JUST SAY NO

Suzanne Hadley’s explanation that ‘Manhattan Beach Mayor’ is just a “ceremonial” title strikes me sadly naïve. When her reckless comments about Covid 19 were broadcast to millions on nationwide television, I doubt if anyone found them ceremonial. Local residents were flabbergasted, embarrassed, disgusted by someone representing our great city.

Hadley describes the Mayor as an “honorary” position. She does not deserve that honor. As recently as this week she supported a rally in Manhattan Beach, ignoring guidelines issued by local health officials, designed to mitigate the spread of Covid19. So despite her protestations, her rash position has not changed since that fateful interview.

She is irresponsible and she attempts to excuse her careless public comments by invoking her “Midwest” roots, as if Midwesterners get a free pass to use crass and thoughtless language. Her supporters seem to enjoy her “unvarnished positions;” the way she “speak(s) directly… without hiding the ball.” This sounds disturbingly similar to excuses offered by these same people defending a crude president who we have finally deposed. Sixty eight percent of our residents have clearly said we won’t accept that kind of representation.

We don’t expect perfection in our elected officials but we do expect polish, not crudity; grace, not offensiveness; kindness, not foolishness.

We are thankfully emerging from an extremely divisive period marked by turmoil and discord.

As a city, we face the many difficulties inflicted by Covid 19, but also a racial reckoning on Bruce’s Beach, an issue for which Hadley has shown no empathy or compassion; her dog whistle comment that “all lives matter” is enough to expose her true colors.

I urge City Council to pass the “ceremonial” baton to someone who will bring not just Midwest values, but good old American values like consideration, respect and compassion back to our city.