A feud grows in El Segundo

Dear ER:

Somewhere up in the mountains a beautiful Christmas tree that was supposed to be donated as part of Kilroy Realty’s annual gift to the city of El Segundo still grows.

No, Kilroy Realty didn’t decide to be the Grinch this year. But when the chamber of commerce called to inform us that we could not donate the tree as we’ve done for the past 29 years we were obviously very disappointed. (Instead we donated a smaller tree to the Park Vista senior home.) Later, we found out that blockades were erected at the city’s tree lighting ceremony because of fears that despite being told "no" we would try and deliver a 30-foot tree without permission from the city anyway.

Ironically, all this Christmas tree politicking derives from our support of CAGES, a group that doesn’t want Sepulveda Blvd. to become a permanent blockade of gridlocked traffic.

If urging the city council to require that the El Segundo Corporate Campus adequately mitigate its traffic impacts means we can’t donate our annual tree…well then Kilroy will accept it, albeit with a little less joy. Anybody need a 30-foot tree?

Hugh Greenup

Kilroy Realty Corporation

Christmas smells

Dear ER:

I want to express my appreciation to Kilroy Realty Corporation for the many years they donated a Christmas tree for the enjoyment of all citizens of El Segundo.

I do believe my appreciation is shared by the majority of the residents of our city. I also believe the majority has been embarrassed by the manner of terminating this practice. The lack of civility and the arrogance of those who allowed this to happen and used city employees to accomplish it, puts a black mark on our fair city. Remember when we thought the odor from the Hyperion was bad?

Dorothy Kent

El Segundo

Spoken from the heart

Dear ER:

We are so fortunate in Redondo Beach to have such a Svengali as city planner Bill Meeker working for us. He purports to know exactly how citizens who were absent from last week’s planning commission meeting feel about the Heart of the City plan. Meeker states, "Those that are comfortable with the plan have less need to be here." Wake up Mr. Meeker. The majority opinion at the meeting was for less density and lots of open space and that opinion is shared by the majority of concerned citizens. I, for one, did not attend the meeting and am offended that Meeker chose to speak for all of us.

Daighn DuGally

Redondo Beach

El Gringo nuevo

Dear ER:

Anyone who went to El Gringo Mexican Restaurant in Hermosa Beach before November 7 knows the unique atmosphere it offered. The free and laid back beach ambiance provided a part Cheers, part Soup Nazi (and we all know who I am referring to here), and even sometimes part Spring Break Gone Wild quality that people either loved or hated. This was all thanks to the original owner, the one and only El Gringo. For 16 years not much changed at the restaurant. There were never any managers, and the owner was sometimes difficult to find. The employees ran the restaurant and brought the service on the level with the customers. The absence of one universal problem solver encouraged all the employees to rely on each other. The corporate world might deem this to be very bad business sense, but it worked at El Gringo. It may not have made the former owner a millionaire, but it kept him and his family comfortable.

Which brings us to the new owners. There are seven. Yes, seven new partners attempting to make money off this once quaint dive hang out. When we first learned that the restaurant had been sold, we were all understandably concerned for our jobs, especially with the economy so bad and Christmas right around the corner. Our fears were somewhat alleviated by the promises showered on us, all guaranteeing that our jobs were safe once escrow went through. We played into their hands by mimicking their promises to the customers. "No, don't worry, everything is going to stay exactly the same. Keep on coming in."

Well, the day arrived. We had all been told that we would get a phone call letting us know when we were working since the schedule was changing. When none came, some of us called in. We all got the same rehearsed speech. "Hi. The new partners of El Gringo had a meeting yesterday and we came to a unanimous vote to let go of all the service staff." "What, you're firing me?" I respond in disbelief. "Well, laid off sounds better." I hung up the phone, there wasn't anything else to say. Everyone else's story is pretty much the same.

El Gringo was more than just a job to all of us. We were all best friends, a family made up of the most unlikely members. And El Gringo was more than just a restaurant to many of its patrons. One man picking up a to go order summed up the feeling. He wanted to know if anything at the restaurant was going to change once the new owners took over. Of course, I assured him it would not.

"This place is a real special place. I've been all over and there really aren't many places left like this in the world. I hope you're right", he said.

I guess I wasn't.

Tina Page

Redondo Beach

Environmental concerns

Dear ER:

On December 5, 2001, the people of Manhattan Beach were dealt a serious blow. The Executive Board of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce voted to recommend disbanding the Environmental Committee of the Chamber. This committee was formed to educate and inform the chamber members and residents of Manhattan about environmental issues that affect the community and the individual. The reason given for disbanding the committee was that the chamber simply had "too many committees." In reality, this was not the reason at all.

The committee's presentations over the past two years have apparently offended two of the chamber's big money contributors. One of these members is the #2 polluter in the area, right behind LAX. The other, when completed, will be the #3 polluter. Both reside outside the city of MB. The #2 polluter has a permanent seat on the MBCC Board of Directors.

A recent survey of chamber members shows that the environment and pollution are their number two areas of concern. Considering that in opinion surveys, 70 to —90 percent of people in most countries worldwide are deeply concerned about the environment, the decision of the executive board does not seem to be in anyone's best interest except the two "offended" members.

In 1941, the MBCC was formed to support its member businesses, to support all activities that benefit the community and oppose those activities that are detrimental, and to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of people. However, it seems that at this point in time emphasis has shifted to promoting the businesses that contribute the most money, even if they are doing things detrimental to the well-being of the community, and now, to keep the community in the dark about these activities.

This decision about who will and will not be allowed to speak at future chamber events also raises some serious Constitutional issues-most importantly, freedom of speech-as well as the appropriateness of major chamber contributors influencing the positions the executive board takes on issues.

If major contributors do not agree with a person or group speaking at a chamber event and threaten to withdraw their financial support from the chamber, then it is obvious that they have joined the chamber to buy influence, not contribute to the betterment and prosperity of the chamber or the community.

Rick Lee and Quila H. Creig

Playa del Rey

Blunt reply

Dear ER:

During a trip last week, I had a 6-inch crescent wrench taken at LAX and a 1/8-inch allen head wrench taken at Indianapolis. When I asked the security supervisor at Indianapolis (Monday afternoon around 6 p.m.) for the written policy governing carry on baggage, he threatened to expel me from the airport. In both instances the security supervisor had indicated that FAA had mandated that "no tools" be allowed on board.

After reviewing the FAA web site for travelers advisories regarding carry on items, I have not found that tools were forbidden. Indeed, it appears that only sharp objects and large blunt items like baseball bats were the subject to prohibition, qualifications of which a 6-in crescent wrench and a 1/8-inch allen head wrench hardly meet.

Robert Benz

Benz Air Engineering Co.

Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Good stuff

Dear ER:

Your article about the Starbuck's/Coffee Bean feud was entertaining, but I see them as a gateway to the best coffee setting in town -- Good Stuff.

Why order coffee at a counter or drink it in a fishbowl with a view of Hermosa Ave. traffic. Good Stuff has a view of The Strand and ocean, has wonderful employees, customers and room galore.

I get my coffee, as well as a muffin, bagel or breakfast daily before work and am much more relaxed then corporate car coffee.

Businesses with corporate branding should stay up on Sepulveda Blvd. The South Bay would be better off for it.

Steve Shor

Veteran politics

Dear ER:

The Vietnam Veterans Of America South Bay Chapter 53 appreciates the support that the City of Hermosa Beach has continually given to veterans.

It's exemplified by the support for the Hermosa Beach Veterans Memorial and recently the approval of the placement of a sign designating the "Los Angeles County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway" on PCH.

On December 11, 2001 the council voted 4-1 against veterans preference in hiring. Historically, Veterans' Preference Points have been used by the state and local governments to recognize the proven loyalty, honesty, commitment, reliability and courage of those discharged veterans who have served their country during wartime or in peace. These attributes that have already been demonstrated by veterans cannot be shown on tests.

We, unfortunately, are now writing to question the recent decision by the Hermosa Beach City Council to reject the use of Veterans' Preference Points in the selection of its employees. We thank J.R. Reviczky, a former sailor, for his support of the Veterans' Preference Points as the lone dissenter to the city council's decision. It is our hope that the council will reconsider its decision and vote to support Veterans' Preference Points. This decision would be troublesome at any time but is especially disturbing in light of current events.

Jerry Yamamoto, President

Board Of Directors, Vietnam Veterans of America, South Bay Chapter 53