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Letters
Gang mentality
Dear ER: I read the "Heart of the city opponents seeing red" (Feb. 15, 2001) with much dismay. Why is it that in every election we have to be bombarded with half-truths, untruths, misstatements and downright stupid statements. The comments made by Redondo Beach city council candidate James Coleman and "echoed" by candidate Conrad Schoeder are the latest examples of this. Their comments are insulting to our employees, tenants, customers, members, the community at large, city staff and officials. For example, their statement, "If you build it, they will come — but the people that will come will be gang members." We built the SportCenter and yes, they did come — thousands of local residents wanting to improve their physical well being. They built the Cheesecake Factory and yes, they did come — thousands of local residents enjoying King Harbor at this popular restaurant. King Harbor has several thousand local residents as tenants. They surely have not created a "gang haven" by their tenancy. There have been hundreds of local residents who have worked for us over the past 35 years. None of these individuals’ efforts have attracted "gang members" or created a "gang haven." Your quote of James Coleman that what the Redondo Beach City Council is now doing will "bring in the same element that caused the Galleria death" reflects what some individuals will say to scare us into voting for them. It was well reported that the suspect to this murder (who later confessed) was a mentally disturbed individual who has now committed suicide. Such events have taken place in the best of communities and even in a pristine wilderness. If Coleman wants to ensure such incidents do not occur, he should put his energy into ensuring we have better treatment and facilities for individuals with mental problems, not by opposing the efforts of those individuals who help create the revenues to pay for such needs. Although I have never met Coleman and Schoeder, I am sure they have something positive to contribute to the discussion on what the city council should decide about the future of the "Heart of the City." Hopefully, they will do so in the future.
Les Guthrie
King Harbor Marina Redondo Beach
Standing up
Dear ER: Your recent attention to the struggles of special needs children in Manhattan Beach has been much needed in this community. Positive change is beginning to occur and it is an exciting time to be involved in education. The article on the Brown’s struggle ("Learning to get along," ER Feb. 15, 2001) contained several inaccuracies, including the report that I said Danny Brown would have a higher (180) IQ if the district would have been more accurate in understanding Danny’s special needs. For the record, I feel compelled to reply to what was a misstatement of my interview with the Easy Reader’s reporter and of my philosophy. Not only did I not test Danny’s IQ, I do not believe that the IQ gives us anything more than a limited snapshot of a child’s intelligence. Our Learning Gym, which has helped so many children like Danny, actually bases its treatment on a theory and test of intelligence (The Structure of Intellect Test developed by Dr. Mary Meeker — once a Manhattan Beach school psychologist herself) that incorporates 90 different ways of thinking. The IQ test is neither diagnostic nor prescriptive. Our testing actually prescribes a treatment program for training intelligence, visual and auditory processing skills and sensory integration. It is my professional belief that this training is what children with different learning patterns really need. The good news is that testing that tells us what to do about the problem is available this millennium. The Browns and other families who have had the courage to fight with the powers-that-be, should be respected. I hear far too many in our community criticizing those who dare to be different. I just want to encourage parents who have not had to fight for their children’s education and mental health, to be compassionate and tolerant. We want to find a way to help educate all children.
Valerie Maxwell, Ph.D.
Manhattan Beach
Power to the people
Dear ER: With respect to Redondo Beach Measure D proposed by Councilmember Bob Pinzler, to be voted at the March 6 election, I feel compelled to clarify a few statements made by the measure’s proponents, which may be misleading to the public. [Editor’s note: Measure D would transfer oversight of the city’s expenditures from the city clerk’s office to the city manager’s office.] Currently, the city charter provides that the city’s revenues are monitored by your elected treasurer, while expenditures are monitored by your elected clerk and expended by the appointed city manager. If passed, this measure will remove all accounting oversight from your elected city clerk, thereby removing the current checks and balance system mandated by you, the people. If passed, the city’s expenditures will be authorized, approved and expended by the city manager alone, with cursory review by city council. The proponents stress that this measure will bring professionalism to the budgetary process. Under the city clerk’s supervision the finance department staff has consistently received the highest state award attainable in municipal budgeting. Currently, your city clerk has the same hiring and firing authority over his/her deputies as the attorney and treasurer. This measure will express that authority in the city charter. Please think carefully when voting on Measure D. If passed, the city’s expenditures will no longer be monitored by your independent "watchdog" answerable to you, the people.
Sandy Forrest
Redondo Beach City Clerk
Open books
Dear ER: The Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library is conducting a survey of the convenience to the public of the days and times that the Hermosa Beach library is open. The current library schedule is Tuesday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Wednesday 12-7 p.m., Thursday 12-7 p.m., Friday 12-6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library is hoping with community input that the Hermosa Beach library can make sure it is maximizing its library services to the community’s various needs. A survey sheet for comments and suggestions is available at the counter of the Hermosa Beach library.
Al Valdes
Hermosa Beach
Legal authority
Dear ER: On January 16, candidate Conrad Schroeder came to my apartment building with Redondo Beach City Attorney, Jerry Goddard. The candidate is running for the term-vacated by District 4 councilman Bob Pinzler. When Goddard arrived, our building manager noticed him that he was parked in a resident’s space (which is clearly identified). This building, I might point out, is a senior development and includes a number of seniors with physical handicaps. The manager politely requested that Goddard move his car. The manager tried to explain that parking was limited, each space was assigned, and that visitor parking was on the street. Goddard replied that he was the city attorney and that this was a tax deferred property and he appeared offended that he was asked to move his car. He came across to the manager and us as if he believed he had the right to park wherever he wanted. Where I live may be a rental community, but are we no less citizens of Redondo Beach? Should not the clearly posted rules governing our parking be respected by all, especially the city attorney? The moral to my tale is to suggest to Schroeder that he be more careful in choosing his associations. I think our residents will remember this on Election Day. And as a secondary thought, I would suggest we replace our city attorney with a more citizen-friendly elected official.
Monroe Weinstock
Redondo Beach
Power money play
Dear ER: At the February 6, 2001 Redondo Beach City Council meeting, the agenda was arranged such that immediately following a Southern California Edison presentation on the California power problem the city gave a presentation on saving energy. Then a motion was made to approve the city’s presentation. This discouraged public comment on the Edison presentation. I can only hope this awkward arrangement was by accident and not design. Since I feel I was denied the right to discuss the power problem at the meeting, I would like to make some comments at this time. Some say the root cause of the power problem lies with Gov. Moonbeam Gerry Brown, who established such harsh environmental regulations that the construction of new power plants was discouraged. Some point to Gov. Pete Wilson who sat in the Governor’s chair when deregulation went into effect. (Wilson is still a vocal advocate of deregulation, by the way.) Of course, many point the finger at SCE and PG&E. Now, a new twist, some say that term limit resulted in having a new State Assembly in Sacramento that didn’t comprehend the impact of deregulation due to their inexperience in government. Let us not overlook the Public Utility Commission in this disaster. All I know is my latest electrical bill is up about $70 over last month. Also, I know that in the last three years SCE transferred over six billion dollars of California generated profits out of state to its’ corporate headquarters in the Midwest. PG&E also passed through over $10 billion dollars of California generated profit to its’ out of state corporate headquarters. Now, today, we see that SCE passed $1.5 billion in California corporate tax over payments out of state. Of course, they have had their high priced accounting house make public their books and claim such dealing is legal. However, I ask, are not these maneuvers typical of a company going into bankruptcy?
Frank O’Leary
Redondo Beach
Metlox litmus test
Dear ER: To live in Manhattan Beach and not notice that Metlox is one of the biggest issues confronting the city would be difficult. Yet strangely, in the sample ballot for the upcoming city council election, candidate David Simon included no position statement whatsoever concerning Metlox. Why would a candidate conceal his position on such an important issue? The answer can be found in Simon’s close association with the chamber of commerce, of which he is now chairman. The chamber’s goal is to further the interests of merchants. Many downtown merchants, the majority of whom don’t live here, are intensely hopeful that any Metlox development will bring them more business. But Simon is aware that more crowding is exactly what most residents don’t want. Often, what’s good for business is good for the city. Unfortunately, that is not the case with Metlox. That is why it is politically advantageous for Simon to hide his intentions. Nevertheless Simon, who is a business attorney by profession, has been doing a good job of promoting the interests of the merchants in the chamber of commerce. For example, using his position as planning commissioner, Simon supported proceeding with the large 142,000-foot shopping center containing movie theaters. Fortunately for us, our city council overruled the commission’s action and rejected that huge development. Lucky for us, Simon wasn’t on the city council then. He certainly shouldn’t be on it now.
Mary Morigaki
Manhattan Beach
No Easy Reader?
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