By Garth Meyer
New Redondo Beach Mayor Jim Light welcomed paddlers to the 2024 Catalina Classic Saturday morning, Feb. 24, at Seaside Lagoon, then went up to Veterans Park for a District 1 Community meeting featuring L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell.
It was day four of Light’s interim mayorship, taking over for the late Bill Brand, who died of lung cancer Feb. 9.
Light is a longtime city activist and harbor commissioner.
“Drinking from a fire hose,” he said of the transition to mayor. “I’m using too many (metaphors), I want to hit the ground running, I don’t want a slow rampup.”
He had his official photo session Monday. Mayor Brand’s office at city hall still has some of his things in there, so for the time being Light uses a spare conference room.
He described Brand as his “best friend” in an emotional Feb. 20 city council meeting during which Light was chosen to succeed Brand on a 3-2 vote.
Light has met in the past few days with councilmembers Scott Behrendt and Paige Kaluderovic, who voted against his appointment. He did not know them from his previous work with the city.
For priorities in the 13 months remaining on Brand’s term, Light named “waterfront momentum” on the AES site and Harbor Amenities Plan – which calls first for Seaside Lagoon revitalizing and addition of a boat launch. He will focus also on keeping Metro from putting light rail down a right-of-way through North Redondo and Lawndale neighborhoods; implementing the city’s General Plan updates, including an environmental review for the city housing element and subsequent re-zoning to create it; and pushing to improve the business environment of Artesia Boulevard.
“I’m excited to have the chance to make a difference,” Light said.
He also wants to monitor the AES power plant owners’ bankruptcy.
“The city has to be ready for when that gets resolved,” Light said.
He also mentioned seeking grants and philanthropic funding for the waterfront.
“I want to sit down with the city before I start picking up the phone,” he said.
One of Light’s duties now is to appoint someone to take his place on the harbor commission.
Light served with the group since 2017 and on GPAC (the city’s General Plan Advisory Committee) from 2017 until it completed its work in January.
Light has twice been a candidate for city council, in District 1, in 2005, which he lost a runoff to Steve Aspel, who later became mayor; and in 2013, losing in a runoff to Jeff Ginsburg.
Vetting
During the city council hearing last week before Light was named mayor, Councilman Zein Obagi, Jr., asked that he refrain from endorsing anyone in the March 2025 mayor’s race.
Light said he would if that is a requirement to be appointed.
“I want to talk to Zein, to see if that is indeed a requirement,” he said. “I’ll honor it but it’s a first amendment right, so I don’t think it’s right to restrict that.”
Light was also asked by councilmembers if he planned to run for city council or mayor next year.
“I’m not going to run for any position,” he said.
The first item the new mayor handled was a 4-1 vote to allow electric and battery-powered leaf blowers in the city.
“I’m going to use the veto very judiciously,” he said.
Another item he wants to discuss – with City Manager Mike Witzansky – Light said last week is the status of the powerlines stretching from the now-decommissioned AES plant up 190th Street. Will they be coming down any time soon?
Light pointed out that AES may need them for some time because power needs to come into the plant during the mothballing and tear-down process – whenever that may occur.
As far as the waterfront, the mayor estimated that the first item in the amenities plan, renovating Seaside Lagoon, will come to fruition in three to four years.
He also wants to check the interest level of city councilmembers from North Redondo in a second community garden. Light worked on the first one as president of South Bay Parkland Conservancy. It opened last June at Alta Vista Park.
Perhaps a second garden would be a city budget item this year, which is another major duty of the mayor, a process that begins in earnest with the city council in April.
“I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support from the community,” Light said. “I can’t let down Bill’s legacy and I can’t let down all these people counting on me.” ER
