MB City Council says no to events at Bruce's Beach Park, but Napolitano argues "city-sponsored" events are exempt.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2022, MB City Council discussed whether or not to allow events to be permitted at the neighborhood Bruce’s Beach Park.

Of the approximate 200 residents who voiced their opinion on the issue, 70% opposed events at the park mainly due to inherent problems with traffic, parking, restrooms, safety fences, lighting, etc; 30% were in favor, tying the significance of the location to future African American cultural events.

Arguments were made by Councilmembers Stern and Napolitano who clearly were not in agreement with the resident majority. The others listened to all sides but mainly focused on the pragmatics of the venue for large events.

The vote results were 4-1 to keep the event restrictions in place due to the inherent limitations of the venue.

Mayor Stern voted with the 30%; Councilmembers Montgomery, Hadley, Franklin, and Napolitano voted with the 70%.

Although Napolitano voted with the majority on Council (which he usually does), he took a stand that large events could still be held at Bruce’s Beach Park if the City “co-sponsored” the event.

Napolitano alluded that such a City-sponsored event might already be in the making for a Juneteenth celebration at Bruce’s Beach Park:

“If the city wants to sponsor an event like Juneteenth, it should do that.”

Obviously, the City can co-sponsor a Juneteenth event or any other event, but only with the vote of City Council. The two venues in Manhattan Beach that are uniquely equipped and designed to accommodate such events are Live Oak and Polliwog Parks.

To argue that the City has the authority to override the vote when it is a “city-sponsored event” does not change Council’s basis for their decision regarding the park’s inherent limitations.

Councilmember Napolitano is ignoring the valid arguments made by the majority of the residents and by his colleagues. This is an overreach and not within the spirit of the vote.

To ensure that the vote regarding special events will not be abused by calling them “city-sponsored,” Tuesday’s motion should be amended — or a new motion should be made — to specifically disallow “city sponsored” special events.

Napolitano unhappy with residents not wanting events at Bruce’s Beach Park

During the City Council meeting, Councilmember Napolitano made several attempts to persuade his colleagues by making arguments against the concerns raised by residents.

By drawing no distinction between those living near Bruce’s Beach Park versus Live Oak or Polliwog Parks, he argued that simply living near a park is not a reason for opposing events, “There are a lot of people living around those [other] parks too.”

Councilmember Franklin rebutted that Bruce’s Beach Park isn’t remotely the same as the other parks and pointed out a few obvious differences: limited parking, no bathrooms, no fences around the park to protect private residential property and to protect children from running 5 feet into the street, etc.

Napolitano moved on to debunking concerns raised by residents about parties advertised on social media and argued that there is no way to monitor such invitations for groups to gather at the park for unpermitted parties.

Claiming that nothing can be done is ironic, considering that Napolitano’s (and Stern’s) posting of the draft History Report on the City website, which later needed to be edited of rumors and unproven allogations, has been the beacon drawing masses to Bruces Beach Park over the last 15 months.

Is Councilmember Napolitano saying it would be unreasonable for residents to expect City leaders to be proactive when learning about social media promoted events like the one last month, to do everything in their authority to properly intervene before these events occur?

Seemingly making no headway, a frustrated Napolitano at one point reprimanded residents who opposed large events by accusing them of treating Bruce’s Beach Park as their personal property. A public park, “is not your own backyard,” he rebuked.

In the end, the message from the majority of the residents last week was clear. Whether it was in a written email, post on the agenda, or a verbal public comment during the meeting, large events (“city-sponsored” or not) should be held in more accomodating areas in the City, not at Bruce’s Beach.

The vote by City Council agreed.