It's been 24 years since the movie Clueless hit the big screen.  Yet, to this day, some on City Council are still emulating that movie on a number of levels, most recently with their 4-1 ban on tobacco sales in Manhattan Beach (Suzanne Hadley providing the only reasoned vote in opposing the ban).  And to those small, hardworking mom-and-pop retailers who will lose business to convenience stores in neighboring communities as a result of the ban, well, Merry Christmas from our City Council grinches.  

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Bizarro world, a concept that first appeared in the Superman comics and later was made the subject of a Seinfeld episode, imagines a world where everything is the exact opposite of what you'd expect to see in the real world.  We were reminded of this fictional world while viewing the most recent City Council session.

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Seems like every week Manhattan Beach's City Council finds something new to ban, whether it's a legal product or a common activity.  At their first meeting in December, they'll be looking at two new ones - a ban on the sale of all tobacco products in Manhattan Beach and a ban on all construction activity on Saturdays (currently banned completely on Sundays and holidays with restricted hours on Saturdays).

But why stop there?  We've got a list of other things they may want to consider when they're in a banning mood.

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As a general rule, the community of Manhattan Beach is more tolerant than most.  But, as recent events demonstrate, there are always a few bad apples, whether it's painting your house with a garish mural or posting yard signs to spite your neighbors.

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Manhattan Beach is, undoubtedly, an upscale community that ranks as one of the safer ones in California with good schools and clean beaches to boot. 

But are our neighborhoods, downtown and beaches getting less clean and less safe?  Is San Francisco the model for our future?  

Recent events disturbingly seem to indicate the answers are 'yes' and 'yes.'

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Council confusion over County consolidation continues (that's called alliteration, for you English majors). 

The process seemed to have everyone confused, even the Councilmembers themselves.  However, when the dust settled, the net result was the LA County Fire Feasibility Study would be taken up again at the next (Nov 5) Council meeting.  At that time, Council would be looking to schedule a town hall meeting for residents to learn about and/or object to the proposed consolidation of the MB Fire Department with the County Fire Department.  

Update:  An important update from the November 5 City Council meeting as Council voted 5-0 to not proceed with any further evaluation of a possible consolidation of the Manhattan Beach Fire Department with the County Fire Department.  As a result, the MBFD will remain separate and independent from County Fire.

City Council awards a $324,053 contract to Harbor Interfaith Services for homeless case management and disbands the Homelessness Task Force.

But read more here if you missed the really startling comment by Police Chief Abell, which almost went undetected (except by us, of course).

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Come Tuesday, October 15, Manhattan Beach's City Council will be approving a contract with Harbor Interfaith Services for case management and the coordination of services for the local homeless populace (which includes Redondo and Hermosa as well).  They'll also be disbanding the Manhattan Beach Homelessness Task Force.

Good idea?

Want to engage in an expressive activity in a public place in Manhattan Beach without being charged a special event permit fee?  Curious as to exactly what an expressive activity is?  Check out Manhattan Beach's latest policy for recognizing 1st Amendment free speech.

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