Buckle Up
MB WEEKLY EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY:
by Paul Wafer (Manhattan Beach)
(PART TWO)
After receiving extraordinary and outraged feedback from last week’s commentary on our city’s employee salaries, people wanted to know how Manhattan Beach compares to other cities in the area. I did a deeper dive, comparing a few critical indicators with other local cities that also employ their own fire and police departments.
This way, the comparison is apples to apples. I looked at the average salary and benefits per employee, the number of employees per citizen, and the actual employee cost per citizen. The cities for comparison included Torrance, Redondo Beach, and El Segundo. Hermosa Beach was excluded because its fire department is contracted to the county.
The first key indicator is the average compensation cost per employee. This was done by taking the total number of full and part-time employees and dividing it by the total compensation cost for the city:
- The average salary and benefits expense per employee in Manhattan Beach was $100,590. This is 10% higher than the average salary of $91,387 for the city of Torrance, 17.5% higher than the average salary of Redondo Beach at $85,588, and 17.6% higher than the average salary of El Segundo at $85,470.
The second key indicator is the average cost to each citizen for the total compensation of city employees annually. This was done by dividing the total compensation by the population of each city.
- The population of Manhattan Beach in 2023 was 34,195. The salary and benefits expense per citizen was $1,641.
- The population of Torrance was 142,910. The salary and benefits expense per citizen was 16% lower at $1,200.
- The population of Redondo Beach was 68,239. The salary and expense benefits per citizen were 39.3% lower at $995.
- The city of El Segundo has a population of 16,964. The salary and expense benefits per citizen were 63.6% higher at $2,685.
The third key indicator was the number of city employees per citizen. This was done by dividing the total number of city employees by the population of each city.
- The number of full and part-time employees in Manhattan Beach in 2023 was 558. There are 16 employees for every 1,000 citizens.
- The number of full and part-time employees in Torrance was 1878. The ratio of employees to citizens was 23% lower at 13 employees for every 1,000 citizens.
- The number of full and part-time employees in Redondo Beach was 794. The ratio of employees to citizens was 25% lower at 12 employees for every 1,000 citizens.
- The number of full and part-time employees in El Segundo was 533. The ratio of employees to citizens was 93% higher at 31 employees for every 1,000 citizens.
The total number of employees in El Segundo, adjacent to Manhattan Beach and having a similar cost of living, provides the closest comparison to our city. However, their average salary and benefits were the lowest of those reviewed in this database. The cost per citizen and number of employees per citizen were much higher, based on a population that is 49% lower. This is because El Segundo has a much larger industrial and commercial base than Manhattan Beach. If Manhattan Beach’s average employee salary and benefits were comparable to El Segundo, the city would save $8,437,111 annually.
This comes at a time when four (4) initiatives are on the ballot asking for more money. The question that must be posed is, “Does the government really need to spend more of our money, or do they need to look at how our money is being spent and use it more wisely?” That is something that all of us voters will have to ask ourselves this November.
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MB WEEKLY – LENS:
A beautiful memorial service for the late Ralph Smaldino in Manhattan Village Community.
MB WEEKLY:
The Faces of Manhattan Beach
Sunny Villapando
(Volleyball Player)
Q: EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YOUR RECENT VOLLEYBALL VICTORY IN MANHATTAN BEACH TO OUR READERS?
A: Winning the Annual Manhattan Beach Charlie Saikley 6-Man Tournament felt like a childhood dream come true. I grew up watching this event, idolizing my favorite pro beach and indoor players as they competed in costume, surrounded by friends and family. This tournament has always been about competitive greatness and community spirit for me. To finally win, after wearing multiple hats as recruiter, coach, team manager, travel advisor, social media manager, brand partnerships, and athlete, felt like receiving a big hug from the sport and people I love most. Having my best friends and family there to support me, representing my new protein candy brand, Gummy Gainz, made the victory even more special.
Q: WHEN DID YOU FIRST BEGIN PLAYING VOLLEYBALL?
A: I started playing beach volleyball as soon as I could walk. Growing up on Second Street in Hermosa, I was immersed in the sport from a young age and lost a lot to my sister who is four years older. I began playing both indoor and beach volleyball at the age of 8 and continued through my teenage years. Throughout high school, I balanced club and high school competitions in both beach and indoor volleyball, developing a deep passion for the sport.
Q: WHAT ROLE WILL VOLLEYBALL PLAY IN YOUR FUTURE?
A: Volleyball has always been a family affair for me, but to now be pursuing a professional career after stepping away for almost two years is something I am incredibly excited about. It has been at the heart of our family celebrations, from Christmas to Father’s Day, and I hope to keep it that way for the rest of my life. Imagine Christmas at the beach – what could be better than that?
Q: HOW TALL ARE YOU?
A: 5’9”
Q: WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG TEENAGERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN VOLLEYBALL?
A: My advice for young teenagers interested in playing beach volleyball would be 1) Try hard even if you feel stupid doing it. Nobody became great at anything by giving less than 100%. 2) Watch the sport obsessively. All great athletes will watch film on other players in their position to adopt different parts of other people’s game into their own. 3) Thank your parents. They do more for you than you could ever repay and are the reason you are such a bright and beautiful human today.
Q: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VOLLEYBALL IN THE MANHATTAN BEACH CULTURE?
A: The history of beach volleyball is deeply rooted in Manhattan Beach, widely recognized as one of the sport’s birthplaces. It began as a relaxed, community-based activity, often with a fun and party-like atmosphere. Some refer to it as the “white man’s pick-up basketball” and today, if you visit Manhattan Beach on any given weekend, you’ll find the courts packed with players. Beach volleyball is so ingrained in the local culture that the Manhattan Beach Pier is embellished with plaques bearing the names of past winners of the iconic Manhattan Beach AVP Open Tournament, underscoring its significance in the community.
Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME?
A: I wouldn’t say I’m a big movie watcher but I did really enjoy the movie Inception. I also loved the movie Grease – mostly because I have fond memories of watching it with my family.
MB WEEKLY – READER POLL:
Password Panic – Majority Of Manhattan Beach Residents Drowning In Digital Dilemmas!
A recent MB Weekly Reader Poll revealed that 69% of South Bay residents are overwhelmed by the sheer number of passwords they must remember. “If I have to write down another password, I think I am going to puke,” lamented Sandra T., a frustrated local homeowner. With digital security becoming increasingly crucial, many residents struggle to keep track of multiple complex passwords. The survey highlights a growing anxiety over managing these digital keys as people juggle everything from online banking to social media accounts. Despite knowing the risks, some respondents admitted to using the same password across multiple platforms. As password fatigue sets in, the community calls for more straightforward, secure solutions to this modern problem. Whether through password managers or emerging biometric technology, it’s clear that change is needed before residents reach their breaking point.
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JOEY Restaurants:
Herb Crush Salmon
Truffle beurre blanc, preserved tomatoes, creamy mashed potatoes, snap peas + asparagus
www.JoeyRestaurants.com
MB WEEKLY:
The Faces of Manhattan Beach
Melissa Nordquist Yeager
(Executive Director, Claire’s Place Foundation)
Q: HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME CONNECTED WITH THE CHARITY?
A: I co-founded Claire’s Place Foundation with my late daughter, Claire Wineland. Since the planning stages of the foundation, I have spent countless hours working for the cause and, of course, raising my two children, Claire (the Foundation’s namesake) and Ellie. With many years experience in project management and event planning, I had the experience needed to get the foundation off the ground as well as the personal history of raising a child with cystic fibrosis. Founding and now leading Claire’s Place Foundation has been a way for me to honor Claire’s legacy and to give back and share her experience with other families living with cystic fibrosis. We have always been blessed with a supportive family and a wonderful group of friends. It is my mission that we can provide the same type of support to families walking this path alone. It definitely takes a village or in this case a foundation to raise a child with a chronic, life threatening disease like cystic fibrosis. The most rewarding function of my job is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of families and children living with cystic fibrosis.
Q: EXPLAIN TO THE READERS WHAT THE MISSION OF YOUR CHARITY IS?
A: Claire’s Place Foundation provides heartfelt support to the families of children and to individuals diagnosed with CF. The foundation works to heighten awareness and provide: education, skills, financial and emotional support.
Programs to Fulfill the Mission – The Foundation has three programs:
- Extended Hospital Stay Fund: The fund provides grants to families with children that are experiencing a hospital stay of at least 14 consecutive days. Extended stays are a financial stress and often the children are in a city far from home. The grants cover essential expenses such as rent, mortgage and groceries.
- Family Support Program: The program connects families living with CF to communicate with each other and share their experience, strength and hope with newly diagnosed or isolated families looking for support. In fact, CF patients cannot be in the same room with another due to cross infection, which makes video and social media so powerful to these families.
- Work Proudly Program: The foundation’s newest program provides job training and equipment needed for work-from-home employment to adults with CF and caregivers.
Q: COULD YOU TELL ME HOW READERS CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR CHARITABLE WORK?
A: Please visit our website.
www.ClairesPlaceFoundation.org
Robbers Convicted In Pasha Jewelry Smash-And-Grab:
“On March 22, 2023, at 5:53 p.m., the Manhattan Beach Police Department responded to Pasha Fine Jewelry (217 Manhattan Beach Blvd.) regarding a smash-and-grab robbery. Multiple suspects entered the jewelry store, used hammers to break display cases, and fled the store with miscellaneous merchandise. The suspects entered awaiting vehicles and fled the scene southbound in an alley. Multiple suspects were armed with what appeared to be handguns. Manhattan Beach Patrol Officers and Detectives arrested seven subjects involved in the robbery, recovered two handguns, recovered some of the jewelry from Pasha, and multiple charges were filed. Five adults and two juveniles were arrested in connection with the Pasha Fine Jewelry store robbery. The five adults accepted plea bargains on Friday, August 23rd, 2024. Under the plea bargain, the five adults will serve time ranging from 3-16 years in state prison and receive a strike for their part in the robbery,” according to the MBPD Facebook page. “The two juveniles in the case, both 17 years old, had their cases previously adjudicated through the Juvenile Court System.”
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Brenda O’Leary (Manhattan Beach)
Candidate for City Council
Parking Lot 3, between Metlox and Highland Avenue, was built at a time when it was on the outskirts of town. Today, with the expansion of Metlox, it represents prime real estate in the heart of our town. P3 will be demolished soon, and all options are on the table from rebuilding the parking lot to a boutique hotel with rooftop dining and underground parking. This is an important decision, because whatever we build will be with us for generations to come. We therefore need to consider the future where people will cruise around in self-driving electric Ubers. As our town has grown, we have added parking, especially the huge underground lot under Metlox. It’s possible this lot could be expanded underneath P3, leaving room for our residents to enjoy that space. “Wow, I wish I wasn’t sitting up here watching the sunset with a 180-degree view from PV to Malibu,” said no one in Manhattan Beach. To misquote Joni Mitchell, do we really want to repave paradise and put up a parking lot?
Agree? Disagree? Please share your comment: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net (Maximum 100 words)
The Dollar Tree is (not so) slowly morphing into The Five Dollar Tree.
MB WEEKLY – READER COMMENT:
“What impresses me most about MB Weekly is its commitment to unbiased and independent reporting. MB Weekly stands out for its integrity in a local media landscape often skewed by agendas. It doesn’t “kiss ass” or cater to any particular group; instead, it tells the truth from all sides, ensuring a balanced and fair perspective on local issues. This dedication to direct and honest news is a breath of fresh air, making it a reliable source of information in today’s complex and often perplexing world. The clarity and impartiality MB Weekly brings to its readers is commendable and truly rare, making it an invaluable resource for those seeking the unvarnished truth.” —- Noah C. (Manhattan Beach)
MB WEEKLY – MEMORY:
Skechers was founded in Manhattan Beach in 1992, and today, they remain headquartered within this unique village we and so many others call home. Pictured is their first store, which opened in 1995 on Manhattan Avenue.
Urban Plates:
12 UNDER $12
EVERYDAY VALUE STARTING AT $8.95
CLASSIC CRISPY TENDER SANDWICH + FRIES $11.95
www.UrbanPlates.com
A $24.5M Strand Corner-Lot Mansion Breaks A Manhattan Beach Sales Record:
The Strand mansion in Manhattan Beach sold for $24.5 million. Mediterranean-style three-story, 5,329-square-foot corner-lot home with five bedrooms and six baths was built in 2000. The July 15 purchase broke the South Bay record set by a beachfront home that sold for $21 million in 2017. Manhattan Beach Pier, Palos Verdes Peninsula, and Catalina Island are visible via glass walls. Listing agents were Robb and Bryn Stroyke of Stroyke Properties Group at Bayside Real Estate Partners. Equity Union’s Ty Bergman represented the buyer. The seller, masked by an LLC, is a Hong Kong real estate and finance professional. The buyer is retired attorney Patrick Rogan.
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MB WEEKLY – CARTOON:
Welcome to life in Manhattan Beach – “I’m her back-to-school attorney.”
1. ** Our MB City Council wants us to raise the local sales tax. They already get property tax increases from increasing property values, and so does the school district. They all got elected, promising not to raise taxes and instead spend taxpayer dollars wisely. Reduce the outrageous salaries of administrators and cut wasteful spending on costly consultants. And the MB School District wants another school bond. Enough already. Stop the waste and just say NO! —- Sharon A., Manhattan Beach
2. ** FOR RENT: 1 bedroom in a two-story townhome in Redondo Beach. It has an en-suite bathroom, a walk-in closet, a newly painted balcony, and a balcony. It is located on Manhattan Beach Blvd. It’s close to the beach, freeway access, shopping, Trader Joe’s, and public transportation: washer & dryer, new kitchen appliances, parking place, and back garden to relax. I prefer a more mature roommate that appreciates and respects shared spaces. Split the electric and Direct TV (Internet) 1350.00 a month for rent. Adding information. I will be uploading photos tomorrow, and the owner of the home is my 75-year-old mom, who is very young at heart! —- Devteach@mac.com
3. ** The proliferation of dog strollers is one sure sign that our society has decayed significantly! —- Linda B., Manhattan Beach
4. ** I’m a Democrat who favors Hochman to Gascon. I’m reasonably sure there are many others like me. For that reason, I am not surprised at the results of the MB Weekly Reader poll. However, based on MB Weekly results, I would caution anyone from jumping to conclusions. First – what approach was used to poll MB Weekly readers? If the polling approach is flawed, the results are not reliable. Next, I think it was true that MB was the “outlier” in the last election that put Gascon in office: Jackie Lacey won here in MB … but Gascon won county-wide. —- Elyse G., Manhattan Beach
5. ** I don’t get it. I looked at the CalMatters site, and they seem perfectly respectable, award-winning, serious journalists. The Board has Republicans and Democrats and some pretty trustworthy thinkers. What exactly is the issue here? —- Susan B., Manhattan Beach
6. ** We enjoy reading MB Weekly, and are in Cayucos, CA. —- Steve N.
7. ** Thank God. Gov. Newsom is finally calling out the radical L.A. County Board of Supervisors. —- Darla H., Manhattan Beach (a lifelong Democrat)
8. ** Redondo Beach Police Chief Joe Hoffman reported progress on the e-bike front in an update on August 6 to the city council, saying that accidents are few, complaints are down, and enforcement is up. —- Editor’s Note
9. ** Regarding MB’s 10% proposed sales tax, Dr. Harold W. knows what he speaks. Any fool can spend more money. Please show us what you can do when the chips are down. Read our lips – NO MORE TAXES! —- Tom A., Manhattan Beach
10. ** Have you been called any of these names yet? Racist, xenophobic, climate denier, transphobic. The left dangerously twists words to attack its opponents by robbing them of their true meaning. Have you noticed? —- Vincent G., Manhattan Beach
11. ** There are probably a small percentage of identical twins probably received their names a short time after birth, were mistakenly switched when they got home, and no one realized. —- Roberta K., Manhattan Beach
12. ** Crime will proliferate if not punished harshly! ADIOS Mr. Gascon. —- Tom A., Manhattan Beach
13. ** I recommend the book “The Price of Prosperity” by Todd G Buchholz. —- Owen R., Manhattan Beach
14. ** After seeing what Gascon did as the San Francisco D.A. from 2011 to 2019, brain-dead L.A. voters still voted him in as our D.A. How does that even happen? I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. We are arguably the greatest country in the world; the best candidates we could come up with for President are Biden (now Harris) and Trump. Let’s see if this makes sense. If we are soft on crime, there will be less crime. WTF? Are you kidding me? Gascon has to go! —- Phil C., Manhattan Beach
15. ** Sometimes, I feel like a pair of brown shoes in a world of tuxedos [George Gobel]. AB 1955 is the most egregious piece of California legislation I’ve ever seen [#evil]. It gives teachers and staff licenses to gender transition our kids during the school day. Does anyone hear a peep out of the MBUSD school board on this? —- Fred T., Manhattan Beach
16. ** As a parent of children in Manhattan Beach schools, do you think sexual books should be allowed in school libraries? —- Gail T., Manhattan Beach
17. ** I saw a homeless man take flowers and photographs of the PCH motorcycle accident victim. He’s probably high or mentally ill, but imagine a loved one seeing it! —- Orlando C., Hermosa Beach
18. ** I eat out a lot and probably spent two solid months waiting for the checks at restaurants. —- Russell C., Manhattan Beach
19. ** Things are so f—king terrible in San Francisco, where the city offers businesses six months of free rent. —- Jane B., Manhattan Beach
20. ** Ayn Rand is one of the most famous novelists and philosophers of the 20th century. Her ideas about free markets and free minds still captivate millions. And they sure as hell should. —- Glenn S., Manhattan Beach (economics major)
21. ** Multiple people were injured after fleeing police in a vehicle, which crashed into a building in Hawthorne, police said. Officers responded to an assault around 9:38 a.m. in the area of 118th Street and Freeman Avenue, after a caller reported that someone in a Chevrolet Silverado pointed a gun at them, according to a news release from the Hawthorne Police Department. —- Editor’s Note
22. ** Find YOUR Why? —- www.MichaelLevineConsulting.com
23. ** L.A. is too dirty and ugly now to host the Olympics. —- Marlene P., Manhattan Beach
24. ** Kamala to announce policy positions just as soon as polls tell her what they are. —- David D., Manhattan Beach
25. ** What the Hell ever happened to Mike Michalski? He seems to have disappeared. —- Alice A., Manhattan Beach.
26. ** A man in his late 40s was gunned down in a Hawthorne strip mall parking lot on Monday night, August 12, but investigators do not believe he was an intended target, authorities said. The shooting occurred just before 9:30 p.m. in the 12700 block of Crenshaw Boulevard, near El Segundo Boulevard, as the victim was walking out of a liquor store, said Lt. Steven De Jong of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which is leading the investigation. —- Editor’s Note
27. ** Leaf blowers are banned in Manhattan Beach, like other seaside communities. Manhattan Beach seldom enforces this ordinance. —- Dominic L., Manhattan Beach
28. ** While a 62-year-old woman was on a date in Manhattan Beach (downtown) with a man her age, he expressed surprise that he wasn’t dating younger women. Without a word, she stood up and left. —- Gloria S., Manhattan Beach
29. ** Kamala’s Team Releases New Campaign Slogan: “We Decline Your Request For An Interview” —- Amy P., Manhattan Beach
30. ** A Hermosa Beach tradition will return in September. Gone since 2019, the Hermosa Beach summer concert series will return to the sand south of the Hermosa Beach Pier on September 8 and 15, the city recently announced. —- Editor’s Note
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