REDONDO BEACH — Recent discussions surrounding political appointments in Redondo Beach could serve as a microcosm as to why voters and everyday citizens distrust politicians and are frustrated with the government’s machinations.
Redondo Beach’s City Council members spent nearly 75 minutes arguing back-and-forth over Mayor Bill Brand’s commission appointments. The tug-of-war ended in an impasse several hours after the council’s Sept. 5 meeting was called to order, meaning several commissions will have vacancies until the City Council can come to terms on appointments.
The city’s Harbor Commission is one of the boards left with an open seat as a result of the impasse.
At the heart of the stalemate: Brand claimed his appointments would bring more balance to the city’s most sought-after commissions, such as Budget, Harbor and Planning.
“I’m not going to appoint anybody to Planning or Harbor that opposed Measure C and pushed the CenterCal mall, absolutely not,” Brand told his colleagues. “I’m doing exactly what I said I’d do and create some balance on these commissions.”
One of Brand’s suggested moves was to transfer a commissioner off the Harbor Commission to another advisory board in order to make room for two new nominees – a proposal met with fervent opposition by at...
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2 Responses
Jim Light is a Sea Shepherd supporter. He has no business on any harbor commission while he openly supports a fringe group that seeks to do harm to other vessels through their acts of piracy.
I do support Sea Shepherd. I do not believe anyone should be allowed to kill or hold cetaceans in captivity. I believe in conservation and preservation of ocean resources. I also support Heal the Bay and Surfrider Foundation and many other ecological groups.
What does that have to do with the Harbor Commission? Sea Shepherd is not under the purview of the Harbor Commission and there is nothing the Harbor Commission would consider that would relate to Sea Shepherd.