MB WEEKLY EXCLUSIVE:
HE’S BACK! EX-MAYOR RICHARD MONTGOMERY JUMPS BACK INTO THE POLITICAL RING, WARNS OF CITY FISCAL CRISIS
Former Manhattan Beach Mayor Richard Montgomery is making a political comeback, announcing his campaign for City Council with a blunt warning: the city’s finances have gone from stable to shaky in just two years. Montgomery, who left office in 2024, says the current City Council has abandoned the fiscal discipline that guided Manhattan Beach through both the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. “When I left council, we had just passed a sales tax increase and adjusted stormwater fees so residents were paying closer to actual costs,” Montgomery said. “The city was financially strong. This isn’t a revenue problem – it’s a spending problem.” According to Montgomery, annual city spending has climbed by nearly $10 million since he left office. He also says the city has exhausted approximately $9.5 million in reserves, including $4 million in economic uncertainty funds, while pausing contributions to the city’s pension trust and infrastructure reserves. “We didn’t spend down reserves during the Great Recession or COVID,” he said. “So why are we doing it now? What changed? Where did all the money go?” Montgomery points to what he calls unnecessary staffing growth, citing more than $600,000 in annual costs for four new positions, including an Assistant City Manager position that he argues was unnecessary even during past economic crises. Invoking the old adage, “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging,” Montgomery contends the current council has continued to deepen the city’s financial challenges rather than correct them. Now seeking another term on the City Council, Montgomery says voters deserve experienced leadership with a proven record of navigating difficult financial times. “I’ve already made the tough decisions as mayor during the Great Recession and COVID,” he said. “Manhattan Beach needs proven financial leadership before today’s fiscal challenges become tomorrow’s crisis.”
Are We Managing Police Overtime Effectively? by Paul Wafer:
The State of California recently released its 2025 public employee compensation data, and one item immediately caught my attention: police overtime. Let me be clear from the outset. I strongly support our Police Department and believe maintaining a well-staffed, highly professional police force is one of the City’s most important responsibilities. Our officers deserve to be fairly compensated for the difficult and often dangerous work they perform. However, supporting law enforcement does not mean we should stop asking questions about how taxpayer dollars are being managed.
The compensation data shows that two Police Lieutenants each earned approximately $125,000 in overtime in addition to base salaries of roughly $200,000. After including lump-sum payments, other compensation, retirement contributions, and health benefits, the total annual cost to the City exceeded $500,000 for each of these positions. Even more interesting is that the other Lieutenants reported overtime ranging from approximately $17,000 to $35,000. Similar, although less dramatic, disparities also appear among some Sergeants and Police Officers. These figures don’t necessarily indicate anything improper, but they do raise important management questions.
Why are a small number of employees working such extraordinary amounts of overtime? Are staffing shortages, special assignments, vacancies, or scheduling practices driving these costs? Is overtime being distributed fairly across the department? Most importantly, what oversight exists to ensure this overtime is necessary, safe, appropriate, and cost-effective?
I compared Manhattan Beach’s Lieutenant overtime with several neighboring beach cities using 2025 data. Based on that comparison, Manhattan Beach appears to be a significant outlier. The data from 2024 was very similar. This is exactly the kind of issue that deserves a public explanation from City leadership. Residents should understand why these costs are occurring and whether changes in staffing, scheduling, or management could reduce overtime without affecting public safety. Fiscal responsibility and public safety are not competing priorities – they go hand in hand. Every unnecessary overtime dollar spent is a dollar that cannot be invested in street repairs, parks, capital improvements, or maintaining the City’s long-term financial stability. The question is not whether our officers deserve to be paid for the work they perform. The question is whether the City is managing that work in the most efficient and accountable manner possible. That’s a discussion every taxpayer should welcome.
New Leadership Rolls Into City Hall:
New Public Works Director Ramzi Awwad
The City of Manhattan Beach has appointed Ramzi Awwad as its new Public Works Director, effective July 13. Awwad brings more than 22 years of public works and engineering leadership, most recently serving as Public Works Director for Rancho Palos Verdes, where he managed engineering, utilities, streets, facilities, fleet, and environmental programs. Previously, he spent more than a decade with Arlington County, Virginia, overseeing major infrastructure initiatives, including projects tied to Amazon’s HQ2 development. His extensive experience leading complex public works operations is expected to strengthen Manhattan Beach’s infrastructure and long-term planning efforts.
Saint & Second:
Saint & Second Summer Menu Is Here
Featuring housemade Lemon Ricotta Ravioli, Charred Watermelon & Arugula Salad and Spicy Tuna Waffle Cones. Find your new favorite today!
Lunch | Dinner | Weekend Brunch | Weekday Social Hour
Locally Sourced Seasonal Cuisine | Innovative Cocktails | Hundreds of Handpicked Whiskeys | Masterfully Curated Wine List | Private Dining Room Available
3160 N. Sepulveda Blvd. | (310) 759-3160 | www.SaintAndSecond.com
A New Home, A Bigger Feast – Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Returns In Style:
Food lovers can mark their calendars for the 3rd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine, returning September 25-26, bringing two nights of world-class cuisine, premium wines, spirits, and live entertainment to a new home at the luxurious westdrift Manhattan Beach, an Autograph Collection Hotel. Founded and produced by Shelby Russell, with acclaimed chef Neal Fraser serving as culinary curator and host, the festival will feature an all-star lineup of 46 celebrated chefs, with 23 chefs showcasing their culinary talents each evening. Guests can enjoy a strolling grand tasting experience featuring renowned restaurants, wineries, craft breweries, handcrafted cocktails, and premium non-alcoholic beverages. The move to westdrift Manhattan Beach offers an elevated experience at the 393-room luxury resort, complete with a nine-hole golf course, resort-style pool, and the acclaimed JUTE Coastal Bar + Kitchen. Early Bird pricing for VIP and General Admission tickets is available through August 6, with exclusive hotel packages encouraging visitors to turn the festival into a weekend getaway. The event is open to guests 21 and older. Proceeds will benefit the Culinary Careers Program (C•CAP), a nonprofit that helps underserved students pursue careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Organizers encourage attendees to use rideshare services or walk to the event, although valet, self-parking, and limited street parking will also be available.
www.ManhattanBeachFoodAndWine.com
Former Mayor Applauds South Bay Classical Academy Opening As Win For Local Families:
Former Manhattan Beach Mayor Bob Holmes is welcoming the upcoming opening of South Bay Classical Academy, calling it an exciting milestone for families across the South Bay. Holmes praised the school’s classical approach, highlighting its emphasis on literature, history, the arts, strong math instruction, and character development. He noted that the academy offers parents another high-quality educational option while helping students build critical thinking, resilience, confidence, and personal responsibility. “It’s not every day a new school opens,” Holmes said. “This is a meaningful addition to our community and a wonderful opportunity for families seeking a well-rounded education.”
Bruxie on Rosecrans:
“Kids Eat Free”
2181 Rosecrans Ave B, El Segundo
www.Bruxie.com
MB WEEKLY:
Who/What/Where/When/Why
Ethan Young
(Co-Founder, Project Neptune)
WHO: Max Lynch and Ethan Young, co-founders of Project Neptune. Max came to the South Bay to work in impact investing and contracted a staph infection from ocean bacteria while surfing in Mexico which led to 8 nights in the hospital. That experience launched the company. Ethan was born and raised in Hermosa Beach, went to Mira Costa, and grew up surfing and playing CBVA tournaments at the Manhattan Beach Pier.
WHAT: Project Neptune is the air quality index but for beach water quality. Our platform gives beachgoers real-time conditions and a 3-day forecast for bacteria levels so you know before you get in the water. Live now for Manhattan Beach, free for users.
WHERE: Based in Hermosa Beach. The first city dashboard is Manhattan Beach, with plans to expand to every coastal city in the US.
WHEN: Founded in January 2026. Selected for Seaworthy Collective’s seventh ocean enterprise cohort – a Miami-based BlueTech incubator – and currently in a pilot program with the City of Manhattan Beach.
WHY MANHATTAN BEACH: Our forecast for 26th Street sits at 94% accuracy. In 2025, Manhattan Beach issued 15 advisory days, not one actually had unsafe bacteria present. That’s the core problem: the current system tests on Monday, incubates for 24 hours, and posts results Tuesday afternoon. By then, conditions have changed and people have already been exposed. Advisories linger past the danger or go up after it’s gone. This is why 7 million Americans get sick from the ocean every year. Project Neptune fixes that. Manhattan Beach is where we started, and its reputation gives us a strong foundation to scale.
www.ProjectNeptune.co
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Michael Jenkins (Manhattan Beach)
Response to Lucia La Rosa: I’ve never suggested “doing nothing.” In fact, I have been advocating to the City Council creation of a resident housing task force. My point is that adopting a charter is a pointless exercise, a distraction and a waste of everyone’s energy. As for “fiscal flexibility,” we don’t need a charter for that, assuming such reforms are appropriate; general law cities have a great deal of authority to manage their budgets and their spending. Further, (1) pension issues are complex and governed by case law, and (2) we can’t have a serious conversation about reducing costs without addressing them comprehensively, meaning that we discuss the single largest cost item in the city budget – public safety – the sacred cow that Burton and Wafer won’t touch because they fear the political repercussions of engaging in that conversation.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that 60% of MB Weekly
readers read it each week on their cellphones?
www.MBWeekly.net
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Mark Burton (Former MB Mayor)
Employee retirement benefits, including pension and medical costs, are consuming a greater portion of our City’s budget. The results are we have a projected deficit of $10.9 million with that deficit projected to increase in the next several years. One way to control these costs is adopting a City Charter with the following language: “On or after the effective date of this charter … no employee or officer of the city shall receive an increase in employee retirement benefits … without approval by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the voters at a general election.” In addition, a City Charter can provide for term limits of two terms maximum, our own City Prosecutor and our own contracting regulations that will result in lower contracting costs including consultant contract costs. In sum, a City Charter provides “maximum local control” at a time when we desperately need it.
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SURF’S UP! – Manhattan Beach Club Spikes Its Way To National Glory:
Summer vacation can wait for Loyola volleyball coach Michael Boehle. While many coaches are taking time off, Boehle was celebrating a championship after his sons, Davis and Parker Boehle, guided the Manhattan Beach Surf Volleyball Club’s 18U team to the AAU Open Junior National Championship in Orlando, Florida. Tournament MVP Blake Fahlbusch, a Loyola graduate committed to USC, led the title run, while Mira Costa graduates Wyatt Davis and Jake Newman earned All-American honors. Fellow Loyola graduate JP Wardy also played a key role.
MB WEEKLY – COMMUNITY:
www.EsperanzaMB.com
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Lucia La Rosa
Everyone argues about housing when the subject of chartering comes up. But housing is actually where charter status offers the least protection: courts and the Legislature have made that painfully clear. The more important conversation is about money. Manhattan Beach faces an $11 million deficit. A significant driver is the cost of city employment: salaries, and pension obligations that attach to every full-time city hire. Each employee enrolled in CalPERS represents a decades-long financial commitment: working years of contributions, then potentially 30 years of pension payments, with residents on the hook if CalPERS investments fall short. A charter city can break that cycle. General law cities cannot freely outsource municipal services to private contractors. Courts have explicitly confirmed this. Charter cities can. Parks maintenance, street sweeping, public works functions, administrative support: these positions can be replaced with contracted services rather than city hires. No new employee means no new pension enrollment. The liability stops growing. This is not pension reform. It does not touch anyone’s vested rights. It is a procurement decision, and unlike housing or pension reform, it does not start the fight on ground that has already been lost. Police and fire cannot be outsourced and no one is suggesting otherwise. But the rest of city government can. The unions know this. It is why they will oppose chartering and why any politician close to the unions will find reasons to oppose it too. See who pushes back. That will tell you everything about whose interests they actually serve.
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MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Fred Taylor (50-Year MB Resident)
Reflections from America 250: PreBorn, a ministry my wife and I help support, hosted a 20th anniversary celebration in conjunction with America 250 in D.C. It was an amazing 4 days by any account. First of all, D.C. is clean, probably the cleanest major city I’ve ever seen. Franklin Park, next to our hotel, at 14th & “K” Street was spotless, free from druggies and safe! I ate my lunch there one day. National Guard presence was well noticed throughout my stay. I felt extremely safe walking the city. The night of the 4th, we had dinner aboard a commercial “yacht” in the Potomac & able to see what was a fireworks “finale” that lasted 40 minutes. I’m told it set a Guinness World Record. It’s worth noting, Saturday the 4th in D.C. with 100+ temps set an all-time record for that date; beyond fitting for the celebration. The Capital is amazing … the fresco in the dome is 4,000 square feet. And I got a selfie of a lifetime with the “real” Declaration of Independence’ in the background. All pretty exciting for an ordinary kid from Levittown, PA. I love what our country stands for.
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South Bay Classical Academy:
While other schools chase trends, we’re returning to what works. South Bay Classical Academy opens Fall 2026 in Hawthorne, forming students of strong character, clear thinking, and civic virtue through time-tested methods.
RSVP for School Opening Event
Enrollment for Grades K-5 opens Soon
4755 W 130th St. Hawthorne, CA 90250
www.SouthBayClassical.org
Beach Break – WNBA Stars Trade The Hardwood For The Sand In Manhattan Beach:
Two of the WNBA’s most recognizable stars swapped basketball shoes for beach towels this week. Indiana Fever teammates Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham shared a sunny moment from Manhattan Beach, where Hull posted a selfie of the pair relaxing on the sand in coordinating summer swimwear. Hull sported a pastel mint-green bikini with bright pink trim, while Cunningham opted for a classic triangle-style knit-pattern bikini. The photo quickly caught fans’ attention, highlighting the duo’s growing popularity both on the court and off. For the Fever backcourt tandem, it was a stylish timeout before returning to WNBA action.
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Tim Hageman (Retired MBPD Captain & MB Resident)
MBPD Officer Martin Ganz
RESTORING A MEMORIAL, RENEWING A PROMISE: Earlier this month, a large group of Manhattan Beach Police Department retirees contributed money to refurbish the plaque honoring MBPD Officer Martin Ganz. The plaque is located outside the Bank of America at the Manhattan Village Mall. The plaque was installed at the location where Officer Ganz was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop on December 27, 1993. After more than 32 years of exposure to the sun and other elements, its surface had become faded and worn. A bank employee shared that she and her colleagues often wondered why the plaque had been placed at that location. Like many Manhattan Beach residents who moved to the community after Officer Ganz’s death, they were unaware of what had occurred there. By restoring the plaque, MBPD retirees reaffirmed the meaning behind the words, “We will never forget,” and helped ensure that Officer Ganz’s sacrifice and the significance of that location will continue to be remembered.
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Bella Builders:
www.BeautifulBuilder.com | www.FirewiseHomes.com
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Marco Ames (A Seventeen-Year-Old Manhattan Beach Resident)
If you ask anyone in Manhattan Beach which stretch of sand is the best, each will have a different answer. Truthfully, they all have pros and cons. El Porto is the easiest choice when I’m in a rush and don’t want to spend 20 minutes looking for parking. Plus, grabbing food afterward is simple with plenty of spots nearby; the only issue is finding beach space on a busy day (good luck!). Around the pier, the beach feels completely different. Other than locals surfing, it’s just tourists. If you pick the wrong time of year, there’s also a steady line of people taking photos, which is just awkward. Whenever I really want to enjoy Manhattan Beach though, I head south toward 5th Street. I swear the sand is softer there, and finding parking a few blocks up isn’t difficult. It feels quiet and peaceful – full of memories. When I’m with my friends, that’s where we go, and I’d recommend anyone to try it out sometime.
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Pedal Power – Manhattan Beach Grand Prix Races Into Its 63rd Year:
Thousands of spectators lined the streets as cyclists of every age took center stage during the 63rd Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix on Sunday, July 12. Competitors raced for a share of the $17,500 purse, state championship medals and coveted jerseys while the Southern California/Nevada and Northern California/Nevada Combined State Championships unfolded alongside the event. Founded in 1962 by South Bay cycling pioneer Ted Ernst, the race remains the nation’s oldest single-day cycling event held on the same 1.3-mile course. Today, the iconic Manhattan Beach tradition attracts nearly 1,000 riders annually, from preschool racers to elite professionals.
MB WEEKLY – CARTOON:
“Your life will get better if you read MB Weekly!”
1. ** Our community continues to respond with compassion and persistence. But compassion and persistence need the right tools behind them. MBSAFE continues to advocate for those tools at City Hall. mbsafe.org (310) 863-7708
2. ** Just in time for August: parking in Hermosa Beach just got a lot more expensive. Beginning Aug. 1, expired meter and time-limit tickets rise to $75, while street sweeping citations increase to $55. Consider this your friendly reminder that feeding the meter is now a far better investment than funding City Hall. —- Editor’s Note
3. ** Many residents are concerned about the residential project at 2301 Sepulveda, but an even larger proposal at 2nd Street and Sepulveda could have a far greater impact on traffic and neighborhood character. State housing mandates limit local control over these developments. A statewide constitutional amendment proposed by Our Neighborhood Voices aims to restore local zoning authority. Learn more or support the effort at OurNeighborhoodVoices.com and its GoFundMe campaign. —- Russ Lesser (Former Manhattan Beach Mayor)
4. ** It’s been over 20 years since we tried really hard to get a dog park here in MB… we got a dog run. Then an expansion at Polliwog. What we need is dogs allowed on the beach before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m., or a designated area – see Rosie’s Beach – Conditional Use Permit. Yeah, yeah, we all know it’s illegal to allow dogs on the beach in LA County. —- Lynn Harris, Manhattan Beach
5. ** While walking to the surf today, I noticed new 1-hour parking signs installed beneath the existing street sweeping signs, which are currently covered with black bags. I spotted more along Manhattan Avenue and Marine Avenue. If they’re expanding citywide, residents could lose even more precious all-day parking as if parking in Manhattan Beach wasn’t already difficult enough. —- Name Withheld by Request, Manhattan Beach
6. ** Authentic wins. Always. —- www.AuthenticPRBook.com
7. ** There will always be students who are more academically driven or naturally gifted. Eliminating advanced programs and placing high-achieving students into one-size-fits-all classrooms serves no one well. It holds back those ready for greater challenges while making teaching more difficult for everyone. Excellence should be encouraged, not diminished. —- Angela S., Manhattan Beach
8. ** I just listened to “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones for the hundredth time. I’ll forever think this is one of the coolest and most mysterious songs ever written. On the surface, it’s an irresistible groove. But listen closely, and you’ll hear a story about history, human nature, and the darkness ordinary people are capable of. The line “I shouted out who killed the Kennedys? / When after all, it was you and me” is pure genius. —- Adam C., Hermosa Beach
9. ** California’s crime statistics now come with an asterisk the size of the Hollywood sign. Raise theft thresholds, prosecute less, and watch the numbers magically improve. As Mark Twain supposedly observed, there are “lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Sometimes the safest place to hide crime is… in the data. —- Name Withheld by Request
10. ** Great Opportunity for Placentia & Yorba Linda Families! Host an international high school exchange student during the 2026–27 school year. Receive a $1,300 monthly stipend per student, plus a $200 referral bonus. Students are insured, financially supported, and eager to experience American family life. Contact Paula Masui: (310) 489-1940.
11. ** The Manhattan Beach Art Center’s 2026 Annual Community Exhibition celebrates the creativity of more than 100 local artists through a diverse collection of artwork. Join the Opening Reception on Friday, July 24, 2026, from 5–8 p.m. at 1560 Manhattan Beach Blvd. The exhibition runs through October 4. Celebrate our local artists. —- L.P., Manhattan Beach
12. ** Councilwoman Amy Howorth looks lovely in pink. —- H.S., Manhattan Beach
13. ** With Manhattan Beach Studios reportedly being sold after a $357 million debt default, here’s an idea: repurpose the existing studio campus into a mixed-use housing community with shops and affordable units. It could ease pressure on the Sepulveda/Rosecrans corridor while offering walkable access to Metro, LAX, and downtown. Think big! —- The Wizard, Manhattan Beach
14. ** Teen takeovers aren’t a mystery – they’re the predictable result of weakening accountability. When families, schools, police, and the justice system fail to enforce basic standards, disorder follows. Government programs cannot replace personal responsibility. Until respect for the law is restored, expect more chaos and a growing divide between communities that enforce rules and those that don’t. —- Art Day, El Segundo
15. ** I remember when Stewart Fourier ran for City Council. His word salads were epic! —- S.H., Manhattan Beach
16. ** Listen to “Mr. Tambourine Man,” the Byrds’ first single, released in 1965. —- Avery T., El Segundo
17. ** The future of Manhattan Beach Studios just got interesting. Reports say an industrial company has made an offer for the 22-acre property, with no plans to continue operating the soundstages. Aerospace? Defense? Advanced manufacturing? Hopefully not a massive data center. Does anyone know who the mystery bidder is? —- D.H., Manhattan Beach
18. ** Has screaming for ice cream ever worked? —- Ava Toberman, Redondo Beach
19. ** Darling, Manhattan Beach doesn’t have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem like most governments. Case closed. —- S.H.
20. ** Summer Internship. Lifetime Opportunity – Launch your career with one of America’s premier entertainment PR firms. Gain real-world experience, build invaluable industry connections, and learn from the best. Don’t miss this chance in a lifetime of chances. Apply today and take your first step toward an extraordinary future. —- www.BoundlessMediaUSA.com
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