Hermosa Beach - About Town

Carjack Attempt

Police made an arrest after a man allegedly cut two people with a knife or razor during a failed carjacking on Monday.

The incident began when house painters working on Ingleside Drive left their keys in their van, and then one of the painters’ found a man sitting in the driver’s seat with the engine running at about 10 a.m., police said. 

The man told the painter “I have a big truck coming through and you need to move your van.”

The man slid over, and the painter hopped in behind the wheel and drove about 10 feet.  Then the man pulled out a metal knife or razor and held it to the painter’s throat saying, “Keep driving or I will kill you,” a police report stated. 

The painter hopped back out and another painter suffered a cut on his arm as he struggled with the man. 

The man then tried to cut the first painter’s throat, injuring him on his arms and one hand, a police report stated.

The man fled, and was found and arrested by Hermosa police officers.

Looking ahead

The City Council has agreed to study a proposal by Councilman Michael Keegan for a “specific plan” to more tightly manage future development downtown.

Some officials anticipate possible new development in the area with the death of Peter Mangurian, owner of downtown properties including Scotty’s restaurant on The Strand.  In addition, developers have show interest in downtown properties including the Sea Sprite motel owned by the Greenwald family.

Keegan said the plan would cover an area bound roughly by The Strand on the west, 10^th Place on the south, Hermosa Avenue on the east and 14^th Street on the north.

A specific plan would give city officials great leeway in deciding what sort of business could occupy the area, how much open space or parking would be required, or even what sort of building materials could be used.

The shaft

The City Council has rejected a $513,000.25 claim for damages from a Los Angeles man who said he fell about six feet down an open elevator shaft in Hermosa’s municipal parking garage on the afternoon of Oct. 14, 2006.

Such claims are sometimes followed by lawsuits.  The man wants $13,000.25 for medical expenses and $500,000 to cover other damages such as lost earnings.

Airport banners

City officials plan to revisit a proposal to stop airplanes towing advertising banners above Hermosa.  The City Council has shelved the proposal to await the outcome of court challenges in Honolulu and Huntington Beach, and officials said rulings in those cases apparently clear the way for the banner ban.

City Manager Steve Burrell told the council he has asked officials of neighboring cities to join in banning the banners.  ER

Hermosa Beach - About Town

No spa drinking - The city’s Planning Commission on Tuesday turned thumbs down on beer and wine service inside the Glen Ivy Health Spa at the Hermosa Pavilion mall on Pacific Coast Highway. Glen Ivy was expected to appeal the decision to the City Council.

Glen Ivy representatives said they want patrons to be allowed to sip wine in the lounge rooms of the pamper place, which doles out massages, pedicures and the like. Planning commissioners said Glen Ivy’s plan would set a precedent that could expand alcohol service to other businesses. Hermosa currently allows alcohol service in restaurants, bars and a wine store inside the Pavilion.

Building green - The commission approved a plan by Community Development Director Sol Blumenfeld requiring some “green design” features in new developments, with the exception of one-unit developments such as single-family homes.

Developers will be required to include at least one item from a “menu” of energy-saving features including post-consumer recycled insulation, a “cool roof” radiant heat barrier, solar panels, fluorescent lighting in place of incandescent lighting, or a programmable thermostat which costs as little as $100.

Great pumpkin! - The seasonal pumpkin patch and Christmas tree lot on PCH and 21st Street will give way to a 21-unit condo office building with 34 parking spaces, following approval by the Planning Commission.

The developers, a local partnership based in El Segundo, were directed to further study the design of the building’s driveway and garage after a handful of residents cautioned that traffic flow at the intersection already is clogged and should be carefully considered.

BMW site - The commission also approved a 16-unit condo-style office building with 39 parking spaces on land vacated by the old BMW dealership on PCH at 30th Street, in the northernmost stretch of town.

Commissioner Langley Kersenboom said the building’s multi-level, Mediterranean design, with natural stone and arched colonnades, will make it an attractive feature at the northern entry into Hermosa.

Eateries hit - Someone broke into The Spot vegetarian restaurant and Le Petite Café at Hermosa Avenue and Second Street on Sunday, taking cash and ransacking the Spot.

Peering into Pier - City officials urge residents and businesspeople to share their visions for upper Pier Avenue at a community workshop, 10 a.m. Saturday in the City Hall council chambers, 1315 Valley Drive. A city committee is studying possible long-range plans for the avenue. For info call 310-318-0211. ER

Hermosa Beach

Hermosa is told to reinstate officer fired in gun dispute

by Robb Fulcher

The Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission has unanimously ruled that the Hermosa Beach Police Department wrongly fired Officer Todd Lewitt, and must reinstate him with back pay. The ruling upholds an earlier decision in Lewitt’s favor by a commission hearing officer.

City officials said they were awaiting written notice of the ruling last Wednesday before determining whether to challenge it in Superior Court. Lewitt’s attorney, Corey Glave, said the city’s chance of a successful challenge would be “slim at best.”

The Civil Service Commission ruled that Lewitt’s firing was based on a false accusation that he tried to sneak a loaded handgun past an airport metal detector. Lewitt has said he believes police officials wanted to fire him as retribution for criticisms he has leveled against the department.

Lewitt was fired after he was accused of sneaking a handgun past security at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana on Aug. 14, 2005.

In testimony before the commission’s hearing officer in Hermosa, Lewitt’s accuser, airport security screener Brett Kimball, acknowledged that some time after the incident he resigned from the federal Transportation Security Agency, while superiors were considering disciplining him for allegedly lying about his use of sick leave and for allegedly committing an off-duty assault.

In interviews Lewitt -- a 10-year law enforcement veteran with eight years on the Hermosa force -- said he had gone to the airport while off duty to pick up two young nephews who had flown in unescorted. He said he sought an “escort pass” to meet the boys in a secured area, instead of making them find their way through the airport to him.

Lewitt said he told an Alaska Airlines employee that he was a police officer and was carrying his personal handgun. He said he was sent to a TSA employee to whom he repeated that statement, and was told to walk through a metal detector where a screener then stopped him for the handgun.

In short, Lewitt said he simply followed the instructions he had been given. ER

Hermosa Beach

Nightspots move to police themselves

by Robb Fulcher

Owners of popular downtown nightspots are getting together to “police” themselves and cut down on excessive noise and rowdiness, in hopes of preventing stricter regulation by the city.

“What we’re doing is coming together to put down some ground rules we will follow,” said Fred Hahn, owner of Patrick Molloy’s on the Pier Plaza, a member of the Hermosa Beach Restaurant Association, made up of 15 to 20 mostly downtown restaurant owners.

Hahn said city officials’ concerns are reasonable. He said he would be concerned himself if he lived in a nearby Strand home and was subjected to loud noise at 2 a.m.

“We all understand that,” he said. “We are trying to curb it.”

The City Council last month began considering the new level of regulation, in the form of an entertainment permit each restaurant or bar would have to apply for. The permits would spell out what, if any, live entertainment an establishment would be allowed to offer, and list the allowable hours for entertainment as well.

Hermosa Police Chief Greg Savelli planned to begin informal meetings with owners of downtown nightspots this week. He said on Monday that he welcomes the self-policing effort by the owners.

“Our idea is to make it a safe environment, and if they can do that without us stepping in, that would be the best thing,” he said.

Amen, said Hahn.

“We hope they will say ‘Okay, that’s good enough, you police yourselves,’” Hahn said.

A Police Department report listed 507 responses by officers in the downtown in 2006, including 354 reported as disturbances, 42 as loud music, 41 as medical aids, 28 as batteries, 21 as theft, one as rape, one as kidnapping and one as assault.

City Council members had asked for the report in hopes of linking specific disturbances to specific businesses, but Savelli told them there was not enough information to do so. For instance, he said, an incident reported outside a nightspot might involve people who had come from other nightspots, not the one listed in police reports under the location of the incident.

Entertainment is currently governed by the establishments’ conditional use permits, which are more difficult for the city to modify or revoke. Redondo Beach maintains an entertainment permit system, and Hermosa officials said that system helped the neighboring city crack down on the former Club Moxie near the Redondo pier.

Following frequent disturbances, including a fight involving what police said were 50 to 100 patrons, and another fight that required the attention of 30 police officers, police issued an emergency suspension of the club’s entertainment. The council then voted 5-0 to revoke the club’s entertainment permit. Moxie closed soon after.

By contrast, Hermosa officials said, the process for dealing with alleged problems at Hermosa’s 705, on upper Pier Avenue, has been more time-consuming.

Last month the Hermosa Beach Planning Commission moved to impose a midnight closing time upon 705. The establishment has appealed the decision to the City Council.

Last month, the City Council heard from opponents of the proposed entertainment permit system, who said it could threaten businesses that cause no trouble, deny a business the right to appeal the city’s decision to a court, and give city officials too much power.

Mike Lacey, owner of the 28-year-old Comedy & Magic Club, said establishments would find it difficult to get bank loans because their future operations would be perpetually in doubt, and went so far as to say he would refuse to sign such a permit.

Steve Roberts, owner of Café Boogaloo, made similar comments and Jim Lissner, a City Hall watcher and frequent critic of Hermosa nightlife, criticized the permit idea as well. ER

Hermosa Beach

About Town

Raise for manager - The City Council has approved a three-year contract raising the salary of City Manager Steve Burrell to $200,000 for the final year. Burrell, who has served as city manager for 14 years, will see his current $170,000 salary raised $10,000 each of the three years.  Previously the council has renewed Burrell’s contract on a yearly basis. The move to a three-year pact was made for Burrell and other city employees to make the process less time consuming, officials said.

Happy birthday - Los Angeles Laker Kwame Brown gave four Laker tickets and dinner to a man who had accused the basketball player of swiping a birthday cake and flinging it at someone in a late-night incident on Hermosa Avenue.  Along with the tickets, Brown took the man and his guests to dinner at the Arena Club, which is within the Staples Center where the Lakers play, a team spokesman said. The man had reported his cake-related allegation to Hermosa police, and prosecutors declined to bake up any charges against Brown.

Trail ordered - A Redondo man was ordered to stand trial in connection with an October accident in which a pickup truck smashed through the wall of a home on Beach Drive, breaking the leg of a 5-year-old boy who had been asleep in his bed. The driver then sped away.  A Superior Court judge last week ordered Ruben Vargas, 43, to stand trial on a felony charge of leaving a traffic accident. An arraignment was scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 1, and Vargas remained free after posting $80,000 bail.

Avenue study - The Hermosa Beach City Council is seeking five additional members to join a committee to study possible improvements to upper Pier Avenue.  The committee currently consists of Councilmen Pete Tucker and Kit Bobko, Public Works Commissioners Dan Marinelli and Janice Brittain, and Planning Commissioners Ron Pizer and Peter Hoffman.

Interested residents, business operators and property owners are urged to contact the city clerk’s office at 1315 Valley Dr., or 310-318-0204, for applications and information. The deadline for applications is 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12; postmarks not accepted.

Parking permits - Once again city officials are urging Hermosans to renew their residential parking permits by mail to avoid standing in line. The 2007-08 permit renewal forms were mailed to residents Jan. 18. Over-the-counter sales begin Feb. 5.  The cost of the permit is $37 and may be purchased at City Hall, 1315 Valley Drive, Room 101, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. A “grace period” is in effect until March 20, when enforcement begins at 8 a.m. For information call 310-318-0217 or 310-318-0251.

All you need - Saturday, Feb. 3, is the new date for the Fifth Annual South Bay Family Beatlefest starring The John Brown Band and The Couchois Brothers Band, 4 to 9 p.m. at Suzy’s Restaurant in Hermosa Beach. All ages are welcome. Musicians of both popular bands will come together to perform a wide variety of Beatles music commemorating the release of the legendary band’s “Love” CD, a mash-up album featuring music compiled and remixed as a soundtrack for the Cirque du Soleil’s current show playing in Las Vegas. 

Admission to the Beatlefest is $5 at the door, children 13 and under free. The restaurant menu will be available all day. Adults 21 and over are invited to stay for a Super Bowl Weekend Dance Party 9:30 p.m. to midnight. Members of both bands will perform dance, rock and soul classics, including more Beatles.  Part of the proceeds will benefit Fantasia Family Music, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality music education to families. Suzy’s is located at 1141 Aviation Blvd. ER

Hermosa Beach

New restrictions approved for Club 705

by Robb Fulcher

The city Planning Commission has moved to place restrictions such as a midnight closing time upon 705, formerly Saffire, a large restaurant on upper Pier Avenue across from the city skate park. The establishment has prompted police reports of excessive noise and fights, mostly before the current owner took over.

“This puts us out of business,” a visibly upset 705 owner Tim Moore said following the commission’s decision Tuesday night. “They have just fired 27 employees. This is so wrong.”

The commission voted 5-0 to move the latest legal closing time from 2 a.m. to midnight, ban “outside promoters” for entertainment events, and require the establishment to submit a detailed security plan for its portion of the large parking structure in the rear.

The commission also banned all live entertainment at 705 until it can be determined whether the restaurant has submitted a study of noise levels it produces. City officials said they had no such study on file, though 705 said it had submitted a study, and would submit it again.

More importantly, the restaurant plans to appeal the commission’s decision to the City Council for a final decision.

Hermosa attorney Albro Lundy, who represented 705 before the commission, said an eatery occupying such a large building could not survive without entertainment to bolster the revenue from food.

“It’s going to be a vacant building,” he said.

Nightspots have become sore spots for some Hermosa residents, who complain that establishments sometimes start out as upscale restaurants and then, faced with failing bottom lines, turn into nightclubs, focusing on entertainment and drinks instead of food.

The new owners of 705 have stressed that they plan an upscale sushi restaurant, and Lundy told the Planning Commission that he initially refused to represent 705 because of his concern over rowdy Hermosa nightspots.

A letter from Lundy to the commission stated that Moore and his partners in Maximoore Inc. took steps such as trebling the number of security guards after they began operating 705 in the summer, and complaints against the establishment dwindled.

At the commission meeting, six people asked for the restrictions on 705, and six others asked commissioners to let the establishment be. In addition, 18 other people stood in the audience to be counted as supporters of 705, at the request of one of the speakers.

The commissioners expressed various concerns about the future of 705, some saying that it could morph from a restaurant into a club, if not at the hands of the current owners, at the hands of a future owner. The commission placed the restrictions in 705’s conditional use permit, which would be passed to a future owner if the current owners sell the establishment. ER

Hermosa Beach

About Town

Laker takes cake?

The city prosecutor has declined to file charges after a man accused Los Angeles Laker Kwame Brown of swiping his birthday cake and flinging it at someone in a late-night incident on Hermosa Avenue.

The man had been celebrating his 30th birthday at the Shore restaurant and lounge on Friday, and walked out onto the avenue carrying his single-layer chocolate cake, according to a police report. The birthday boy saw Laker Ronny Turiaf and asked him to pose for a photo with him, and Turiaf did so.

Moments later, the man told police, Brown took the cake from his hands and gave it a toss, then left in a limousine.

The man reported that he saw Laker Lamar Odom emerge from Pedone’s Pizzeria and confronted him about the cake. The man complained that a person, possibly the bodyguard of a Laker, pushed him, but did not injure him. The man reported that Odom told the alleged pusher, “Calm down, he didn’t do anything.”

The man reported the value of the two-foot-square cake at $190. A spokesman for the Lakers was not immediately available.

Injuries follow dispute

At least one broken bone was suffered when four passengers emerging from a “party bus” were struck by a vehicle following a verbal dispute, police said.

According to a preliminary investigation, the incident began early Saturday morning when riders in a double-decker bus heading to downtown Hermosa got in a dispute with four people in a black Jeep Cherokee.

The bus parked in the area of Beach Drive and 11^th Street to unload its passengers about 12:30 a.m.  The Cherokee drove by, and it occupants “flipped off” bus passengers, police said.

The Cherokee was driven away only to return, striking four people who exited the bus, police said.  Paramedics treated the injured people at the scene, and according to preliminary police reports, at least one person suffered a broken leg.  The Cherokee later was discovered parked on Valley Drive and the investigation is continuing.

Sand sponsors, Strand sponsors

The nonprofit Project Touch, a Hermosa Centennial participant, is putting out a call to local businesses for sponsorship of the 55th Annual Sand and Strand Run/Walk. Proceeds from the event benefit the youth and family programs of Project Touch.

The Sand and Strand, described as the second oldest such race in the LA area, is run 45 percent on the Strand and 55 percent on the beach sand. Last year more than 400 people took part, ages 4 to 80-plus. Also included is the popular Munchkin race for ages 10 and under. For information call (310) 379-5206 or see ptouch@earthlink.net. ER

Hermosa Beach

More condo offices planned, firefighters’ staffing studied

by Robb Fulcher

A city committee was scheduled to get a first look at another proposed office building in town, this one on the 900 block of Hermosa Avenue where Ocean View Cleaners now stands.

The city’s Staff Environmental Review Committee this week was scheduled to review a proposal for 21 condo-style offices in a 9,500 square-foot building, with basement-level parking below.

Other projects in various stages of development include 33 condo-style offices, a snack shop and an upscale restaurant on 19,000 square feet where Classic Burger and Hermosa Beach Donuts now stand, 53 condo-offices on Pier Avenue to replace the old “200 Building," and a 16-unit development at Second Street and Pacific Coast Highway.

In other matters, the City Council on Tuesday agreed to hire a consultant to study fire department staffing issues, which have been the subject of contention between Chief Russell Tingley and rank and file firefighters. Paul Hawkins, president of the Hermosa Beach Firefighters Association, told the council he feared that the study might be stacked against the view that more firefighters should be hired. The council responded by calling for input from the association in setting the parameters for the study, in an attempt to ensure the result would not be biased.

The council also agreed to buy a $10,000 system the city can use to call homes and businesses and even cell phones with prerecorded phone messages in the case of emergencies. Officials will be able to make 60,000 calls per hour, and can target fewer phones to alert sections of town about matters such as planned street closures.

And the council agreed to form an Emergency Preparedness Commission, and to arrange for the nonprofit Noah’s Wish animal rescue organization to feed and care for lost, abandoned and injured Hermosa animals in the event of a disaster. ER

Hermosa Beach

Ruling: HBPD wrongly fired officer

Cleared in handgun incident

by Robb Fulcher

A hearing officer has determined that the Hermosa Beach Police Department wrongly fired Officer Todd Lewitt, and determined that Lewitt had been falsely accused of trying to sneak a loaded handgun past an airport metal detector, the officer’s attorney said.

The hearing officer for the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission ordered Lewitt reinstated, and ruled out any disciplinary action by the department against him, said Lewitt’s attorney, Corey Glave.

“Todd looks forward to returning to the police department and continuing to be a productive member of the department,” Glave said. “It’s unfortunate the department chose to go this route, and we hope they will do the right thing and reinstate Todd right away.”

HBPD Chief Greg Savelli was awaiting a faxed copy of the written ruling Wednesday morning, but he had been told that the hearing officer’s decision favored Lewitt.

“There is a recommendation from the hearing officer that does not support termination,” Savelli said.

The hearing officer’s decision likely does not put the matter to rest. It will be presented to the full Civil Service Commission board for adoption or rejection, and city officials can argue their case a second time. Then, in many cases, a final decision by the board can be appealed to Superior Court.

Airport accusation

Lewitt was fired after he was accused of sneaking a handgun past security at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana on Aug. 14, 2005.

In testimony before the hearing officer, airport security screener Brett Kimball, Lewitt’s accuser, acknowledged that he resigned from the federal Transportation Security Agency while superiors were considering disciplining him for allegedly lying about his use of sick leave, and for allegedly committing an off-duty assault.

In interviews, Lewitt -- a 10-year law enforcement veteran with eight years on the Hermosa force -- said he had gone to the airport while off duty to pick up two young nephews who had flown in unescorted. He said he sought an “escort pass” to meet the boys in a secured area, instead of making them find their way through the airport to him. Lewitt said he told an Alaska Airlines employee that he was a police officer and was carrying his personal handgun. He said he was sent to a TSA employee to whom he repeated that statement, and was told to walk through a metal detector where a screener then stopped him for the handgun.

In short, Lewitt said he simply followed the instructions he had been given.

Glave said the hearing officer found Lewitt’s account credible, and found that the security screener had reason to lie, either to receive a bonus for catching an undeclared gun, or to cover his mistake of sending the gun past a security station.

A Nov. 7, 2005, termination letter from then-Police Chief Michael Lavin accused Lewitt of bringing a concealed, fully loaded Kimber Ultra TGN II handgun into the airport and then claiming he had a metal hip to try to get the gun past a security screener in violation of federal law.

Lavin also accused Lewitt of lying to police superiors about the incident during an internal investigation. Glave said the civil service hearing officer cleared Lewitt of that accusation as well.

Lewitt has said he believes police officials wanted to fire him as retribution for criticisms he has leveled against the department. He is one of three officers who filed a lawsuit contending the HBPD illegally revisited an internal investigation that had cleared officers of wrongdoing during a misdemeanor arrest. ER

Letters to the Editor 

Mochas or Mercedes?

Dear ER:

The restriping of Pier Avenue to four lanes was approved on Oct. 10, 2006, at the Hermosa Beach City Council meeting. Councilmen J.R. Revicky and Sam Edgerton now appear to be employing a stalling tactic to extend the time to reinstall the four lanes with high hopes of maintaining the two lane striping configuration. Why are these two councilmen defying the overwhelming majority of the Hermosa Beach citizens? Do they have an agenda to keep the said two lanes with hopes of wider sidewalks providing more tables for enlarged cafes?

Sidewalks are for pedestrians use. Don’t they recall at the Hermosa Beach Public Works Commission meeting on Sept. 20, 2006, 25 Hermosa Beach residents spoke, 23 citizens were against the two lane configuration and only 2 were in favor of the new configuration? We do not need an extension of the lower Pier promenade to an upper Pier Avenue with more serious problems. The Hermosa Beach police and fire departments prefer the clean four lanes, more expedient emergency calls with faster results. The will of the Hermosa Beach residents has spoken. Put back the four lanes on Pier Avenue NOW! This is nothing more that a political maneuver for who’s benefit?

Roger Bacon

Hermosa Beach

Eyes on the $$$

Dear ER:

In November 2002, the voters of Hermosa Beach approved Bond Measure J which authorized the Hermosa Beach City School District to issue $13.6 million in general revenue bonds and to qualify for another $2 million in state funds for its school and classroom improvements and new construction.

As required by state law, the district appointed an independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee (COC) to assure the funds are used for bond-approved items and not for teacher salaries, administrative costs, or operating expenses. Also, litigation expenses cannot be paid from bond funds.

The Citizens’ Oversight Committee consists of Sam Abrams, chair, a senior citizen; Gary Wayland, vice chair, a business organization representative; Lisa Arnett of the School Facilities Advisory Committee; Jim Caldwell, a taxpayer organization representative; Jim Hausle, a parent; Kelly Kinnon, member at large, and Cindy Smet of the PTO.

The COC issued its third annual report in November, stating that the district was fully compliant with the requirements of California law – none of the bond funds had been used for prohibited purposes. The latest independent auditors’ report (as of June 30, 2005) indicates that the district continues to be compliant.

The district, school board and staff have been very cooperative with the COC, sharing all construction planning data, all projected cost data and all payment information. The district has also been very helpful in providing administrative support to the COC.

The COC is concerned about the cost growth for the new construction and the scope reduction to help accommodate the increased costs.

The current estimated cost-at-completion of $19.1 million indicates a possible shortfall of approximately $3.5 million (a cost reduction of $500,000 was realized by removing two classrooms from the new construction contracts). Causes of the increased costs include delays, redesigns, rapidly rising construction costs, and an increase of approximately $1.7 million in the new construction re-bids that occurred while litigation by neighbors was pending.

To close the funds gap, the district plans to use state joint-use (gym) funds ($1.5 million), bond sale premium ($900,000), earned interest ($500,000), special reserve funds, and other revenue sources, as well as additional cost mitigation measures. The district has the resources to complete the work.

The Citizens’ Oversight Committee’s next meeting will be 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, in the multipurpose room at Hermosa Valley School. The public is invited to attend.

Sam Abrams, Chair

Bond Measure J Citizens’ Oversight Committee

Hermosa Beach

Stealing from kids

Dear ER:

Enough is enough! It is time to stop draining money from much needed programs in our Hermosa Beach schools to pay for legal defense. I am writing to implore the supporters of the CRSE lawsuit to stop this constant legal action against our school system and to allow our tax dollars to be used for education in our community. Five times the anonymous CRSE supporters have been before the California courts to sue the district, to appeal lawsuits, or to request stop-work injunctions. All five times the courts have ruled in favor of the district. The money to pay for this legal defense comes directly out of the general fund of our budget-strapped school district. This general fund money should be financing vital programs like teacher salaries, music programs and class-size reduction.

A majority of Hermosans voted for the school construction and it is time to go with the majority opinion. The CRSE folks have exercised their legal rights to dissent several times. Now, let's allow democracy to work and go forward with the majority's wishes. Let's start working together to maintain and improve our wonderful school system. The construction is underway after a long democratic and public process. Because of CRSE delays, my children will not have the opportunity to use the gymnasium, the new library and media center, or the two new science classrooms, but thousands of future Hermosa students will enjoy these new school facilities.

I hope the people of Hermosa will not be fooled by the ongoing misinformation campaign and that the CRSE will drop their Supreme Court appeal -- which is doomed to defeat. The CRSE is continuing to cost our children money that would be much better spent on education.

Teena Moody

Hermosa Beach