Statement From Manhattan Beach Bruce's Beach Task Force Member

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — A member of the Manhattan Beach Bruce's Beach Task Force has released a statement regarding the task force. Allison Hales, a Manhattan Beach resident who was the first resident selected by the Manhattan Beach City Council to serve on the task force, gave Manhattan Beach Patch permission to publish her statement, which was sent to MB Patch after the Bruce's Beach Task Force public presentation on "Bruce's Beach Rediscovered: A Presentation for Black History Month" last night [Thursday, Feb. 25].

Here is Hales' statement:

A sham...

You might be aware that I was not included in tonight's community forum presentation. Nor was anyone, who sent in public comments, answered when they asked why I was not included in the community forum presentation.

The co-chairs are deciding whom should speak and what should be spoken about, hence silencing voices.

This task force was formed to address the history of Bruce's Beach's racist past as it relates to Willa and Charles Bruce, and make recommendations to the City Council on how we combat racial injustice and reconcile what happened to the Bruce family and the wider Black community.

Here we are 100 years later and still facing exclusion and discrimination.

On January 25th, three months into the work of the Bruce’s Beach Task Force, the Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission randomly selected an additional member to be a part of a sub-committee to shepherd an art project to recognize and commemorate the pioneering agency and resistance of the Bruces, and other African Americans of the 1920s, who developed a small resort community that became known as Bruce’s Beach. Both myself and Dr. Lee were excluded from this selection.

When I spoke up to voice my point of view that the selection of people did not represent the wide spectrum of Black people, and made a motion to include all those who volunteered, I was instantly accused of insulting the Black women on the task force for not being Black enough. Those were not my words and I would never say that. I simply said that I was not comfortable with the selection as it wasn’t representative of more Black inclusion and it was passed 12/3.

Note, that there are no dark-skinned people of color on the task force who look like the Bruces outside of one person who is an alternate.

After that meeting I was then vilified for speaking up for the wider Black race, even though I apologized for any feelings hurt as that was not my intention.

Representatives from the Manhattan Beach City Council supervising the task force, Steve Napolitano and Hildy Stern, then requested a Zoom meeting on February 10 and said that I insulted task force members, that I am a bully, threatening and disrespectful. They then said they were considering removing me from the task force and I should come up with something to rectify it. They told me they wanted me to sleep on it and have another conversation in the next morning.

On Feb 11th at 11 a.m., we had another Zoom meeting and they asked me for my proposal. I told them that I didn’t have one, only that I can and have apologized for any hurt feelings but I stand by what I said. They instructed me to stand down from my subcommittees (the History Committee and Final Report Committee) for now. I asked them if I had a choice in the matter and they said no. They then instructed me to email both subcommittees that I was indeed stepping away until they made a decision on what to do.

At the City Council Meeting on February 15th, Napolitano and Stern lied to their fellow City Council colleagues and the community stating “they have spoken to this task force member several times" about their behavior. This is untrue and the only time I have spoken to Stern and Napolitano about any behavior per the newly presented Rules of Decorum was on February 10.

I feel that I have been silenced and excluded from the very subject matter I volunteered for.

Allison Hales, Bruce's Beach Task Force member and Manhattan Beach resident

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is provided as a way to provide some context as well as access to official city information about the Bruce's Beach Task Force.

This is from the City of Manhattan Beach website page about the city's Bruce's Beach Task Force.

On October 20, 2020, City Council appointed 13 members and two alternates to the Bruce's Beach task force. More information regarding the task force members can be found in their bios. On November 9, 2020, the task force made assignments to three subcommittees who will be making progress reports at their next task force meeting.

Co-Chairs: Councilmember Hildy Stern and Councilmember Steve Napolitano
Seat No. 1: Allison Hales
Seat No. 9: Tyler St. Bernard
Seat No. 2: Anthony Lee
Seat No. 10: Lana Rizika
Seat No. 3: Isla Garraway
Seat No. 11: Kristi Ramirez-Knowles
Seat No. 4: Lindsey Fox
Seat No. 12: Michael Jenkins
Seat No. 5: Taylor Gamble
Seat No. 13: Jarett Margolis
Seat No. 6: Amanda Park
Alternate Seat No. 1: Eyana Carballo
Seat No. 7: Stephanie Caridad
Alternate Seat No. 2: Laura Kainsinger
Seat No. 8: Kristin Long

Task Force Information

• The task force will address the history of Bruce's Beach and will make recommendations to the City Council within the next few months.
• The public may submit proposals to the Task Force via email.
• View all All Proposals. **Please note that proposals from the Task Force must be considered and approved by the full City Council prior to implementation.**