MB WEEKLY:
EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY
by Suzanne Hadley
Former MB Mayor
When did our MB teachers’ union (MBUTA) get so political? In 2020-2021 it was bad enough: the union and its president Shawn Chen kept MB schools closed during COVID long after it was safe and legal to reopen. But union politics have flared up again this school year; once more the behavior seems more Teamster than teacher. Just this spring:
- Union president Shawn Chen was pictured in the Easy Reader picketing outside of the high school.
- The union has not yet approved an academic calendar for the upcoming school year–that starts in two months!
- Some union teachers announced that no letters of recommendation for HS seniors will be written until a new contract is negotiated. And union-active classrooms have been closed to students during lunch and clubs. These tactics aim to hold our students hostage to the union’s demands.
We all love rank-and-file teachers, the vast majority of whom don’t engage in union politics. LAUSD and Oakland parents are regularly affected by union teachers who picket, strike, and play politics. But this is MB. That stuff shouldn’t happen here. I hope by press time the board and union have already signed a new 3-year contract. If so, this is moot… for now. If negotiations drag on, I’d urge the teachers’ union not to shoot themselves in the foot. Please stop the politics and picketing; stop using our students as political pawns; approve the 2023-24 calendar; and keep dissension with the board behind closed doors. Would love to see the union live up to its own words on the union website: the MBUTA is motivated “to inspire, enrich and cultivate student potential…”
Agree? Disagree? Send your comments to: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net (Maximum 100 words)
MB WEEKLY READER POLL:
DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WANT PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS
SEE LITTLE POLICE PRESENCE DOWNTOWN
77% of Manhattan Beach downtown residents and business owners desire private security guards to help patrol the downtown area during summer months when tourist traffic soars. A large majority, 82% of those polled, expressed disappointment in the lack of police presence in the downtown area, especially during the evening hours. “I was told that the police were going to begin bike patrols a couple of months ago and thus far has seen none,” said Audrey J., a longtime downtown business owner. “After two brazen armed robberies in the downtown area in under a year, you would think there would be an improved presence.”
Agree? Disagree? Unsure? Send your comments to: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net
MB WEEKLY – David Slay Exclusive Video:
DAVID SLAY / PART ONE
Next Week Part Two
https://youtu.be/bseRskWlDdg
Ads For Skechers USA Power Up:
Skechers USA Inc. has recently used athletes and celebrities to promote their products, which resulted in more revenue for the Manhattan Beach footwear producer and distributor. In the first quarter, revenue surpassed $2 billion for the first time in the company’s 31-year history, up 10% over the same time last year. Skechers’ chief operating officer, David Weinberg, attributed the growth to the company’s direct-to-consumer channels built through its e-commerce platform and retail locations and to strong domestic and international sales. “Our record sales expanded gross margins of 48.9%, and meaningfully improved inventory levels indicate the strength of our comfort technology products and impactful marketing worldwide,” Weinberg said in a statement accompanying the company’s April 27 release of its quarterly results. “With plans to reach $10 billion in annual sales by 2026, we couldn’t be more positive about the many meaningful growth opportunities we see ahead.”
MB WEEKLY:
The Faces of Manhattan Beach
Meet Rachael Wixom
THE SALTY GROM
Q: WHAT MADE YOU START THE SALTY GROM?
A: I have three boys. They all love the ocean. When my oldest son was as young as 3 years old he would spend all day in the water. He would only get out to change up a surfboard for another board. It was hard to get him to re-apply sunscreen and he would get out with rashes. I looked for something for him to wear under his board shorts and wetsuits to prevent the rashes but all I could find was black swim speedos. Always having a love for prints I designed a printed surf short and we called it The Salty Grom, SHRED guard. Fun fact – The Salty Grom logo is taken from a picture of my son jumping naked off a palm tree in Bora Bora. At the time he was just 4 years old.
Q: HAVE YOU ANY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS?
A: I graduated [from] The University of Santa Barbara with an Accounting/Economics degree. I tried my hand at a few finance jobs but they weren’t for me and I quickly moved into the analytical side of the fashion world. I worked as a merchandiser for LVMH (Duty Free Stores) Worldwide Boutiques for the brand Hermes, a buyer for Macys West, and eventually moved into design and worked for a variety of fashion companies here in Los Angeles.
Q: WHAT’S BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS THUS FAR?
A: The Salty Grom was only a few years old when COVID hit. It was a challenge to sustain the business during that time.
Q: WHO IS YOUR IDEAL CUSTOMER?
A: My ideal customer is a mom. They want to keep their kids protected from the sun and they are conscious of the environment. Our product is UPF50+ and sustainable (78% recycled fabric).
Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME?
A: Sixteen Candles – Molly Ringwald (Sam) was rad and Michael Schoeffling (Jake) was so dreamy. The Thompson Twins – If You Were Here, is still one of my favorite songs.
Q: WHAT ARE THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN THE MANHATTAN BEACH AREA?
A: The Strand house (the view is one of a kind), MB Post (my husband and I met in that same location when it was Towne years ago), and Sugar Fish for take out Sushi.
Q: WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE DINNER WITH ELON MUSK OR PRESIDENT BIDEN?
A: Elon Musk, he intrigues me. I would like to ask him how he envisions the world in a decade and what his thoughts are on life on other planets. I would also ask him [if] he planned to run for president one day.
Q: WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU DO EVERY DAY?
A: I run every day. It is my yoga. I have only missed a handful of days in the last decade and 1/2. I ran throughout all my pregnancies and when the boys were born, I would run around town with my double stroller. I ran the kids to school, to the grocery store, everywhere. People thought I was crazy. MB locals really thought I didn’t own a car! Follow me on Instagram: thesaltygrom1
www.TheSaltyGrom.com
Tin Roof Bistro:
Peppadew Hummus – this Mediterranean delight is perfectly complemented by crisp cucumber, tangy kalamata olives, juicy tomatoes, zesty red onion, crumbled feta, and a side of toasted flatbread. Get ready to taste the perfect starter dish!
www.TinRoofBistro.com
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Mike Michalski
Manhattan Beach Realtor
In viewing the Manhattan Beach City Council meeting on May 16, I was dismayed and disgusted to hear one of the owners of Manhattan Grocery recount their experience with a group of shoplifters the previous day who basically walked out of their store with stolen merchandise after informing the clerk that there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. Fortunately, the thieving thugs were wrong as the police were called and were able to locate and arrest the main perpetrator. This incident struck me as a microcosm of what’s become of law and order in Los Angeles County thanks to the likes of pro-criminal L.A. County District Attorney George Gascon, whose policies have emboldened the likes of the Manhattan Grocery thieves. So I was heartened to hear Council member Amy Howorth, who supported Gascon’s election and donated to his campaign, disavow Gascon’s misguided soft-on-crime policies from the dais. Ms. Howorth may also wish to disavow the equally misguided policies and/or statements of a few other local politicians who she has previously endorsed and financially supported, including: County Supervisor Holly Mitchell (the County Supervisor for Manhattan Beach’s district), in 2021, disparaged law enforcement and the District Attorneys’ Association as “clearly such white supremacist organizations.” County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who last month proposed that all prisoners currently being held in the County jail on bail of $50,000 or less, including many charged with felonies, be released from jail outright with a citation to appear in court at a later date. Meanwhile, serious crimes were up 34% in Manhattan Beach in the past two years, up 36% for property crimes alone. Council member Howorth’s repudiation of the statements and policies of Gascon, Mitchell, and Horvath won’t alter these trends but it would reinforce our City Council’s previously expressed commitment to public safety as priority number one.
Agree? Disagree? Send your comments to: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net (Maximum 100 words)
SEND US YOUR PHOTO!
If you live or work in Manhattan Beach or surrounding South Bay communities, send us your fun photo to share with neighbors, friends, and associates to MB Weekly. Send to: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net
Manhattan Beach Resident Wants To Preserve An Old Pine Tree In Community:
More than 40 years have passed since Paul Sterba first moved into his Manhattan Beach house on 27th Street. He claimed that the pine tree in front of the house was one of the primary factors in his decision. According to Sterba, the tree is at least 100 years old and may be as old as 150 years, which means it existed long before Manhattan Beach was even a community. Although city officials claim they are doing all possible to protect it, Sterba claimed that a future roadway fix directly in front of his lifelong residence could harm the ancient tree in the east corner of his land.
MORE COFFEE IN MANHATTAN BEACH:
Manhattan Beach contains five independent and chain roasters within a few blocks. A sixth is coming. Caffe Luxe will open on Manhattan Avenue this summer if all goes well. Santa Monica’s eighth location roasts all its coffee in Gardena.
Dive N’ Surf:
Hey folks! We have kid suits here at the store! Sizes that range from 2-16! Come get your gear for the summer and make sure your kiddos are in style for beach season! We have brands on brands! Come check it out!
www.DiveNSurf.com
MB WEEKLY:
The Faces of Manhattan Beach
Meet Ed Kushins
Acclaimed South Bay Entrepreneur
“EITHER / OR” INTERVIEW
WINE OR BEER?
–Wine
GOING OUT OR STAYING IN?
–Both
TRAIN OR PLANE?
–Train
COOK OR DO THE DISHES?
–Dishes
VACATION TO DO LOTS OF THINGS OR A VACATION TO DO NOTHING?
–Both
MOVIE THEATER OR STREAMING SERVICE?
–Streaming
AMUSEMENT PARKS OR REGULAR PARKS?
–National Parks
SPORTING EVENT OR CONCERT?
–Concert
ONLINE SHOPPING OR IN PERSON SHOPPING?
–Online
DOING LAUNDRY OR VACUUMING?
–Both
www.VacationPropertyPartners.com
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Mimi Toberman
Manhattan Beach
If you’re the parents of an eight-year-old girl riding around Sand Dune on a motorized bike wearing an aqua blue helmet (with an 11-year-old friend also in an aqua blue helmet riding on the back), please talk to her about safety and STOPPING AT STOP SIGNS. I tried to talk to her. She wasn’t buying it. She told me I was a mean old lady. She said she didn’t see the stop sign. I pointed out every stop sign on Vista at every #’ed street. Hello?
Send your comments to: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net (Maximum 100 words)
SEE YOUR COMMUNITY CLEARLY – READ MB WEEKLY:
“Once A Week, But Never Weakly”
*Intriguing People. *Intriguing Community.
Join Your Neighbors. Sign up for FREE:
www.MBWeekly.net
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Clay Tobias
It is indisputable that our society, including us elites in Manhattan Beach, has a significant loneliness issue. A 2018 research by the Kaiser Family Foundation discovered that about 60 million Americans, or 22% of all adults, reported feeling lonely or socially isolated frequently or constantly. That occurred more than two years before the COVID epidemic. Additionally, Americans seem to be growing more isolated over time: There was a 25 percentage point decline in the proportion of Americans who said they had five or more close friends between 1990 and 2021. Today, more young individuals than older people report feeling lonely. It’s common to compare this pervasive loneliness to a disease or an epidemic. But such a label hides a crucial fact: In today’s world, loneliness is a byproduct of societal systems we’ve chosen – knowingly or unknowingly – to create for ourselves, not just inevitable or abstract forces like technological advancement.
Send your comments to: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net (Maximum 100 words)
AWARD-WINNING HAIRSTYLIST – 2023
“Best of Los Angles Award”
Sean James
Celebrity Hairstylist/Makeup
Mens Groomer LOCAL 706 Union Makeup Artist
Matthew Preece Salon
www.MatthewPreece.com
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Toby Brenner
Manhattan Beach
Dangerous traffic situation with oncoming traffic. Manhattan Village Mall 30th St. on the south side of Sidecar Donuts heading west toward Sepulveda. Large delivery trucks block the only westbound lane almost daily, forcing people to drive in the oncoming lane, creating a hazardous situation. I’ve seen several near head-ons misses. Sysco is there daily with a giant truck.
Send your comments to: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net (Maximum 100 words)
MB WEEKLY – R.I.P.:
Kevin Sousa, “Heartbeat of the South Bay” Musician
Dies at 52
Kevin Sousa, the South Bay’s Renaissance man, musician and therapist, passed away May 26 at age 52. He was a touring guitar technician for Glenn Frey of the Eagles and performed at the BeachLife Festival with his band. Kevin Sousa performed at BeachLife this year. His passing devastated South Bay musicians. A day after her husband passed, Patti Sousa said on Facebook that he was first diagnosed with cancer in September 2020.
MB WEEKLY – CARTOON:
“Could it really happen in Manhattan Beach?”
MB WEEKLY – READER QUESTION:
WHAT ARE THE LITTLE RITUALS THAT KEEP YOU GOING?
Please share your thoughts with thousands and thousands of your neighbors in Manhattan Beach and surrounding South Bay communities.
Send your reply (anonymous, if you prefer) to: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net (Maximum 100 words)
START A DYNAMIC CAREER IN ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA:
“A Chance In A Lifetime, In A Lifetime Of Chance.”
Extraordinary entry-level, part-time (flexible hours) opportunity to join an award-winning P.R. and Branding firm. Inspiring knowledge and opportunity for smart, reliable, detail-oriented, organized person hungry to learn and grow in the world of entertainment and media. Approximately 10 part-time (flexible) hours per week. “A chance in a lifetime, in a lifetime of chance.” Contact Amanda Kent, Chief Innovation Officer: AmandaK@BoundlessMediaUSA.com
www.BoundlessMediaUSA.com
MBPD HIRING:
LATERAL POLICE OFFICER & POLICE RECRUIT
Annual Officer Salary Up To $170,882
Recruit Academy Pay $38.80 hour
www.ManhattanBeach.gov/departments/police-department
MB – BULLETIN BOARD:
1. ** A graveyard officer conducted extra patrols of the downtown area when she conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle. That traffic stop led to the recovery of an illegally possessed handgun and a dealer’s choice of drugs. —- MBPD
2. ** The quantity of “road rage” and speeding cars running red lights in Manhattan Beach is a major issue. —- Lauren S., Manhattan Beach
3. ** Does Anyone know what’s happening at the Weed Dispensary on 137TH Street and Inglewood? Numerous Sheriffs & Fire trucks are at the location. —- Roberto T., El Segundo
4. ** Sales of Bud Light are down more than 26% as of last week. This is an optimistic sign for our society.
5. ** I’m sorry to say our neighborhood isn’t that great. My automobile was stolen overnight. —- Howard K., Torrance
6. ** I’m not too fond of Starbucks. —- Tim A., Manhattan Beach
7. ** No one has done more in Manhattan Beach for bike safety than Councilman Joe Franklin. Thank you on behalf of the parents. —- Holly M., Manhattan Beach
8. ** Think of President Joe Biden; peace be upon him. He can barely get a sentence out without a mumble, a slur, or a confused expression. —- Amanda F., Manhattan Beach
9. ** Nando Trattoria in downtown Manhattan Beach is now open for lunch Saturday and Sunday, starting at 11:30 a.m. —- Editor’s Note
10. ** Coyote! I was walking my dog at Pollywog Park around 8 p.m., and a coyote approached us. I grabbed my dog. This coyote was not scared at all of us, and as I tried to speed walk away, it followed us at a close distance! It is just a matter of time! —- Elena R., Manhattan Beach
11. ** Personalized food delivered to your door —- www.SetTheTableLA.com
12. ** The prices of specialty drinks at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf are obscenely high! —- Erica R., Manhattan Beach
13. ** Congratulations to MB Weekly for being nonpartisan and independent! Well done. —- George P., Manhattan Beach
14. ** When people call you intelligent, it’s almost always because they agree with you; otherwise, they just call you arrogant. —- Donald M., Manhattan Beach
15. ** I like Councilwoman Amy Howorth. —- Jennifer M., Manhattan Beach
16. ** My wife and I have been married for 43 years and neither of us has ever called the other “Babe.” —- Paul Wafer, Manhattan Beach
17. ** I appreciate the work you do at the MB Weekly. I love the format and content, and I learn something while reading each issue. —- Tim Hageman, Manhattan Beach
18. ** The New York Times is about as independent as A.O.C.! —- Tammi A., Manhattan Beach
19. ** Every time I leave the house, my wife needs a play-by-play about where I am going, how long I’ll be away, etc. I was a player years ago, but age has caught up with me. —- Arnold Z., Hermosa Beach
20. ** Young Ladies: Here is a clue for you. Tattoos are tacky. Why would you put a bumper sticker on a Ferrari? —- Lawrence K., Manhattan Beach
Comment / Hire / Share / Promote / Barter / Discuss
The MB Weekly Free Bulletin Board is your place to communicate for free with thousands and thousands of your neighbors in Manhattan Beach. Send your message (maximum 50 words) to: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net
MB Weekly Disclaimer: 1.) MB Weekly accepts no liability for the content of this email, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. MB Weekly is not associated with any commercial or political organization and is transmitted via the web for the sole benefit of its subscribers. 2.) Unfortunately, computer viruses can be transmitted via email. The recipient should check this mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses.