Blog: For a better Redondo Beach, Vote Jim Light for District 1 City Council

On Tuesday, your vote is critical to the future of Redondo Beach.  Our town is at a crossroad where the decisions of the next few years will determine if we become a cookie-cutter overdeveloped wannabe or the Crown Jewel of the South Bay.  Your vote will determine the path we take.

If you compare me and my opponent side-by-side, the best choice becomes obvious.  My platform, qualifications, experience, track record and independence make me the best choice to represent our great district.  

Platform

I have a vision to preserve our seaside village appeal while revitalizing out town to be the crown jewel of the South Bay.  My platform manifests this vision.

• Resident Quality of Life
  • Public safety - restore first responder staffing
  • Preserve and enhance seaside village appeal
  • Meaningful resident participation in development decisions
• Quality development not cookie-cutter overdevelopment
  • Balance resident quality of life with developer profits
  • Redo outdated high density condo zoning disguised as “mixed use”
• Restore healthy city revenues
  • Attract foundational businesses that bring daytime business traffic to other businesses in Redondo
  • Cut the consultants
  • Fight sequestration and LA AFB closure

Track Record

My platform is more than words.  It is backed by a proven track record that goes back more than a decade.  Here is a partial list of my track record:

2002 - a leader in the fight against the 3000 condos in Heart of the City zoning

2005 - stopped conversion of Torrance Blvd. zoning to hundreds of condos

2008 - Authored Measure DD - the charter change that now gives residents the right to vote on major upzoning

2009 - Participated in Mayor’s Citizens’ Growth and Traffic Management Committee - established traffic thresholds from new development, corrected flaws in City traffic analyses

2010 - Put name on resident-funded lawsuit against city when City Council illegally violated City Charter in a failed attempt to circumvent vote of the people - after frivolous city four judges find for the residents

My opponent's track record demonstrate his affiliations with the Chamber of Commerce and the insiders at City Hall.  

My track record of taking on City Hall has resulted in continued personal attacks by the City Hall good ol' boy club and their paid, named, and fake-name surrogates as anyone reading Patch or Facebook will see.  But I have always committed to do what is right versus what is easy.  My track record shows resident quality of the life and our quaint seaside village appeal are my top priority.  

Education and Training

My engineering and Masters in Business Administration combined with my engineering and business executive experience will serve me well in evaluating the many decisions that come before the City Council.  My Air Force training and experience in managing large government contracts and budgets are directly applicable to day-to-day city management.  My experience growing a local aerospace company from start-up to over 460 people demonstrate my ability to develop a vision and then execute the strategy to bring it to reality. 

Conflict of Interest

My opponent owns and manages property across all of Redondo.  His family owns even more.   California law requires him to recuse himself from City Council decisions that would affect zoning, permits, appeals and other actions that might affect his personal and business interests.  For example, my opponent cannot vote on zoning and permitting in most of Riviera Village or the power plant property.  

I do not have these conflicts of interest as my business is in the aerospace industry and is not located in Redondo.  

To make matters worse, my opponent has taken campaign contributions from businesses that will be affected by upcoming Council decisions:

Auto Spa - the council will be deciding a resident appeal fighting a new car wash on Torrance Blvd.

Decron Properties - the council will be making development decisions that will affect Decron’s leasehold in the harbor.

Athens Company - the council will decide whether to continue Athens contract with the City to pick up garbage.

Residents deserve unbiased representation on major zoning, development, and permitting decisions.  My opponent’s business and property holdings will prevent him from voting on many of these decisions that will impact the character of our city.  And can we trust that the donations from the companies above won’t taint his decision making on their interests?

My only bias is for residents and our quality of life.  

The choice is clear

If you compare me to my opponent - platform, track record, education, training, experience and conflicts of interest, the best choice is clear.

I am independent of the City Hall good ’ol boy cronyism, and have no conflict of interest.  I have worked for over 11 years for the residents of Redondo and our quality of life. I am supported by both former District 1 candidates, Kim Fine and Dianne Prado; former commissioners and school board members, local business owners, and hundreds of residents.   

I would be honored to earn your vote as well.  You have my pledge that, if elected as your councilman, I will make every decision based on the best interest of our quality of life.

Your vote is important.  Please vote this Tuesday May 14th.  

District 1's polling place is:

ALTA VISTA COMMUNITY CENTER

715 Julia Avenue

Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

Jim Light

Candidate District 1 City Council

jl4council@gmail.com     310-989-3332