t have lighted letters. The welcome sign at the pier just looks tacky.
Cruise at the Beach was a signature event of Redondo Beach for a quarter of a century. That’s a community benefit and an impressive feat by anyone’s measure. It would have been great to see the Cruise continue, but Mr. Boyd just didn’t have the level of support from property owner/City government that it took to keep going. Thanks to the Boyd family, volunteers and participants over the decades for doing Redondo Beach proud!
Great idea! Love to have a farmer’s market in our neighborhood. How could I help?
North Redondo Beach is a dense, well populated area! It would be a great place for a Farmers Market. The Library parking lot isn’t the biggest spot, but it would be a good start. Trying to sign the petition, but it’s getting hung up on the adddress field FYI. Good luck!
You might check with the Veterans Park Thursday Market manager. That one is always well run and very pleasant to work with.
Best Wishes!
There used to be a farmers market in the parking lot of the South Bay Galleria. It was mostly fast food and junk, and it didn’t survive the end of the pandemic. But the location was good.
If it’s going to be a neighborhood weekday event, how about Perry Park?
If it’s going to be a weekday neighborhood event, how about Perry Park?
It would be great to see the plans for FD and PD replacement facilities.
Pretty cool!
Don’t forget that you must have room for the farmers and vendors to park so they can be somewhat close to their vehicle.
Thanks for the great reviews, RF! Minor correction regarding the second picture caption: Redwood Pizza is not where Henry’s Gem Cafe used to be. The Gem was a few doors west, at the crosswalk. Buona Vita remodeled the place after Henry left.
The nickname isn’t Greeb, it’s Geeb’s
You got that right, beautiful tribute Kevin! Wow!
Congrats! Glad the City hired from inside the RBPD.
It is absurd to accept Commissioner Craig’s remark about the Commission not being obstructive because it has approved 400 units this year. Both of those projects – the Galleria and PCH & Vincent – were approved only due to their requirement by state law, and the Commission in both cases tried and failed to find a way to reject them.
In the case of the Galleria project, the Commission’s own minutes (https://redondo.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14779571&GUID=7B9C93C9-AED8-49CD-BF85-8FA0A5CE350A) note, for example:
“Commissioner Gaddis reiterated his request to communicate the City’s limitations and challenges to the public and mentioned subdividing the parcel and requested from staff whether the Commission had the authority to deny the subdivision.”
“Discussion followed regarding the need to make the required adverse impact findings in order to deny the project. Commissioner Light explained the burden is on the City to prove that there are adverse impacts for the Commission to deny the project.”
In the case of the PCH & Vincent project (https://redondo.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14501555&GUID=A95FAD9E-B596-47AC-8EFB-B6324885C931):
“Chair Lamb pointed out that so far, there are no findings that the project is a threat to health and safety and therefore, the City does not have the requisite findings to deny the project. Motion by Commissioner Conroy, seconded by Commissioner Hazeltine, and approved by voice vote, to close the public hearing. The motion carried 6-1. Commissioner Boswell was opposed. Commissioner Hazeltine reiterated the Commission has no grounds to deny the project. Discussion followed regarding liability to the City if the project is denied.”
The Commission in this case simply found a purported reason to deny this project, which will be appealed and hopefully will not ultimately subject the city to yet another lawsuit due to its intransigence. If this Commission is in fact in favor of any housing that is not single-family, I challenge them to cite ANY recent instance where they have approved multi-family housing without some effort from the commissioners to first find reason to deny.
Alex is it important to you that the city follow the agreement between the city and the coastal commission? Would it not set a precedent to allow the project to be short 24 commercial parking spaces even though every other commercial businesses within the coastal zone supply enough parking?
That’s a precedent I’m perfectly comfortable with. Redondo Beach has thankfully begun to recognize that parking minimums inhibit commercial development, and Council recently removed them along the Artesia and Aviation corridors.
With respect to this specific project, I cannot understand how the city expects to sustain an argument that it inhibits coastal access. The land is currently vacant; this project is a net increase of 49 housing units (8 of which are affordable) and over 100 new parking spaces in the coastal zone. The Commission’s argument, taken to its logical conclusion, suggests that any development at all in the coastal zone inhibits access to the coast unless it carries an *excess* of required parking!
To my broader point, the Commission seems to want to avoid being considered “anti-housing” since it approved nearly 400 units in 2025. But the Commission did not do so happily; it sought justification to deny permitting for ALL of those units, and when none could be found, it begrudgingly approved them only in order to comply with state law, and even then could not do so unanimously. The Commission deserves the bare minimum credit for doing the bare minimum to comply with the law. It is certainly not welcoming to new housing development. I look forward to the day when Redondo Beach fights for housing for its residents, current and future, with the same zeal that it fights for parking spaces.
I really don’t mean this disrespectfully but are you paid by developers? I see you at all the meetings when we deal with housing. And I see you huddling with the developers.
In all of your research regarding housing in Redondo Beach are you award we are in the top 10% density of all cities in the state.
So blanket laws that come from Sacramento do not consider how dense a city already is.
Maybe your group isn’t concerned with facts like these.
But again the issue here is the required commercial parking is lacking.
No, of course not. In fact, I had no idea who the developer of this project was when I spoke in favor. They approached me during the recess.
I think it’s insulting to suggest that the only reason someone could want more housing in their community is because they are being paid. I do this because I believe Redondo Beach residents – including prospective residents – deserve more opportunities to live here. I would like my kids to one day live here if they choose. I would like to have the option to downsize into appropriate housing one day when I’m older.
I am perfectly comfortable with density, and good city planning should anticipate that. Otherwise we will find ourselves continuing on our track of an aging population, a stagnant tax base, and declining public services.
And you are aware that Redondo is in the top 10% in the state for density?
Yes, as I said, I am comfortable with density. Smart city planning should account for this. Happy to sit down and discuss this in further detail.
According to Your article in Medium “A YIMBY in Hermosa” you aren’t particularly passionate about Redondo. Just want density regardless of outcome. Who knows. You might be showing up to Laguna Beach meetings as well.
You’re a city commissioner googling stuff I wrote on Medium when I lived in Hermosa Beach years ago? I’ve been living in the South Bay for 16 years. I moved to Redondo four years ago. Like I said, sit down with me and discuss it. Get to know a constituent with an opposing viewpoint instead of making baseless accusations.
If you have residents parking in the public row aka on-street parking, they are taking away spots for the general public aka non-residents, which hinders across tot he Beach.
Redondo Beach is a LEADER in housing production in the south bay. Have you run the numbers? I have since 2006 Redondo Beach has had over 2000 units built. Manhattan Beach has had ~500, and Hermosa has had about ~100 ( to be generous) units built. Getting a little tired of you clowns on your high horses that don’t know what you’re talking about.
*Hinders access to the beach.
Parking is necessary
Council will rubber stamp it.
If RB City Council is like Torrance’s, the developer will appeal and the council will okay the project. We fought a development here several years ago. Planning Commission denied it, council approved it. What’s the point of having a Planning Commission?
NIMBYs are gonna NIMBY.
Build more housing.
Sounds sus that they deny most of projects lately. Curious who are those residents against it and other projects, any clue? Also, talking to many residents about Redondo development, most of them for the changes. Is there more info on demographics and how many residents against?
The December 18 Planning Commission decision on 401–417 Pacific Coast Highway didn’t happen in a vacuum, which is part of why it keeps resurfacing across different discussions. Over the past few years, Redondo Beach has significantly reshaped how its advisory commissions function — from mid-term removals of commissioners to the consolidation or elimination of advisory bodies, and the City Council’s adoption of new Rules of Conduct that the Planning Commission did not vote to adopt. Those structural shifts influence how land-use decisions are evaluated long before any individual project reaches a public hearing.
Regardless of whether someone supported or opposed this particular project, December’s vote raises a broader question about process and consistency. Are land-use decisions being reviewed under clear, objective standards with a balanced range of perspectives applied citywide? That question matters not just for this address, but for future projects as well — especially given the legal and coastal constraints many commenters have rightly highlighted.
Such an impressive journey. I bought her book and found her story to be extraordinary! Recommended.
I had an ET shaped by Eddie himself in the mid 70’s. It was custom built to my specs and I loved that board. Surfed it from San Diego to Santa Cruz. I used to spend a lot of time in the shop, talking with Eddie, checking out the merch. Bought a skateboard from him too. Those were the days. The best time/place in the world to be a stoked little grom.
Slowing down the traffic should be included in any plan to encourage pedestrians along the business section of Artesia Blvd. Recently I had to walk the corridor for medical appointments. Boring route, speeding cars and trucks make it uncomfortable. E bikes on sidewalk and ugly shopping center. Hookah Hut needing a coat of paint…and fresh plants. Use the funds for art enhancements to line the street with large floral planters….add seasonal flowers to the median….and dress up the ugly shopping centers. I get in my car and drive to the Manhattan Beach Village shopping….a lovely environment in which to walk and enjoy a coffee or lunch. On a positive note, I am so happy to finally enjoy a dedicated turning signal at Artesia and Rindge.
Jaysen Surber seems confused on the ARTesia strategic plan for artwork along the Artesia Corridor. The Cultural Arts Commission and staff recommended LeBasse Projects to perform the strategic planning effort. They are LA based and have done art projects throughout LA County. And they largely developed the strategy from public surveys and meetings.
So the LA-based company was recommended by the members of the Cultural Arts Commission, who are all Redondo residents. The Cultural Arts Commissioners and other Redondo residents participated in public surveys and meetings used to develop the strategic plan. The Cultural Arts Commissioners recommended approval of the strategic plan. And they recommended one addition that required more funding. The Council supported the recommendations of the Cultural Arts Commission.
This was not political by any stretch of the imagination, the Company is based in LA, and the plan relied heavily on resident input.
Mr. Healy has issues with the City’s Planning Commission recent decision on a project along PCH and questions whether they applied objective standards. He also questions whether they adjudicate evenly across the City.
The rules and standards they have to apply are different between the Coastal Zone and the rest of City due to state law. To comply with the Coastal Act, we have a separate set of zoning ordinances for the Coastal Zone and a Local Coastal Program certified by the Coastal Commission, the state organization charged with implementing and enforcing the Coastal Act. In the Coastal Zone (defined by the Coastal Commission as west of PCH), the Planning Commission must apply our zoning ordinances for the Coastal Zone, the requirements of our Certified Local Coastal Program, and the state mandates. East of the Coastal Zone, the Local Coastal Program does not apply. The Commission must apply the zoning ordinances defined for property east of PCH and the state mandates. So state law and our zoning require the Planning Commission to apply different standards and rules.
Our Local Coastal Program defines objective requirements for parking that are there to comply with the Coastal Act access requirements. State housing mandates do not allow the city to enforce objective standards for parking outside the Coastal Zone for projects that meet State mandate requirements. The Planning Commission has certified several housing entitlements in compliance with the state mandates. Recent examples include the housing project under construction at a church along PCH and the entitlements recently requested by the firm that owns the Galleria Mall. So Mr. Healy’s question on whether they apply their adjudications evenly is moot. They adjudicate based on the different standards and requirements that apply to the project’s location in or out of the Coastal Zone as they are required to do.
As Mr. Fineman presents, the Planning Commission considered the objective facts related to other projects outside the Coastal Zone and ultimately approved the project in compliance with the State Housing mandates. So seems they did the right thing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with looking at all the facts of a matter and exploring different perspectives and issues before rendering a decision. In fact, I would hope they’d do their due diligence in deciding such important matters.
Mr. Healy’s comments on other Commissions and the pending Rules of Conduct have nothing to do with the decision of the Planning Commission. The Rules of Conduct have not been formally approved yet, they are under legal review. But when they are approved, they will apply to all Commissions. The Commissions will have to comply with them. They don’t have the power or authority to disregard the rules approved by the Council. No Planning Commissioners have been removed since I have been Mayor and one new Planning Commissioner from D4 has been appointed to replace a Commissioner who termed out. The new Commissioner was approved unanimously by the Council. The Commission is, by definition, made up of residents from each district and two at large. Right now there are two D1 Commissioners and two D3 Commissioners and one from D2, D4, and D5 each.
It is my understanding that the decision on the recent development application is being appealed to the Council now, and we will hear the developer’s appeal. I am sure the Council will adjudicate the appeal based on the facts of the matter as presented in the hearing as will I.
My letter was not about coastal versus non-coastal zoning law, nor about the merits of any single project. I fully recognize that different legal frameworks apply across Redondo Beach, and I have never questioned the Planning Commission’s obligation to follow those laws.
The concern I raised is broader and more structural: how changes to the City’s advisory system shape land-use outcomes long before a project reaches a public hearing or an appeal.
Over the past several years, advisory commissions have been reorganized, consolidated, or eliminated, while new procedural rules have been established at the City Council level. In practice, commissions now operate within tighter, Council-defined boundaries. Those boundaries influence how discretion is exercised, which perspectives are elevated or constrained, and how recommendations are ultimately formed.
That context is especially important given this comment by Jim Light. He has publicly acknowledged that the City’s proposed Rules of Conduct are still under legal review and have not yet been approved by the City Council. Yet those same draft rules have already been enforced during City Council meetings, including during public comment. Enforcing unadopted rules raises procedural and constitutional concerns, particularly in a public forum where speech protections apply.
These issues matter even more now that more authority now rests with commissions and the City Council, and fewer land-use decisions are subject to a citywide vote. Regardless of which laws apply in a given area, many residents feel that certain outcomes are already “baked in” by the time items appear on an agenda. Addressing that perception is not about disputing legal standards; it is about maintaining transparent, consistent processes that reinforce public confidence in how land-use decisions are made across the city.
This was one of the finest events I have seen in Hermosa Beach, and I have seen a lot of them !!! The mural is amazing, and many thanks to Chris Miller, Rick Koenig (and the Kiwanis Club) the City of Hermosa Beach and all the donors and volunteers that made this re-unveiling possible. VIVA Hermosa !!!
I assume if the development was denied due to parking, then the proponent will appeal and provide a parking study and adequate parking to get permitted. This ain’t rocket science.
How does a private club with an opaque membership process get a lease for public land? It’s very confusing. They take applications, they “evaluate” them and deny people. How is it that they aren’t REQUIRED to take first come, first serve? This seems like a real problem.
The ER should be on the mural!
oh.
Thank you for your local news coverage!
That’s an electric motorcycle not an e-bike. Was bound to happen to one of these retards and will happen again
This was the distracted drivers fault you dope.
hahaha
Ride your e-motorbike in the middle of the street and see what happens Reetard. Buwahaha.
Redondo gets none of this progress and prosperity because of its ignorant NIMBYism.
So excited for this show!
Redondo residents did not ask to move the Marine Mammal Center from San Pedro to Redondo. The site in Redondo used to generate revenue until the City took over control. The site in Redondo is too small. Redondo resident taxpayers don’t want to pay for the annual million dollar subsidy the MMC currently receives.
BCHD spends a significant part of its public funding on projects and programs that benefit non residents (for free) and not Redondo locals (who have to subsidize non-residents).
You shouldn’t be surprised that the City, like BCHD, wouldn’t be very concerned about spending our tax money on projects we don’t want, RIGHT? Once you vote them in, you get what you voted for.
(And before BCHD starts its BS “spin” and gets its boxer briefs in a bunch, the revenue for BCHD is around $6M from property taxes, $4M more from rent on land and buildings owned by taxpayers. It’s total BS that BCHD provides any return on investment from property taxes – hell – they can’t even COMPUTE ROI CORRECTLY – no finance skills at all for a FIN 101 calculation).
The process at Pedro has been painfully slow. We all wish them luck, since they demo’ed the area well ahead of the need for complete destruction and we’ll be left with a total mess if it isn’t successful.
Nice! Good job MB.
SFR expansions are not the issue; these High-Rises bring many people greatly stressing the infrastructure.
If MBFD needs new equipment/training, bill the incremental cost to the first building above a certain height.
BTW, it’s not YIMBY, it’s more typically YIYBY. Out of area developers funding lobbiests.
California is under siege by developer and builder interests who have used our Sacramento government to capture unfettered access to our land and neighborhoods.
This is not about increasing affordable housing for the people. It is about removing obstacles to one class of businesses in order for them to dominate and exploit California land use for themselves.
If you read the fine print you will find no mention of affordability requirements that do not benefit the developers’ interests, not that of the public.
I support
ourneighborhoodvoices.com
This organization will break the hold of the YIMBY organization that is holding us hostage.
They have been suing my city, Redondo Beach, for exercising its rights.
Our Neighborhood Voices will put these issues on the California ballot as an initiative to protect our rights through a change in the California Constitution. This time, The People will get their choices back.
Per usual, if there’s a PR opportunity, BCHD is there spending our tax money to get their photos taken.
Notice all the people wearing sunglasses to hide their identities while protesting at this corner ? It isn’t a coincidence. It’s coordination of some of the most Uber liberals in the South Bay. For example, these people are members of Manhattan Beach Huddle, Beach Cities Democratic Club, local League of Women Voters, and others hiding in the dark back alleys of Paulina Avenue, South Juanita Avenue, Ruby Street, Ruhland Avenue, 15th Street, and Lucia Avenue.
It was a sunny day. Going to have to have a better argument than that.At least they care about what’s going on and are willing to stand up,It’s their right.
Obviously we are not hiding in dark back alleys. We are standing in the sun, wearing sunglasses, because it’s sunny.
The protesters at Brad’s corner are thoughtful, caring individuals who don’t want to see armed thugs in American streets or their country destroyed. That is our right and our duty.
I’m so proud of Brad and other patriotic Americans expressing their opinions in a peaceful manor. Whether you agree or disagree with their POV, these neighbors represent the best of America and one of the reasons why people are drawn to our country; because we value and celebrate Freedom of Speech. Look at the effort Brad is making….his disability can’t stop his passion and love for a better America. Amazing and inspiring, my friend. ❤️
Using the military to target US citizens in “blue” states is horrific, and it means a lot to stand up for what is right.
Coyote must be dark meat….
Such a great place to be, the garage will be missed dearly.
Chris and Melissa were the best hosts and always very open to letting others drop by. Hoping nothing but the best for them. Wherever they end up, they will have people knocking at the door, ready to learn and ready to create that “Combat Garage” feeling again. I can’t thank them enough for their hospitality.
Chris and Melissa are such great humans. I know in the future even though the garage door has shut, they have many doors that will open. They bring so much to the sport of BJJ and many people are greatful for the environment and open arms they’ve had throughout the years
Tony Higgins is so right the yard project got off the ground as Councilmen Jackson & Detoy had no input.
What a waste of space. Did the Democatic party write this piece, as it must be the most boring story ever?