Christian Horvath, Retired Redondo Beach Councilmember

03/16/2025

Followers of this page,

I am stepping away from FB and most social media sites. While I do enjoy sharing information and the back-n-forth, I need time away from devices and endless scrolling - which lets face it has become less about the things I want to see and more about endless ads and algorithms. I will keep this page active - but won't be checking it regularly and if I post it will simply be shared from elsewhere.

Politically speaking, I'm not down with Zuck and what he has done with this platform as well as his recent comments and pandering to a felon, traitor and autocratic wannabe. Now, I get that this last comment will p**s off some of my followers on here... but it's true. So don't bother commenting below to have an argument because I'll be off reading a book, spending time with my kids or maybe even finally getting back to making some music and a third album.

I've devoted a decent chunk of my life either teaching young people about civil service or doing it myself for the past 14 years in one capacity or another. I truly care about integrity, honesty, transparency, community, social safety nets for those in need, the environment, infrastructure, affordable healthcare, etc.... and actually doing the work to make this world a better place for my kids and others. What's happening in our country right now is a travesty and, dare I say, this great experiment is either coming to a fork in the road or its demise. I'm unfortunately not changing any minds on social media... so i'll take some of the off-screen time to do more in real life.

Stay safe and be well.

Christian

03/08/2025

We will keep coming out as long as we have to… The Women's March - Redondo Beach

03/02/2025

I have debated for some time whether to weigh in on next Tuesday's Redondo elections and decided to put my thoughts here for those who have followed this page while I served. I'll assume my opinion is of no value these days - but if it still is for some - then here you go. Below I will lay out my recommendations for each race and then provide further commentary below in the event people want to read why.

City Attorney - Joy Ford for City Attorney 2025

Mayor - If I was able to vote - I would rank as such:
1. Georgette Gantner
2. Joan Irvine
3. Jeff Ginsburg
4. Jim Light
Note: I am leaving Nils Nehrenheim off my list. feel free to add write ins if you wish

District 1:
1. Brad Waller for Redondo Beach City Council District 1
2. Darin King
Note: I am leaving off Mr. Struzenburg

I am not making any recs in District 2 and 4 as these seem to be a foregone conclusion.

Explanations:

I have laid out briefly in a previous post why I believe Joy Ford stands heads and shoulders above her opponent... but I will just add that her opponent has used separate anonymous pages and fake accounts for years to disparage Redondo residents and elected officials. His previous OneView in Redondo and his current Eye on Redondo pages are just as vile as current Planning Commissioner Wayne Craig's multiple fake pages. The City Attorney is an integral position within any City and anyone who utilizes those tactics should be nowhere near making legal recommendations or representing the City.

Mayor - It is a shame that people are so afraid to run for office due to the past 15 years of nastiness online - that not one individual from North Redondo threw their hat in the ring. With that said - I think having some new perspectives with a focus on ensuring meetings are run smoothly, calmly, without unnecessary long-winded elected exposition and an ability to be fair in all matters before the Council might be nice. Kudos to Georgette and Joan for being willing to take the plunge.

I think the Mayor position should be modified in the Charter to end the at large position and have it rotate between Councilmembers like Hermosa or Manhattan. You could also try the El Segundo model where the Council votes on one member to be the Mayor. But that is not on anyone's mind today. Just food for thought.

My former colleague Jeff will most likely run into issues on major land use where he is forced to recuse himself... this may not be an issue since the Mayor does not vote, but it should be considered and so that is why I have ranked him number 3.

I reluctantly have added in Mr. Light. While I had a nice conversation with him yesterday at a South Bay event, and he has seemingly done a good job over the past year in his appointed position, his words and unnecessary attack tactics over many years leave me hesitant to fully trust him. I shared some thoughts with him yesterday and would've talked more - but it was not the time and space. I do believe though that if you put a gun to my head as to whether Mr. Light or Mr. Nehrenheim should be Mayor... I would pick Mr. Light without a moments thought. Thus he is ranked #4.

Mr. Nehrenheim in my opinion deserves no ranking or votes. I know there is a fervent group behind him and I could lay out a host of reasons why I believe he should never be elected again... but I think his own behavior and words from the dais over 8 years, if anyone was willing to do a deep dive, suffices to explain. One should note that not a single other current Councilmember has endorsed him. Not even the current District 2 representative. If that doesn't speak volumes - I'm not sure what does.

One final note - is that people should notice who is attacking Mr. Light in the same way he and they attacked myself and others for years... his own friends and proteges. Why is that? Because Mr. Light has clearly learned that being a leader is far more complicated and nuanced. It requires reflection, listening to a variety of viewpoints and then making decisions based on the best interests of the City - not just one's own opinions.

District 1 - If District one residents want to finally go back to an even-handed, intelligent, open to perspectives, zero-ego and kind representative... then Brad is the right choice. When he served two terms on the RBUSD - he worked his ass off in the best interest of the City's kids. While I don't know Brad very well - we did get acquainted during the time where we served on our respective bodies. I can say without hesitation - he will kick ass representing his district and the City as a whole. He will make well-informed decisions that are in the best interest of all.

I don't know Mr. King - but from what I read online - I'm, at this time, not impressed. He doesn't seem to understand how municipal government works - but naturally anyone can learn if so willing. He receives the number 2 recommendation as the third candidate would be a disaster for the Council much like he has been for the School Board.

District 2 / District 4 - From afar, as stated above it appears these races are foregone conclusions...

As always best of luck to the candidates. It's not easy to run a campaign... but I will say that I think Ranked Choice voting has toned down the nastiness quite a bit. It is still there but not nearly as wild as it was during my 8 years.

05/20/2024

Here is a post with a list of ways to participate in Tuesday night’s Redondo Beach Council meeting regarding whether to keep Redondo’s awesome Fire Department or outsource to LA County.

Community

05/20/2024

Sorry for the last minute notice… but I think residents need to overwhelmingly communicate to the City Council their feeling in keeping our Fire Department…

04/15/2024

Redondo residents - please speak out on Tuesday night. This was a bad idea with ZERO potential savings back in 2019. Because the Mayor and 2 Councilmembers wanted it so badly, they got their friend Mr. Obagi to mount a recall campaign against then Councilmember Gran with the president of Rescue Our Waterfront, Wayne Craig (now a planning commissioner) running the campaign.

It failed. But no sooner had Mr. Obagi gotten himself elected to replace Mr. Gran, one of his first referrals was to bring back this item and see it through.

So here we are 5 years later with a study that cost over $100K telling us the same information. No savings, loss of service and only growing costs ahead out of our local control.

Tell the Redondo City council to keep our Redondo Fire Department and the excellent service they provide to our community.

Should we eliminate our local Redondo Beach Fire Department and contract with LA County Fire Department?

This Tuesday night (April 16th) 6pm the City Council will be discussing the Phase 2 Fire Study results and analyzing the pros and cons of moving away from our local fire department and contracting with LA County Fire instead. This is a major decision that all residents should be a part of. For more information and ways to have your voice be heard, check out my recent newsletter.

https://www.paige4d3.org/campaigns/view-campaign/gfI83ntQOjTZY9O2twYOg-bKbkfAKtlk_G9bp8P_cuIZhlwOxScOxMambu4kG0dkGnyQvHEMBlFUd4Hc_gZM2iDU8CVNCIic

02/10/2024

This morning I received word that Mayor Bill Brand, my former colleague on the Redondo Beach City Council, passed away last evening after a long and well-fought battle with cancer over the past 4.5 years. Bill was a relentless and passionate advocate for specific local coastal land use issues.

Michelle and I want to extend our deepest condolences to Deirdre and Bill’s family during this time. May he rest in peace.

09/19/2023

CONNECTIONS MATTER – LET’S FINISH A LIGHT RAIL LINK BETWEEN TORRANCE, THE WESTSIDE AND HOLLYWOOD

Borrowing most of this from Bob Wolfe who currently serves on the Metro Service Council.

For over 30 years, the South Bay has primarily been a donor region to LA County as it relates to public transportation. And back then - the South Bay was advocating for a rail line. As a result - the then Green line was built and the promise of an extension further south to Torrance was made.

In 2008, Measure R was passed with the Green line being one of many specific callouts.

In 2016, L.A. County voters approved a half-cent sales tax based in part on a promise to build a light-rail lines between Torrance, LAX, the Westside and Hollywood, which is part of the long-range Measure M plan.

Transit can make a huge difference here. Our congested roadways like the San Diego Fwy, La Cienega and Crenshaw already are at capacity. How can we possibly get around a decade from now if we’re already at the breaking point?

Measure M’s promise of relief is now in jeopardy of being broken. But here’s the irony – the folks who apparently are trying to kill it are narrow-minded anti-transit forces within the South Bay itself. And to put an exclamation point on that - they are the same individuals who have used traffic as a political rallying cry for decades.

For years, I advocated for public transit options that could make a difference in curbing traffic. I also advocated for doing so while listening to residents and requesting route alternatives and/or mitigations to address concerns. The entire Redondo Council accepted my letter to Metro and sent it under signature of the Mayor to Metro. Now, the RB Council wants to backtrack and potentially take a no option position. That. Is. Shortsighted.

The Torrance Council has recently seemingly shifted their majority position and wants to do the same - but they seem to be focused on an idea of crime infecting the South Bay.

Recent polls show that almost 70% of our residents actually support a light rail between Torrance and Hollywood.

If you are in that 70% - Help to show this support and rightfully so, give South Bay residents the ability to take a train to LAX, the west side and eventually the Hollywood Bowl.

Here’s all you need to do – send a public comment – whether by email or Zoom – to the two L.A. Metro Committees that will be hearing this matter this week. (The issue should go to the full L.A. Metro board in October 2023.) And let your L.A. County Supervisor – whether Janice Hahn or Holly Mitchell -- know as well.

Here are the two scheduled Metro Committee meetings this week:

(1) Metro Planning & Programming Committee: Wed. Sept. 20 at 1 pm. Email comments are due by 5 pm on Tues. Sept. 19. Email: [email protected] and refer to Agenda #20 for the Planning & Programming Committee. Want more information? See https://boardagendas.metro.net/board-report/2023-0443

Metro board member Jacquelyn Dupont Walker chairs this committee. Also on the committee are Ara Najarian, Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Hilda Solis and L.A. city councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky.

(2) Metro Executive Management Committee: Thurs. Sept. 21 at 11 am. Email comments are due by 5 pm on Wed. Sept. 20. Email: [email protected] and refer to Agenda #20 for the Executive Mgt. Committee. Want more information? See https://boardagendas.metro.net/board-report/2023-0443

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass chairs this committee. Also on the committee are Supervisors Janice Hahn, vice-chair, and Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Hilda Solis.

Want to do more? To get info about how to give live public comment – either via Zoom or in person at Metro headquarters Downtown, email [email protected].

For more info, see https://www.streetsforall.org/initiatives/south-bay-c-line-extension.

Metro has plans to connect more of the South Bay by extending the C Line (Green) from the Redondo Beach (Marine) Station to the new Torrance Transit Center which would bring much needed rail to the area. This extension will provide an alternative to congestion along the busy I-405 corridor and exp

09/02/2023

Have you signed up for OhmConnect yet? Its super easy and YOU get to be a part of the solution in ensuring our energy grid does not need polluting power plants. Check it out and sign up. Simply turning off appliances and using less electricity during a window of need is all you do. Click this link to join now and be a part of the solution.

I think you’ll love getting rewarded for saving energy & money with OhmConnect. And you get a sign up bonus when you use my link!

08/18/2023

Hi everyone. I've been quiet for a bit... but wanted to share some info as the first tropical storm to hit CA in 84 years is on the way. I'll continue to share as more becomes available.

As Hurricane Hilary nears, it's important to be prepared.

📳Sign up for emergency alerts at alert.lacounty.gov

➕Follow these pages for updates: Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, US National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard

💻For safety tips and resources, visit https://ready.lacounty.gov/rain