Dear ER:
The Hermosa Chamber of Commerce should be renamed the Chamber of Fiesta. In
all the discussions regarding the Chamber's future there is not the slightest
mention of the Chamber's advertised goal of "promoting business."
There are two adverse effects of the Fiestas de la Arts. First, the Chamber devotes most of its resources and staff time toward perpetuating the Fiesta, even at the expense of commerce. Out of fear of jeopardizing its sole revenue source, the Chamber has never advocated a contrary position to a Council majority that is clearly pro-business. Witness the Chamber's support for the Utility Users Tax, the conversion of commercial property to residential along PCH, more restrictive use permits and the Council's ill-advised anti-restaurant initiative. Continuation of the Fiesta perpetuates the chamber's perversion of purpose.
Second, the Fiestas are held during the two busiest weekends of the year, just when businesses can do without such an event. The Chamber has consistently balked at any suggestion that the fair be held during off-season weekends, even though this would clearly be more beneficial to businesses.
Public funding through the exclusive use of downtown for the Fiesta only benefits the Chamber's administration and event organizer Mark Conte, whose company has become a repository for Chamber ex-employees/volunteers. It is incumbent upon the City to consider alternatives that benefit the public and businesses.
We went, parked in the structure, got our ticket at the entrance machine and then had a lovely dinner. Plus we got a couple of validation stamps, sufficient to cover the less than an hour we spent in the restaurant. So far, so good.
We attempt to leave and then we are told that since the official opening is in mid-January, the stamps are not good until that time. That is where the confrontation took place as we protested that the parking company couldn't have it both ways. Either you are open, in which case the stamps are honored or you are still under construction, in which case it is free. An employee of the structure accused the restaurant of lying to us in order to get us to come down.
How preposterous! How did he know this was the case?
Finally, after we failed to cave in to his threats to "call the police', he reluctantly raised the gate. Now what is the conclusion or lesson to be gained from this tempest in a teapot? First, HB is still the same old two-bit hick town (1 bit = 12 1/2 cents), second and most important, the City Council doesn't have a clue as to public relations. The structure is nice, price of 50 cents per hour is nominal, so do a little public relations and start the place off right.
I believe that the City of Manhattan Beach has and will have the resources to create quality open space. There are wonderful landscape architects who know how to work miracles when creating urban open space areas within busy city limits. Residents of this thriving little metropolis will gain and benefit from a park-like environment and not lose anything as claimed by city officials.
I suggest city officials investigate using money that will become available after Proposition 12, the Safe Neighborhood, Park, Clean Air and Water Bond Act of 2000, passes voter approval in March, to create our own town square area.
I'm not sure that Prop 12 money was intended to finance improvements to the South Bay's ritziest ribbon of concrete, the Strand. Obviously my interpretation of uses for the money differs from the City Council's. I think they should be focusing on saving and making a quality, special and lasting native habitat reserve for all to enjoy.
This last-in-a-lifetime opportunity shouldn't be squandered. Metlox should be re-zoned for public use.
Dear ER
Tuesday there was yet another public meeting where the City is soliciting public comment as part of the Environmental Review Process. The option of a public park will be included in the study. An initiative like this is unnecessary but we welcome the public debate on how best the Metlox Block should be developed.
In addition, we strongly believe the proper development of the Metlox Block should be a fiscally responsible undertaking that benefits all of Manhattan Beach.
Michael Dieden,
Hermosa Beach
This past Saturday, Jan. 8, my wife and I called up the Thai Dishes restaurant
in Hermosa and made reservations after confirming that 'parking' was not going
to be a problem. They told as that the new parking structure right across the
street on Hermosa Ave was now opened and that they did issue validation stamps.
Manhattan Beach
I disagree with Mayor Wilson's claim that if Metlox is re-zoned for public use,
public safety or recreation will be sacrificed. In reality and in light of Proposition
12, creating a quality open space is one of the most cost-effective uses of
the land. I don't think anyone working to re-zone the property wants to see
a drop or loss of anything within the city. How much could some native plants,
shrubs or trees cost?
Manhattan Beach
For the past five years The City of Manhattan Beach has been planning a community-oriented
vision for the best use of the Metlox Block. That process included the adoption
of the Downtown Strategic Plan, the city's purchase of the Metlox Property in
order to control the development of the site and the public developer selection
process to choose the best development company for the City to partner with
developing the site. The citizens of Manhattan Beach have been included in the
planning of this site from the beginning. And we are confident that the end
result will be a sensitive, esthetically pleasing, pedestrian friendly public
town square that will include a small lodging component, some outdoor dining
and a neighborhood serving retail.
of the Tolkin Group