On Monday mornings during this year's campaign season, Manhattan Beach News will publish candidates' statements on topics provided by MB News. 

All four candidates for City Council were given the same prompt, and a chance to reply in up to 500 words. Their replies are published below. Each week, the order for candidates will be adjusted.

This week's prompt:

East Manhattan Beach seems often to be overlooked in discussions of city issues, as it lacks beaches and downtown. What do you appreciate about East Manhattan? What special issues or concerns do you see for people living and working in the area? How might you help residents and businesses east of Sepulveda to feel more engaged with city government and services? 

MARK BURTON

What do you appreciate about East Manhattan? 

My wife and I have lived in East Manhattan Beach for almost 25 years.  We firmly believe that "it is a wonderful life east of Sepulveda".  East Manhattan Beach offers an exceptional quality of life with a quiet enjoyment of living, away from the hectic "hustle and bustle".  Wider streets and more trees add to the tranquility that is much appreciated by our residents.

What special issues or concerns do you see for people living and working in the area?

Today, the biggest concern is the high rise apartment projects planned on Sepulveda and how it will impact traffic.  Also, the constant flooding of Polliwog Park with polluted stormwater is another concern that should be addressed, sooner than later. 

How might you help residents and businesses east of Sepulveda to feel more engaged with city government and services?  

The Manhattan Beach City Council needs to have a resident from East Manhattan Beach serving on City Council.  That's one of the reasons I am running for my second term on City Council.  Since I'm invested in East Manhattan Beach, I can be a voice for our residents east of Sepulveda.   

JOSEPH UNGOCO

As a longtime resident of that other neglected stepchild of our Forever Councilmembers, El Porto, I sympathize with the East Side residents and business owners.  As a member of Beach Cities Masonic Lodge on Artesia for over a decade, I have spent a good deal of time on the East Side, meeting with our neighbors, volunteering at the Botanical Garden, supporting the efforts of the Friends of Polliwog Park and working with the former President of the Chamber of Commerce to keep East Side business owners apprised of City Council decisions and Planning Commission  decisions as well as the changing landscape of mixed use development. 

Because the businesses on the East Side are scattered, it's much harder for them to organize into a group to address the City Council with their collective concerns, let alone organize into a Business Improvement District.  I have tremendous faith in the Chamber under the leadership of Jill Lamkin to bring the concerns of business owners throughout the city to the attention of Council.  That said, over at least the past decade, we have not had a successful small business owner let alone a dynamic entrepreneur on the City Council who really understands the challenges facing small businesses.   I hope to be that  member of the City Council who helps our local small businesses flourish and also paves the way for other creative entrepreneurs rather than career politicians to run for office in the future

The residents of the East Side are not a single unified block; their concerns vary. The issues that worry my supporters in Liberty Village vary from those in the Pennekamp neighborhood and even from those of their immediate geographic neighbors in the MBMS/Polliwog area. However, in speaking to residents over the past several months one common concern seems to be street safety for pedestrians and cyclists. My proposed solution is to leverage our current police force by increasing foot and bicycle patrols which should act as a deterrent to speeding cyclists and motorists.  

Finally, the solution for residents of all neighborhood that feel neglected, i.e., are more than a 5 block radius from a Councilmember's home, is to elect members like me who will take their "at large" status seriously and represent all of our residents, not just the ones they know or like or agree with. 

AMY HOWORTH

When it's June gloom at City Hall, I love that you can just drive across Sepulveda for the sunshine. There's open space, public art, wider streets, and more traditionally laid-out lots than in the denser Sand Section. I'm proud that many of the decisions made in the last four years have kept public safety in this neighborhood front of mind.

If the beach is our open space on the west side, Polliwog Park is ours on the east — just swap the sand for grass. And it delivers: the open space, the trees, and of course the pond. While these amenities are closer to some residents, they're enjoyed by all. I'm very impressed by and happy to support the MB Arts Center, which puts on several worthy exhibitions a year, as well as running art classes.

Most of our schools (and students) are located in East Manhattan, and that requires the City to constantly analyze traffic patterns, enforce e-bike regulations (citywide, but the MBMS campus is especially impacted), and provide crossing guards and other safety enhancements. The Schools and the City collaborate to keep all safe.

While I'm always concerned about public safety citywide, I also know residents in east Manhattan Beach are slightly more vulnerable to home burglaries, given their proximity to Aviation and Artesia, which make for easy in-and-out access. Percentage-wise, home burglaries in the city were down in 2025 compared to 2024, but we all want to feel 100% safe in our homes. Preventatively, MBPD has stepped up undercover surveillance in the area, and our detectives have successfully investigated and collaborated with other agencies to catch those responsible. We don't always hear about those wins, but our force is determined and diligent about bringing those criminals to justice. It's critical that our Police Department continue holding community meetings in various neighborhoods and stay accessible to residents.

While all of us use or cross Sepulveda Boulevard, it's worth highlighting the work Council has done recently to improve safety there — work that will have a particular impact for residents east of Sepulveda. We recently approved a long-overdue, multi-pronged approach backed by millions of dollars in funding from CalTrans (the agency responsible for Sepulveda). On the local enforcement side, we've increased speed checks and deployed surveillance cameras, speed feedback signs, and traffic monitoring sensors. Beyond widening sidewalks and other engineering measures to improve pedestrian safety, we'll be adding dual left-turn lanes at Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Sepulveda, and CalTrans has agreed to reset traffic signals to "rest in red" at night. It's worth reading the full staff report or presentation on the proposed Sepulveda safety improvements.

I represent all residents, whether you agree with me or not, and whether you live in my neighborhood or not. If I earn your vote on November 3rd, I'll continue to do so!

RICHARD MONTGOMERY

During my previous two terms on city council, I was the only council member living in East Manhattan Beach. I have lived in East Manhattan Beach for the past 14 years, and it was an easy adjustment from living west of Sepulveda! I now know the streets, the neighborhoods, the location of every school and church, businesses and more importantly, my neighbors. 

One advantage of East Manhattan Beach is that the streets are wide and finding a parking space is not a challenge. I appreciate the fact that the lots for each home are generally larger than the rest of the city and the number of trees and green space (Polliwog park and parquettes) make it unique. I will work to preserve its unique character.

East MB had been neglected for years, with streets that needed paving and crosswalks near every school that had deteriorated beyond repair. Add to that the poor condition of street signs (if they were in place) and stop signs covered with overhanging tree limbs.

I proposed and council directed Public Works to install “flashing crosswalks at every school” (including Meadow and Pennekamp elementary schools) along with highly visible plastic crosswalk material that improved the safety and visibility of the crosswalks. In addition, I continually pushed Public Works to repave streets in East Manhattan Beach with a consistent number of potholes (Magnolia Ave south of Marine Ave as an example), make certain that stop signs remained visible and replace missing street signs.

In addition, East MB has been in need of a modern and functional Fire Station to replace one that was nearly 70 years old and obsolete. I was fortunate to be mayor at the time we completed a $9.4 million Fire station with advanced technology in 2023.

Also in 2023, we completed a new $2.95 Million playground at Polliwog Park that included updated ADA fixtures; along with the Eight Million Gallon Peck Reservoir drinking water storage reservoir and booster pump station.  

There are two issues that I have heard consistently from East MB residents; the need to address the “cut thru traffic” from Aviation Blvd during rush hour traffic and the dangerous EV Bikes on residential streets. I will ask that the MB traffic engineer and MB Police Department to bring proposals to council to offset these impacts.

As a way to engage the residents and business owners in East MB, I would hold “remote” council meetings at the Heights Community Center at least twice a year. I would also introduce each department head so that they could explain their function to the residents. 

Most importantly, engagement should be a two-way conversation. Residents should not have to attend a City Council meeting or closely follow City Hall to have their voices heard. I will work to bring City government into the neighborhoods, listen before decisions are made, and make sure that the concerns and priorities of people east of Sepulveda receive the same consideration as those of every other part of Manhattan Beach.