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Letters
Friendly skies?
I'm writing this letter in answer to Mr. Neith's letter 2/16 concerning the fly-overs and noise from LAX, I'm glad he's not affected by the noise, but if he'd been on 30th St. in Hermosa on Sat. Feb. 19, he would have experienced the jet noise from LAX every 3 to 5 minutes all day, plus on the early morning, on February 20, we had planes at 12 midnight, 12:10, 12:16, 12:20, 1:22, 1:25, 1:41, 1:52, 1:57, 2:16 and 2:34 am. Since when are we in the landing pattern?
I have lived here for thirty four years and believe me, I'm not imagining the increase of noise, It used to be, the planes had to fly five miles over the water and be five miles up before turning over land.
That is no longer true. On Saturday, the jets were low, loud and often.
Hermosa Beach
Mislead signers
I'm one of the 8,500 names on the petition to put rezoning Metlox to a vote. When a guy with a clipboard told me "The only way to stop the 'overdevelopment' of Metlox and make it a park is to sign this petition," it sounded good. But what that guy told me was at best, misleading and at worst, downright untrue. I'm sorry I signed the petition.
Now I know the facts. Along with a park, the new Metlox zoning would allow a big parking structure to be built, giving cars the best ocean view in town.
And 'overdevelopment' is a very subjective term. The proposed project would be less than half as dense as the rest of downtown, with almost an acre of kid-friendly open space, plus underground parking.
But the main thing I found out is that Metlox can become a park under the current zoning. The Environmental Impact Report will analyze the impacts of several options for Metlox including a park. It will give us, the residents who are making this decision through our input to the city council, the information we need to decide if a park is really the best choice for Metlox. But it won't be finished until long after the rezoning election. I, for one, will wait until then to decide what makes the most sense for Metlox.
If I had known then what I know now, there would have been 8,499 signatures on the petition.
Manhattan Beach
After having lived for nearly nine years in Manhattan Beach, I am still amazed by one particular characteristic. Even though it is generally recognized that Manhattan Beach is a highly desirable residential area, and real estate prices reflect that, many of the residents seem not to care about the appearance of their streets. I am referring in particular to the practice of permanently parking cars, vans, SUVs, trucks and even RVs in the street, outside of the owners' and other residences while perfectly good garages and drives lay empty of vehicles.
Apart from the sheer unsightliness of this practice, are these vehicle owners totally unaware of the real costs and lowered values of their homes that this ugly practice creates? We live in a beautiful community; it could be even more so with a little consideration from all the vehicle owners.
Manhattan Beach
Yes on Prop. 14
The March 7 election gives the citizens of Manhattan Beach a chance to do something for themselves. If you vote yes on Proposition 14, the library construction bond measure, the result may very well be a much needed, enlarged and improved public library for Manhattan Beach. Our library here in Manhattan Beach has been found to be totally inadequate compared to the size of our population and the technology of the times by an exclusive study performed by the Manhattan Beach Library Commission. Both the City Council and the School Board have passed a resolution supporting Proposition 14. If the bonds are approved, the City will be eligible for the funds. So do something nice for yourself, and vote Yes on 14. (By the way, residents of other nearby cities will benefit too due to reciprocal borrowing privileges.)
Manhattan Beach
Questioning ULI
Dear ER,
After reading the article about AES I wondered why the folks from the
Urban Land Institute won't be looking at the option of no power plant at that location. The whole of Redondo's downtown was removed in the 60's through eminent domain. Why can't the city buy out AES and build a new downtown? AES wasn't always there. How can the ULI study be impartial when AES is subsidizing it? Where's all the public input that Mayor Hill promised us at that first big meeting? Why is the city paying a bunch of outsiders for their input?
Recently I was driving down Hermosa Avenue towards Herondo. In my car was someone who had never been to the South Bay. As we approached the power plant, my passenger said, "What's a factory doing here?" I think this is the big question. How could there possibly be such a big eye sore like AES right next to the beach?
Finally, is it really true the city of La Jolla has approached AES about putting a factory in their downtown?
Maurice Beaudet
Redondo Beach
Wide open spaces
Dear ER
I'm frequently amused by the letters from Manhattan Beach residents insisting that the Metlox site be converted into parkland.
Whenever the subject is development of "Public Property", the "Open Space" advocates rally for green park areas.
But when the subject turns to "Private Property" development, their concern suddenly turns against any zoning that would limit their option to build 'monster houses', with minimal site area wasted on "open space" such as lawns, patios and walkways.
If Manhattan Beach residents truly want more open, green space, why don't the initiate zoning revisions to reduce the footprint of structures being built on small lots -- more open space right at home.
James Clark
Torrance
Dear ER,
Stefan McDonald of Redondo Beach indicated his concern about the Public Safety Commission's commendations in a letter to the editor published 2-17-00.
I am a member of a panel of three from the Public Safety Commission, who evaluate any report of a citizen in Redondo Beach having preformed exemplary actions to maintain the peace and safety of our community. The Committee brings the person(s) being considered for commendation before the Commission. If it is decided the incident qualifies for a commendation, it is forwarded to the City Council. If approved, the commendation is awarded. We seldom recognize public officials, though we are not excluded from doing so in cases that involve unusual circumstances.
The purpose of the Public Safety Commission is to promote education for Public Safety in Redondo Beach. We are appointed by the Redondo Beach City Council for this purpose. The commission is not the chairperson, it is a well rounded group of Redondo Beach citizens currently composed of; a martial arts instructor, a retired engineer, two retired law enforcement detective supervisors, a deputy district attorney, a business man, and a service organizational official.
Mr. McDonald can be assured, now that we have been advised of his involvement in this incident, that we will follow the same procedures we do in all commendation reviews. The commendation committee will investigate the incident in its entirety before reaching on whether or not to forward it.
Stan Nelson
Redondo Beach
That's it, back it up...
A Big stink at City Hall occurred in Hermosa Beach 76 years ago, according to the Hermosa Beach Review newspaper, Feb. 29, 1924 edition, which reported:
"Street superintendent Meadows was called from church on Sunday morning when a broken sewer main in front of City Hall caused Hermosa Avenue to be flooded on its east side and from Pier Avenue to 14th Court.
The main sewer pump was shut off, and with help, Mr. Meadows uncovered the pipe which was about 3 1/2 feet under the pavement. A form was built around the break. Concrete was poured the full length of the section about 12 feet in all.
The old pipe was made of redwood staves bound with wire, and originally had a cover of asphaltum to keep the wire from rusting.
According to Mr. Meadows, the wooden pipe was first installed when high freight rates from the east made it impossible to purchase iron pipe."
Note: City Hall back then was located on Hermosa Avenue, opposite the old Bijou theater. The site presently is a parking lot.
The above odorous incident was uncovered by the Hermosa Beach Historical Society's on-going peek into the past years.
Hermosa Beach