EL SEGUNDO HERALD July 25, 2019 Page 3
July 18 Council Article
Correction and Explanation
In my El Segundo City Council recap for
the July 18 edition, I mistakenly reported that
Councilmember Scot Nicol found it troubling
that the eight future “lottery” winners who
would purchase moderate-income units on
the D.R. Horton residential complex on Imperial
Avenue could be left hanging if there
are problems and the developer leaves town
after completing construction. In fact, Nicol’s
concern is for the neighboring property owners
on Sheldon Street currently dealing with
civil matters with D.R. Horton because of
alleged damages resulting from the nearby
housing development construction.
During the meeting, Nicol asked for and
received confirmation from City Attorney
Mark Hensley that the City of El Segundo has
no jurisdiction to intervene in civil disputes
between D.R. Horton and the neighboring
(Sheldon) residents. Hensley further verified
that D.R. Horton can complete its project
and leave town with those civil matters still
lingering and the developer would have no
obligation to remedy those issues -- unless
the individual homeowners pursue legal
action on their own. This scenario is what
Nicol found troubling.
In any case, I stand corrected and regret
the error…
– Brian Simon •
Correction
Letters
Feels Threatened
Congratulations to the El Segundo Museum
of the arts in consortium with the Los Angeles
Public Library on bringing our little town to the
pinnacle of cultural renaissance. What a novel idea
to turn little Mayberry, El Segundo, into Sodom
and Gomorrah by bringing in A Drag Queen,
named Pickle, to read to 30 children, ages 3-8,
during story hour at the Museum of Art. The Daily
Breeze declared in its headline that the event was
praised so I guess I have to ask who might the
brain-dead adults be that praised this event. These
parents, the library, and above all the El Segundo
Museum of the arts should be charged with child
endangerment for subjecting these precious
beautiful naïve children to listening to a story and
questions answered by a person who is proud to
declare he does not even know how to dress or
which sex he/she belongs to. What is next, pimp and
prostitute or transgender story time? Is there
any doubt why our kids are so mentally and
emotionally screwed up today. There is no reason
for young children to have to try to understand the
sexual and psychological fantasies and hang-ups
presented to them at story time by a drag queen.
Where is the common sense that is so sorely
needed to protect our children today? I beg you,
please let these children enjoy their naïveté and
Innocence during these early years of their lives.
– Rick Sabosky
Herald Loves All
The El Segundo Herald loves and supports
each and every person on this planet.
Viva la differences.
– H.M.
A Bird in the Hand Is Worth a Lot
Story and Photos by Cyndi Myatt
Recently, I was walking along Main Street
and I heard a number of birds loudly chirping. I
looked around to see what all the noise was
about and noticed a baby bird on the sidewalk
in front of the jewelry store. It had fallen out
of the nest (over 20 feet above) from under
one of the tiles on the roof of the building.
The mommy bird was chirping to her baby
and the baby would answer. They went back
and forth constantly. I could see the mother
up above (her head sticking out from under
the tile) frantically calling for her baby. Two
other sparrows also stood by watching over the
baby and chirping. Possibly one was the father.
The animals in El Segundo are a part of our
community and sometimes they (like humans)
need help. So I walked over to the fire department
and told the receptionist about the situation and
soon after, the fire captain on duty (Capt. Bonfield)
came out and I told him about the baby
bird. Capt. Bonfield, being an animal lover, could
see how upset the mother was. He determined that
they would need the firetruck ladder to get the
baby safely back in the nest. In about 15 minutes,
the firetruck was there along with five crew
members. They rounded up the baby bird and
put it in the pocket of the fireman pocket who
would be climbing the ladder from the truck.
By this time there were about 20 people
gathered around to see what the commotion
was about. It took about 10 minutes after they
got the truck and ladder positioned to get the
baby bird back in the nest with mommy.
Everyone on the ground clapped and I saw
tears in the eyes of more than a few onlookers
(including my own). It was heart-warming to
see our fire department take the time to help
a helpless bird and its family reunite. The
baby bird would otherwise have died with the
parents helplessly standing by. •
Pullen-Miles Sees Role as
Mentor Like a Father Figure
By Haleemon Anderson
Lawndale Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles books
a casual photo shoot and makes plans to
take along his youngest daughter, a budding
photographer. Sienna, 10, will get to snap a
few shots under the watchful eye of a professional
photographer, who just happens to be
the mayor’s neighbor.
The mayor is big on this type of mentoring.
In fact, he has emerged as a go-to advisor for a
number of local women in their political careers.
Pullen-Miles says this penchant for mentoring
female candidates developed organically. “When
I first started in politics, most of the people
who helped me along the way were women,”
said Pullen-Miles. He mentions Gardena civic
leaders Laverne Knight and Ethel Barnes as
early advisors.
He spent seven years under the tutelage of
the late Jenny Oropeza, a beloved local leader.
“I had the opportunity to work for her in the
assembly and the senate,” he said. “I was on her
staff when I ran for Lawndale [City Council].
He says moving from staff to an elected
office widened his perspective. “A lot of my
support came from women… so when other
people came on the scene, I gravitated to them
naturally,” said Pullen-Miles. I didn’t come
into it saying, ‘I’m going to help women.’ It
just shaped up that way.”
Indeed, Pullen-Miles’ influence has helped
shape the careers of a number of local women
in all facets of political engagement. Melissa
Ramoso, a councilmember in the city of Artesia,
says his friendship was really inspiring
in her early campaign. “When I first ran five
years ago, he came to my kick-off,” she said.
It’s very supportive to have a colleague come
out for you like that.”
“She’s a go-getter,” said Pullen-Miles. Ramoso
was unsuccessful in her first council bid,
but Pullen-Miles had her back. “We knew she
just needed to hang in there. What I admired
about her, she’s a fighter. She didn’t give up.”
Ramoso was elected to the Artesia City
Council last year in an historic bid, as the first
woman on the board. After a career spanning
14 years at the federal and state level, Pullen-
Miles said he always knew Ramoso would be
an elected official.
Ramoso added that Pullen-Miles is always
available when she needs advice. “I have known
him to be personable and knowledgeable in
our field of public service,” she said. “He is
always willing to help you find a solution to
any issue at hand.”
Christina Carroll, a recent Lawndale transplant,
is just beginning her civic career. A true
“military brat,” she was born on a naval base
in Portsmouth, Virginia. Pullen-Miles appointed
Carroll to Lawndale’s Parks and Recreation
Commission after seeing her at community
events. He said Carroll’s energy and personality
are a perfect fit for that committee. “It puts
you directly into the community,” he said.
Pullen-Miles believes Carrol has the right
composure to eventually hold public office.
“She’s another young woman who is very
tenacious,” he said. “She’s t All alone and away from Mommy aken a leadership
El Segundo Fire comes to the rescue
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See Pullen-Miles, page 6