Guns don’t take electricity, people do
Dear ER:
Friday afternoon I received a thank you note and a small bouquet of flowers from the “Open Carry” group (“Police say no to guns on beach,” ER July 1, 2010). Seems they helped themselves to my electricity for their press conference and wanted to say thanks. The card read, “It’s people like you that make Hermosa a great community.” Maybe, but not because I support “Open Carry.”
On Saturday I was shocked to see our city of Hermosa Beach in the California section of the LA Times over the “Open Carry” issue. Being a resident here since the mid-seventies, I’ve seen the city grow into a more urban beach but never has it occurred to me that it has become dangerous. My two sons have grown up here and have enjoyed the Pier Avenue scene after dark and understand that it takes common sense and awareness to mingle with such an eclectic crowd. Still our family has always felt safe here — until now. As a long time resident I do not want to see my neighbors packing weapons to eat ice cream or doing any other activity in town. I feel not only is it ridiculous but dangerous, for it seems to me these people would like nothing more than to have cause to shoot someone. If my opinion takes me off the list of people that make this a great community, so be it. Personally, I’d prefer to remain armed with common sense and allow the police to continue to do their job of keeping the community safe.
Terry Gretsky
Hermosa Beach
Picture of fiscal responsibility
Dear ER:
I was interested to see the articles about Leonard Wibberley (“Writer and waterman,” Easy Reader/Beach July 8, 2010). Particularly timely was a copy of the photo of him that has hung proudly in the Hermosa Beach Public Library. For many years that photo has hung on the south wall to the left of the circulation desk. But recently it has developed a bit of a vagabond spirit. About two months ago it was relegated to the small foyer off the parking lot. In its place was a large head shot of L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe holding a book with the word READ on the top of the photo. It is not clear if he is encouraging us to read or if he was proclaiming that he is able to.
Knabe is the supervisor of the fourth district of Los Angeles County and the district meanders from Marina del Rey to Whittier. I don’t know how many library branches are in that area, I would guess about 12. I could not estimate the cost of this photo venture but it does seem a bit untimely of Knabe to indulge in such self promotion at a period when the county library system is facing cutbacks and layoffs. Perhaps money spent on library support rather than self aggrandizement would have been more valuable. I must note that there was already the obligatory photo of the Supervisor on display at the library.
In response to grumbles of patrons, Leonard Wibberley has been moved back to the main room where he now shares the south wall with Knabe. I suspect that Wibberley would have been amused by the whole thing.
Sue de la Camp
Hermosa Beach
Run, paddle, vote
Dear ER:
The Hermosa City Council is hypocritical and is using severely flawed logic. Only a fool would think that ending a 36 year tradition, which is the Hermosa Ironman will have any effect on drinking on the beach. The Hermosa Ironman is an event that occurs once a year and lasts for one hour. It commences with the singing of our “National Anthem” and two thirds of the contest is a demonstration of pure athletic ability.
“The beer drinking on the beach, that’s the problem,” says Mayor Pro Tem Tucker. But the city permits the New Years Eve festivities and summer beach concerts, each lasting over four hours and attracting thousands of spectators, many who drink beer on the beach. You have your head in the sand if you think they are not.
The Hermosa City Council lacks vision. In its 36 years the Hermosa Ironman has been sewn into the beautiful tapestry that is Hermosa Beach. City councils quickly come and go, mostly remembered for outrageous favoritism and lawsuits that potentially could bankrupt Hermosa, itself. If these activist councilmen want their legacy to be, “the tools that tried to stop the Ironman” that’s their choice.
The Hermosa City Council should take into account the silent majority. There are always a few, very vocal, disapproving voices in a community. But there are hundreds of Hermosa residents who participate in and support what is essentially healthy, harmless fun.
Paul Moses
Redondo Beach
Go Fourth and video
Dear ER:
Isn’t there a better way to celebrate what our flag, constitution and national anthem mean to our country. (“Hermosa Beach, Ironman Highlight Fourth at the Beach, ER website video, July 8, 2010). The video posted on the ER website was pathetic 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 Fourth of July. 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 Ironman: Instead of drinking, give the participants a test of American history related to events surrounding our Independence. 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 upload videos of that event again, it makes our community look like a bunch of stupid, ignorant, drunken morons.
G.T. Washerson
Website comment
Cal-Perks
Dear ER:
It’s quite outrageous (“Police agree to pay cut, saving jobs,” Easy Reader, July 8, 2010). Ninety percent 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 taxpayer shakedown.
J. Smith
Website comment
State of real estate
Dear ER:
Dave Fratello did all Manhattan Beach homeowners, including myself, a big favor when it came to buying and subsequently selling my home (“Anonymous real estate blogger comes out,” ER, July 1, 2010). His analysis was balanced and fact-based, unlike the biased, “everything is wonderful” fluff 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 and corrupt (and only care about their six percentcommission 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 ones 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 of the beach cities (Hermosa, Manhattan, Redondo, El Segundo) 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, foreclosure, auctioned and pre-foreclosure properties, along with the price range of what the property is actually worth.
Website comment
Of mice and men
Dear ER:
I am impressed by Leonard Wibberley’s love of writing and literature (“Writer and waterman,” ER/Beach July 8, 2010). As a “bookworm” I had read one of his novels that is currently on a special shelf in the Hermosa Beach L.A. County Library. Yes, I like to read works by established writers (and that includes Mr. Wibberley), for their works enlighten the mind, contrary to paperbacks and porn. In the reprinted interview “The Writer Who Roars and Purrs,” Mr. Wibberley said things that had impressed me, such as the fact that the weakest Germanic tribes defeated the Roman legions. However, what astounded me was the fact that young Roman men, became slaves to avoid serving in the legions. Thus they gave up their Roman citizenships as free men. People like Wibberley aren’t afraid to be openly frank about what they had noticed about the moral and social decadence in America. Literature provides an excellent vehicle for exposing what needs to be done towards a better society in America. Thank You Mr. Wibberley, may you rest in peace.
Max Schaller
Redondo Beach
Hash it out
Dear ER:
I agree with the movie critic Keith Robinson (“Toy Story 3,” ER, June 30, 2010) 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!
Lisa Lyons
Website comment
