South Bay Echo for March 25
RUHS celebrates CIF soccer champs, recall politics in Redondo, armed robbery locks down pier, new chief takes over big shoes
Hello friends… Welcome to the 27th edition of South Bay Echo, your source of local hometown news with a real estate angle.
This Substack is brought to you by Rosetree Real Estate, a full service real estate brokerage dealing in residential and commercial properties to both own and lease. For more information visit RosetreeRealEstate.com. DRE# 02145024
Redondo High celebrates two soccer CIF titles
The red and white had reason to celebrate this week after bringing home not one but two CIF championship victories recently by its boys and girls soccer teams. To honor the occasion, the school’s marching band led a parade through campus this week with the student body lining the route.
Last month it was Jaden Hancock with a header, who put the Sea Hawks over the top against Montebello in a 1-0 victory to secure the school’s first CIF Southern California Section championship in boys soccer.
Then earlier this month, the girls team was a goal behind in the second half against Los Osos for the CIF Southern California Regional title when two goals within minutes of each other put the Sea Hawk squad ahead where they remained for the 2-1 win.
Go Sea Hawks!
Cannabis petitioner behind recall effort
Elliot Lewis, owner of Catalyst Cannabis who is spearheading a ballot initiative in Redondo Beach and other South Bay cities to allow cannabis dispensaries, said that he is funding a recall effort against Redondo City Councilman Zein Obagi just one year into his first term.
Lewis was apparently butt hurt during a meeting where Obagi didn’t treat him nicely, Lewis explained around the 45 minute mark of a Youtube live stream on Feb 15 with Tonya McKenzie a local public relations specialist.
During the discussion, Lewis reveals that not only is he funding a burgeoning recall effort against Obagi: Leo Pustilnikov, the part owner of the AES power plant, may also be involved.
“I hope I’m not breaking any confidence. I don’t think I am,” said Lewis, before delivering a doozy. “I have spoken with the real estate developer who has the land over there, the 50 acres (referring to Pustilnikov and AES power plant), and who knows what could happen? My personal opinion is we are going to recall Obagi. So we’ll see how that goes.”
“The plan is to recall Obagi,” Lewis continued, “and change the majority to a more reasonable group of people who want to represent progress for the citizens.”
“Why do I want to recall him?” Lewis asked himself. “Justice, fairness, and if I’m being totally honest I want to send a message to the political class up and down the state that cannabis does what it says it does and if you don’t act in a fair way we will take you out. We don’t have any problem doing that. If we can successfully recall Obagi I think it’s in the good of Redondo Beach.”
Earlier in the video, Lewis said that Councilwoman Laura Emdee is the most honest broker on the council. Emdee recently revealed at a meeting that she had a lengthy discussion with Elliot.
The ballot initiative allowing up to three dispensaries is planned for the March 2023 general election. Signatures have already been collected. In the recall effort against Obagi, who was elected in March 2021, paperwork has been filed and the signature gathering has not yet commenced.
Armed robbery on Redondo Pier leads to lockdown
On the afternoon of Friday March 18, Redondo Beach King Harbor and Pier was completely locked down for several hours as police searched for a suspect in an armed robbery. The man reportedly held up a person for a Rolex watch.
After about three hours, police reopened the area without making an arrest. The man was last seen on a bicycle in the area of North Harbor Drive and Beryl Street. The victim was accosted near Quality Seafoods and may have been followed, police told the Easy Reader newspaper. It would be interesting to know whether the Rolex was even real.
Chief transition at Redondo PD
Speaking of Redondo Beach police, the department recently welcomed 28-year veteran Joe Hoffman into the chief position. There isn’t a position in the department Hoffman hasn’t performed, now add to that the top dog post.
Hoffman has big shoes to fill from departing Chief Keith Kauffman who is retiring and was very well liked, but I’m sure he will do just fine. Dare I say, he might even be MORE popular.
Chief Hoffman has been a stalwart in Redondo for decades now, and we’re lucky to have a smart and compassionate leader like Joe at the helm of our police department.
Man shot and killed outside Torrance bar
A man was shot and killed outside the Hi N Dry Cocktails on 182nd Street in Torrance just after 1 a.m. Wednesday March 23, according to the Daily Breeze. Two men were arguing outside the bar when one of the men shot the other. Police arrested a suspect at the scene. Both men were in their 50s. Paramedics rushed the victim to the hospital but he could not be saved.
Driver killed on Torrance Boulevard
In another tragic story, a driver on Torrance Boulevard at the intersection of Irena Avenue travelling eastbound lost control of their car on a slick roadway at 2:46 a.m. Sunday March 20 and crashed into a tree killing a male driver in his 30s.
The 2007 Mercedes went into a slide and wrapped around a tree near a retaining wall. The tires were apparently very bald, a police sergeant told the Easy Reader. Although he may have only been going about 15 miles per hour over the speed limit, the bald tires could have hastened the slide.
Drive safely everybody and don’t forget to check those tires.
All for now… Have a great weekend and don’t forget, if you like it please comment or share it. Thanks for reading
Rolex robbery. There's a lot to be said for a Timex. Remember how it was said the Pasadena crowd drove GMs and could buy the Beverly Hills all flash no cash crowd out of pocket change. Would be careful charging an electric vehicle down there as the bogeyman could come up on you and rob cash, jewelry and the car. There's a lot to be said for dull and boring.