Manhattan Beach Bruce's Beach Task Force Chair Addresses Letter

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — EDITOR'S NOTE: Steve Napolitano, a co-chair of the City of Manhattan Beach Bruce's Beach Task Force and current City Council member, has issued a response to the previously published letter from former Manhattan Beach Mayor and current MB resident Mitch Ward. His response is below, as follows:

In response to Mitch Ward's comments [see Former Manhattan Beach Mayor Calls Out City On Bruce's Beach], neither Hildy [Stern] nor myself saw the questions being asked [during the online live Zoom given by the Bruce's Beach Task Force], one of the task force members screened them. It was made clear at the beginning that the forum was focused on the history of Bruce's Beach and that the questions asked should be geared toward the presentation as this was the history subcommittee's presentation. They weren't making a presentation on the final recommendations or anything beyond the history.

The idea that the history was white-washed is hog-wash and a slap in the face of the hard work done by the history committee. Neither Hildy nor myself were involved in putting together the history or the presentation. The history subcommittee did a lot of good work in adding to the facts already known. It was also said at the beginning of the forum that if anyone listening to the forum had additional facts that weren't known, to please share them with the task force members. If Mitch has facts he can add to the history, I encourage him to do so. As for his accusation that I ignored, forgot or brushed aside a question about the transfer of land, where the Bruce lodge was located, from the City to the County, Mitch's presumptions are incorrect. To my knowledge, the City didn't own the land in 1995 and wasn't involved in the transfer between the State and the County, so it's a question I couldn't have answered. Who owned what, when? I don't know the whole answer to that. What I know is that the State of California owned the beach and beach related facilities and had a contract with the County for many years for the County to operate and maintain what were State resources. During the recession of the early '90s, the County was hit hard and wanted more money to run the beaches, including providing the lifeguards. The County asked the State and City for money, but none was forthcoming so the County walked away from the contract, requiring the State to mobilize and take over the operations and maintenance of the beaches throughout LA County. The State parks and rec department was ill equipped to do so, and after about a year, they deeded the beach and all beach facilities over to the County. Again, I don't recall any involvement by the City in that transfer, we were and still are, just recipients of County services at what are now County owned and operated beaches. This transfer was also mentioned by Kristin Long, so there was nothing for me to answer. The question that matters, and that I don't have an answer to either, is when the City handed over the property to the State and/or County after the condemnation. It wasn't 1995. I don't recall ever seeing that information and it's my understanding that Kristin Long is still researching that. As she said, she hasn't been able to access information at the County Hall of Records. I'm not sure how that's a cover-up. I also think the history subcommittee would appreciate it if Mitch would tell them specifically what facts he thinks they left out so they can address these issues rather than making vague accusations. They, the entire task force, and the City Council have all stated that we want to make sure that all the history is told. Thanks.

Steve Napolitano, Manhattan Beach City Council member and co-chair of the Bruce's Beach Task Force