Author: Brad Waller

Neighbors, This Tuesday night will be one to watch. The City Council’s first meeting of May lands a heavy agenda: a public hearing on the Housing Element, proposed changes to the Crossing Guard Program, the Athens franchise agreement heading toward its May 19 rate hearing, an update to the City’s Strategic Plan, and a Public…

Neighbors, The week was long, the wins were real, and most of them happened because people in this city kept showing up. An early morning trip to Sacramento ended in a 9-0 housing committee vote. Tuesday night brought an $11 million decision on Seaside Lagoon. North Redondo’s first weekly farmers market opened on Wednesday. And…

Neighbors, Four days of Springfest, a harbor cleanup, Earth Day at Hopkins Wilderness Park, a council vote Riviera Village has been waiting years for, and a brand new farmers market set to debut Wednesday in North Redondo. This was one of those weeks where a lot of neighbors showed up for a lot of different…

Neighbors, Anyone who has tried to push a stroller, roll a wheelchair, or walk three kids across Catalina Avenue in Riviera Village knows the truth: those streets and sidewalks were not designed for the life that happens there now. Narrow crossings, tight corners, and parking pressure that never lets up. This is something I campaigned…

Neighbors, Last week’s Strategic Planning session gave the city a sharper roadmap for the year ahead: five focus areas, clearer direction on traffic enforcement, a harder look at AI tools for city services, and a real commitment to preserving the historic properties that give Redondo Beach its character. That document is not just a planning…

Neighbors, Two meetings in two days, both about the same question: what does the South Bay need to be ready for what is coming? On Thursday, I sat in a room full of regional leaders at the SBCCOG General Assembly talking about how the World Cup, the Super Bowl, and the 2028 Olympics will reshape…

Neighbors, When dozens of students show up to a Council meeting and ask for a crossing guard at Ford and Aviation, and the city listens, that is local government working the way it should. It was one of several meaningful moments from a week that included a restored pond at Wilderness Park, new pickleball courts…

Neighbors, The Olympics are two years away, but the window for local businesses to get certified and positioned is open right now. That was the message at a North Redondo Beach Business Association meeting Thursday morning with LA County’s Department of Economic Opportunity. Getting into the room early, before the contracts are already spoken for,…

Neighbors, What a week in Redondo Beach. Sunday’s Public Safety Open House brought families out to the Civic Center for K9 demonstrations, CPR training with the Red Cross, SWAT and rescue displays, and hands-on fire safety instruction. The day before, 60 volunteers hit the Esplanade with Keep the Esplanade Beautiful, pulling 23+ pounds of debris…

Neighbors, Last Tuesday, I joined Redondo Beach Police and Fire to honor a World War II veteran on his 100th birthday. He told us he’d already walked two miles that morning. When a centenarian credits exercise for his longevity, the rest of us should probably take notes. Moments like that — standing alongside the people…

Neighbors, Five topics were discussed at the Independent Cities Association seminar I attended this weekend: coastal regulation, cybersecurity, city revenue, short-term rentals, and the tension between state mandates and local control. Every one of them is directly relevant to Redondo Beach, and I want to walk you through the takeaways while they’re fresh. But first,…