Letter: Pro-AES Chamber Flier Misleading

Did you receive that crazy flier last week from the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce? All you need to know about the Chamber’s intentions is the phrase “Funded by donations from AES Redondo Beach” in the upper-left corner.

Yup, your chamber is putting its name and AES dollars to support a new power plant that will pump five times more particulate matter pollution into our ocean-breeze air for the next 50 years (equivalent to at least 240,000 more cars on the road) while tanking any chance at really revitalizing our Harbor to the spectacular showpiece it can be. Take a deep breath now, while you still can.

I know a few of the people signing that flier—they’re friends of mine—and we differ politically on this local issue. That’s fine. But I feel bad for the weakness of their arguments. Measure A, which they oppose, is a legal zoning change designed to prevent AES from building a new power plant on our waterfront, because our City Council refuses to do so. Better zoning doesn’t cost taxpayers millions; poor building projects do. 

The Chamber says they represent small business in this misguided flyer.  However, when claiming there is “more to sea” in Redondo, the Chamber displays a colossal lack of vision on how small business (and city revenues) will greatly benefit from a revitalized waterfront with 50 acres of balanced commercial development and beautiful public open space instead of a new polluting power plant with soccer fields next door. Vote Yes on Measure A.  Grow Redondo’s future, even if our Chamber won’t.

Thank you,

Don Vangeloff
Redondo Beach

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