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Redondo Beach Newsletter — December 29, 2025
📬 Brad Waller — District 1 Newsletter — December 30, 2025
Hello Redondo friends,
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
Council wrapped its final meeting on December 16, and while City Hall offices are closed through the new year, I've been using the time to get out in the city. I spent an afternoon and evening last week with the crew at Fire Station #2, and I've been thinking about what I saw there ever since. Between that ride-along and reflecting on what District 1 accomplished in 2025, I'm heading into the new year with a lot of gratitude and a clear sense of what's ahead.
This is my final newsletter for 2025. Below is what I learned from the firefighters, what's coming in January, and where you'll find me when City Hall reopens.
🚒 Public Safety & Service Behind the Scenes
🔹 I rode along with RBFD Station #2 last week, and what I saw changed how I think about emergency response. I joined the crew for an afternoon shift and stayed through the evening, responding to multiple calls. No fires or car accidents during my ride-along, but I witnessed something just as important: the extreme professionalism and calm, decisive action our firefighters bring to medical emergencies. These are split-second situations where composure and training make all the difference, and Station #2's crew operates at a level that's truly impressive.
→ 💡 What most people don’t know: The firefighters pay for and cook all their own meals during their 48-hour shifts. I was their guest for dinner, and watching them coordinate meal prep between calls while staying ready to roll out the door at any moment showed me how much of this job is about rhythm, teamwork, and systems that work under pressure. It's the unglamorous infrastructure that makes emergency response reliable.
→ 🎯 My take: Public safety isn't just response times and equipment. It's the culture crews build during the quiet hours that shows up when things go sideways. Station #2 runs on trust, training, and the kind of operational excellence you can only build through repetition and accountability. If you see these crews around the district, thank them. They're earning it every shift.
💼 Economic Development & Community Building
🔹 The North Redondo Beach Business Association kicks off 2026 with a Happy New Year Mixer on Wednesday, January 14, 5:30-7:30pm at Trusted Gut Brewery (2903 182nd Street). This is pizza, pints, and the kind of casual networking that actually builds community. Happy hour pricing on beer and kombucha courtesy of Trusted Gut, plus pizza from the newly reopened Great Room Cafe. Free for NRBBA members, and membership is free for residents and businesses.
→ ⚡ Why this matters: North Redondo's business community runs on volunteers who show up month after month to strengthen the economic fabric of the district. Events like this connect new businesses with longtime owners, help residents meet the people behind the counters, and give everyone a reason to support local. If you've been thinking about getting more involved in your neighborhood, this is an easy on-ramp.
👉 RSVP for NRBBA New Year Mixer
🎊 Looking Ahead — January & Beyond
🔹 City Council meetings resume early January. The next Youth Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 7 at 6:30pm, and I expect the full Council calendar to pick back up immediately. Check the Legistar calendar as agendas get posted, and if there's a project or policy you want me to track, now's the time to flag it.
→ 💡 What I'm watching: We'll likely see year-end reports, budget updates, and the first wave of 2026 project timelines. I'll be paying close attention to how we're pacing on economic development initiatives, coastal access improvements, and public safety capacity. If you've got questions or priorities you want me to carry into the new year, reply to this email.
👉 View the City Council calendar
🥕 Weekly Markets
🔹 Farmers' Market by the Pier (Veterans Park) — Closed Thursday, January 1 for New Year's observance. Resumes regular Thursday schedule (8am–1pm) starting Thursday, January 8. 309 Esplanade.
🔹 Riviera Village Farmers Market — Resumes Sunday, January 4, 8:30am–1pm. Triangle Lot, 1801 S. Elena Ave.
🌊 Environment & Coastal Access
🔹 South Bay Parkland Conservancy (SBPC) — Ongoing restoration across the bluffs and Wilderness Park — great way to connect with local naturalists and neighbors.
👉 Esplanade Bluff Restoration 👉 Wilderness Park Restoration
📱 Access Redondo
Do you have a problem or need to report an issue to the city? Use the Access Redondo App.
2025 wraps up this week, and I'm grateful. Grateful for the firefighters at Station #2 who welcomed me into their shift and showed me what operational excellence looks like. Grateful for the volunteers who anchor NRBBA, Keep the Esplanade Beautiful, and dozens of other groups that make District 1 work. Grateful for every one of you who stopped me at the farmers market, sent a thoughtful email, or showed up to Council meetings to hold me accountable.
City Hall reopens in January, and we've got real work ahead: economic development projects that need momentum, coastal infrastructure that needs attention, and the ongoing challenge of keeping Redondo Beach affordable, safe, and connected. I'm ready for it, and I hope you are too.
If you've got thoughts on what I should prioritize in 2026, or if you just want to talk through a city issue, reply to this email. I read every message, and your input makes me a better representative.
Happy New Year. See you around the neighborhood in 2026.
