About Town Redondo: Potential fire station scenario; Muratsuchi bill passes
New fire stations could mean temporary, interim fire stations If a new Redondo Beach fire station, or two, come about, with a potential bond now under consideration by the city council, one thing to decide will be what to do during construction. Patrick Butler, Redondo Beach interim fire chief, has experience with this. He worked […]
2024-25 budget passes, averting city charter crisis
by Garth Meyer After four hours of deliberations, spreadsheets, motions, substitute motions, questions and allegations Tuesday night, June 18, in the third of three public hearings for the Redondo Beach city budget, a package passed 3-2 – followed by a looming, rare, potential violation of the city charter. “Vote carries, I would be prepared for […]
Little Fish Theatre settles in at new space in Redondo Beach
by Garth Meyer Little Fish Theatre has moved to Redondo Beach, with remodeling permits pending for interior work at its new location on the Beach Cities Health District campus. The non-profit is set up in the old hospital’s former Child Development Center. For 21 years, it was housed in a former San Pedro tow yard […]
City moves toward fire stations, public safety bond
by Garth Meyer Replacing two fire stations, and perhaps more city buildings, took a step further Tuesday night, June 11, as the Redondo Beach city council voted 4-1 to move toward running a bond measure as soon as November. Councilmembers spoke of limiting the scope to the two fire stations – and potentially a new, […]
Ron Kovic releases new book; talks past, present, personal and national
by Garth Meyer A story of a man who has fought to live, mentally and physically, Ron Kovic’s newly-published third book, “A Dangerous Country; An American Elegy,” includes a year-long war diary from the paralyzed Vietnam veteran and Redondo Beach resident. The author of the 1976 bestseller “Born on the Fourth of July” had never […]
Swords to Plowshares, a Cold War memory of Redondo Beach’s Wilderness Park
Wilderness Park To open The stunning transition of F.E. Hopkins Wilderness Park from a barren parcel into a lush nature retreat is [complete]. Redondo Beach’s 11-acre ecological preserve featuring campgrounds, ponds, streams, and an outdoor amphitheater will be open to the public later this month. — Redondo Reflex, July 6, 1977 by Steve Fulton Wilderness […]
35-year Redondo city video man retires
by Garth Meyer The video man of the Beach Cities has retired. After 35 years taping Redondo Beach city council meetings and other city functions, Doug Nielsen’s last assignment was a special budget and finance commission meeting April 30, concluding a career that also featured work for Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. He started in […]
Posthumous honor – Redondo Beach Memorial Day 2024
At the Redondo Beach Memorial Day ceremony May 27 at Veterans Park, Rector Jason Shelby, Saint Francis Episcopal Church, Palos Verdes Estates, presents a retired flag in honor of the late mayor Bill Brand, to his sister Sallie Cintron. The Veterans Park flag is replaced each Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Photos by Garth Meyer […]
Redondo council decides against county, keeps city fire department
by Garth Meyer The Redondo Beach city council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to keep its city fire department, concluding a six-year process, putting to rest the question of whether contracting with the L.A. County Fire Department would be better financially for the city, if not other reasons too. The vote also tasks city committees with […]
$250 school board stipend clashes with city charter
by Garth Meyer “A quarter of a million dollars has been siphoned off to boardmembers,” said Redondo Unified School District boardmember Rolf Strutzenberg at their regular meeting May 14, describing a previous payment of $250 per month to the representatives since 2005. Strutzenberg is also a member of the Redondo Beach charter review committee, which […]
Letters to the Editor 5-23-24
Next, the crows Dear ER: I am disgusted and appalled by the decision of the City of Redondo Beach to smoke out the gophers along the North Redondo Beach Bikeway path. The gophers existed on public property and were doing absolutely no harm to the grassy areas on either side of the path. Dogs enjoyed […]
About Town Redondo: AES safing, youth wellness summit, ocean warning
AES plant “safing” process continues Redondo Beach Mayor Jim Light reported in his May 9 State of the City address that the decommissioned AES plant is undergoing a “safing” (safe mode) process. It has been disconnected from its 220 kilovolt (high tower) power lines, its natural gas lines capped, and hazardous liquids removed. One of […]
Mayor’s farewell
Mourners converge May 11 off of Redondo Beach for a paddleout ceremony in honor of the late Mayor Bill Brand, who died in February of cancer. Photos by Garth Meyer
Mayor targets light rail, Galleria, harbor in State of the City
by Garth Meyer “It is hard to fill his giant flip-flops,” said Redondo Beach Mayor Jim Light, in his State of the City address May 9 at Sonesta Hotel, the appointed mayor paying tribute to the late Bill Brand. Light presented a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award for the former mayor, accepted by Brand’s sister, Sallie […]
BCHD weighs bond to tear down hospital, create green space
by Garth Meyer The Beach Cities Health District may ask voters to approve a $30 million bond to tear down the old South Bay Hospital in Redondo Beach and replace it with green space and a parking lot, among other modifications to the District’s campus. BCHD representatives will hold three public meetings this month to […]
About Town Redondo: Mayor Brand paddleout, State of the City, Firefighters’ spaghetti dinner returns
Mayor Brand Paddle-out is Saturday A paddle-out in honor of late Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand starts at 11 a.m. Saturday on the beach by Veterans Park, with a picnic to follow. Board drop-off starts at 9:30 a.m. After a short beach presentation, mourners will paddle, accompanying one of Brand’s surfboards, unridden and decorated with […]