MB WEEKLY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
JOSEPH UNGOCO
(Candidate for MB City Council)
Q: MANHATTAN BEACH IS FACING GROWING CONCERNS OVER CITY SPENDING, DEVELOPMENT, AND INFRASTRUCTURE. IF ELECTED, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES DURING YOUR FIRST YEAR ON THE CITY COUNCIL, AND HOW WOULD RESIDENTS MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS?
A: My first priority would be restoring fiscal discipline and accountability at City Hall. Residents should know where their tax dollars are going, why projects are delayed, and whether they are receiving value for the money being spent. I believe in a simple principle: finish what City Hall starts. Residents should be able to measure our progress through clearer project timelines, transparent costs, and fewer unfinished or unnecessarily delayed projects. Second, I will work to protect the character of Manhattan Beach as we address state housing mandates. Growth must be responsible, infrastructure must keep pace, and residents must have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their neighborhoods. Third, I will prioritize public safety and quality of life. That means supporting our police, strengthening community policing, improving traffic and e-bike safety, and making sure Manhattan Beach remains a safe place for families, seniors, businesses, and visitors. Success should not be measured by how many promises City Hall makes. It should be measured by what we actually accomplish.
Q: HAVING SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, YOU’VE HAD A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO DEVELOPMENT DEBATES. HOW WOULD YOU BALANCE PRESERVING MANHATTAN BEACH’S SMALL-TOWN CHARACTER WHILE COMPLYING WITH CALIFORNIA’S INCREASINGLY AGGRESSIVE HOUSING MANDATES?
A: Serving on the Planning Commission has shown me just how much state law has changed the role of local government in housing decisions. I support the goals of Stop the RISE and believe strongly that we must preserve the small-town beach character that makes Manhattan Beach special. At the same time, a City Councilmember cannot simply ignore state law. Some housing projects are now subject to state requirements that significantly limit the City’s discretion. My approach is to use every legal tool available to protect our community. Where Manhattan Beach retains discretion, we should insist on responsible height, density, design, parking, traffic mitigation, infrastructure planning, and compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods. We should also continue advocating for greater local control in Sacramento. I support housing, including affordable housing, but I do not believe addressing California’s housing shortage requires abandoning thoughtful planning or fundamentally changing the character of Manhattan Beach. The question isn’t whether Manhattan Beach will comply with the law. We will. The question is whether we will fight to make sure growth works for Manhattan Beach.
Q: MANY RESIDENTS FEEL CITY HALL HAS BECOME LESS TRANSPARENT AND LESS RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC CONCERNS. IF YOU BECOME A COUNCILMEMBER, WHAT SPECIFIC CHANGES WOULD YOU MAKE TO IMPROVE TRUST, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITY HALL AND THE COMMUNITY?
A: Transparency starts with making government easier for residents to understand. I want major City projects to have clearly accessible timelines, budgets, milestones, and explanations when costs increase or deadlines are missed. Residents shouldn’t have to become experts in City Hall to find out what happened to a project their tax dollars are paying for. I would also make myself accessible to residents outside of Council meetings through regular community meetings and direct communication with neighborhoods, businesses, seniors, and families. Accountability also means periodically bringing new people and new ideas into government. Manhattan Beach currently limits Councilmembers to two consecutive four-year terms, but allows them to return after sitting out. I call my proposal “8 Is Enough.” Eight years on the City Council should be enough. I support strengthening our term-limit rules so that term limits actually mean term limits. Public office should never become a revolving door. City Hall belongs to the residents of Manhattan Beach.
Q: ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE CITY MANAGER IN MANHATTAN BEACH MAKING MORE MONEY ANNUALLY THAN THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA?
A: The issue for me isn’t whether the City Manager earns more than a governor, vice president, or any other public official. The question is whether Manhattan Beach taxpayers are receiving value for what they are paying. Executive compensation should be competitive enough to attract highly qualified people, but it should also be reasonable, transparent, tied to performance, and comparable to similarly situated cities. When residents are being told that resources are limited while projects remain unfinished or delayed, every significant expenditure deserves scrutiny, including executive compensation. As a Councilmember, I would evaluate compensation based on responsibilities, comparable cities, performance, and results. If taxpayers are paying top-tier compensation, they have every right to expect top-tier performance.
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www.JosephUngoco4MBCouncil.com
THE STATE OF MANHATTAN BEACH’S FINANCES – PART SIX:
(An Exclusive Six-Part Series by Paul Wafer)
A Roadmap for the Future
Figure 6. Data and estimates summarized from the State of Manhattan Beach Finances report.
Over the past several weeks, this series has examined Manhattan Beach’s finances from several perspectives. My purpose has never been to suggest that the City is currently in financial crisis. It is not.
The evidence does suggest that the City is at an important crossroads and heading in the wrong direction.
Manhattan Beach has accumulated valuable assets and substantial financial resources through decades of careful planning. The challenge is ensuring that those resources are preserved while continuing to provide the high-quality services residents expect.
I believe five practical steps would strengthen the City’s financial future.
First, adopt a comprehensive five-year financial plan that clearly identifies recurring revenues, recurring expenses, reserve transfers and projected structural shortfalls. Residents should be able to distinguish an operating surplus from an overall reduction in fund balance.
Second, require every department to measure productivity, not just workload. The measures should include output per employee, cost per unit of service, timeliness and quality.
Third, benchmark staffing, compensation and performance against comparable California cities. Comparisons will never be perfect, but they provide valuable context and identify issues requiring further review.
Fourth, strengthen overtime reporting and long-term workforce planning. The Council should be able to distinguish temporary leave coverage and special events from costs caused by recurring staffing or scheduling practices.
Finally, make reserve reporting easier to understand. The public should be shown total fund balance, legally restricted amounts, policy reserves, internal designations and the amount that is realistically available.
The City should also ask each department to periodically identify cost reductions and process improvements without reducing essential services. Independent operational reviews could be used for departments with the largest staffing or expenditure growth.
These recommendations are not about cutting government simply for the sake of cutting. Fiscal responsibility means spending wisely, measuring results and ensuring that every public dollar delivers value.
Manhattan Beach remains one of California’s finest communities. Thoughtful financial stewardship helped make it that way. The responsibility now is to preserve that success for the residents who will call Manhattan Beach home in the future.
END OF SERIES
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WHERE DID THE MONEY GO?
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Shellback Owner – Don’t Let Downtown Become A Party Town:
Shellback Tavern owner Bob Beverly is urging Manhattan Beach leaders to resist turning downtown into a development experiment. Beverly opposes city-led development and road closures, warning that weekends are already overcrowded and difficult to navigate. He said Manhattan Beach does not need more high-end restaurants or attractions aimed primarily at tourists. Pointing to busy promenades in Santa Monica and Hermosa Beach, Beverly fears similar consequences locally. Instead, he favors businesses serving residents and rebuilding the parking structure on 12th Street between Morningside Drive and Highland Avenue. His message: Preserve downtown as a small-town shopping district, not a “Mardi Gras” destination.
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MB WEEKLY – REAL ESTATE:
MORTGAGE RATES HIT A NEW HIGH FOR 2026, MARCHING CLOSER TO 7%. THE GLOBAL SELL-OFF IN THE BOND MARKET IS HITTING THE HOUSING MARKET, WITH US MORTGAGE RATES SURGING TO THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL OF THE YEAR. THAT’S PUTTING FRESH PRESSURE ON HOME SHOPPERS AND HOMEOWNERS HOPING TO REFINANCE.
** ED KAMINSKY (Kaminsky Real Estate Group): There is a very small list of people who want to see mortgage rates creep higher. Who are they? I am not sure, but the real question I get asked is: how is it affecting home values, and is it stopping buyers from moving forward? If we stay hyper-local, i.e., Manhattan Beach, this tick up is not going to have a profound effect on prices or buyers. The bigger impact is what’s not going to happen. Had interest rates started to move down as everyone was hoping this year, I do think we would have seen some new inventory shake out into the market and even stronger demand for buying, putting massive upward pressure on prices. As it is right now, there is very little inventory available, and the lack of supply, balanced with reasonable demand, has prices steady as a rock, if not moving up. Outside our little bubble, there is a different story going on, and you are definitely seeing flat or declining prices around Los Angeles. Between the growth of buyers from both the Palisades victims and newly minted millionaires from SpaceX, the market right here is quite strong with no weakening in sight. Supply and demand will always out trump the interest rate market.
** TARA KLEIN (Tara Klein Real Estate): The higher the sale price, the less likely a buyer depends on financing – so luxury transactions keep moving regardless of rates. It’s the $800K–$2M range, dominated by rate-sensitive first-time buyers, where we’re seeing the real slowdown. Condos and townhomes in particular are sitting longer on the market. The record-low rates of 2020–2021 pulled so many buyers into the market that even fence-sitting homeowners jumped in – but demand still outpaced supply. Now those same sellers, locked into rates under 4%, aren’t thinking about listing unless they have to. Buyers are in no rush either, given today’s rates. Savvy agents remind buyers that it’s actually a good time to buy – you have less competition, and a rate isn’t forever. Wait for it to drop along with every other buyer, and you’ll just drive prices up through competition. Higher rates mean less competition and softer prices; lower rates bring the crowd back and push prices up. Our limited inventory here in the South Bay is what keeps us in a seller’s market – just barely.
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MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by S.G. (Manhattan Beach)
The question I have is why the editors of MB Weekly and the community of the South Bay are so concerned with whether we should allow transgender females to play on girls’ teams? A more interesting poll would be to ask your readers who actually knows a transgender person or has ever met a transgender person? And more importantly, how many transgender athletes are there in the South Bay specifically in our high schools? I would bet that there aren’t any right now. I am aware of only 1 transgender female athlete during the time my daughter was in one of our public high schools. The only reason anyone knew was that others in the community outed her. People were not aware of her identity because of her athletic ability or the way she looked. Polls are meaningless, especially when they focus on issues that don’t exist in our community or pose a threat to it. Polls like this perpetuate misunderstanding and don’t provide any benefit to anyone. I prefer to use my initials only for this commentary to protect transgender athletes and my family.
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MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
By Michael Jenkins
Three points:
- In his 9/3/26 Weekly interview, Mark Burton graded the Council candidates, including himself(!). Can a student grade his own exam? Hmm. But nevermind. After his lackluster term on Council, Mark lost his bid for re-election. Twice after that failed re-election campaign, Mark ran again (and again) without success. Three failures. MB voters have already given Mark an “F” for his service on Council.
- Mark often misrepresents his professional experience implying he was a “city attorney.” For the record, he was one of many assistant city attorneys in Los Angeles. Mark was never the City Attorney in any city. His principal focus was defending the LAPD from claims of misconduct and corruption. His professional experience in local government was actually quite narrow. Such experience is unnecessary to be a good councilmember, but honesty is.
- Finally, Mark continues to reference me as he advocates for MB to become a charter city. Mark worked for Los Angeles, a charter city. That is what he knows best. But who among us wants MB to be like LA? I have served over 40 years as the City Attorney for many cities like MB and I am sure that seeking charter city status for MB is a waste of money and energy. Mark is trying to sell voters a bill of goods to convince us that becoming a charter city will excuse MB from state housing laws. It won’t, and I am looking for candidates who will work for real solutions.
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MANHATTAN BEACH FOOD & WINE TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE:
Friday – Sept 25 / Saturday – Sept 26 / 7-10 PM
Exclusive Event … Festival Tickets Going Fast … Two Nights. One Incredible Culinary Experience.
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READ ALL ABOUT IT – MB WEEKLY SEEKS ITS NEXT GREAT BOOK:
The MB Weekly Book Club is turning the page – and readers are invited to help choose what comes next. An open casting call is now underway for next month’s featured selection. Do you have a gripping novel, provocative political book, revealing biography, or unforgettable memoir that deserves the spotlight? MB Weekly wants to hear from you. Selections should inspire lively conversation, thoughtful disagreement, and perhaps even a few raised eyebrows. After all, a book club without debate is merely a library with snacks. Send your recommendation today to: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net
MB WEEKLY – CARTOON:
“Doctor, I will be with you in a minute, I am reading MB Weekly.”
1. ** Available now! Pets welcome. This upgraded 1,000-square-foot Kentwood home features three bedrooms, one bath, bright open living, hardwood floors, modern kitchen, appliances, converted garage living space, new deck, and a fenced 6,000-square-foot yard. $4,900/month; $5,000 deposit. Owner pays gardener; tenants pay utilities. No college students. Text 310-426-0113 for a viewing.
2. ** NOW HIRING: Administrative Assistant – $27/hour. Exact Staff seeks a full-time, bilingual English/Spanish professional supporting Paramount and Arcadia locations, Monday through Friday, first shift. Requires two-plus years’ experience, advanced Excel, AI tool familiarity, and excellent organization and communication. Immediate opening. Apply today: 916-336-5023 or Talentlab@exactstaff.com for additional details
3. ** Why is Manhattan Beach in a “fiscal quandary”? This Council and the previous two Councils hired too many employees and consultants, paid both too much, and saved too little! —- Mark Burton, Former Mayor of Manhattan Beach
4. ** WANTED: SOUTH BAY VIDEOGRAPHER – MB Weekly is seeking a talented local videographer/editor to produce engaging “people on the street” interviews. Candidates must have strong filming and editing skills, an outgoing personality, and a genuine interest in the South Bay community. Interested? Email MBWeekly@TimeWire.net.
5. ** I continue to enjoy your MB Weekly for the important information you share with readers about the City of Manhattan Beach and the inner circle. If it weren’t for MB Weekly, we’d still be kept in the dark! —- Joyce A., Manhattan Beach
6. ** El Segundo came alive Saturday, August 22, as dozens of businesses and artists joined the annual Art Walk. Visitors enjoyed pop-up galleries, live music, food trucks, studio tours, and art demonstrations along Main Street and Grand Avenue – including Damian Fulton painting live and the Mighty Wurlitzer organ thrilling audiences downtown. —- Editor’s Note
7. ** Accounting/Sales assistant job, full- or part-time, in South Redondo. Send resume to info@slasales.com
8. ** Like much of Southern California, Los Angeles seems hopeless. Citizens elect the leaders, tolerate ideological extremism, neglect civic responsibility, and fail to teach children the duties of citizenship. They also support unchecked illegal immigration. Until voters demand accountability and confront their own choices, little – if anything – will meaningfully improve there. —- S.H., Manhattan Beach
9. ** The Hermosa Beach Museum had plenty to celebrate at its Aug. 22 fundraising gala on Saturday. Marking the event’s 10th anniversary and the museum’s prestigious American Alliance of Museums accreditation, the evening raised a record $150,000 – more than double last year’s $75,000 total, according to director and curator Jamie Erickson. —- Editor’s Note
10. ** California taxes its residents mercilessly, yet Sacramento’s finances remain a wreck. The clear winners are public-sector unions. Ten of California’s largest unions collected more than $1 billion in 2024, funding political organizers, lobbyists, lavish events, and influence campaigns. Taxpayers foot the bill; union power reaps the rewards in Sacramento every year. —- Ronald H.
11. ** The Hermosa Beach City Council honored former Mayor George Schmeltzer, who died Aug. 1 at 87, and his wife, Stephanie Crane, who died July 16 at 76. Crane’s daughter thanked the community and remembered her mother as a tough, warm-hearted hospital advocate devoted to helping patients and families. —- Editor’s Note
12. ** 1 bdrm/1 bath & 2-2bdrm/2 bath on the STRAND for RENT. Remodeled/Repaired from the studs up, EVERYTHING is NEW. Residents enjoy split-system HVAC, two-car tandem parking, a shared oversized washer and dryer, secure package delivery storage, outdoor security cameras, monthly window and deck glass cleaning, a new tankless water heater, and unobstructed Panoramic views from PV to Malibu. There is nothing else like this on the Strand, one of a kind. Available Oct. 1. Call or text 310-447-2213
13. ** During my 1st Term on City Council, I supported a two-term maximum. In fact, my motion in that regard passed 3-2. However, on the second reading, one of the Councilmembers who voted to support a two-term maximum was pressured relentlessly to change his vote, so my motion ultimately failed 3-2. I knew then the Council would never support a City Charter. —- Mark Burton, Manhattan Beach
14. ** Amy Howorth’s interview this week further reinstates how spineless and compliant she is with rising issues in Manhattan Beach. It is time for new energy and for people of greater integrity to hold office. Her statements about “diligently controlling spending,” yet overpaying city employees, completely contradict each other. Her claim that city employees are being paid market rate is refuted by a simple Google search. We need to hold our city council members accountable. —- K.S., Manhattan Beach
15. ** Last year, our community came together in support of our schools, enabling MBEF to award $8 million in directed funding to MBUSD for the 2026-27 school year – the largest annual contribution in our history. This investment is a powerful example of what can happen when advocacy, strong partnerships, and extraordinary generosity come together around a shared commitment to our students. It truly takes an entire community working together to sustain excellence in our schools. —- Mira Costa High School
16. ** I just read the Howorth interview twice. When asked about specific cuts or reforms to control costs, “We need to continue to implement technology in addition to our police department to help make our city safe for all.” When asked about high salaries, compensation & management growth, she has “ideas of where to save. I need to keep my ‘powder dry.’” When asked why residents should pay more before the city proves it has exhausted all its opportunities to reduce spending, her reply is “Yes, I want to reduce spending, but…” I think that last statement summarizes the whole interview. —- Terry Watson, Manhattan Beach
17. ** Dear neighbors: The reality is that no regular supermarkets today have a good produce section; they all kind of stink, but Ralph’s in Manhattan Beach wins the award for the worst produce section I’ve seen in the South Bay. If I managed that store, I’d fire them today! —- Name Withheld by Request
18. ** Yes, former Mayor Lesser is correct. The City should consider “outsourcing” several functions to reduce costs and pension liabilities. —- Mark Burton, Manhattan Beach
19. ** Six degrees of separation becomes a lot fewer degrees when you base it on people who have indirectly shared a public toilet seat. —- Barry N.
20. ** California’s public-employee unions don’t merely influence government; they practically own the deed. Democrats know that without union money and muscle, their campaigns are corpses. Reform legislation survives only until a union boss objects. Then it is buried without ceremony. And taxpayers are left funding their own political captivity forever, endlessly. —- V.T. El Segundo
21. ** City Council is a nonpartisan position, so why did candidate Amy Howorth seek the endorsement of the Beach Cities Democrats, the local organization for the Democratic Party? How could she ever serve on Council as a nonpartisan after doing so? —- Name Withheld by Request, Manhattan Beach
22. ** Celebrating an incredible milestone – 25 years in Manhattan Beach real estate – the Zebrowski Group marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting at its new location. Beyond his dedication as a business owner, Brett Zebrowski also brings holiday magic to the community by providing the beloved Christmas trees on the Manhattan Beach Pier. —- Editor’s Note
23. ** In Howorth’s MB Weekly interview, she answered the question of where compensation becomes excessive by stating, “I need to keep my powder dry.” In other words, she is keeping it secret. Hmm? So, if elected, what else will she keep secret from our residents? —- Name Withheld by Request, Manhattan Beach
24. ** Bravo to MB Weekly for interviewing longtime public servant Amy Howorth. Although I do not often agree with her positions, I value the opportunity to hear her views presented fairly, directly, and without bias. Thoughtful civic dialogue requires listening to differing perspectives, and this interview serves our community very well. —- S.H., Manhattan Beach
25. ** Run, don’t walk, to see Coyote vs. ACME, a hilarious blend of live action and animation. After decades of defective rockets, exploding dynamite, errant slingshots, and falling anvils, Wile E. Coyote finally does the sensible thing: He hires a lawyer and sues ACME. Ingenious, nostalgic, clever, and wildly entertaining fun. —- Devin H.
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