[ HB Doesn't Need to Change Closing Time... ]

HB doesn’t need to change closing time

Although I don’t live in direct proximity to the club on Pier Avenue, I have strong feelings about a trouble-plagued venue getting yet another chance.

The problems rooted in the downtown part of the city end up affecting everyone in the city by concentrating our already overworked Police Department in this area.

You leave your house at night at your own risk from speeding taxis, whose drivers don’t seem to feel that stop signs and speed limits apply to them, as they try to squeeze in as many fares among clubs, liquor stores and all-night restaurants as they can.

If the midnight closing time will discourage actor-singer Steven Seagal from investing, perhaps that’s just a huge bonus because, despite the quote from his representative citing his involvement would bring “classy elegance” to the city, those are two words I’ve never seen used in conjunction with Seagal.

Does the city of Hermosa Beach really need to attract any more celebrities and all the negative baggage they drag along? Most of us who live here think not.

— SYLVIA SIMMONS

Hermosa Beach

Why are Wiseburn schools out of cash?

As a part of the media, the Daily Breeze has a responsibility to spread truth throughout the community in which it serves.

Two years ago, we here in the community that is served by the Wiseburn School District were told that there would be enough funds gained through municipal bonds to rebuild two area schools. With the construction of Dana Middle School starting last year and about half completed, we are now told that not only is there not enough money left to rebuild the two schools originally planned for, but the money has run out to complete Dana Middle School.

Last week, we were asked via a research company whether or not we would vote for an additional bond to finish construction. Where has all the money gone? You cannot tell me that construction costs have escalated so much that we are now out of money.

During the 2006 election, the Daily Breeze recommended that voters approve of the current Wiseburn school board. Now, I want to know what the Daily Breeze and the Wiseburn school board will tell the community.

— THOMAS HARTNELL

Hawthorne

Torrance educators, accept responsibility

I find Torrance Unified Superintendent George Mannon’s blaming of an “internal disconnect” for allowing a registered sex offender to volunteer in an Anza Elementary School classroom disingenuous at best and a patent dodge of district accountability and responsibility (“School let sex offender volunteer,” Sunday). That district officials also bemoaned bad legal advice as part of the problem was predictable and pathetic.

By the way, was it staff writer Shelly Leachman or her editor’s idea not to publish the name of the lawyer who furnished this “advice” to the district? I had hoped that Leachman’s article would have focused on the clear and obvious back story behind this whole episode: District employees and the superintendents, in their typical effort to avert a potential lawsuit over a child-custody court order that allowed a registered sex offender to volunteer in his own child’s classroom, purchased and received a legal opinion supporting their contention while totally defying State Education Code Section 35021 (a).

How an attorney, acting in good faith, could have advised the district that a Louisiana family law judge’s court order somehow preempts California state law and the rights of Anza students to a safe and secure classroom is both unfathomable and unconscionable. This case is not rocket science. Torrance parents should demand better from their district officials.

— CHRIS PARKER

Torrance

Focus on real hate-crime victims

I would like to commend Rosalee Foxwood for her words about the ridiculous article you ran about the poor hate-crime suspects (“Rally backs hate-crime suspects,” Sunday).

I too read the article that did not state once what the suspects did. It only made them out to be the victims. What about the real victims? What about their shattered lives? Maybe these children who committed this crime are victims — victims of their own upbringing.

I am raising two boys of my own to judge people by their character — not the color of their skin. Obviously, skin color was the motivator of this crime. Why can nobody admit this?

— MIKE CORCORAN

San Pedro

Ponte Vista fans must be aware of facts

I was present at the public forum on the proposed 2,300 condominiums on Western Avenue. The story in the Daily Breeze (“Ponte Vista forum finds defenders,” Saturday) reported that the majority attending were for the project. As reported, the developer bought dinner at the Crowne Plaza for scores of his supporters. Many of these people spoke and a good many of them stated they were San Pedro residents, but many were not. The theme of these supporters was that San Pedro needed this affordable housing.

I had the distinct opinion that many of them, including the carpenters’ union that felt assured of the contract, felt like they were going to get a deal. They appeared duped into believing that Bob Bisno is benevolent. It almost appeared that they were supporters in hopes of “getting something for nothing.”

People, there is no such thing as a free lunch! Nowhere, in anything that I have read, has there been much said about “affordable” housing. This will be market rate. The senior housing will also be market rate; it just happens to be designated “age- restricted.”

Bisno is here to make money, nothing else. He stands to make millions of dollars with 2,300 homes; however, he will also make millions with single-family homes. Traffic cannot be mitigated to the extent that is claimed.

Do not become complacent. Sign the R-1 petition that is circulating, write to Councilwoman Janice Hahn and show up at these meetings.

— ROB THORSEN

San Pedro

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