📬 Councilmember Ray Jackson | Hermosa Beach | March 23, 2026

Dear Hermosa Beach,

This past week took me from Sacramento to Carson to a Saturday town hall with elected officials from across the South Bay. That kind of cross-pollination matters. The issues facing Hermosa Beach do not stop at our city limits, and the relationships we build with state legislators, neighboring cities, and regional partners directly shape the outcomes we can deliver for our community.

This edition covers a major federal action on offshore drilling that directly affects our coastline, a preview of tomorrow night's City Council meeting, new local business investment, regional collaboration in action, and a few words about honoring those who serve. Here is what you need to know.

🌊 Environment & Protecting Our Coast

🔹 Federal offshore drilling order: what it means for Hermosa Beach. On March 13, the federal government invoked the Defense Production Act to order the restart of offshore oil production off the Santa Barbara coast, directing Sable Offshore Corp. to resume operations at facilities shut down since a major crude oil spill in 2015. The stated justification is rising fuel costs tied to the conflict involving Iran. Governor Newsom has pledged legal action, and California lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have pushed back.

→ 🎯 My position: I will say it plainly: performative politics in service of oil industry interests is not coastal protection. California's coast deserves better. As a sitting California Coastal Commissioner, I take this threat seriously. The Coastal Act exists because voters decided in 1972 that our shoreline belongs to the public, not to any single industry. Hermosa Beach's economy, identity, and quality of life are inseparable from a clean, healthy coastline. I will continue monitoring this situation closely and will report back as legal challenges move forward.

👉 California Coastal Commission meeting information and agenda

🔹 Sacramento meetings: building state-level relationships for the coast. This week I connected with Senator Mike McGuire, who appointed me to the Coastal Commission, and met Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (AD-55), Chair of the Natural Resources Committee. Sometimes you need to leave the bubble to do the people's business effectively. Strengthening these relationships helps ensure Hermosa Beach has a voice at the table when coastal, environmental, and infrastructure decisions are made at the state level.

🏛️ City Council: Tomorrow Night's Meeting & What to Watch

City Council meets tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24, at 6:00 PM. Several items from the March 10 Special Meeting return for action, and a new discussion is on the table.

🔹 ADU and JADU ordinance: second reading. Council introduced this ordinance on March 10 to bring Hermosa Beach's accessory dwelling unit regulations into compliance with current state law. Tomorrow's meeting is the second reading required before final adoption. If you have questions about what this means for your property, now is the time to engage.

🔹 Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) code update: second reading. Also introduced March 10, this update clarifies definitions, tax application, and the appeals process for the city's hotel and short-term rental tax ordinance. Second reading is required before adoption.

🔹 Surfer Walk of Fame relocation discussion. The Walk of Fame has honored legendary surfers and surfboard builders since 2003. With the original pier deck plaques in need of a new home, Council will consider options for relocating them. This is an opportunity to weigh in on how we preserve a piece of Hermosa's surfing heritage. I encourage residents who care about this tradition to attend or submit public comment.

👉 View upcoming agendas and meeting information

💰 Economic Development

🔹 Quality Inn and Suites: ribbon cutting and renewed investment. This weekend, Harrison and the team at Quality Inn and Suites celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting. Continued investment from local businesses is exactly what keeps Hermosa Beach's economy healthy. It takes real commitment to put resources into a small coastal city, and I am grateful to see operators who believe in this community enough to do it. Congratulations to the entire team.

🏘️ Housing

🔹 South Bay Regional Housing Trust: first meeting approaching. As a reminder, Council voted unanimously on March 10 to join this regional joint powers authority. The Trust's first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 23. I will be tracking what comes out of that session and will report back on what it means for affordable housing efforts in Hermosa Beach and across the South Bay.

👉 South Bay Cities Council of Governments regional housing information

🤝 Community & Regional Collaboration

🔹 Assemblymember Muratsuchi's town hall: South Bay leaders together. Saturday's town hall brought together elected officials from Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Lomita, El Segundo, and Gardena. As Assemblymember Muratsuchi nears the end of his service representing the 66th District, I want to recognize what he has meant to this community. From day one, he has been a champion for local control and school funding. There is still work ahead, and I am grateful for his leadership.

🔹 Carson State of the City. I had the opportunity to attend Carson's State of the City event this week. It was a reminder of the vision and collaboration happening across the South Bay. Regional partnerships make every city in this area stronger, and I will continue showing up for our neighbors the same way I hope they show up for us.

🔹 Honoring Dolores Huerta. This week I had the privilege of standing with Dolores Huerta, a woman whose lifetime of courage, service, and advocacy speaks for itself. Her work is a reminder of what unwavering commitment to doing what is right looks like, and her example continues to inspire.

🔹 Remembering LTC Brandon Abid Azhar Shah. I want to take a moment to honor Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Abid Azhar Shah, who passed away on March 12 at the age of 41. As a retired Army Colonel, these losses hit close. Rest easy, Warrior. We have the watch.

🔹 Honoring service, always. The passing of Robert Mueller on March 20 is an occasion to reflect on what a life of service looks like. Before he became a household name, Mueller was a Marine who volunteered for Vietnam, led a platoon under fire, and earned a Purple Heart. He went on to serve as FBI Director for twelve years, including the aftermath of September 11. Regardless of where anyone stands on politics, military service and a lifetime of public duty deserve respect. That is a principle I will never compromise on. As someone who spent nearly 30 years in uniform, I believe we owe it to every veteran, living or gone, to honor their sacrifice with the dignity it deserves.

📅 Upcoming

🔹 Tuesday, March 24, 6:00 PM — Regular City Council meeting. ADU/JADU second reading, TOT code update second reading, and Surfer Walk of Fame relocation discussion. Attend in person, submit written comments, or participate by phone.

👉 View upcoming agendas and meeting information

🔹 Tuesday, April 14 — City Council takes up the "After Dark Tour LA 2026" half marathon proposal for further deliberation. Public comment is welcome.

🔹 Wednesday, April 22 — Earth Day. 🌎

🔹 Thursday, April 23 — First meeting of the South Bay Regional Housing Trust.

📱 Stay Connected

If you have a service issue to report, the Go Hermosa! app is the most direct way to get it to the right department at City Hall.

👉 Submit a service request via Go Hermosa!

For community updates and commentary between editions, you can follow me on Instagram.

👉 Follow @RayForHermosa on Instagram

This was a week of building bridges: with state leaders, with neighboring cities, and with our own community. That work does not always make headlines, but it is the foundation for getting things done. Tomorrow night's Council meeting is another opportunity for you to be part of the process. I hope to see you there.

Thank you for reading. As always, reach out anytime with questions, concerns, or information you believe I should know.

Working together to build an ever better Hermosa Beach.

Ray Jackson
Councilmember, City of Hermosa Beach
rjackson@hermosabeach.gov