FISKER, OTHERS, MAY HAVE UNWITTINGLY HIRED NORTH KOREAN I.T. SPY:
In a shocking twist of international espionage, Fisker Inc., the Manhattan Beach-based electric vehicle (E.V.) manufacturer of the famous Ocean SUV, allegedly unwittingly hired a North Korean spy. Fisker is reported to be among several U.S. companies caught up in alleged illegal revenue generation efforts of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Automotive News reports that an I.T. contractor, hired remotely by Fisker in October 2021, had provided a false Arizona address, which investigators later traced to a woman named Christina Chapman. According to an indictment on Justice.gov in May, “the overseas IT workers associated with Chapman, many of whom were tied to North Korea, posed as U.S. citizens using the stolen, false, or borrowed identities of U.S. nationals, and applied for positions at U.S companies, causing the transmission of false documentation to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The overseas IT workers gained employment at U.S. companies, including at a top-five major television network, a Silicon Valley technology company, an aerospace manufacturer, an American car manufacturer, a luxury retail store, and a U.S.-hallmark media and entertainment company …” According to Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, “The charges in this case should be a wakeup call for American companies and government agencies that employ remote IT workers.” Fisker filed for bankruptcy in June of 2024.
MB WEEKLY – READER POLL:
Half Of Readers Splurge Over $1,000 Annually On Beauty Products
In an eye-popping revelation, a recent MB Weekly reader poll found that 50% of respondents spend more than $1,000 annually on beauty products. From premium skincare serums to luxury makeup lines, it seems that pursuing looking good is a serious investment for half of our audience. As beauty brands continue to roll out innovations, the trend towards high-end, quality products shows no signs of slowing. Readers report prioritizing skin health, anti-aging solutions, and cruelty-free products, making them savvy consumers in an ever-expanding industry. This poll reflects a broader shift in self-care, where investing in appearance is essential. With this kind of consumer enthusiasm, it’s clear the beauty market will continue to thrive – and wallets will keep opening.
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MB WEEKLY:
The Faces of Manhattan Beach
David Rodriguez (South Bay Cycle)
Q: HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED IN BIKES?
A: I first found bikes as a way to get away from home and explore the city with friends. Once I was let go from my job during the 2008 financial crisis, I spent my last check to buy a really nice road bike, my first “real” bike. That let me ride longer time and ended up finding the local LA Bike groups. Once I met up with several groups, I would end up riding every day for the next 3 years, sometimes coming home past midnight.
Q: DO YOU PERSONALLY OWN A BIKE?
A: I own a 2024 Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8.
Q: HOW DID YOU FIRST CONNECT WITH SOUTH BAY CYCLE?
A: I was asked to help work a couple of days when one of the managers was transitioning to another position, when I was asked if I wanted to fill the position, I took the role.
Q: WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF RUNNING SOUTH BAY CYCLE POST-COVID?
A: The whole industry has taken a turn and slowed down a lot. We have been tight on popular bikes and now running short. And like every shop knows, finding a good service technician is hard, but we now have a second tech to get our Riders taken care of.
Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME?
A: Like many people, the John Wick series is sitting on the top of my list. But for many years it was Lord of the Rings.
Q: WHAT’S YOUR MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP FOR BIKE RIDERS?
A: Do not use in ear headphones and looking into parked cars rearview and side mirrors. Seeing people shuffling around in their cars is a clear sign of potential danger and gives you enough time to react.
www.InCycle.com/South-Bay-Cycle
Slay Italian Kitchen:
“Indulge in the perfect blend of savory and sweet with our Prosciutto Pizza, topped with fresh arugula, figs, creamy Burrata, and a drizzle of honey. Every bite is a taste of heaven!”
www.SlayItalianKitchen.com
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Paul Wafer (Manhattan Beach)
Dear Councilmembers, I was glad to see the following statement in the city council recap this week: Councilmember Napolitano and Councilmember Montgomery requested to agendize a discussion to direct staff to prepare a white paper providing facts regarding staff salaries in comparison to other cities. There are a couple of items that I would like to point out to you:
- Throughout my 4 part series on Manhattan Beach employees, I used the term compensation, not salaries. Compensation includes a number of other data points like overtime, one time pay, other compensation, and the cost of all the benefits, including pension contribution. I believe that by just looking at salaries, you will be missing important information that impacts the total cost of our city’s staff and I recommend that you look at the entire package. Additionally, if you just use salary in your next contract negotiations, you will be losing some leverage when negotiating a new contract.
- By having “staff” prepare the analysis, you are having “the fox watch the hen house”. It is a conflict of interest to have the staff prepare this information for you. In my analysis of the data I spent about 25 hours downloading the data for the following website: https://publicpay.ca.gov/Reports/Cities/City.aspx?entityid=209 and putting it into Excel spreadsheets. I have to admit that when I got my MBA in 1988, Excel did not exist and I had to use a slide ruler for financial analysis. My excel skills are only moderate, but I worked with many young analysts during my 20 years of consulting that probably could have put all of the data into a pivot table and done the same analysis in just a few hours. Better yet, there are new data programs that could probably spit this out even faster. The point is, rather than have staff do the analysis, you might want to consider using and outside accounting or consulting firm to do this for you. As long as you direct them on what data source to use and what cities to include in the analysis, it should not take that much time or cost to complete. Surely you must have an existing relationship with an accounting firm or consultant that do this for you very quickly and cost-effectively.
Finally, with Measure MMB passing, you have an opportunity to supercharge your Capital Budget Fund by doubling down on staff cost reductions at the same time. If you are really serious about your $200 million in capital improvements, this is the only way to get it accomplished. Respectfully, Paul Wafer
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MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Brian and Bre Kelleher owners of the Hook & Plow.
MB LEADERS COMMENT ON RECENT ELECTION:
Manhattan Beach 2024 City Council Candidates
** Congratulations to Joe Franklin, Nina Tarnay and Steve Charelian! I am wishing all three of you the very best! I also want to thank Karen Komatinsky, Joe Marcy and Brenda O’Leary for running. Running for office is an important public service. The most important election result for Manhattan Beach residents may be Nathan Hochman being elected as LA County District Attorney. Also, the appointment of our new City Manager, Ms. Talyn Mirzakhanian, was important for our new City Council and future City Councils. I think she will be an outstanding City Manager. —- Mark Burton (Former MB Mayor)
** I did not win the election. But running for City Council was a personal win. It challenged me, resulting in personal growth on many levels. I’d like to congratulate all the candidates on a race well run where everyone brought something to the table. I appreciate the grace shown to me by the other candidates, as well as the public and the press. Most of all, I am thankful for the ~4,000 people who had enough faith in me to vote for me to lead our community. I appreciate each and every one of you, and am so grateful for your support! —- Brenda O’Leary (Community Activist)
** It was an honor and a privilege to run for City Council. Thank you for sharing your passion, priorities and vision. Manhattan Beach is special for many reasons. It’s the people – our community – that makes it feel like home. Thank you for your support and kindness. We share a deep love for Manhattan Beach and together we’ll continue to do great things. Congratulations to Joe Franklin, Nina Tarnay and Steve Charelian. —- Joe Marcy (Community Activist)
** Running for City Council in our close-knit beach town of Manhattan Beach has been an eye-opening experience, showing me the importance of truly listening to and engaging with our residents and businesses. I learned that residents deeply care about our community and have a wide range of concerns, from enhancing public safety visibility and expediting street repairs and maintenance, to finding alternative parking solutions due to temporary closure of a downtown parking structure. Preserving our beach environment and maintaining and protecting open-space is vitally important to everyone as well. This campaign created opportunities for me to build relationships with neighbors, businesses and local organizations as I attended several of their meetings. Hearing firsthand about their issues and concerns has shown me the importance of local government transparency, communication, and collaboration. Ultimately, this campaign experience reinforced the power of grassroots efforts and the meaningful impact local government can have on residents’ day-to-day lives. Let’s make Manhattan Beach thrive together —- Steve Charelian (MB City Councilmember)
** I ran on promises to restore public safety, continue the results we have had with e-bike safety, continuing to improve our response to homelessness, and more. I learned that these were key issues concerning residents. I was the only candidate who openly supported and endorsed Nathan Hochman for Los Angeles County District Attorney. I learned many voters expressed concern when they learned some of the candidates endorsed Gascon in 2020 and 2024. I met Mr. Hochman three times in the past year and discussed with him the harmful effects of Gascon’s directives. Mr. Hochman promised to start prosecution of state misdemeanors the moment he takes office. He also supports us in utilizing the Homeless Court with Redondo Beach. I learned our residents are compassionate about the homeless who come into our City so I directed improvements in the City’s “Reach Manhattan Beach” app to make it easier to report encounters with homeless to get them needed services. Residents told me they saw improvements with e-bikes from the education and enhanced enforcement which I helped start in 2022 but wanted even more. That is ongoing. … —- Joe Franklin (MB City Councilmember)
Randy’s Donuts in El Segundo. Please share your comment: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net (Maximum 100 words)
MBUSD Enforces E-Bike Safety For Student Riders:
Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) middle and high school students who ride e-bikes to school must display a certification sticker proving completion of an approved safety course. The District’s approved safety classes are offered only through Pedal Ace and E-Bike Sense. Visit the MBUSD website for more information click here.
MB WEEKLY – MEET:
Meet Megan
Moved to Manhattan Beach in February 2023. Feel free to send in your photos to MBWeekly@TimeWire.net
Sloopy’s Beach Cafe:
“Come try our delicious Belgian Waffles whilst enjoying a beautiful beach day ONLY at your favorite Manhattan Beach cafe!”
www.SloopysBeachCafe.com
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Dominique Ridley (Manhattan Beach)
I want to give a big shoutout to our Manhattan Beach police department. I’m currently house/dog-sitting on Rosecrans. At approximately 3:15 this morning, the two Frenchie pups woke me from a sound sleep, barking like crazy. A very drunk & possibly homeless man was trying to break into the residence. I called the cops & spent no more than 5 minutes with dispatchers. Four cars showed up immediately. He was then taken off to jail. It took a while for my heart to stop racing. THANKS, MB police. These two pups are heroes too.
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Postmarked For Change – Manhattan Postal Center Set To Move December 1st:
The Manhattan Postal Center is excited to announce a new chapter, relocating to 2006 N Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, with the move tentatively scheduled for December 1st, 2024. This new location will offer customers better parking, improved access, and proximity to famous neighbors like Fresh Brothers, Patterson Cleaners, and Manhattan Bread & Bagel. Current mailbox holders should note a slight address change – from 2711 N Sepulveda Blvd to the new location – while mailbox numbers will remain the same. Customers are advised not to update their address with senders until the move is finalized to avoid delivery disruptions. Operations will continue uninterrupted at the current address until the day before the move. Customers can contact the center at (310) 545-5800 or info@mbpostal.com for more information or assistance.
Dine & Donate – Urban Plates And MB Weekly Unite For A Canned Food Drive Supporting L.A. Food Bank:
In a spirited initiative to support those in need, Urban Plates in Manhattan Beach has partnered with MB Weekly to launch a community-driven canned food drive benefiting the Los Angeles Food Bank. From now until the end of the month, locals are encouraged to bring canned goods of any type to Urban Plates, where each donation will be met with a special thank-you: a complimentary $5.00 gift card valid at Urban Plates. The initiative, featured on www.MBWeekly.net, invites the South Bay community to join forces, blending the satisfaction of good food with the generosity of helping others. For everyone who can donate, participants contribute to alleviating hunger across Los Angeles and get a little something back as a token of gratitude. Urban Plates hopes to see full barrels of donations by month’s end and aims to bring neighbors together in the spirit of giving. This initiative marks an impactful way to make a difference one can at a time, turning each meal at Urban Plates into a meaningful opportunity to uplift others.
www.UrbanPlates.com
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Louise F. (Manhattan Beach)
George Gascón’s crushing defeat in his re-election bid, with only 38% of the vote as an incumbent, was no surprise. Significant rising crime rates marked his tenure and policies that left many Angelenos feeling horribly unsafe. But what truly baffles me is not the overwhelming rejection – it’s the 38% who voted for him. Who in their right mind would choose to re-elect a D.A. who repeatedly prioritized criminals over victims and seemed disconnected from the community’s concerns? I’d pay good money to sit down and talk with someone who supported him. Was it sheer lunacy to radical political ideology? A belief in his bizarre criminal justice reforms despite mounting evidence of their failures? Or perhaps a simple ignorance of the real-world consequences? Gascón’s defeat was inevitable, but the lingering question remains: Who are the voters standing by his side, and what do they think they saw that the majority, thank God, did not?
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Discover The Perfect Family Meal At Rock’N Fish! Including FREE delivery!
Looking for a delicious and hassle-free dining option? Look no further than Rock’N Fish! This beloved gem unveiled their new ‘Sail Away’ family style take-out menu that includes free delivery or pick-up! It makes weeknight dinners a breeze. Only $55 for two or $75 for four, you can indulge in mouthwatering favorites like their Catch of the Day, Hickory Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Teriyaki Chicken, succulent Filet Skewers, flavorful Seafood Jambalaya and more. Each meal is curated to include warm sourdough bread or oak-grilled artichokes paired with a choice of salad and sides. Ordering is simple! Place your order online via TOAST and select the time you’d like your meal to be ready. Choose free delivery or simply pull up behind the restaurant for quick and easy pickup! Transform your weeknights with a delicious meal from Rock’N Fish. For the full menu and to place your order, visit (mb.rocknfish.com/menu/takeaway.shtml) today! You can call for more details and pre-order over the phone at: (310) 379-9900
Manhattan Beach Crime Summary
October 31 to November 6, 2024
- 793 SERVICE CALLS
- 11 ARRESTS
- 22 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
- 38 CRIMES REPORTED
Notable Events:
** MBPD reported that a construction vehicle outside a residence was plundered between 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. on October 30 and 31. Construction workers in the 1700 block of Nelson Avenue told officers they misplaced the van keys at a property they were building. The team left the vehicle overnight and returned to find tools and gadgets gone the following day.
** A client at 24 Hour Fitness on October 31 reported his stuff taken from a secured locker.
** Police received a house burglary report in the 300 block of Bayview Drive at 2:28 p.m. on November 1. The suspect motorist refused to stop for traffic offenses when officers attempted to stop him. A police pursuit led to the suspects’ capture in a nearby jurisdictions. Officers located a safe in the backseat. The suspects were wanted for earlier house burglaries.
** On November 3 between 4:30 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. in the 300 block of Bayview Drive, a resident returned to find their previously locked door unlocked, and safe stolen from the residence. A witness in the area told officers, they saw a black SUV in front of the location at approximately 10:00 a.m.
WHO READS MB WEEKLY?
Manhattan Beach Mayor Pro Tem David Lesser, along with thousands of his neighbors. Sign up to receive MB Weekly for FREE! Visit: www.MBWeekly.net
Mira Costa Transitions From Dance To Drama With Heartfelt “Anatomy Of Gray”:
Mira Costa High School’s fall production is Jim Leonard’s “Anatomy of Gray,” November 8 – November 16. This thought-provoking play follows young June, who, after losing her father, wishes for a healer to save her small town. When a mysterious doctor arrives in a balloon, hope turns to chaos. This story beautifully weaves themes of loss, love, and healing in a unique coming-of-age tale.
The Hook & Plow:
It’s Burger Thursday!
This Week’s Special:
South of the Border Smashburger
’Nduja beer cheese, hatch chilis,
crispy tortilla strips, chipotle aioli, guacamole
$10 all day! get your first beer for $ 1!
www.theHookandPlow.com
1. ** Someone stole $550 from your wallet at Sprouts on Hawthorne Blvd and Rosecrans. Someone worked hard all week for that money, and you thought you earned it. Without groceries and expenses, our fridge will be empty. We lost food and utilities because you took that money. I pray God reciprocates. —- Monroe F., El Segundo
2. ** We are lucky to have Dave Lesser on the City Council. —- Jeanne M., Manhattan Beach
3. ** In-N-Out Burger feels like an oasis in a desert of fast-food mediocrity. Unlike McDonald’s, Carl’s Jr., Wendy’s, Burger King, and the rest, it offers a simple menu, quality ingredients, and genuinely friendly service. It’s baffling why others don’t replicate this winning formula instead of drowning in blandness and inconsistency. —- Wendi S., Manhattan Beach
4. ** The Scottish Salmon at Tin Roof Bistro in Manhattan Village is simply outstanding. It is perfectly cooked, tender, and flavorful and showcases quality and culinary expertise. Paired with the welcoming ambiance and attentive service, dining here is always a delightful experience. It is a must-try dish for seafood lovers in the area. —- Shannon B., Manhattan Beach
5. ** Cafe Vida in the Bay Club El Segundo is a gem. The food is always fresh, delicious, and packed with healthy options that don’t break the bank. The atmosphere and staff make each visit a pleasure. It is a perfect spot for nutritious meals that satisfy taste and budget. —- Winny R., El Segundo
6. ** Cut the crap! Hermosa Beach Vons shoppers should verify their receipts before leaving. I was charged $100 for products I didn’t buy. The manager casually replied that it occurs sometimes. —- Ellie S., Hermosa Beach
7. ** Cafe Mychal. I had lunch at Mychal’s Cafe on Artesia after yoga. Overall, it was a nice way to start the gorgeous weekend! Recommend. —- Paul D., Hermosa Beach
8. ** The median age of US homebuyers hit a record high of 56, up from 49 in July 2023, according to research from the National Association of Realtors. —- Frank G., Manhattan Beach
9. ** With our expensive dues, I wonder when MCC will fix things. It’s not fun when a major company buys your club. —- Orlando B., Manhattan Beach
10. ** Trump’s victory is a blow to political lawfare, critical race theory, woke campuses, legacy media, and Hollywood. It’s also a win for a new generation of builders like Elon Musk. —- Howard A., Manhattan Beach
11. ** America unburdens itself from what has been. Bye-bye, Kamala! —- Leslie K., Manhattan Beach
12. ** The Bay Club in El Segundo is a scam. Don’t register there. My subscription kept billing me after I tried to cancel. When they stopped (after many bank disagreements), they kept a late payment on my account and added another each month. Don’t register there. There are much better gyms. —- Oliva R., Manhattan Beach
13. ** Governor Newsom is already running for President in 2028. —- Evan V., Manhattan Beach
14. ** Internet marketing service in El Segundo, California —- www.GanzMedia.com
15. ** Would you hire Karine Jean-Pierre to work at Taco Bell? —- Bob H., Manhattan Beach
16. ** Bravo to Joe Franklin on winning the election. —- Henry B., Manhattan Beach
17. ** Something big is happening in America. Across the country, our values – freedom, responsibility, patriotism – are making a comeback. —- Clark C., Manhattan Beach
18. ** Some Democrats are finally waking up and realizing that woke is broke. —- Garrison T., Manhattan Beach
19. ** George Gascón seems to believe he was elected Chief of Criminal Justice Reform. No, Gascón – you were elected to ensure law and order. You failed in that fundamental duty. The people have spoken, and you were effectively fired for your inability to protect our community. Thank God! —- Ruby S., Manhattan Beach
20. ** I love how Biden and Harris are planning a peaceful transition to Hitler. —- M.M., Manhattan Beach
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