Light elected Redondo Beach mayor, Obagi Jr. reelected, Ford is next city attorney
by Garth Meyer Jim Light is the next mayor of Redondo Beach. Joy Ford is the next city attorney and Brad Waller the next District One city councilman. Chadwick Castle will represent District Two and Zein Obagi, Jr., retained his seat in District Four. Final unofficial election results were announced at 2 p.m. Thursday by […]
Doubt grows for retail cannabis in Redondo Beach
by Garth Meyer The prospect of retail cannabis stores in Redondo Beach is less certain than it has been before, with rising public opposition, a new city council coming and current councilmembers showing skepticism. Three city councilmembers have expressed hesitation, and at least three candidates in the March 4 yet-to-be-decided election said they would vote […]
Jim Light leads mayor’s race in early count
by Garth Meyer In early results from Tuesday’s election, Jim Light leads the race for mayor, Joy Ford has a strong lead for city attorney and all measures are passing. The first count represents 4,556 ballots, those received by last Friday in the all-mail election. Light, the appointed mayor running for a full term, leads […]
Redondo Beach mayor’s race: candidates differentiate at old library forum
by Garth Meyer The first Easy Reader/BeachLife/presented by South Bay Boardriders Redondo Beach candidates forum got underway at sunset Feb. 20 at the old library at Veterans Park, with a standing-room crowd. Moderator Marcus “Goodie” Goodloe quizzed mayoral candidates last. He began with a question about pickleball courts, then about the five candidates’ visions for […]
Obagi, Jr., U.S. Attorney reach agreement to defer prosecution
by Garth Meyer Redondo Beach City Councilman Zein Obagi, Jr., has reached a deferred prosecution agreement with a California U.S. Attorney’s office following a felony criminal probe into his actions with a former client, which previously led to a two-year ban from practicing law. The Feb. 6 U.S. Attorney’s Office of Central California agreement stipulates […]
Redondo Pier skate park dedicated
by Garth Meyer The Redondo Beach Skate Park was officially dedicated – along with its new mural – in a small ceremony at the Pier Jan. 29. The park opened in 2023. Its 90 x 18-foot mural was painted in October and November, called “Skate Waves” by Andy Jenkins. The park was a long-sought project, […]
The City of Redondo Beach Considers Electronic Sign for Waterfront
by Garth Meyer Should the city allow an electronic sign at the waterfront? That was the question before the city council Tuesday night, Feb. 4, and it voted 5-0 to move ahead on the potential addition to the tall “Redondo Beach Waterfront” sign near Captain Kidd’s. The previous city council voted to fund the sign […]
Park confirmed for Redondo Beach land near AES power plant
by Garth Meyer After two years of design and planning, a two-and-a-half-acre park of native plants is coming to the land under the powerlines just up from the AES plant, on the hill where city officials held a ceremony to mark the shutdown of the power plant on New Year’s Eve, 2023. “I was ecstatic […]
Riviera Village office fronts draw scrutiny
by Garth Meyer Prohibition may soon return to Riviera Village for ground-floor office space. Reinstatement of an earlier zoning ban on office tenants at street-level is under consideration by the Redondo Beach city council. The matter stems from the council’s current Strategic Plan, which aims to bring new businesses to the city and cut regulatory […]
Redondo Beach treasurer to city council: “You’ve done nothing” for revenue-producing programs
by Garth Meyer Redondo Beach Treasurer Eugene Solomon has called for action from the city council, to “stop delaying” revenue-producing programs. “Hope is not a plan,” he said from the podium at the Jan. 21 council meeting, during public input on non-agenda items. “… At least discuss the (programs).” “You talk about being a business-friendly […]
Easy Reader’s (slightly delayed) Top 10 Songs of 2024
By Michael Kraxenberger and Garth Meyer Easy Reader’s possibly-biased, possibly-opinionated, possibly obscure, possibly not obscure-enough, never-made-it-into-print Top 10 Songs of 2024: Meyer— 1. “Please Please Please” – Sabrina Carpenter Of the three elements that make up a lasting song, this delivers all three; distinct sound, melody and lyrics. Its airy, at-ease, focused-casual execution […]
Redondo Beach councilmembers look to limit smoke shops
by Garth Meyer Easier permitting standards to open a new business may be coming to Redondo Beach – and harder standards for smoke shops. The city council discussed the matter Tuesday night, Jan. 21, part of its Strategic Plan goal to attract new businesses and cut down on regulatory barriers. Part of this also is […]
City cannabis stores’ final ordinances near
by Garth Meyer The Redondo Beach city council voted 4-1 Tuesday night, Jan. 21, to take another step toward a final set of ordinances to open retail cannabis shops in town. The council took in testimony on some last particulars. “I kind of feel like we’re getting to the point of perfect is the enemy […]
RBFD in “demoralizing” fight to save homes in Palisades
by Garth Meyer When the fire broke out in Pacific Palisades the morning of Jan. 7, two engine crews were quickly summoned from Redondo Beach. Captain Kenny Campos and three fellow RBFD firefighters were assigned to Sunset Boulevard, which runs the length of the town, north to south. When they turned onto Sunset, from […]
City of Redondo Beach: faster electric vehicle charger permits coming
by Garth Meyer In a matter of “ordinance housekeeping” as described by Redondo Beach City Manager Mike Witzansky, the city council Tuesday voted 5-0 to move forward to establish a faster permit process to install electric vehicle charging stations. The action is the latest step for a 2015 state law that requires local jurisdictions to […]
Redondo Beach Fire Department personnel fight Palisades fire
By Garth Meyer Two Redondo Beach Fire Department engines and their crews were on the scene in Pacific Palisades Tuesday to help fight the sudden wildfire, estimated to have burned 5,000 acres and claimed at least 1,000 structures as of Wednesday morning. Redondo Beach City Manager Mike Witzansky reported the mutual aid dispatch of the […]