Letters 2/04/16
Island in the shopping center
Dear ER:
“Pen-in-su-la (noun): a piece of land almost surrounded by water or projecting into a body of water.” What does that mean to us? Since we live in Redondo Beach, at the base of the Palos Verdes peninsula, it means that for just about anyone to get to the Redondo Beach waterfront, they have to pass by the following: The Point (El Segundo), Manhattan Village Mall, South Bay Galleria, Del Amo Mall (the one with the new Nordstrom and IMAX theater). South Bay Pavilion (right next to IKEA) and many, many others shopping centers.
Redondo Beach will remain a virtual island adjoining one of the largest cities on Earth until infrastructure and transportation corridors are modernized. So why not focus on the future needs of the current residents, who moved here and live here because of all the great things to do at the beach?
Brian Hittelman
Redondo Beach
Smile and the pols smile with you
Dear ER:
Past 11 p.m. at the last Redondo Beach city council meeting, the city council scheduled a vote to extend the exclusivity agreement with CenterCal for the Redondo Beach waterfront. The waterfront Draft Environmental Impact Report was over budget by $600,000 (nearly 22 percent) and CenterCal said they wouldn’t pay the additional cost unless the City extended the agreement, which was set to expire in August. The technical term for this is “shakedown.” CenterCal forced the issue to keep anyone else out of the bidding process and the council caved.
It didn’t need a vote that night and as Councilmember Bill Brand asked “Why was this brought up so late when it could have been added to the next council meeting agenda?”
How did this $600,000 overrun happen and who in the city government authorized it? In the end, council members Brand and Stephen Sammarco voted to wait. Since there was a two to two tie Mayor Steve Aspel cast the deciding vote. When people applauded thinking they got the delay, Aspel gloated saying, “Sorry folks. I cast the tie breaker and it lost.”
As the tie breaking vote was cast, in the front row sat CenterCal President John Paul Wardy. He stared right at the Mayor and smiled. The next day at a Chamber of Commerce meeting the mayor mischaracterized the vote, saying that other council members were making us pay $600,000 and he could not stand for it. For that reason he announced he was going to run again for mayor.
Doesn’t take much to wonder if that smile was the go ahead to run as more donations were on the way.
Lisa Youngworth
Redondo Beach
Historic versus dream home
Dear ER:
The Manhattan Beach City Council recently passed a Historic Homes Initiative, which provides an upgraded status (termed CLG — Certified Local Government) to the already adopted Mills Act (“Details decided for Manhattan Beach Historic Preservation,” ER Jan. 6, 2016). While I am a supporter of voluntary historic preservation, as provided by the Mills Act, and maintaining our unique beach community environment, I believe the CLG status goes too far.
As written, the initiative describes a Historic District as three or more homes in an area. Historic District status is awarded by a 60 percent vote of the three or more homeowners, not 100 percent. As written, your neighbors could decide the best use of your property.
The City Council cites Redondo Beach as an example of the initiative’s success. Redondo Beach requires 100 percent homeowner approval to create a district. Their approval was grandfathered in when they achieved CLG status.
The Manhattan Beach City Council states there would be rare occasions when a district would be proposed. This contradicts the consultant hired by the city to explore CLG status. The definition of the basic mission of the CLG committee is to create an Inventory of Historic Resources. During a planning commission meeting, the consultant stated they had identified 200 homes. If the standard for creating a district is only three homes, it is possible we could have several districts. The statement that historic districts would be rare is not accurate.
A homeowner caught in the situation where his or her home is involuntarily part of a Historic District can appeal to the city council for a hardship exemption. The city council can override the individual homeowner’s right by a majority vote. Moreover, it is hard to define hardship. Is it the individual homeowner’s ability to bring the home to a level of acceptability regarding historic status, or the individual’s right to tear down and build the home of his or her dreams?
We already have the Mills Act, under which individuals can voluntarily nominate their homes for historic status. The CLG status is tied to grants given to the cities for historic preservation. The entire state of California contributes $150,000 to this fund. Redondo Beach, since its inception as a CFS status city, has received a total of $12,000. The consultant stated possible revenue of $40,000 annually for our city. No small city has ever received anything close to that amount, so how can we expect it on an annual basis?
I believe in historic preservation. I believe in an individual’s right to build their dream house. I would guess that many in support of this measure see it as a way to reduce the loss of beach cottages. I get that. But this should be voluntary on the part of the homeowner.
I recommend the council rethink its decision regarding Historic Districts and raise the homeowner approval to 100 percent or just remove the District category from the ordinance altogether.
Kris Terrill
Manhattan Beach
Stacey as she goes
Dear ER:
As the mother of three children, an attorney and the wife to a local, small business owner, I’ve been active in Hermosa Beach since the day we moved here. I care deeply about our community and I have a strong desire to serve its residents.
While serving as chairperson of Stop Hermosa Beach Oil and as a member of the Community Dialogues financial committee, I came to realize that I shared our community’s desire to build a strong and resilient financial foundation for a clean, green and safe Hermosa Beach.
Decisions on the important issues facing us, like shaping a new General Plan, downtown revitalization, hotels and other development proposals and the implementation of Hermosa’s overwhelming rejection of oil drilling, will establish our city’s direction for the next 30 years.
These are important times. The challenges we face must be approached with honesty, transparency, creativity, cooperation, and a full measure of community input.
As a member of your City Council, I will strive to build consensus and work respectfully with residents and businesses alike to move the city forward in manner we can all be proud of.
I respectfully ask for your vote.
Stacey Armato
Hermosa Beach
Not so safe
Dear ER:
Manhattan Beach City Council Mission of “preserving our small beach town character” has been replaced by “California’s safest beach community.” Tell that to Manhattan Beach Neighbors who live next to the proposed Gelson’s Market at Sepulveda and 8th Street..
Recent Sepulveda Boulevard accidents between 2nd and 8th Streets have included a grandmother killed by a motorcycle; a woman on motorcycle killed by an automobile, two auto accidents, 15 minutes and few blocks apart; and a Manhattan Beach police officer colliding with an SUV driven by a woman. Also, a contractor doing street repairs was hit by car.
The Manhattan Beach neighbors’ problems with Gelson’s resembles the problem Porter Ranch neighbors have with Southern California Gas Co. Both affect the health and lives of the neighborhoods adjacent to the project.
To learn more, attend the neighborhood Gelson’s meeting on February 8 at 7 p.m. in the. Manhattan Beach Library Conference Room.
Robert Bush
Manhattan Beach
Protecting the Coastal Commission
Dear ER:
It often goes unrecognized, but it’s thanks to the California Coastal Commission that some of my favorite places in LA, such as Abalone Cove and Palos Verdes Cove are accessible for all Californians to enjoy.
The recent move to oust Coastal Commission Executive Director Dr. Charles Lester is concerning because it doesn’t seem to be founded on any concrete performance issues. It is beginning to appear like the real motivations behind the ousting of Dr. Lester is political. Under Dr. Lester’s leadership, the Commission has approved projects that protect coastal access and sensitive habitats while respecting the rights of property owners.
The Commission’s ability to its goal of “protecting and enhancing California’s coast and ocean for present and future generations” is predicated on staff being empowered to act independently of outside pressures, political or otherwise. I urge the Coastal Commission to take strong action at its February meeting recognizing the leadership of Dr. Lester and his ability to bring both sides of the aisle together, rather than putting the effectiveness of the Coastal Commission in jeopardy.
Jose Bacallao
Hermosa Beach
Past if passed
Dear ER:
“Would you like paper or plastic” will be a question of the past if Senate Bill 270 is passed. SB-270 would ban plastic bags in California and place a 10 cent fee on paper bags from all grocery and convenience stores. The purpose of this bill is to help protect the environment from undergoing further harm from improper disposal of plastic bags.
might think that the money collected from the 10 cent bag fee would go toward a fund for the actual clean up of plastic bags. But, in reality, that $400 $500 billion that is accumulated each year, is actually being funneled directly into the hands of the grocery stores. These grocery stores already make millions of dollars a year, without the help of SB-270.
In addition, switching from plastic bags to paper bags will create greater environmental damage than the plastic bags that are eliminated. The creation and transportation of paper bags wastes more time, energy, and money than it does with plastic bags. Another concern would be the exhaustion of our non-renewable resources. More of our trees, our water, and fossil fuels will be wasted.
It is popularly believed that plastic bags are responsible for the the killing of millions of marine fish and animals. However, a 2009 national litter survey conducted by the environmentalist group Keep America Beautiful found plastic bags make up only .9 percent of the 20.1 percent of plastic litter found in storm drains. Hard plastics such as water bottle caps, straws, wrappers, and plastic soda rings make up most of the plastic in the ocean.
We recognize SB=270 is not intended to be the end all be all solution to plastic pollution. However, we would rather it focus on the distribution of hard plastics.
Students of Environmental Charter High School
Anthony Navarro, Kiyloni Richardson, Zoe Baldwin, Roberto Morales
Hawthorne