PAID FOR BY LIGHT FOR MAYOR 2025 ID#1477387
Contact Jim Light: 310.989.3332 or [email protected]
Four priority elements form the the foundation of my platform:
- Balanced revitalization across the whole city
- Economic sustainability of the city
- The once in a lifetime opportunity/threat of the AES property disposition including the power line corridor
- All underpinned by my 24 year track record of preserving and enhancing resident quality of life
Please read a much more detailed breakdown of my platform below.
My platform is a big list of commitments. But as a retiree, I have the time to address each of these platform items. Since becoming Mayor I have been in City Hall nearly every day it was open and on days it was closed to keep moving activities and projects forward. I am proud that I have not just piled more work on our over-committed staff, rather I have contributed and relieved staff of workload myself by taking on tasks such as drafting the Request for Proposal for the boat ramp design and doing the research to draft a Coyote Management Plan. As an activist, I have drafted charter amendments, zoning changes, and detailed appeals – my contributions as Mayor continue in that same vein.
Continuing to prioritize and balance resident quality of life against other interests across all city activities.
- I have championed our quality of life and our City’s character since 2000 and am committed to protecting it as we revitalize.
- I will ensure we protect and improve quality of life for residents across ALL districts in Redondo.
- Ensure revitalization efforts balance economic factors and resident quality of life
- Protect local control of zoning and project approvals.
- Where state mandates force our approval of residential projects, work with developer to include:
- work force housing
- mixed-use adding attractive, revenue-producing commercial component
- Where state mandates force our approval of residential projects, work with developer to include:
- Fight for Metro extension on Hawthorne Blvd, not ROW
- Balance environmental impacts, reduce environmental footprint, expand native habitats, and increase tree canopy.
- Strengthen our preservation ordinances to stop the rapid loss of our history.
Continuing and building the momentum of revitalization across the city without overdevelopment
- Revitalization of our parks and public infrastructure
- Execution of the Measure FP bond for public safety facilities
- Improvements across all City parks
- Timely execution of the Capital Improvement Plan
- Expand native plants and habitats, increase tree canopy
- Economic sustainability through revitalization of our harbor and business districts and corridors across the city
- Finalizing the General Plan update
- Executing on the Artesia/Aviation Corridors Area Plan (AACAP) and related art plan
- Moving the South Bay Social District forward
- Approving the Harbor and Pier Commercial Plan
- Executing the Harbor and Pier Amenities and Commercial Plans
- Continuing momentum on Seaside Lagoon and the boat ramp
- Finalizing an agreement on the Joe’s Crabshack site redevelopment
- Filling vacancies and expanding commercial capacity in the pier and harbor
- Drafting, approving and executing a PCH Corridor Area Plan similar to the AACAP.
- Establish a more robust Economic Development capability in the City for economic sustainability
- Proactively work at retaining current great businesses
- Proactively work to attract new businesses that would improve city revenues, and address our jobs/workforce imbalance
- Synergize with the Chamber, hotels, and business districts to retain attractive businesses, attract new businesses, and attract customers to Redondo businesses
- Leveraging public/private partnerships to revitalize across the city from improving public parks to investment in business districts
- Streamlining and automating permits and approvals – achieve Redondo reputation as “Business friendly”
- Investment in City Staff capability and capacity for all the revitalization going on
- Augmenting staff with new expertise such as acquisition, contract, and project management experience
- Establishing a training program for upcoming staff to build their qualifications to manage challenging projects and contracts
- Enhancing city processes, tools, and organization structure to better integrate, streamline, and automate city staff activities improving staff capacity and responsiveness as well as project execution and delivery on time and on budget
- Work with City Treasurer, City Manager, and City Council to identify and pursue increased revenue generation for the city.
- Increase city revenue generation for sustainability without overburdening residents.
- Examples include increasing TOT to match surrounding cities, clamping down on short term rentals to force visitors to local hotels and provide more long term housing opportunities, and filling vacancies in public and private commercial leaseholds.
Maintaining and improving public safety
- Invest in technology, training, and equipment for our first responders
- Execute investment in public safety facilities and infrastructure
- Expedite progress on Measure FP replacement/refurbishment of fire and police facilities
- Work with City Manager to hire a Project Manager to focus on integration and expedient execution
- Expedite progress on Measure FP replacement/refurbishment of fire and police facilities
- Focus on the safety of students from crossing guards to protection of campuses
- Continue enhancement of our award-winning homeless programs
- Address evolving challenges such as e-bike safety, neighborhood cut-through traffic, and illegal sales at liquor and smoke shops. Ending the proliferation of smoke shops by capping the total number per district and defining exclusion zones.
- Continue the momentum in the Harbor Patrol reinvigoration
Ensuring the city responds quickly, proactively, and assertively to whatever happens in the bankruptcy proceedings at the AES site.
This is a one time in history event as 52 acres of land in a built-out city is rarely up in the air. The bankruptcy decision could be an opportunity or threat to our our city depending on the outcome.
- Ensure wetlands and parkland uses at the site
- Maximize park space at this site.
- Prevent overdevelopment and related negative impacts
- Work with SCE on disposition of the power line corridor up 190th Street
- Vision: Greenbelt to the Sea!
Pursuing county, state, and federal opportunities and protections
- Advancing the “housing abundant city” bill I have drafted that would exempt cities like Redondo from state housing mandates
- Identifying and supporting efforts to maintain local control on development decisions
- Expand efforts to bring in county, state, and federal grants and funds for revitalization and continuation and expansion of critical programs
- Federal and State grants for sea level rise in harbor
- State and County grants for transportation, infrastructure, and homeless program
- Federal and State grants for public safety equipment, training, and facilities
Continuing to improve resident access and transparency into city activities
- Build on new website and online tools that provide access and transparency
- Explore new tech and methods that improve public outreach, input, and insight
- Automate and streamline resident interactions with the city
Ensuring the City is better leveraging and integrating with our local government partners such as neighboring cities, the School District, the County, and BCHD.
- Work with school district for student safety, shared recreational facilities, programs for students
- Work with Torrance to resolve their truck routes that dead end on Redondo streets
- Continue work with County on our award winning homeless program
- Add temporary family housing to our homeless program
- Work with BCHD on beneficial programs for residents and for a balanced outcome on the revitalization of their campus
Providing ongoing leadership of the Council to move critical items forward expeditiously with outcomes that balance the impacts and benefits to the community.
- I will enforce civility amongst the Council during meetings
- I will drive balanced decisions and policies that address the concerns of residents in all districts
- I will strive to instill unity and respect across the Council and across the community
- I will manage council meetings to run efficiently and effectively
- I will continue to invest my time in City Hall and external to City Hall to help Council members move their critical projects forward
I need your help to win the Mayor election.
You can help me win by donating, displaying a lawn sign, volunteering, and by formally endorsing me. Thanks in advance for your support!