MB WEEKLY EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY:
by Paul Wafer
Have you ever wondered what the city expense per person is for the citizens of Manhattan Beach? I decided to look at it a couple of different ways. First, I looked at what that cost was 5 years ago and compared it to this year’s budget. The results may be surprising to you. As the charts illustrate, in the last 5 years the cost per capita has increased 61%.
| Manhattan Beach | 2020 | 2025 | Variance | %Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 35380 | 32971 | -2409 | -7% |
| Expense Budget | $128,589,749.00 | $193,134,792.00 | $64,545,043.00 | 50% |
| Expense/Capita | $3,634.53 | $5,857.72 | $2,223.18 | 61% |
I then compared it to cities of similar population and geographic size as Manhattan Beach. The city comparison below shows that our city is number 1 for similar towns in the state of California, with the next closest being 41% lower than Manhattan Beach.
| City | Population | Density mi² | Area mi² | Expense Budget | Expense/Capita |
| Manhattan Beach | 32971 | 8381 | 3.934 | $193,134,792.00 | $5,857.72 |
| Dana Point | 32464 | 5005 | 6.486 | $134,779,896.00 | $4,151.67 |
| Goleta | 32573 | 4148 | 7.852 | $82,197,200.00 | $2,523.48 |
| Pleasant Hill | 34064 | 4815 | 7.075 | $66,509,512.00 | $1,952.49 |
Why is no one on our city council or our city manager looking at this?
From Fire To Fortitude – Mayor David Lesser Reflects On A Defining Year For Manhattan Beach:
Manhattan Beach Mayor David Lesser says 2025 will be remembered as a year that tested – and ultimately affirmed – the city’s character. The year began with devastating wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, displacing families and destroying homes. Manhattan Beach responded swiftly, with residents opening their doors, businesses offering free services, schools welcoming displaced students, and City Council members personally distributing support packages. Public safety remained paramount as police increased patrols, resolved high-profile cases, and launched a real-time “Calls for Service” dashboard to enhance transparency. The Fire Department strengthened evacuation protocols and upgraded regional emergency communications. Financially, the city remained strong. Standard & Poor’s reaffirmed Manhattan Beach’s AAA credit rating, while assessed property values rose 5.3% to $27.61 billion. Infrastructure improvements moved quickly downtown, including new parking solutions and the launch of Project Pulse to reimagine the city’s future. From housing and environmental stewardship to parks, recreation, and cultural programs, Lesser said 2025 showcased a community that leads with compassion, discipline, and vision.
Ball Drops Early, Spirits Run High – Manhattan Beach Kiwanis Rings In The New Year With A Hit Fundraiser:
The Manhattan Beach Kiwanis Club, under the direction of its President Misty Frasier, kicked off what is sure to become a beloved tradition with its First Annual New Year’s Eve Fundraiser. By all accounts, it was a resounding success. Held at the historic Neptunian Woman’s Club clubhouse, the coed celebration brought together community members for an evening of music, dancing, laughter, and purpose. Designed as the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year, the event blended festive fun with meaningful support for Kiwanis’ local charitable efforts. In a clever twist that delighted attendees, the celebration ran on Eastern Time, allowing guests to enjoy the excitement of the ball drop at 9:00 p.m. Pacific. The result? All the champagne toasts, countdown cheers, and dance-floor energy – without having to stay up until midnight. Guests rang in 2026 in style and still made it home early, smiling and satisfied. Festive, fun, and community-driven, the night proved a perfect way to start the New Year together.
www.MBKiwanis.org
MB WEEKLY – READER POLL:
Airline Slobs Grounded! MB Weekly Readers Back Call For Class
MB Weekly’s latest reader poll has delivered a loud-and-clear message to America’s skies: 77% say they’ve had it with slob clothing, snarky attitudes, and mile-high rudeness on commercial flights. The poll, conducted this week for MB Weekly (www.MBWeekly.net), comes as U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy launches a national “civility campaign,” urging passengers to dress respectfully, act courteously, and stop treating airplanes like dorm lounges at 30,000 feet. Local travelers overwhelmingly agree. Many cited pajama bottoms, loud FaceTime calls, sprawling barefoot passengers, and armrest warfare as signs that air travel has “lost all dignity,” a reader said. “People used to dress like adults,” one reader wrote. “Now it’s sweatpants, tantrums, and entitlement.” Airlines can only do so much – the rest is on passengers to remember they’re sharing a cabin, not starring in their own reality show. MB Weekly readers appear ready for takeoff – with manners intact.
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Slay Italian Kitchen:
At Slay Italian, we passionately embrace the essence of ‘Rustic’ Italian cuisine through our dynamic, ever-evolving menu, featuring a delightful array of fresh and dried pasta, premium meats, stone-fired pizzas, garden-fresh vegetables, and an exquisite selection of wines.
www.SlayItalianKitchen.com
A Hand Up That’s Working – MBSAFE Marks A Year Of Real Progress In Manhattan Beach:
Rita Crabtree
Rita Crabtree is closing out the year with a clear message: MBSAFE is making measurable progress – and the work matters more than ever. Manhattan Beach Safe Alternatives for Everyone (MBSAFE.org) focuses on compassionate, practical solutions to homelessness while promoting a safe environment for residents, businesses, and visitors. The organization educates the community on what to do when encountering someone in need and lives by a guiding principle: a hand up, not a handout – empowerment through professional support. Over the past year, MBSAFE has reached more than 130 individuals and 13 families. Many were successfully housed, including some long-term, chronic cases. Children were enrolled in schools, and several families achieved reunification by returning home. Crabtree acknowledged that state and federal funding cuts have made the work more challenging, but emphasized pride in MBSAFE’s continued collaboration with partners and providers. “The work continues,” she said, “and the results show it’s working.”
MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Zulima at Urban Plates in Manhattan Village [top left] | Hope Sabater of Torrance [top middle] | David Harris of Harris & Associates [top right] | Silvia, South Bay’s award-winning dog walker [bottom left] | Lissette Heffernan owner of Bohemian Coco sporting the MB Weekly beanie! [ bottom right ]
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MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by L.M. (Manhattan Beach)
Los Angeles has quietly invented a new tax – one never debated, never voted on, and never admitted. Call it the Incompetence Tax. I discovered it when my HOA announced dues would rise in 2026. The reason? One word: insurance. After the devastating Pacific Palisades fires in early 2025, insurers jacked up rates across the City. Why? Because Los Angeles revealed itself as spectacularly unprepared – fire hydrants without water, sluggish responses, and infrastructure sacrificed on the altar of political slogans. Insurance companies don’t indulge ideology. They price risk. And they have concluded that this City’s leadership is a risk. City Hall won’t pay for its failures. It never does. So the bill is passed directly to residents – homeowners, renters, and small businesses – through higher premiums, higher dues, and higher living costs. Politicians will blame climate change or “complexity.” They will form committees. What they won’t form is accountability. The insurers have already delivered their verdict. And it’s payable by us.
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MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Prominent MB Realtors Cindy Carvel and Misty Frasier at the Kiwanis Club’s 2026 New Years Party.
Back To The Future – South Bay Classical Academy Set To Open This Fall:
David Jackson has announced the launch of South Bay Classical Academy, a new K–5 school opening its doors in August in Hawthorne at the former Trinity Lutheran School campus. Billed as the first classical school of its kind in Los Angeles County, the academy aims to revive time-tested educational traditions rooted in ancient Greece and Rome. South Bay Classical Academy will focus not only on academic excellence, but on character formation and moral virtue – principles that shaped the foundations of American civic life. Drawing inspiration from thinkers such as Plato, the school emphasizes that education should develop students intellectually and ethically. Jackson says the goal is to cultivate thoughtful, responsible citizens prepared for lives of service, purpose, and deep understanding. Families are encouraged to explore the curriculum, ask questions, and schedule campus tours. With its classical approach and community-focused mission, South Bay Classical Academy hopes to offer a life-changing educational option for South Bay families.
www.SouthBayClassical.org
URBAN PLATES AND MB WEEKLY:
Invite you to participate in its
Annual Shoe Drive for the Homeless
Starting January 15 and ending January 31
Bring in a pair or several pairs of used shoes to Urban Plates in Manhattan Beach, and receive a $5.00 gift card. All used shoes are donated to the L.A. Mission. Last year, we collected over 500 pairs of shoes.
UrbanPlates.com | MBWeekly.net
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by A.C. (Manhattan Beach)
As a veteran CPA, I can testify that California is the wealthiest state in the union – and somehow also the most recklessly run. Nearly $270 billion in debt, annual deficits swinging from $15 to $70 billion, and the nation’s highest income and sales taxes. That’s not compassion; that’s fiscal malpractice. One percent of households pay half the income tax, and unsurprisingly, they’re packing up and leaving. Governor Newsom boasts about expanding Medi-Cal to thousands more illegal aliens, then turns around and begs Washington for a $3 billion bailout. Half the state is now on Medi-Cal. Half of all births, too. This is not a safety net – it’s a dependency trap funded by a shrinking tax base. California also leads the nation in illegal immigration, homelessness, residents fleeing, poverty, food prices, and crumbling infrastructure – while ranking near the bottom in public safety. With vast oil reserves, unmatched agriculture, and enormous natural wealth, California should be unstoppable. Yet through ideological spending and denial of math, Newsom and his Democratic partners have accomplished the near-impossible: bankrupting paradise.
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Kaminsky Real Estate Group:
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Meth, Guns & Holiday Mayhem – Manhattan Beach Cops Close Out 2025 With Busts And Bad Guys:
As Manhattan Beach said goodbye to 2025, police wrapped up the year with a final crime snapshot that blended calm coastal living with flashes of real danger. The Manhattan Beach Police Department reported 742 calls for service between Dec. 24 and Dec. 30, resulting in 9 arrests and 29 reports. Traffic trouble included 13 collisions. But behind the numbers were unsettling moments. On Manhattan Beach Boulevard, an alleged fight broke out after a transient reportedly stole items from a store and was confronted by an employee. The most chilling incident came just before dawn on Dec. 29. An officer on proactive patrol spotted a suspicious man lurking near a vehicle on Ruhland Avenue. The stop prevented a car theft and led to a significant arrest: more than a pound of methamphetamine and a loaded handgun with an obliterated serial number.
From Words To Wonder – Manhattan Beach Art Center Explores The Art Of Interpretation:
The Manhattan Beach Art Center is set to unveil “Are You Seeing What I’m Seeing?” – a thought-provoking new exhibition examining the dynamic relationship between written language and visual expression. Co-curated with longtime South Bay arts chronicler Bondo Wyszpolski and Bernard Fallen, the show features 35 artists responding to concise textual prompts spanning nature, mythology, urban life, and more. Each artist translates the same structured cues into vastly different visual outcomes, highlighting how perception, intuition, and imagination shape creative expression. The exhibition opens with a public reception on Friday, January 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Manhattan Beach Art Center.
MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Manhattan Beach police say officers made their first driving under the influence arrest of the year, 35 minutes into 2026. The driver was spotted “driving down Highland Ave in El Porto with the hood blocking the whole windshield,” the Manhattan Beach Police Department said. The driver was arrested on multiple counts, including DUI and driving without a license, police said, adding that the car was impounded.
Dive N’ Surf:
Surf Series Event #2 hits Torrance Beach
Sponsored by Dive N’ Surf | January 24, 2026
This event sells out fast, Sign up now at: southbayboardriders.com
www.DiveNSurf.com
MB WEEKLY – FACE TIME:
Annie, general manager at Slay Steak + Fish.
Former MB Mayor Torches ‘Same Old, Same Old’ Spending Spree!:
Mark Burton – Former Manhattan Beach Mayor
A former Manhattan Beach mayor is sounding the alarm over what he calls a decade of runaway government bloat. “If our residents keep electing the same old, same old candidates, we’ll keep getting the same old, same old failure to manage the City Manager and staff,” he warned. According to the former mayor, City Hall has added more than 50 new staff positions, salaries have “skyrocketed,” and pension obligations are now barreling toward $100 million. “Ridiculous! Yes, it is,” he said, urging residents to demand accountability – and new leadership – before the bills get even bigger.
MB WEEKLY – CARTOON:
“Can you please hold a minute? MB Weekly just came out, and I have to finish reading it!”
BELLA BUILDERS:
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MB WEEKLY – READER QUESTION:
WHO MAKES THE BEST COFFEE IN MANHATTAN BEACH?
Please share your comment with thousands and thousands of your neighbors in Manhattan Beach and surrounding South Bay communities.
Send your reply, anonymously if you choose, to: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net (Maximum 100 words)
1. ** I’m with Paul Wafer – 100%. These skyrocketing water bills are outrageous and insulting. Families are being squeezed while the city shrugs off accountability and shrinks. No transparency. No restraint. Just higher bills month after month. This isn’t sustainability – it’s mismanagement, plain and simple.
2. ** The pastries at Starbucks taste like cardboard. Maybe worse. Four dollars for a cheese Danish that makes you want to gag. Dry, flavorless, mass-produced misery. This is not indulgence; it’s punishment. Stop charging bakery prices for factory sadness. Respect customers, or stop pretending this is food – already enough corporate disappointment. —- Lesley D., Manhattan Beach
3. ** I – and most residents – strongly oppose short-term rentals during the World Cup and Olympics. The City’s survey was flawed. Ask the fundamental question: “Do you want a rental next door?” Over 80% would say NO. Don’t sacrifice quiet neighborhoods for a fistful of dollars. —- Name Withheld by Request, Manhattan Beach
4. ** Wood Ranch in Manhattan Beach is everything wrong with chain restaurants. The food is bland and forgettable, the service indifferent at best, and the prices wildly inflated for what you get. You leave feeling overcharged, underwhelmed, and reminded of why independent restaurants always win. —- Darren G., El Segundo
5. ** Screw CVS. I wandered the Manhattan Beach store with zero help, overpriced shelves, and endless frustration. After five minutes, I pulled out my phone and ordered the same items on Amazon Prime in five seconds, 20% cheaper. And retailers still wonder why brick-and-mortar stores are dying. —- Lani T.
6. ** The Kensington Redondo Beach sets the standard in best-in-class memory care. Because memory loss is as unique as every resident, our programs are clinically comprehensive, deeply personalized, and thoughtfully designed. We proudly accommodate couples too – ensuring each partner receives the care they need, together or individually.
7. ** The Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club celebrates a century of service with a mural unveiling on January 10, 2026. The restored mural, originally dedicated during Hermosa Beach’s 100th anniversary in 2007, honors the city’s rich history. —- Editor’s Note
8. ** Thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Manhattan Beach for hosting a super fun NYE party at the Neptunian Clubhouse. I hope this becomes a yearly thing. So fun!!! —- Patricia Blakemore, Manhattan Beach
9. ** Thank you to Mickey’s Deli – I ordered a pastrami pizza via DoorDash and received the wrong pie, mislabeled. One call to Mickey’s and they instantly made it right: a bigger pizza than ordered, personally delivered in the rain on NYE, plus a gift card. Mistakes happen. Great service matters. —- G.S., Hermosa Beach
10. ** In 2026, I prefer hairy men. —- L.Z.
11. ** Bob White is survived by daughters Katy Newsome (Rick), and Ann White, son Link White (Monica), and five grandchildren. —- Editor’s Note
12. ** I have an unwanted house person and have asked her to leave. She refuses. Have given her 30-day notice to vacate. Now need to file in court. Can anyone recommend a local, inexpensive attorney to help with the filing? Thanks. – 310-936-8464 —- Thomas
13. ** As a Dentist, I can tell you that your mouth on weed is nothing to smile about. —- Dr. Larry R., Hermosa Beach
14. ** At the age of 60, Snoop Dogg will be 420 in dog years. —- Stuart K.
15. ** Nearly a year after the Palisades fire, people are DONE waiting. Homes are still in ruins – promises broken – endless excuses from Newsom and Bass. Lives stalled, families displaced, patience gone. If leadership won’t act, protests will. Malibu, Eaton, Altadena – who’s next? This is disgraceful. —- Andy Parker
16. ** Congratulations to MB Weekly for a bold, eye-opening report exposing the surge of South Bay emergency-room visits linked to chronic cannabis use. Shocking, sobering, and deeply important. I had no idea – and clearly, many others didn’t either. Thank you, MB Weekly. Sadly, my daughter-in-law is addicted to pot. —- Steve H.
17. ** Your FaceTime photo of Cedric Sherman was very handsome. —- Ami T.
18. ** God bless Steven Carvel for his tireless work making sure Santa gets around town safely and smoothly. His behind-the-scenes dedication brings joy to families, smiles to kids, and a little extra magic to the season – community spirit at its very best. —- A.C., Manhattan Beach
19. ** I don’t always agree with Mark Burton – though I often do – but I always respect him. His dedication, time, and unwavering commitment to Manhattan Beach are undeniable. Mark shows up, speaks up, and cares deeply about this community. That’s authentic leadership – a true local hero. —- G.P., Manhattan Beach
20. ** Something I didn’t know and that makes my blood boil. Jenia Resha Belt killed Braun Levi while drunk, on a suspended license, with a BAC more than twice the legal limit. That’s not a mistake – it’s depraved indifference. A system that lets this happen is broken. Maximum punishment. No excuses. Justice for Braun. I pray Jenia rots in jail for the rest of her life. —- Jessica S., (mother of two teenagers)
21. ** I appreciate the Ask the Former Mayor column in MB Weekly. It’s thoughtful, grounded, and refreshingly free of pandering. Just straight talk, earned wisdom, and perspective shaped by real experience – not performative outrage or empty slogans. —- Fred R.
22. ** I would love to have dinner with Elon Musk. —- Julie M., El Segundo
23. ** Enough excuses. When MB City Hall says its hands are tied, that’s a cop-out. Ours are not. This reckless high-rise at 2301 N. Sepulveda tramples local zoning on height, parking, and density. Sign the petition. Stand up now, or watch our neighborhood get steamrolled. Silence equals surrender, and surrender isn’t acceptable. —- Mike F.
24. ** Dear MB Weekly, I believe the answers you gave to the History Quiz questions 1 & 5 are in error. The concrete pier was built in 1920/1921 and the fire station has been completely rebuilt since 1962. Remember the temporary station that was located in Live Oak Park while he old one was demolished and rebuilt? —- George R.
25. ** I wonder how this will hit South Bay businesses. A new 1.5% surcharge on nearly every product with a non-removable battery is infuriating. Sacramento’s budget incompetence gets passed straight to residents and shop owners. Higher prices, thinner margins, less choice. This isn’t environmental policy – it’s lazy taxation. Really sad and reckless. —- Kyle R., Redondo Beach
26. ** God knows we need…MB Weekly. Sign up to receive for FREE —- www.MBWeekly.net
27. ** Grateful beyond words for Rita Crabtree and the dedicated MB SAFE team. Their quiet, compassionate work makes a real difference every single day. With care, strategy, and heart, they help change lives while protecting our community – deep thanks for the impact you make. —- C.V., Manhattan Beach
28. ** Heads up, riders: El Segundo is cracking down on e-bikes and other motorized rides on sidewalks. A new law effective Jan. 2 allows tickets in business districts, parks, and recreation areas, expanding prior rules that banned electric and motorized conveyances in key public spaces. —- Editor’s Note
29. ** Strong book recommendation: Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh. A bleakly funny, unsettling portrait of a lonely young woman working at a boys’ prison, crushed by family chaos and fixation. Enter a glamorous new counselor – and everything tilts. Come for the freak factor; stay for the wicked twist. —- Elaine W., Hermosa Beach
30. ** Buy a cheap gym membership. You might quit by February. You might not. But don’t overpay for guilt. True motivation comes from the masses – nothing inspires a workout quite like seeing impossibly hot people sweating it out… on a budget. —- Clay T., Redondo Beach
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