Disclosure: Redondo Beach Policy on Letters and the Public’s Right to Know

Last year, a letter written on the official city stationery of Redondo Beach Mayor Brad Parton appeared in a Long Beach judge’s file to request leniency for Parton’s mayoral and California Assembly campaign manager. As a result of this and other letters, the campaign manager, who was convicted of lewd conduct with a minor, avoided a jail sentence.

This caused quite a stir in Redondo Beach. Mayor Parton admits writing a letter for his manager, but said he thought that the charge was driving under the influence. He also said the letter he wrote was not the one in the judge’s file. He states that he had sent blank stationery to the manager, who then drafted a new letter.

In response to this, the Redondo Beach City Council voted on Dec. 21 that no blank letterhead be given to any person or group, and if information is requested from an outside group for a letter, it should be delivered on blank paper and copied on city letterhead by the council member, mayor or their assistant.

On Jan. 18, the city attorney informed the mayor and council members that they did not have to open their letter files to the public. On Feb. 1, the city attorney recommended the guidelines for public disclosure including 1) that requests for records must be specific, focused and limited to a reasonable amount of information; and 2) that requested records be screened to avoid disclosure of material which would intrude on decision-making. Item 2 is sufficiently broad to prevent access to too many letters. Item 1 severely restricts the public’s right to know by making it possible to view only what one already knows exists.

With the above guidelines, Redondo Beach will not have the open-letter policy enjoyed by Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Redondo Beach residents should call or write their council member and mayor concerning this and also attend the Feb. 15 council meeting at 6:30 p.m. to participate in public discussion.

KIM LEWIS Redondo Beach