MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Mayor Joe Franklin in the midst of his campaign for re-election.
MB WEEKLY – LENS:
City Council candidate Steve Charelian.
MB – BULLETIN BOARD:
** Kamala Harris knows she can say anything and skate away unbothered. She also understands that Trump’s misstatements will be called out while hers will be codified as truth-telling. This is our country as we approach the presidential election. Dark times. —- Vince C., Manhattan Beach
** A heads up… L & L Hawaiian BBQ in Torrance Crossroads accepts credit cards, so verify your receipt, especially if you tip cash. My credit card was charged $2.85 for a tip, but I usually tip with cash, so they received $5.00. I reported it to corporate and this location without success. —- Deb H., Manhattan Beach
** Dockweiler Beach homeless encampments were dismantled [recently]. Since then, many people have camped in M.B.’s town and on the beach. Please look for our new guests on your walk/run in the coming days. Please report anybody on the REACH MB App, call the MBPD non-emergency line to complete a “well check,” and text me the details so I can reach out. All caseworkers are concerned yet frantic. Thanks. —- Name Withheld by Request, Manhattan Beach
** A crazy man is dancing in the middle of the street in downtown Manhattan Beach near The Kettle, wearing no shirt. Of course if there were any police downtown they might notice that but since there are never ever any police downtown, he’s dancing away like he’s on “Dancing with the Stars.” —- Darren H., Manhattan Beach
** Democrats encourage supporters to go to the polls by telling them Beyoncé will be there. —- Hope S., Manhattan Beach
MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Community activist Lee Phillips.
MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Community activist Lucia La Rosa.
MB – BULLETIN BOARD:
** California Pizza Kitchen in Manhattan Beach is one monumentally unimpressive place to eat. The pizzas are a single level above Domino’s, have high prices, and have a service that is about as hospitable as Taco Bell in a lousy neighborhood. —- Kirby N., Manhattan Beach
** When I heard Nathan Hochman endorsed Kamala Harris, I lost all respect for him! How could he support somebody who endorses all of his opponent’s pro-crime attitudes? —- Jasmine D., Manhattan Beach
** I love Tapizôn restaurant in El Segundo! —- Ace T., El Segundo
** The Ralphs staff in Manhattan Village tell me that the relentless, brazen shoplifting is mind-blowing. Every day and often every hour in broad daylight without an ounce of fear. Thanks, Mr. Gascon! —- Jamie R., Manhattan Beach
** Sorry! Even light drinking was associated with an increase in cancer deaths among older adults, a study found, adding to a mounting body of evidence. —- Dr. Gregory A., Manhattan Beach
MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Kristina at the Tin Roof Bistro in Manhattan Village.
MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Lead waiter Jay at Arthur J in Manhattan Beach.
MB – BULLETIN BOARD:
** May I sincerely ask – What pain do you want in your life? What are you willing to struggle for? —- Toby B., Manhattan Beach
** Redondo Beach police are warning residents and visitors about fake QR codes posted on city parking meters to scam drivers. —- Editor’s Note
** The incidence of gender dysphoria has increased 5,000% over the past decade. A French report has called current treatments potentially “one of the greatest ethical scandals in the history of medicine.” —- Dr. G. B., Manhattan Beach
** I have a 2 br /two bath for rent two blocks from the ocean on Knob Hill/Broadway in Redondo Beach. I’m moving to Minnesota, and my lease ends March 31. The rent is 2975, and the security deposit is half that. It’s 1066 Sq ft and a very nice place on the 1st floor. The building is secure, with an inner courtyard, outdoor pool, and underground parking. —- Contact me at 780-318-3412 or kmtuccaro@gmail.com
** Did you know that Kamala explains 93% of staff quit because they couldn’t handle the joy. —- Halle G., Manhattan Beach
MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Aaron Ganz of Ganz Media in El Segundo.
MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Head chef at Tapizôn in El Segundo.
MB – BULLETIN BOARD:
** Four-bedroom, three-bathroom home for rent in Hermosa Beach. Newly renovated with ocean views. Negotiable rent for the September move-in date. If you would like more information or to view text/call —- (310) 993-2528 [Current rent $9200.00]
** Would a reporter who asked Kamala a question be charged with hate crime? —- Roland M., Manhattan Beach
** Craig’s Hot Dog on a Stick, on the Redondo Beach Pier, will likely close on September 8 or when supplies run out, owner Craig Reidt said. —- Editor’s Note
** Ranked “one of the most influential business books of the last decade.” —- www.BrokenWindowsBook.com
** Damn! Instead of a career in the aerospace industry, I should have been an employee of the city of Manhattan Beach! I can appreciate that salaries increase over time, but these pay levels seem outrageous for the actual work being (or not being) performed. —- Terry W., Manhattan Beach
MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Lisa Spurgeon and Judy Evans.
Reader Huge Outpouring Of Response To MB City Salary Expose By Paul Wafer:
** Your MB staff salary expose was stunning! Wow! —- Claudine P. (Manhattan Beach)
** Kudos to Paul Wafer and his proactive research. I am appalled at the egregiously high salaries we’re paying city staff. Are you kidding? Thirty-four employees are making $300 grand or more. The President of the United States only makes $400K. THAT’S OUTRAGEOUS. I worked in the highly competitive radio sales industry with absolutely no security. What did you sell today? Great, come in tomorrow. Working in this beach city is a ‘cake-walk’ in comparison. And oh yes, my pension………..ZERO! Admittedly, it’s been a bunch of years since my prime earning years, But these facts hurt my head. Not too long ago, we had four top employees earning a combined million dollars, and the city went nuts. I’m out on ANY SALES TAX INCREASE and want pay cuts. CC candidates, woo my vote with realistic salaries…..I’M LISTENING! —- Fred Taylor (Community Activist)
** Oh my goodness! How timely and embarrassing is this information? I love my city and was prepared to vote for a tax increase in November. After seeing these employee numbers and salaries, I believe my tax dollars are being spent in a wasteful manner. Very few people are worthy of $400,000.00 a year compensation. A small city like MB to have nine such individuals borders on criminals. Not to mention all the other obscene compensation packages. No, sir. I am just slightly ticked off by this revelation. Count me in the “NO” column for new taxes and city leaders; get your axes out, and do some severe chopping immediately. P.S…….shameful. Someone has some “splainin” to do. —- Tom A., (Manhattan Beach)
** MB Weekly’s recent exposure of the obscene salaries paid to city workers is admirable and revealing. This article highlights a systemic issue: the liberal use of public funds by those in power. We should be both shocked and unsurprised by this revelation. Horrified because the extent of the financial excesses is staggering; unsurprised because history shows that individuals are often generous when spending money that isn’t theirs. City leaders, like all human beings, desire approval and admiration. Distributing public money generously becomes a tool for gaining favor and support, ensuring popularity without personal cost. MB Weekly’s powerful story serves as a crucial reminder of the need for transparency and accountability in government. It underscores how easily power can be misused when there is little oversight and how citizens must remain vigilant to ensure their taxes are spent wisely and ethically. —- Sara Garcia (El Segundo)
** The amount spent on city employee salaries in Manhattan Beach has increased, although the number of employees has remained about the same. Why? We are adding more professional positions. For example, tourism has increased, so we must expand MBPD and MBFD. These are high-salary positions, and finding good people is competitive. We are also seeing a boom in local development, leading to complaints about long delays in the permitting process. In response, the City added project engineers to the Public Works Department. About 60% of our salaries are covered by our sales tax. 61% of our sales tax revenue comes from non-residents, and we can expect that to increase with tourism. However, money spent on salaries cannot be spent on other things. We must fill these positions, and the wages should be on par with those of our surrounding cities. However, we should also evaluate our employee expenses annually to cut excess spending and reduce pension liabilities. It’s also worth noting that two current candidates are responsible for authorizing this significant increase, so residents should not be afraid to ask the tough questions. —- Brenda O’Leary (Candidate for the City Council)
** Let’s be honest. It doesn’t feel right; does it? We have a responsibility to the people of Manhattan Beach to be fiscally responsible, and part of that responsibility includes making difficult decisions around compensation and overtime. We have incredible directors, administrators, chiefs, captains, lieutenants, supervisors, and engineers. We want to retain our great city employees and continue to recruit top talent, but we need to justify and rethink above-market compensation. It starts with reviewing overtime and addressing inefficiencies. The conversation around fiscal responsibility extends beyond compensation. We need to address third party services, feasibility studies and more. My promise to you – if elected to City Council, I will always be transparent and prudent with our finances. Hold me accountable. It’s what you should expect from a hometown leader. —- Joe Marcy (Candidate for the City Council)
** Most MB residents and I greatly appreciated Part One and Part Two of the exclusive commentary written by resident Paul Wafer. The veil of secrecy that has cloaked the incredibly high salaries paid to our city employees was finally removed, and, to our dismay, we have numerous employees making more than $400,000, $300,000, and $200,000. Who knew? Now, thanks to the efforts of Mr. Wafer, we all know. You can be sure that the City’s leaders aren’t happy that the view of secrecy was removed! “Just The Facts” Mr. Wafer used the publicly available data on the State’s website and did painstaking work to provide this invaluable information. Of course, Mr. Wafer was “spot on” when he asked “Do we need to increase our sales tax…” or do we need to take a hard look at staffing and salaries. Thank you Mr. Wafer for caring. —- Mark Burton (Former Mayor of Manhattan Beach)
** I’m angry and shocked by the exorbitant salaries that our small city (M.B. taxpayers) pay our grossly overpaid city employees, and they dare to ask for a sales tax increase. The same applies to the M.B. school district fat cat administrators and their misleading Measure RLS, a $200 million school bond tax. Live within your means. Vote no to outrageous tax increases! —- Sharon A. (Manhattan Beach)
** Dear MB Weekly – Interesting information. However, I think it would be more meaningful if those persons making a lot of overtime, such as police officers and firemen, were filtered out. I would rather see the numbers for salaried M.B. employees, as those are easier to compare to positions in private industry. —- Terry W. (Manhattan Beach)
** Undoubtedly, the increased revenue generated from the proposed 1/2 cent sales tax increase is for the 2025 union contracts for MB City employees. Yes, there will be increases in salaries, pensions, and benefits in 2025. The last union contracts gave MB City employees more than 10.5% in salary increases. —- Mark B. (Manhattan Beach)
MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Boston cream pie at Slay Steak + Fish.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING MANHATTAN BEACH IN THE NEXT YEAR:
** We have many challenges that we need to address head on, but the number one priority should always be safety. Manhattan Beach residents need to feel safe in their community, and ensuring our Police Department is fully staffed will help us achieve our goal of reducing crime year over year. Additionally, we need to prioritize city infrastructure projects and set aggressive timelines. This starts with following through on commitments made by our current council and expediting the Parking Structure Lot 3 construction project to reintroduce 130+ safe parking spaces for our downtown businesses. With the recent earthquake activity we need to promote National Preparedness Month this September and make sure every resident has the resources they need. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work on these initiatives. More information on my priorities can be found on my campaign website at joemarcy.com. We need hometown leadership solely motivated by the love of our community. —- Joe Marcy
** The top priority for our community is public safety, especially in enhancing police presence and visibility, focusing on e-bike enforcement, and protecting residents and local businesses from crime. To address this, we need to ensure adequate police staffing, secure proper funding, and implement proactive policing programs. Furthermore, it is essential for public safety officials to actively share crime trends and safety concerns to the community. —- Steve Charelian
MB WEEKLY – LENS:
Happy team members at Tapizôn restaurant in El Segundo.
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DO YOU FEEL AS SAFE IN MANHATTAN BEACH AS YOU DID FIVE YEARS AGO:
MB POEM
In Manhattan Beach, where memories blend,
Five years past, I felt secure, my friend.
But now the calm feels less sincere,
A shadowed shift, a lingering fear.
The waves still roll, the sunsets glow,
Yet peace once felt seems to ebb and go.
Though time has passed and stats may sway,
My sense of safety fades away.
The charm remains, the city’s grace,
Yet in my heart, unease finds space.
What once was sure, now feels unclear,
A change that stirs, a whispered fear.
-Lee Phillips
** No, I am afraid not. Our community’s sense of law and order has been undermined by DA Gascon’s policy to not file or prosecute misdemeanors like retail theft and his refusal to allow the City of Manhattan Beach to hire their own City Prosecutor who could file and prosecute misdemeanors committed in our city. Just shameful! —- Mark Burton
** I feel safest in Redondo Beach. Which was rated a safer Ca suburb than MB recently. —- Zein Obagi
** No. —- Bob Holmes
** No. I used to think nothing of walking by myself late at night on the Strand; now, I wouldn’t dream of it. I also don’t care to go to BevMo or Target after dark. —- Ashleigh & Michael Schaedel
** Yes, I generally feel as safe as I did 5 years ago. However, now I feel I have to be more vigilant. Before Gascon’s soft on crime policies, we didn’t have armed daylight robberies in the downtown area. My impression is we had fewer, if any, robberies on the Strand after dark. When crime rarely happened or didn’t happen at all, I didn’t have to think about the risk of walking at night or early morning. A walk by the two pier parking lots around 3 a.m. in the morning and you’ll know what I’m talking about. —- Phillip Cook
** No! —- Marilyn Alcantar
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MB – BULLETIN BOARD:
** Did you know… the Manhattan Beach Police officers only work three days a week? —- Lauren C., Manhattan Beach
** If I were the Democrats, I would consider replacing Kamala Harris with Joe Biden, who is more coherent. —- Blake B., Manhattan Beach
** Revive Med Spa in Manhattan Beach feels more like a sales factory than a spa. The staff is aggressive and pushy, constantly trying to upsell services with zero flexibility. It was impossible to relax with the high-pressure tactics used here. I left feeling uneasy and distrustful of their practices. This place is all about sales, not customer care. —- Corrine T., Manhattan Beach
** High five to MB Weekly for your incredible story on the exorbitant salaries paid to Manhattan Beach city workers! —- Devin C., Manhattan Beach
** The assistant manager of Ralphs in the Manhattan Village informed me that they have shoplifting incidents virtually every hour of the day. The shoplifters are brazen and fearless! —- Irv A., Manhattan Beach
** My dear neighbors, when you consider a tax increase of any kind, think of it as giving money to an alcoholic or drug addict who can’t stop! Their motto is simple: more, more, more! —- Darren H., Manhattan Beach
** The names of the six murdered Israeli hostages – and the evil ideology of their executioners – should be seared into the minds of all who wish to live in civilization. —- David W., Manhattan Beach
** Some parents are paying more for dorm room interior designers than they are for college tuition. —- Linda B., Manhattan Beach
** We need more DUI checkpoints https://ktla.com/news/local-news/girl-10-her-mother-killed-by-alleged-dui-driver-in-southern-california/ —- Howie H., Manhattan Beach
** I wonder if Kamala was promoted at McDonald’s after having an affair with Mayor McCheese. —- Chesney A., Manhattan Beach
** In the absence of funding to build a pool, public officials can either not make it or adopt the centuries-old approach of creating a bond to benefit all residents and offer formal calls for proposals. —- John A., Manhattan Beach
** Nando Trattoria in downtown Manhattan Beach exceeded all expectations! My first visit was extraordinary – genuinely authentic Italian cuisine. The flavors were vibrant, the ambiance charming, and the service impeccable. It is a must-visit for anyone seeking a delightful dining experience. I can’t wait to return! —- Sandy T., Hermosa Beach
** Podcasts are not reviving history, as is often claimed these days. They are mostly drowning it in a tidal wave of blather, at best sloppy, at worst mendacious. —- Arthur O., Manhattan Beach
** Who poses a greater threat to a free society: those who advocate for smaller government or those pushing for ever-expanding government control? —- Janet A., Manhattan Beach
** The lasagna at Slay Italian in Manhattan Beach is a true masterpiece! Layers of rich, savory flavors, with perfectly cooked pasta, hearty sauce, and creamy cheese, melt in your mouth. It’s pure comfort food elevated to gourmet status. Every bite is a celebration of Italian excellence! —- Toby B., Manhattan Beach
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