As the chair of the Redondo Beach Community Garden Committee, I was dismayed to see the project that we have worked on for the past 7 months and the diligent research and planning we have worked on, get caught in a web of politics and accusations. Gardens are healing places for all, and I would hope that a community garden would usher in a new era for Redondo Beach. I look forward to moving forward on our work, and to be included in future discussions and planning with the city. I will also share that this is not something we should be territorial with: Let's cultivate a mindset of abundance and of understanding that the Earth provides for us. Remember that we would start with at least one pilot garden, and then hope to expand throughout North and South Redondo with additional sites. As I speak with members of my committee over the past week they have shared that they just want to move forward with building a garden, and this will remain the focus of our work as we move forward. Thank you.
I am beyond ecstatic about the future of Redondo Beach, congrats Mr. Councilmember-elect Obagi elect.
Don’t let the haters bring you down, the future is bright. Only the shills remain sweeping up the broken glass and complain about a non-profit that plants plants. Perhaps they can learn from potted plants. The rest of us are building a new Redondo, especially those of us in North Redondo that will see positive change, not just a name-change.
Congrats Councilmember Nehrenheim, Loewenstein and Mayor Brand for your second terms. Wish you the best! You have all had resounding wins!
Congratulations Redondo! Mayor Brand and Councilmembers Nehrenheim and Loewenstein were re-elected. Obagi was newly elected as Councilmember! For the first time in 20 years, the Council majority will not be Chamber of Commerce-groomed partisans, a huge victory for the people of Redondo Beach.
Sadly, a minority continue smear tactics, particularly toward the Mayor, as Ms. Healy does again tonight. At the 03-09-2021 City Council meeting, a handful, not 43 as Ms. Healy would like people to believe, in verbatim lockstep with Councilmember Emdee, falsely stated the South Bay Parkland Conservancy donated to Brand’s 2017 campaign, pays for his website, and sued the City. None of this is correct. Brand created his website when he founded SBPC, always personally paying those fees. SPBC repaid a loan to Brand-2017. SBPC helped fundraise for a successful, apolitical, citizen-backed lawsuit against the City to protect public parks; Seaside Lagoon, Moonstone and Czuleger Parks, entirely consistent with its mission. Emdee purposefully misconstrued data, manufacturing falsehoods to deny SBPC being a City partner for community gardens, after SBPC helped the City qualify for grant monies, planted vegetation and helps maintain Wilderness Park, sponsors other programs, all with volunteers and monies raised through their own efforts.
Brand’s non-supporters incredulously continue to imply impropriety; now it’s because his wife is on the Board of this all-volunteer non-profit group. No impropriety exists. It’s appalling to see a Councilmember stir the pot this way, inciting others to do the same. Mercifully, Emdee will no longer be able to block progress or the will of the people as a result of the election. Thank You Redondo Voters! Special SHOUT OUT to District 4!
I would like to congratulate Mayor Brand, as well as council members Nehrenheim and Loewenstein on being re-elected to another term. The city is looking forward to moving forward after nearly 6 years of stagnation, and litigation in our harbor.
I also want to thank John Gran for his service to the city these past 4 years. While we haven’t always agreed on every subject before the council, I do want to comment John for serving our city, and look forward to speaking with him on ways to improve the Artesia Business Corridor.
Now on a different note, I would like to say how disappointed I am with the shameful display exhibited by council member Laura Emdee Last week. In what can only be described as a contrived fake controversy, Council member Emdee decided to attack and besmirch the hard work of hundreds Redondo Beach Residents working with the South Bay Parkland Conservancy. Sadly this was done to score a few points with her “Emdee-Anon” cult followers that appear to be some of the most hateful and angry people in our city.
It was a complete embarrassment to both you Council member Emdee and the people of Redondo Beach. The residents of Redondo Beach are watching and will remember your actions in any future office you plan to run.
Last week City Council members besmirched the work and reputation of the hard working volunteers of the South Bay Parkland Conservancy. One Council Member diminishing the work and credentials of Board Member Diedre Brand completely discounting Diedre's professional career, education and accomplishments in the public and private sector was particularly galling. Mr. Horvath attempted to compare this argument with discussion of the Redondo Chamber. They do not compare in any way. The Chamber PAC spent $28,000 to support Mr. Horvath. The SBPC does no such thing. The Chamber PAC was investigated and found in violation of State Regulations by the FPPC. Not so for the SBPC. Investigators from the LA County D.A. interviewed me on several occasions about conduct of the Chamber PAC- doubtful for the SBPC. There is no comparison between the two and efforts to smear the work of the SBPC are beneath the council and without merit
The City of Redondo Beach should not be providing funds or public space to a non-profit organization that has sued the City and continues to raise funds for that purpose, and whose advisory and governing board members include the Mayor, his wife and his political allies. It wouldn’t be prudent. Nor would it be ethical to do so.
I’m grateful that last week, Councilmembers Emdee, Gran and Horvath listened to and read the concerns and support of residents to move forward with a community garden concept that represents the entire community and is not entangled in the controversial and exclusionary South Bay Parkland Conservancy. I hope the Community Garden Committee members can see their way clear of the SBPC and move forward, keeping the whole community in the garden.
It is quite troubling that, at the March 9 Council Meeting, the Mayor felt the need to silence the 43 residents who wanted to share their concerns and support via e-comments. He squelched those voices without consent from the Council. That seemed undemocratic.
You can’t get more hypocritical then Mayor Brand and Councilmembers Lowenstein and Nehrenheim. They have vehemently complained about and politicized the Chamber of Commerce, the Visitors Bureau and other legitimate non-profits whose members have given us so many worthwhile community projects and events, thousands and thousands of volunteer hours, and given back so much to our City. And those organizations, unlike their Conservancy, never dreamed of suing us.
As the chair of the Redondo Beach Community Garden Committee, I was dismayed to see the project that we have worked on for the past 7 months and the diligent research and planning we have worked on, get caught in a web of politics and accusations. Gardens are healing places for all, and I would hope that a community garden would usher in a new era for Redondo Beach. I look forward to moving forward on our work, and to be included in future discussions and planning with the city. I will also share that this is not something we should be territorial with: Let's cultivate a mindset of abundance and of understanding that the Earth provides for us. Remember that we would start with at least one pilot garden, and then hope to expand throughout North and South Redondo with additional sites. As I speak with members of my committee over the past week they have shared that they just want to move forward with building a garden, and this will remain the focus of our work as we move forward. Thank you.
I am beyond ecstatic about the future of Redondo Beach, congrats Mr. Councilmember-elect Obagi elect.
Don’t let the haters bring you down, the future is bright. Only the shills remain sweeping up the broken glass and complain about a non-profit that plants plants. Perhaps they can learn from potted plants. The rest of us are building a new Redondo, especially those of us in North Redondo that will see positive change, not just a name-change.
Congrats Councilmember Nehrenheim, Loewenstein and Mayor Brand for your second terms. Wish you the best! You have all had resounding wins!
Congratulations Redondo! Mayor Brand and Councilmembers Nehrenheim and Loewenstein were re-elected. Obagi was newly elected as Councilmember! For the first time in 20 years, the Council majority will not be Chamber of Commerce-groomed partisans, a huge victory for the people of Redondo Beach.
Sadly, a minority continue smear tactics, particularly toward the Mayor, as Ms. Healy does again tonight. At the 03-09-2021 City Council meeting, a handful, not 43 as Ms. Healy would like people to believe, in verbatim lockstep with Councilmember Emdee, falsely stated the South Bay Parkland Conservancy donated to Brand’s 2017 campaign, pays for his website, and sued the City. None of this is correct. Brand created his website when he founded SBPC, always personally paying those fees. SPBC repaid a loan to Brand-2017. SBPC helped fundraise for a successful, apolitical, citizen-backed lawsuit against the City to protect public parks; Seaside Lagoon, Moonstone and Czuleger Parks, entirely consistent with its mission. Emdee purposefully misconstrued data, manufacturing falsehoods to deny SBPC being a City partner for community gardens, after SBPC helped the City qualify for grant monies, planted vegetation and helps maintain Wilderness Park, sponsors other programs, all with volunteers and monies raised through their own efforts.
Brand’s non-supporters incredulously continue to imply impropriety; now it’s because his wife is on the Board of this all-volunteer non-profit group. No impropriety exists. It’s appalling to see a Councilmember stir the pot this way, inciting others to do the same. Mercifully, Emdee will no longer be able to block progress or the will of the people as a result of the election. Thank You Redondo Voters! Special SHOUT OUT to District 4!
I would like to congratulate Mayor Brand, as well as council members Nehrenheim and Loewenstein on being re-elected to another term. The city is looking forward to moving forward after nearly 6 years of stagnation, and litigation in our harbor.
I also want to thank John Gran for his service to the city these past 4 years. While we haven’t always agreed on every subject before the council, I do want to comment John for serving our city, and look forward to speaking with him on ways to improve the Artesia Business Corridor.
Now on a different note, I would like to say how disappointed I am with the shameful display exhibited by council member Laura Emdee Last week. In what can only be described as a contrived fake controversy, Council member Emdee decided to attack and besmirch the hard work of hundreds Redondo Beach Residents working with the South Bay Parkland Conservancy. Sadly this was done to score a few points with her “Emdee-Anon” cult followers that appear to be some of the most hateful and angry people in our city.
It was a complete embarrassment to both you Council member Emdee and the people of Redondo Beach. The residents of Redondo Beach are watching and will remember your actions in any future office you plan to run.
Last week City Council members besmirched the work and reputation of the hard working volunteers of the South Bay Parkland Conservancy. One Council Member diminishing the work and credentials of Board Member Diedre Brand completely discounting Diedre's professional career, education and accomplishments in the public and private sector was particularly galling. Mr. Horvath attempted to compare this argument with discussion of the Redondo Chamber. They do not compare in any way. The Chamber PAC spent $28,000 to support Mr. Horvath. The SBPC does no such thing. The Chamber PAC was investigated and found in violation of State Regulations by the FPPC. Not so for the SBPC. Investigators from the LA County D.A. interviewed me on several occasions about conduct of the Chamber PAC- doubtful for the SBPC. There is no comparison between the two and efforts to smear the work of the SBPC are beneath the council and without merit
The City of Redondo Beach should not be providing funds or public space to a non-profit organization that has sued the City and continues to raise funds for that purpose, and whose advisory and governing board members include the Mayor, his wife and his political allies. It wouldn’t be prudent. Nor would it be ethical to do so.
I’m grateful that last week, Councilmembers Emdee, Gran and Horvath listened to and read the concerns and support of residents to move forward with a community garden concept that represents the entire community and is not entangled in the controversial and exclusionary South Bay Parkland Conservancy. I hope the Community Garden Committee members can see their way clear of the SBPC and move forward, keeping the whole community in the garden.
It is quite troubling that, at the March 9 Council Meeting, the Mayor felt the need to silence the 43 residents who wanted to share their concerns and support via e-comments. He squelched those voices without consent from the Council. That seemed undemocratic.
You can’t get more hypocritical then Mayor Brand and Councilmembers Lowenstein and Nehrenheim. They have vehemently complained about and politicized the Chamber of Commerce, the Visitors Bureau and other legitimate non-profits whose members have given us so many worthwhile community projects and events, thousands and thousands of volunteer hours, and given back so much to our City. And those organizations, unlike their Conservancy, never dreamed of suing us.