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Letters
Surfrider not on board
Dear ER:
After careful review, the South Bay Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation has decided not to endorse the Manhattan Beach Coastal Conservation Act, Measure 2001-A on the March 6 ballot.
Our reading of this measure reveals its two goals to be first, that of water quality testing and beach cleanup, and secondly, control of commercial use of the coastal zone.
The water quality testing and beach cleanup portions duplicate existing services, which are presently done more frequently than the measure requires.
The goal of controlling commercial use of the beach does not fail within the guidelines of our organization. We find that the measure adds an additional layer of bureaucracy to groups that desires to use the beach for a function. We respectfully decline to endorse Measure 2001A.
Rick Page
Surfrider Foundation, Executive Committee
Manhattan Beach
Endorsement not Gold
Dear ER:
Numerous people in Manhattan Beach have notified me that a flyer with a quote from me has been disseminated in support of the Manhattan Beach Coastal conservation Act, Measure 2001A on the March 6 ballot. As a point of clarification, Heal the Bay has never endorsed the measure. Also, no one has asked me or Heal the Bay for permission to use that quote on behalf of the measure. I am concerned that this flyer has confused the public into believing that Heal the Bay endorses 2001A.
Mark Gold
Executive Director, Heal the Bay
Sand fleas
Dear ER:
With the Manhattan Beach March 6 election fast approaching, it's time to speak up about overkill.
While there may be some problems with and along the beach, there's no need to go overboard with cures. Those in favor of 2001A are going too far.
Please don't kill the dog just to get rid of the fleas. Vote NO on 2001A.
Jack Walsman
Manhattan
Napster fan
Dear ER:
I am voting for Steve Napolitano because he is the only candidate who has consistently, unquestioningly, and publicly supported a small project at Metlox.
Linda Wilson has consistently, unquestioningly and very publicly supported a bigger project at Metlox at every opportunity, including the originally proposed 142,000 square foot mall.
As a planning commissioner, Dave Simon also voted to proceed with an EIR for the 142,000 square foot project. His letter to the editor (ER Feb. 15, 2001) attempting to distance himself from that vote is not convincing. You only vote to proceed with a costly environmental review of a 142,000 square foot project when you consider it a worthwhile proposal.
Jim Aldinger still has not committed to a smaller project. Could it be because he is funded by the same big project proponents as Wilson and Simon?
As for the other two candidates, their silence is worrisome, at best. What does it say about their commitment to the election if they choose not to attend the only candidate’s forum?
I will be voting for integrity, honesty and commitment when I can my vote for Steve Napolitano.
Susan Erik
Manhattan Beach
Napster’s free ride
Dear ER:
It’s interesting to watch campaigns. We all know candidates make all kinds of promises no one really ever expects them to keep. Remember "Read my lips, no new taxes?" But positions taken to win elections can come back to haunt you, even in local politics.
Case in point: Steve Napolitano’s promise that he won’t support any project on Metlox over 50,000 square feet. Sounds nice, but when we really dig into this complicated situation, it may be that a project with 53,000- or 57,000-square- feet best balances the desire for minimal traffic impacts with the realities of fiscal prudence, particularly if our big retailers keep leaving the city taking their sales tax with them. What will Napolitano do then? If he honors his campaign promise his hands will be tied.
Or maybe he’ll take the same attitude toward his Metlox position as he has on term limits for councilmembers. In 1996 it was Napolitano who wrote the ballot argument in favor of Measure J, which limited Manhattan council members to two consecutive terms. Yet, now Napolitano is running for his third consecutive term (he’s eligible due to grandfathering).
In the upcoming election we should be looking at integrity. Glib promises are easy. It takes integrity to acknowledge that difficult and complex issues require finesse and compromise. It takes integrity to resist taking simplistic positions just to get elected.
Tom Lyons
Manhattan Beach
Simonize Manhattan
Dear ER:
Tucker Glavin, Paul Brebis and Phillip Reardon apparently do not know their facts concerning Metlox, or perhaps they are simply doing the bidding of the candidate they support, without regard for the truth.
Although each claim that Steve Napolitano will support "small development" and charge that candidates David Simon and Linda Wilson will favor a "bigger project," none of them know what size project will be fiscally responsible for the city. More importantly, none of them know what Napolitano himself defines as a "small development." In fact, Napolitano dodged the "size issue" during the League of Women Voter’s recent forum by simply stating "smaller is better."
At least David Simon is a known quantity. Simon is genuinely concerned about preserving the quaint atmosphere of our downtown but isn’t willing to sacrifice the city’s fiscal responsibilities to the Manhattan Beach tax payers Simon has consistently stated that he supports a 60,000 to 90,000 square foot Metlox project but wants to consider all factors including fiscal viability, traffic concerns, aesthetics, etc., before committing to any project on the Metlox property. Sounds like a reasonable concept.
The fact is that David Simon shares the views of the reasonable majority of Manhattan Beach voters, not the handpicked few attempting to bolster to campaign of a two-term incumbent.
Maila Putnam
Manhattan Beach
Toast the bars
Dear ER:
One line in Manhattan city council candidate David Simon’s February 15, 2001 letter stunned us — David Simon’s assertion that he "strongly oppose(s)" more downtown bars. Only months ago, the residents of our downtown block, backed overwhelmingly by our neighborhood, had a heck of a struggle trying to prevent a retail wine shop on our block from becoming a wine bar, with service on the walk street. The main opponent of our efforts? Planning Commissioner/Chamber of Commerce head David Simon. Thankfully, the city council unanimously reversed the planning commission’s approval of an outdoor wine bar, and in fact the council majority voted against the entire proposal.
We sincerely hope that if Simon is elected to the city council, he will demonstrate that his "strong opposition" to more downtown bars is more than mere campaign rhetoric.
George A. Kaufman,
and Martha Andreani
Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Trifacta
Dear ER:
With Yury Gurvich and Robert Lay climbing into the ring, I now have three vote-able Manhattan Beach city council candidates. Who’s the third? Steve Napolitano. Yes, I’ve unceasingly fought with him in the press, but there’s reason for that: in the 18 years I’ve lived here, he’s the only council person I’ve found worth paying attention to, the rest having been wastes of chamber space, unworthy of comment except upon their most outrageous excesses. I rarely agree with Napolitano, but understand why he thinks and acts the way he does. He comes from a middle-of-the-road viewpoint, a mindset I cannot help but validate and say, even from the more radical bent I’ve chosen, is valuable. I respect his split in being pro-business and pro-populist. I may not always agree with particulars, but such a mindful attitude often yields good results for all concerned. That’s how politics should work.
As to Russ Lesser’s shadow, Bob Holmes, and his uninformed proponency, it’s another of The Usual Gang’s political theater: Napolitano is not constrained to observe limitations put in place in the middle of an incumbency, nor is there an ethical breach: law goes forward, and since the term limit statute has no retroactivity, he, rightly is unaffected by it until after this next term, which he deserves to win. Meanwhile, Holmes would greatly benefit from a cursory study of law and logic.
Marc C. Tucker
Manhattan Beach
Four for three
Dear ER:The council-manager form of local government essentially defines that the city council functions as the city's board of directors. City council members must be well versed in the ongoing operations of the city and, ideally, recognizable as committed and constructive contributors.
There are many, many ways in which those who are interested in making such constructive contributions can become involved in the management of their city; volunteers are always needed. Serving on one of a city's many boards and commissions, occasional ad-hoc committees, or even just frequently participating in the city council's decision-making processes can often provide valuable insight that will best prepare one for a city council seat.
Being elected to city council without any such experience, however, is most definitely not the most effective manner in which to begin one's community involvement.
On March 6, Manhattan Beach voters will fill three open city council seats. Six candidates have stepped forward to run. Four of these six clearly stand out as well established contributors who have worked long and hard to help make our community the wonderful place that it is today. The City of Manhattan Beach will be well served by any three of these four proven candidates. My guess is that you already know these four candidates to be Steve Napolitano, Linda Wilson, Dave Simon, and Jim Aldinger.
Please go to the polls on March 6, and please make educated choices — including a no vote on Measure 2001A.
Gerry O'Connor
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Jim dandy
Dear ER:
Jim Aldinger deserves our votes. I met him when I was involved with defeating the Metlox ballot initiative last June, as part of Residents Against Rezoning (RAR). Knowing Jim was a key contributor to the Small Town Downtown group I was initially suspicious of his involvement in RAR.
But he made a believer out of me as I saw his passion for Manhattan Beach put into action by his hours of hard work. His ability to build bridges between groups with differing views is impressive. Plenty of people can talk about what they believe in, but Jim really puts his "money where his mouth is." And he was always first in line when the real work — time-consuming and unglamorous — needed to be done.
I may not agree with all of Jim’s positions, but I know his character, and character does count. I want Jim’s energy and dedication on the city council, working to make Manhattan Beach even better. I hope you’ll join me in voting for Jim Aldinger on March 6.
Faith Backus
Manhattan Beach
Dan good job
Dear ER:I want to congratulate Dan Bialek for an outstanding piece on Manhattan Beach city council candidate Chuck Buresh. (ER Feb. 21, 2001 "Candidate takes flak for signs and endorsements.") It was informative and thorough. It also represented the type of aggressive reporting Easy Reader is famous for. Bialek could have settled for the easy story about a candidate and his signs, which another newspaper did, but Bialek instead sought out the larger story about a candidate who has made endorsement representations that are untrue. He obtained evidence that Buresh had misrepresented being endorsed by at least three organizations and then amazingly got corroboration from…the candidate himself. Bravo to Bialek. Keep up the good work.
John Tawa
Redondo Beach
Heart of the matter
Dear ER:
The City Council of Redondo Beach just doesn’t get it. This Heart of the City project is just another way for the city to make money at the expense of the community. Many residents of District 2 have made it pretty clear that we don’t need the kind of development that they are proposing for the King Harbor Marina. In fact, wouldn’t the money be better spent to improve all of Redondo Beach — we could use a new, larger police department, more police and firefighters, improved infrastructure for Artesia Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, improvements to schools and parks and so much more. I’m sure other districts would want the money better spent.
The Marina should exist just as it was planned -— as a Marina. If the city is so anxious to spend our money, then maybe they should spend it to fix up the existing Redondo Beach Pier -— it needs a lot of help. In fact the pier was another city brainchild, and it’s not doing that well. And we think the city council should spend more of our money on this Heart of the City brainchild? The Marina should continue to provide the community and its’ many visitors the ocean views and vistas that the Heart of the City project will cover up entirely. Besides, the name Heart of the City is just that, a city — the plan will include commercial and retail (yes, enough concrete and glass and parking structures, not to mention the signs, neon and the traffic and congestion and crime that goes with it). It becomes like a city within a city. In fact, it will draw away customers from the Artesia corridor, the Pacific Coast Hwy. corridor and Riviera Village. Do we really need another shopping district?
Just because we build it does not mean they will come. The Shops in Palos Verdes complex was built and they didn’t come. Has anyone looked at Marina del Rey lately. Can you see the ocean and marina through the commercial space, high rise condos and the recently added mass apartment complexes, and Marina del Rey is planning to add more. If I wanted to be near Santa Monica Promenade, I’d be living in Santa Monica. I’m not opposed to development in our King Harbor Marina. If we do anything, we should improve to be like La Jolla or Laguna with plenty of open area, green grass and trees and places for families and locals to enjoy the ocean, and not just another bunch of cheesy stores.
Citizens of Redondo Beach, become involved. In fact, you do have a choice right now. Vote against any new development in the Marina. Vote for Jim Coleman for City Council on March 6.
S.D.C.
District 2
Redondo Beach
Sea Hawk champs
Dear ER:
The Lady Hawks are defending CIF champs and you donate all your press for the boys and a little paragraph about the girls going undefeated in League...that is an insult. As a parent of one of the Varsity Lady Hawks, you should realize that women have come far in sports these days — have you heard of the WNBA? Again, give equal time where it is deserved. I wouldn't want to think of Easy Reader as being sexist.
Gina St. Denise
Redondo Beach
History’s casualty
Dear ER:
The KGB was the right arm of the most insane killing machine in the history of mankind. And Yury Gurvich in his latest literary bomb (ER Letters Feb 15, 2001), mentions the KGB and Steve Napolitano, suggesting some commonality between the two.
Truly another casualty of the horror that was the Soviet Union. Just as abused children sometimes become child abusers, so do persons raised with hate become haters. Pity to be so free and yet so enslaved.
David Wachtfogel
Manhattan Beach
Library research
Dear ER:
The Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library is currently conducting a survey of the convenience to the public of the days that the Hermosa Beach library is open and the currents hours of operation.
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