Manhattan Beach State of the City: 'Whatever Comes Our Way, We'll Be Ready'
May 04, 2025 08:55AM ● By Jeanne Fratello
From left: Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce Chairman David Curry; Kinecta Community Executive Director Latrice McGlothin; MBUSD Superintendent John Bowes; Downtown Manhattan Beach Business and Professionals Association Executive Director Jill Lamkin; Manhattan Beach Mayor Amy Howorth; Manhattan Beach Police Chief Rachel Johnson; Manhattan Beach City Manager Talyn Mirzakhanian; Beach Cities Health District CEO Tom Bakaly.
At this week's State of the City event, Mayor Amy Howorth and other local leaders said that Manhattan Beach was in a strong position to face challenges and benefit from opportunities.
Assessing the past year, Howorth cited the Parking Lot 3 situation and the L.A. wildfires as examples of how the city has sprung into action during a crisis.
When Parking Lot 3 needed to be closed and then demolished, city staff "went into high gear" to make plans for a solution. The temporary parking lot in its place - which is expected to be available by Memorial Day - came in ahead of schedule and under budget, noted Howorth.
Through economic downturns, Manhattan Beach's fiscal stewardship has kept the city "rock solid," she added, noting that Manhattan Beach is one of the few cities that still has an AAA bond rating.
Furthermore, when the L.A. wildfires displaced thousands of individuals, Manhattan Beach opened its doors and welcomed 200 families.
"How we showed up in this crisis gives me confidence that whatever comes our way, we'll be ready," said Howorth.
Other city improvements include the conclusion of the Peck Reservoir project, allowing the city to cut the amount of drinking water it needs to purchase by 20 percent; the creation of an online business license renewal process; and the purchase of a bank building in downtown that will be used for community purposes.
Challenges ahead for the city include keeping abreast of state housing laws to maintain some form of local control over zoning, and moving forward with undergrounding of utilities, she said.
But there are more opportunities ahead as well, she said, citing the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics as an opportunity for the city to shine. "We need to be ready to welcome people to this community that we love - and they're going to love it too."
Howorth encouraged residents to continue to "stay engaged, show up, and share ideas."
Local Leaders Cite Progress, Police Chief Announces Reveal
Also speaking at the event were Manhattan Beach City Manager Talyn Mirzakhanian, Manhattan Beach Police Chief Rachel Johnson, Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent John Bowes, and Beach Cities Health District CEO Tom Bakaly.
Johnson gave an update on the Manhattan Beach Police Department, while adding in the surprise announcement that an arrest had been made in the notorious 2022 Pasha robbery.
She also said that the new Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman "has been a great partner for us," praising Hochman for moving forward on prosecuting criminals and improving the "quality of life" for residents.
Johnson added that while other crimes had gone down, there has been an increase in residential burglaries. "Every time a member of our community is victimized, we take that personally," she said, adding that residents should not hesitate to call the police department whenever they see something suspicious.
Bowes noted that MBUSD took on 200 new students following the L.A. wildfires, giving the school an opportunity to fulfill one of its priorities of providing a "climate of care." Part of ensuring a climate of care, he said, is "being a good partner to those in need."
Bakaly spoke about allcove, the new youth services center at Beach Cities Health District, describing how 11,000 young people have come through the center since it first opened two years ago.
Furthermore, Bakaly cited the Gallup Poll's national Well-Being Index survey, noting Manhattan Beach's score of 70.6 was the highest community measurement ever recorded by Gallup out of more than 1,500 community scores since WBI measurement began in 2008 (as reported by MB News in 2024).
