📬 Brad Waller, District 1 Newsletter, May 26, 2026

Good morning, Redondo,

Yesterday at Veterans Park, the hometown Memorial Day ceremony was a reminder of what the weekend is really for: the men and women who never came home, so the rest of us could spend a Monday with family, with friends, and with real gratitude for the freedoms we get to enjoy together. This newsletter waited until Tuesday on purpose, so the holiday could be about remembrance and the people we love first.

Below: the Memorial Day recap, where District 1 infrastructure stands, the 50th Annual Medal of Valor, the PTA event that hits closer to home than most, and a reminder that there is one week left to drop your ballot.

Memorial Day at Veterans Park

🔹 Yesterday's ceremony was exactly what Memorial Day should be. The hometown observance returned to the Veterans Memorial by the Pier, and the program lived up to the day. Mayor Jim Light opened, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band played, Lt. Col. Tom Lasser and former Councilmember John Gran offered the welcome, and Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi and Senator Ben Allen each shared remarks ahead of the keynote from Captain Blaine Pitkin, USN, who leads Navy Munitions Command Pacific out of Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach.

→ 🎯 My take: Speaker remarks landed because they talked about the people who never came home, the families who carry that loss every day, and what it means for the rest of us to live in the freedom that was bought for us. Memorial Day is not Veterans Day, and yesterday was a reminder of why the distinction matters.

→ 🙏 A commendation worth noting: Redondo Beach was honored to receive a commendation from Governor Gavin Newsom, presented by CalVet Secretary Lindsey Sin. The U.S. Naval Sea Cadets retired the old flag and raised a new one, and the Elks Lodge #1378 hosted the community BBQ right after. Thank you to every veteran, every family member, every first responder, and every neighbor who turned out.
👉 View the Memorial Day post (Instagram)

🗳️ One Week Left to Vote

🔹 Ballots are due by Tuesday, June 2. If you have not turned in your ballot yet, this is your week to get it done. Drop boxes are located all over the city, and the trip takes five minutes. I am supporting Scott Houston for State Assembly (AD66), Sion Roy for State Senate (SD24), Al Muratsuchi for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Ben Allen for California Insurance Commissioner.

→ 🤝 Last week was where I stand. This week is about who is standing together. Mayor Jim Light, former Mayor Steve Aspel, former Mayor Pro Tem Laura Emdee, Councilmembers Paige Kaluderovic, Zein Obagi Jr., and Chadwick Castle, City Attorney Joy Ford, and Treasurer Eugene Solomon have all endorsed Scott Houston for Assembly. That is a diverse group of people with different perspectives who agree on what the South Bay needs in Sacramento.

→ ⚡ Why this matters here: AD66 is the seat that touches our local zoning fights, our water reliability conversations, and the wildfire and insurance policy decisions that affect every household. Scott built the hardscaping program that has helped protect thousands of homes from wildfire across our region. Local control matters, and so does sending someone to Sacramento who understands what local control actually means.
👉 Check your voter status
👉 View the unified Redondo leader endorsement post (Instagram)

🚨 50th Annual South Bay Medal of Valor

🔹 Thursday at the Torrance Marriott was a milestone fifty years in the making. The South Bay Police and Fire Memorial Foundation's 50th Annual Medal of Valor luncheon recognized officers and firefighters from across our region whose actions went beyond the normal call of duty. Redondo Beach was incredibly well represented, with many of our police officers and firefighters honored for their service, leadership, and acts of valor.

→ 🎯 My take: The Medal of Valor luncheon is one of those events that residents do not always see, but it shapes how we, as a region, take care of the people who run toward the calls the rest of us run from. Fifty years of that work matters. Thank you to every honoree, and to the families who carry the cost of this work alongside them.
👉 View the Medal of Valor post (Instagram)

🛠️ District 1 in Motion

🔹 Two infrastructure wins on Thursday. A lot was happening in District 1 on May 21. In the morning, we got a demonstration of dry ice blasting on the Esplanade, a potential new tool for cleaning and maintaining the surface without damaging it. Later that day, the Torrance Boulevard and S. Irena intersection received its safety upgrade.

→ 💡 What this means: The Torrance and Irena work is the project I mentioned in my newsletter and was approved at the May 5th meeting. It is now installed. The intersection is safer, more visible, and easier for everyone passing through. That is roughly three weeks from approval to completion, which is how this kind of small-but-mighty work is supposed to move.

→ 🎯 My take: These are the projects that do not make headlines but make a real difference in how a neighborhood feels and functions. I would rather we test a tool like dry ice blasting on a section of Esplanade before scaling it, and get intersection improvements installed quickly. That is the cadence I want from City Hall on infrastructure work.
👉 View the District 1 update post (Instagram

💼 Good News for Small Business Owners

🔹 A simple update should reduce paperwork for thousands of small businesses. Los Angeles County has approved an update that raises the reporting threshold for lower-valued business property from $5,000 to $10,000. Starting July 1, many small businesses will no longer need to file and pay taxes on smaller amounts of equipment, furniture, fixtures, and similar property.

→ 💡 What this means: This should reduce paperwork, save time, and let more small business owners focus on serving customers, growing their businesses, and keeping our local economy moving.

🎓 PTA Reflections, Honorary Service Awards, and Scholarships

🔹 Monday night at the Redondo Beach PTA celebration was a good reminder of where this work starts. The annual Reflections, Honorary Service Award, and Scholarship event recognized student creativity, honored dedicated volunteers, and sent graduating students off to the next chapter of their education. PTA has been part of my life for many years, and having previously received two Honorary Service Awards myself, I know how much time and dedication go into the work being recognized.

→ ⚡ Why this matters: Recognition events like this are how a school community keeps its volunteer pipeline alive. Honorary Service Awards keep showing up on the volunteer roster, year after year, parent after parent. Congratulations to every Reflections participant, every scholarship recipient, and every HSA honoree.
👉 View the PTA event post (Instagram)

🏎️ Cruisin' the Lagoon Is Off to a Great Start

🔹 The first Friday of Cruisin' the Lagoon was a hit. May 22 kicked off the summer series at the Redondo Beach Marina, with hundreds of both modern and classic cars rolling in for the inaugural cruise. The series runs every Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. through September 11. All makes and models welcome. No awards, no raffles, just great cars, great restaurants, and good company in one of the best marina settings in Southern California.

→ 🎯 My take: If you missed week one, there are plenty of Fridays ahead. Marina parking is $2 per hour, $6 for three hours if you stay the whole time. Look for me when you stop by.
👉 View the Cruisin' the Lagoon post (Instagram)
👉 Pay parking via ParkMobile

📅 Coming Up

🔹 Household Hazardous Waste and Document Shredding, Saturday, May 30, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Free HHW collection and document shredding for Redondo Beach residents at the Performing Arts Center parking lot (1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd). Bring proof of residency. Pack HHW in a sturdy box in your trunk with a 15-gallon or 125-pound limit. Shredding is capped at 5 boxes per trip.

🔹 America 250 Library Fundraiser, Saturday, May 30, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The Friends of the Redondo Beach Public Library celebrate America's 250th birthday at the Main Library with the Pennyroyal Players' "Salute to America in Song and Story," a silent auction, refreshments, and free parking under the library. Pay what you can.

🥕 Weekly Markets

Farmers' Market by the Pier (Veterans Park), Thursdays, 8am to 1pm. 309 Esplanade.
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Riviera Village Farmers Market, Sundays, 8:30am to 1pm. Triangle Lot, 1801 S. Elena Ave.
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North Redondo Beach Farmers Market, Wednesdays, 2pm to 7pm. Green Lane at Artesia.
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📱 Access Redondo

Do you have a problem or need to report an issue to the city? The Access Redondo App is getting a major refresh, so you will need to use the city website until the new version is ready.  I’m told it might be late summer before the new app is ready. The website is quick, and you can use it from your phone.
👉 Report an Issue

🏖️ Redondo Roundup

Yesterday at the Veterans Memorial, the 50th Medal of Valor luncheon on Thursday, two District 1 infrastructure wins on the same day, the PTA recognition event Monday night, and the first Friday of Cruisin' the Lagoon. A week defined as much by who showed up as by what was decided. The clock is now ticking on the June 2 primary, so if your ballot is still waiting at home, this is the week to walk it to a drop box.

If anything in here sparked a question or something you want to share, hit reply. I read every message.

"I believe progress isn't one headline — it's how we treat each other at games, how we welcome visitors to our beach, and how we keep showing up for small, unglamorous work. Thanks for doing that work with me. 🤝"

Brad Waller
City Council Member, Redondo Beach
brad.waller@redondo.org