----- Original Message -----
From: B Brand
To: Heart Park
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2005 9:50 AM
Subject: Heart Park Update

Hello Everyone,
 
Just 12 days till the March 8th election and we still have plenty to do with lots of different opportunities for you to help.
 
First, last Thursday's Roundtable was a big success!  We had about 80 residents fight the rain to hear the experts in coastal restorations talk about their past successes, and how our Heart Park vision is the future of their efforts.   We thank the State Coastal Conservancy, Sierra Club, Heal the Bay, Surfrider Foundation and Herondo Inc. for coming.  We have DVDs of the event compliments of Marrs Andersen Productions.  If you're interested in viewing it, please contact me at, 310-474-4001.
 
This Saturday, the 26th, the 'Slow Growth 4 Redondo' slate of Ellen Allan, Jim Light, Dave Wiggins and myself will be at the locations and times listed below. 
 
10:00am to 11:30am    Albertsons, King Harbor Ctr, 615 N. PCH                                                                         12:30pm to   2:00pm      Vons, 1212 Beryl Street                                                                                                      
2:30pm to 4:00pm        Albertsons, 2115 Artesia Blvd
 
Our park group will also be manning the Albertsons on Artesia in North Redondo from 9:00 - 4:00, so pick a time to help pass out flyers and tell all your fellow Redondo residents about Heart Park. 
 
This Sunday we will be finishing the distribution of our door hangers.  We've distributed most of what we have, but we have some areas in Districts 4 and 5 we still need help with.
Stop by 619 South Broadway between 9 and 11 a.m. this Sunday morning to pick-up materials and select an area. 
 
Next Friday afternoon, the 4th, is the Many Mom March!  Dozens of South Bay Moms are going to meet under the Redondo Beach sign at the corner of PCH and Herondo/Anita/190th and march around the power plant with their strollers waving signs and promoting Heart Park.  I'll have more details on this later, but set aside Friday afternoon starting at about 3 p.m. 
 
Group Photo
Next Saturday, the 5th, is the Redondo Sunset 50th Anniversary Celebration of little league baseball at Alta Vista Park.  We will have a booth and want to use this opportunity to get a group photo of everyone!  And I mean EVERYONE!  So definitely set aside noon on the 5th (a Saturday) to be in our photo.  Anyone who has taken time to follow our group and supports the Heart Park vision is welcome.  I'm arranging a professional photographer so please try your best to make it.  It won't take long.  This should be a lot of fun!
 
Below are a few letters recently published supporting our vision, and a description of the new $3 billion park bond that is in the works.  The timing for this is great!
 
That's all for now!
Bill Brand
310-374-4001
 
Remember to VOTE on March 8th:
Option A on Measure J - Heart Park
The "Slow Growth 4 Redondo" slate.
Ellen Allan for Mayor
Jim Light for City Council - District 1
Bill Brand for City Council - District 2
Dave Wiggins for City Attorney
 
Saturday, February 19, 2005

Friday Letters to the Editor

Support slow growth, open space

Heart Park supporters are working hard getting the word out to Redondo Beach citizens. They don't have any help from developers or real estate companies, as the Village Plan does.

Heart Park supporters have used money out of their own pockets for fliers, door hangers and ads in the paper to educate people about the feasibility of creating open-space parkland and restoring the thriving salt marsh once located on the AES site. These same people have taken time out of their busy schedules to stand in front of the market and give out door hangers to reach as many people as possible.

Reaching these people with the correct information is vital because the city-approved ballot language is so misleading that it must be clarified. It will not cost local taxpayers $345 million if we want open space. Projects like these have been done before with state coastal restoration funds and all at no cost to the local taxpayers. Just look at the Hearst Ranch, Ormond Beach and Bolsa Chica projects. Do a Google search.

I believe all of California can benefit. About 95 percent of California's coastal wetlands have diminished because of over-development. Coastal waters will improve by utilizing the wetlands to help dry-weather runoff treatment of the Horondo storm drain.

We would not be here today if Bill Brand did not take the initiative to do the research and connect with the right people to learn how doable this project is. He has been instrumental in getting this group together. In contrast, Chris Cagle lifted the Heart of the City moratorium so a developer could put 28 units per acre in my neighborhood. Cagle isn't working for the residents; he is working for the developers. What happened to him?

I hope Redondo Beach citizens realize that on March 8 their vote could change the landscape of our community forever, and I mean this literally. You can either vote for the pro-development candidates or the slow-growth candidates. Looking back, the people who voted in favor of the original Heart of the City were Mike Gin, Kurt Schmalz, Gerard Bisignano and Steve Aspel. Let's take our city back from the developers. Vote for "Slow Growth 4 Redondo" and "Heart Park" (Option A).

-- JILLAINE FORCE

Redondo Beach

Heart Park foe using scare tactics

Don't "B" fooled. In her letter to the editor on Monday, Janet Johnson makes ludicrous, unsubstantiated claims to scare residents from voting for Heart Park in Redondo Beach.

Johnson targets racist fears saying that the park would bring "millions" of "visitors." Let's look at facts. The only public park in Los Angeles that draws "millions" is Griffith Park. At more than 4,100 acres, Griffith Park is the largest U.S. city park and includes the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Observatory and an amusement park. It is also conveniently located near freeways.

Our little 65-acre park -- with athletic fields, wetlands and native landscaping, located 20 minutes from the nearest freeway -- will hardly attract millions. "Visitor" picnicking is easily controlled by limiting tables, minimizing groomed lawns and prohibiting barbecuing. If xenophobic Johnson doesn't like "visitors" coming to her town, she should move away from the beach.

Next she'll propose closing Torrance Boulevard, 190th Street and Pacific Coast Highway. They bring in the "visitors" too.

As I write, another state bond act raising $3 billion (by State Sen. Wesley Chesbro, D-Arcata) for projects like Heart Park is in the works. As taxpayers, we'll all contribute a little to this bond, so why shouldn't we enjoy our share?

What legacy would you like to leave for generations to come: A small park by PCH, choked by its own development and traffic, or a restored open area that enhances and embraces our waterfront and environment?

Vote for a real vision, vote Heart Park (Option A on Measure J) and vote for the leadership that can make it happen: Ellen Allan, Bill Brand, Jim Light and Dave Wiggins.

-- JIM VAUGHT

Redondo Beach

 

Chesbro Proposes $3B Bond for Improving California Parks
 $1 billion for Forest Protection, Open Space, Coastal Access and River Restorations  Saturday, February 12, 2005 Eureka Times-Standard

 

SACRAMENTO -- Concerned about the restoration of North Coast rivers and protection of California's coastline, Sen. Wesley Chesbro,  D-Arcata, Friday introduced a $3 billion act aimed at protecting a wide range of state and local park programs. Chesbro said the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2006 (SB 153) "will provide California an opportunity to finish the Coastal trail, continue our work restoring salmon and steelhead habitat, and protecting the North Coast." He added: "The economic strength of coastal California is tied to environmental protection. The dramatic landscapes and recreational fishing opportunities draw visitors from throughout the world helping to make tourism one of our top industries. We need to continue our  investments in California's natural assets." Included in the measure is more than $1 billion for forest protection, open space, coastal access and river restorations.
In addition, the bond also allocates $700 million for new state parks and maintenance at existing parks, over $1 billion for local cities and  counties for recreational programs, athletic fields and parks,$200 million for historic preservation, and a final $100 million for California senior center facilities. "It is time for the state to become a partner with local governments to assist preserving the state's historic treasures," Chesbro added. "Without our actions, thousands of treasures, public buildings and architectural gems will be lost to neglect." The new bond measure is a follow-up to Propositions 40 and 50,which Chesbro also authored. Those measures are beginning to run out of funding. Additional bonds will need to be approved by the voters if programs such as salmon restoration are to continue to be funded. Chesbro has organized a bipartisan coalition of state legislators who are supporting the Park Bond Act, including Assemblywoman Patty Berg of Eureka, Assemblywoman Noreen Evans of Santa Rosa and Assemblyman Joe Nation of San Rafael. SB 153 has to be in print for 30 days before it is heard by the Senate Natural Resources Committee.