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Letters
Voter logic
Dear ER:
In the aftermath of the recent Manhattan Beach Public Safety Facility bond election, perhaps a post-mortem would be appropriate. With all the money and strong effort, with all the signs and telephone calls, how could this fail?
The reason that comes through to me is ‘arrogance.’ The response by the one person who was interviewed in last week’s Easy Reader was that "we were hurt by two attack ads at the last minute." Get real. You were hurt by the fundamental issue — cost -- now read that slowly so that it sinks in. As councilman Jim Aldinger remarked, borrowing money would put us in a bad financial state. He hit the nail on the head. Residents are just like governments. We should not want to spend money that we don’t have. People don’t wisely go out and buy items that are not absolutely necessary to their existence. My final comment goes to bond chairperson Gerry O’Connor who felt that ‘if the people had studied the issues...’ They had. It didn’t make sense so it didn’t pass. What part of dumb idea don’t the bond supporters understand? Let us upgrade the current building, do whatever has to be done to make it a place for all the necessary resources to be housed and be content.
Ira Wallis
Manhattan Beach
Voter intent
Dear ER:
Please don’t take it personally or professionally. Not after those almost immediate midnight runs to restore faltering hearts or failing lungs. Not after those rapid daytime responses to folks trapped in mangled cars or burning buildings. Certainly not after all those confrontations with folks who come at us with fists, knives, guns and evil in their heart.
Maybe it was bond weariness. We did, recently, go into hock for $80 million for our schools. Maybe it was the unhappy mixing of the Metlox project and its physical and financial attachment to the public safety facilities. Maybe it was the lies (yes, the lies) told about the condition of our present fire and police facilities and about those $60 million the city presumably has to spend. It could also be that folks are a little unnerved by economic distress now apparent in our country.
But what it was not was a commentary on the services rendered by the people in our public safety departments.
The public has spoken. It does not want to finance new public safety facilities with general bond revenue. Fine. So it is time to find a different way to finance the new public safety facilities so needed in the present and certainly for a future which is not quite as sanguine as it seemed to be a few short months ago.
David Wachtfogel
Manhattan Beach
Zoo semantics
Dear ER:
I am writing in regards to a caption that accompanied a photograph of a Los Angeles Zoo animal keeper feeding a hippopotamus (ER Oct. 25, 2001).
The Los Angeles Zoo is extremely disturbed by the anti-Semitic statement that accompanied the photograph. Your publication abused its editorial rights by attaching a very disturbing statement to a fun, Halloween photograph issued by the Los Angeles Zoo. To make matters worse, quotation marks were put around the statement, giving readers the impression that the animal keeper was making the statement.
It was unconscionable for Easy Reader to write such an inflammatory statement when the world is undergoing such intense times and relations are already strained. I hope your publication will be more responsible in the future.
Denise M. Verret, Assistant General Manager
Los Angeles Zoo
Arts editor Bondo Wyszpolski responds: Anti-Semitic? Who’s making inflammatory remarks now? Despite efforts by the Bush Administration to limit them, the freedom to satirize and lampoon remains intact. And why must criticism of an Israeli leader construed as anti-Semitic? The photo in question showed hippoman Art Gonzales receiving a pumpkin from his charge, Maggie. The caption read, In quotes: "That’s right, pretend it’s the head of Ariel Sharon." Why Sharon? Because a democratically-elected leader does not, or rather should not, enjoy the luxury of a personal vendetta against a civilian population. An attack on Sharon’s religion was not implied, just his military tactics. Apologies to the L.A. Zoo for riding on their coattails while taking a swipe at a public figure; apologies, also, to Mr. Gonzales and Maggie for any psychological fallout.
Guarded response
Dear ER:
I have just finished reading "Hearts of the City" (Easy Reader Nov. 11, 2001). Let me start by saying I am not a guard, but a parking lot attendant. My position as a gate attendant at King Harbor Marina is to assist anyone coming to visit the marina. On Monday, Nov. 5, 2001 the arm on the gate was broken and locked in the open position, so when anyone approached, I would use my hand to stop them. King Harbor Marina, like many others, issues parking permits to their boat owners. When a car pulls up to the gate without a permit nine out of ten times the driver is lost and looking for directions to either the Redondo Beach Pier or one of the many restaurants located at the Redondo Beach Marina. I am truly sorry that Mayor Greg Hill misunderstood why I was stopping him. I inquired as to where he was headed. At that time, he pulled a badge from his pocket and said, "I am the mayor of Redondo Beach and I’m headed to the harbor patrol. Do you have a problem with that?" I told him that was fine and mentioned the permits the harbor patrol and city officials used. I told him to have a nice day and stepped away from the car. Like I said before, my job is not to keep people from entering the marina if they wish to come in, but to assist them in any way I can.
Millie McMullin
Gate Attendant, King Harbor Marina
Beck and Breen
Dear ER:
We would like to thank all of those individuals who supported us in our bid for positions on the Hermosa Beach School Board. Our campaign would not have been successful if not for those who displayed our campaign signs, mailed postcards on our behalf, supported us financially, and assisted us by sharing our message with friends and neighbors. Our desire to be responsive to parent, teacher and community concerns was central to our campaign. We encourage those who would like to discuss school issues to contact us. We look forward to your input as we work to continue to support Hermosa Beach’s tradition of superior schools.
Linda Beck and Greg Breen
Incoming Hermosa Beach School Board Members
Pizer of decency
Dear ER:
I would like to thank the residents and businesses of Hermosa Beach who afforded me the opportunity to participate as a candidate for City Council in last week’s election. I enjoyed meeting with many members of the community, sharing ideas and discussing the issues we care about.
I extend my sincerest congratulation to the winners. As a member of the Hermosa Beach Planning Commission, I look forward to working together to make our city an even better place to work, live and play.
Ron Pizer
Hermosa Beach Planning Commissioner
Ice Plan Annoyance
Dear ER:
Patricia Nash's letter to Easy Reader (Nov. 8, 2001) displays how narrow minded and self-centered some Strand residents can be. Her arguments against the People's Ice Plant Restoration Alliance are totally based on her view of the world and on "her" laid sod. Nash totally ignores public law and common sense, and refuses to respect anyone else's opinions or rights as a citizen.
Firstly, the Strand has many benches on which Nash can sit and enjoy the view. Just because there is not a bench exactly where she wants, does not mean she has the right to put a bench on public property. Secondly, most people go to The Strand to enjoy the beach or get exercise. If someone wants grass, they can go to any number of public parks in the area. Thirdly, Nash seems to ignore the fences, gates, lighting, pavers, hedges and other Strand resident additions to public property. Some residents have gone so far as to harass beach goers for trespassing on their illegally extended yards and dripping salt water on their sod and plants when returning from the surf.
If any citizen can impose his or her will on public land, what is to stop any resident from picking any spot along the strand and altering it to their tastes? What if someone ripped out a piece of Nash's sod to put in a cactus garden? What if someone put a Portapotty there? Lot's of folks could benefit from another restroom.
It is time we drew a line in the sand, so to speak. The letter from the People's Ice Plant Restoration Alliance is far from ridiculous. It is based on fact, respect, logic and democratic principles. Their membership includes people born and raised in Manhattan Beach. Their mission statement addresses the public's rights: "The People's Ice Plant Restoration Alliance is dedicated to the restoration of indigenous plant life along The Strand in Manhattan Beach, protecting ocean views and public access, and returning rightful ownership of the property west of The Strand to the public."
Jim Light
Redondo Beach
What’s left of Hermosa
Dear ER:
It has been noted that the tragedy of September 11 has brought to many of us a greater degree of closeness and appreciation of family, friends and community.
This time might also be the proper time to reflect on the small things that we have taken for granted in our community that are unique and that have brought us enjoyment.
May I mention the Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library sale? The book sale takes place this Saturday, Nov. 17, on Bard Street next to city hall.
In the sixties, Hermosa Beach was known for its local artists and art galleries, little theater, and bookstores.
The art galleries are for the most part gone. Little theater exists only on a more professional level at the excellent Hermosa Beach Playhouse. The Insomniac and the Either/Or bookstores are gone.
The Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library book sale is one of the survivors.
Enjoy the book sale while you can. See you there.
Al Valdes
Hermosa Beach
Column bomb
Dear ER:
John A. Jackson in his "Shadow Government" column (Nov. 8, 2001) totally misrepresents the tenor of the book "The Bomber War: The Allied Air Offensive Against Nazi Germany" on the basis of one quote by an aggrieved German. The thrust of the book is that the strategic air offensive was an important ingredient in the Allied victory over Nazi Germany.
George Paulikas
Palos Verdes Estates