Questions from The Beach Reporter & Campaign Issues

By Alan B. Benson

Six Questions for Al Benson from The Beach Reporter.

Al Benson Campaign Issues.

HERMOSA BEACH CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE Q & A

Alan Benson - Response

The Beach Reporter recently asked the 10 candidates for the three open seats on the Hermosa Beach City Council six questions on issues residents care about. Each candidate was given 100 words to answer each question. Election day is Nov. 8, 2005.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Beach Reporter: Question 1. Why do you think you are qualified to be a City Council member?

Alan Benson:

It is important to identify problems first and then solve them.

Do a Google search for, "Alcohol Outlet Density" and you get 209,000 reasons why the number of alcohol outlets relates directly to increased crime in Hermosa Beach.

Since the Pier Plaza renovation; Assaults are Up 85%, Adult Arrests Up 128%, Criminal Citations Up 152%, Calls for Service are Up 51%.

Hermosa Beach has 2.4 times more retail alcohol outlets per square mile than Manhattan Beach.

Our city leadership wonıt tell you these facts.

When elected, I will act on these public safety problems facing our city.

Go to: http://www.HBneighborhood.org/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Beach Reporter: Question 2. What do you feel are the three biggest issues facing the city?

Alan Benson:

City Council members must be an advocate for the needs and concerns of Hermosa Beach residents as their Number One Priority.

Why are Hermosa Beach per capita numbers of Arrests, Criminal Citations and Calls for Service, 2.5 times more than Manhattan Beach? Hermosa Beach has a retail Alcohol Outlet Density that is 2.4 times more than Manhattan Beach.

Pass Measure E, the "Open Space Initiative". Do not allow three city council members to approve the construction of a parking lot on the greenbelt and a separate bike path on the beach. Let the voters of Hermosa Beach make these decisions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Beach Reporter: Question 3. The city recently negotiated a purchase for a chuck of land adjacent to City Hall, what do you feel the city should do with that land? Do you feel it was a prudent purchase?

Alan Benson:

I am in support of up to date safety facilities for Hermosa Beach. I will need to see the plans and the costs for such a facility.

The multi-level parking garage attached to this facility will carry major unintended consequences for residents because the parking spaces will be available for night time use.

That means a 400 car parking garage will bring in an additional 1000 drunks on top of the 3000 thousand drunks that we already have on a nightly basis.

More parking means, more bars, drunks, arrests, lawsuits, and a needless burden for our city and our police.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Beach Reporter: Question 4. If a building a new police and/or fire facility or a parking structure were proposed for that land, would you seek to float a bond measure? If so, and the bond wasn't passed by voters would you seek to borrow money to build nonetheless?

Alan Benson:

I will oppose any parking structure bond measure that brings in more bars, drunks, arrests and other alcohol related crime.

Current city leadership wants to promote this as public safety measure, but there is a hidden agenda that needs to be looked at.

Any additional public parking will be taken by the most likely users, which are the ever increasing patrons of the bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

The city council has five members that see the need for more parking, for an ever increasing number of alcohol outlets.

Someone needs to say No to Alcohol Outlets and Yes to Safety.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Beach Reporter: Question 5. If elected, what kind of changes, if any, would you propose while in office?

Alan Benson:

I will be the advocate for the residents of Hermosa Beach, public safety and law enforcement.

I will direct the city manager to:

Implement a plan to reduce the alcohol related crime and problems caused by out of control revelers that inundate Hermosa Beach neighborhoods and Pier Plaza.

Cite bars for occupancy violations and limit over-serving.

Enforce all laws citywide, noise, nuisance, code violations and CUPıs.

Implement a Community Involvement Program that solves problems, is results oriented and reviewed by city council.

Protect the safety of our school children and pedestrians by removing illegal obstructions on sidewalks and our streets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Beach Reporter: Question 6. Voters will decide the fate of Measure "E", a ballot measure aimed at prohibiting future public improvements on the Greenbelt and the beach during the same election. What is your position on the issue? Why?

Alan Benson:

Measure E lets the voters of Hermosa Beach control of our most prized but limited public assets, the Beach and the Greenbelt.

Measure E will preserve the Beach and Greenbelt AS IS by prohibiting any new permanent structures without voter approval, while allowing repair and replacement of existing improvements within their existing footprints.

Measure E allows the temporary facilities ON the Beach for events such as the Summer Beach Concerts, Volley Ball Tournaments, and the Surf Festival, that have had "footprints" on the Beach for decades.

Do not let three city council members decide to build on our Open Space.

VOTE FOR AL BENSON

As a councilman who will encourage and facilitate public participation with additional informal public meetings.

Al will encourage each resident's input.

· Al Benson will initiate and lead a Community Involvement Program to address ALL issues of public or individual issue.

· Community Involvement Program meetings will be held at least twice monthly to provide an informal community forum to address each resident's issue.

· These public meetings will be informal and interactive. Each resident will have the time to state their case. No 3-minute time limit like City Council meetings.

· Al Benson will NOT "pass the buck" to the city staff. They will initiate action and provide a written response to each issue.

· Al Benson will address issues quickly and work to get a solution, thus reducing costly litigation that is draining City resources.

Your vote for Al Benson will mean your issue will be heard.

Your problem will be addressed and responded to in a timely manner.

VOTE FOR AL BENSON

Al be there to listen to you and respond by getting your problem solved.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Measure E the "Open Space" Initiative

Al Benson, candidate for Hermosa Beach City Council, strongly urge all residents to vote YES on the OPEN SPACE Ballot Initiative. Lets keep control of our most prized but limited public assets, the Beach and Greenbelt, in the hands of the public where it belongs. Contrary to assertions, this Initiative does NOT prohibit the erection of temporary facilities on the Beach for events such as the Summer Beach Concerts.

Al Benson, candidate for Hermosa Beach City Council, strongly urges all residents to vote YES on Measure E, the "OPEN SPACE" Ballot Initiative.

The passage of Measure E allows Hermosa Beach voters to control development on the greenbelt and the beach.

Let the voters of Hermosa Beach control of our most prized but limited public assets, the Greenbelt and the Beach.

Do not let the Hermosa Beach City Council vote to BUILD ON our OPEN SPACE On The Beach.

Current city zoning allows a bike path to be built on the beach and a new parking lot built on the greenbelt.

Protect our Open Space ON THE BEACH ! Pass Measure E.

Do not let the Hermosa Beach City Council vote to build a Bike Path on the Beach or a Greenbelt Parking Lot.

Measure E does not prevent new underground utilities to be installed under the surface of the beach.

Measure E Title by City Attorney Michael Jenkins:

AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS ON THE BEACH AND ON THE GREENBELT.

The Measure E title written by the city attorney states:

"...Improvements ON THE BEACH and ON THE GREENBELT."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Protect View Corridors in Hermosa Beach.

Al Benson will always vote to enforce the law + not only on height limits and building codes, but also alcohol codes and all other laws.

Al Benson will never obstruct justice by interfering during the issuance of an excessive noise citation or any other citation including drunk driving.

Al Benson will direct City Staff at the City Council meetings. Not play policeman or interfere with law enforcement.

Al Benson will vote for active enforcement of all laws to reacquire for the Hermosa Beach voters a city with streets and a pier that are safe for the public use at all hours, everyday, all year long.

Vote for Al Benson on November 8, 2005.