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Redondo Beach Newsletter — January 4, 2026
📬 Brad Waller — District 1 Newsletter — January 5, 2026
Happy New Year, Neighbors,
The calendar flipped last week, and City Hall is already back online. This week brings the first City Council and commission meetings of 2026, a community blood drive that could save lives, and a reminder that small acts of civic participation compound over time. Below is what's coming, what you need to know, and where to show up.
I’m pleased to welcome our new Police Chief, Stephen Sprengel, who officially assumed the role on December 27. With 23 years of service in the Redondo Beach Police Department, Chief Sprengel’s appointment reflects a strong tradition of leadership development and promoting from within. I look forward to working with him as he leads the department forward.
🩸 Public Safety & Community Health
🔹 Red Cross blood drive on Wednesday, January 7, 8am–6pm. RBPD is hosting on the second floor of the Main Library, and every donation can save up to three lives. The holiday season typically creates a shortage because regular donors travel or skip their usual appointments, which means hospitals are running lean right when flu season hits. If you're healthy and eligible, this is one of the highest-impact hours you can spend this month. Oh, and all who come are entered for a chance to win a trip for two to the Super Bowl!
→ 💡 Why this matters: Blood supply isn't something you think about until a hospital needs it for your family member. The Red Cross can't manufacture blood. It has to come from donors, and Southern California's supply chain depends on drives like this one staying consistent. If 20 people show up, that's potentially 60 units available for trauma cases, surgeries, and cancer treatments across the region.
👉 Sign up for the January 7 blood drive
🎨 Economic Development & Neighborhood Identity
🔹 ARTesia corridor got a refresh, and the city supported it. I saw the new installations along Artesia Boulevard last week. They are brighter, cleaner, and more cohesive, and it's the kind of incremental improvement that shifts how a neighborhood feels. The North Redondo Beach Business Association coordinated with the city to make it happen, and the results show what's possible when volunteers and the city align around a shared vision.
→ 🎯 My take: Economic development isn't just recruiting new businesses. It's also creating an environment where existing businesses can thrive, and residents feel proud of their neighborhood. Small-scale beautification projects like this signal investment, which attracts foot traffic, which drives revenue, which keeps storefronts occupied. It's a feedback loop, and ARTesia just got a boost.
📅 Looking Ahead — Meetings & Civic Engagement
🔹 City Council meets Tuesday, January 6 at 6pm. This is the first meeting of the new year, and we will be covering several important items, including zoning updates for the Artesia Aviation Corridor aimed at incentivizing commercial reinvestment and strengthening economic activity. We’ll also review proposed land-use policy updates related to historic preservation, along with an update on Teen Center activities and programming. If you've got questions about what Council is tracking or priorities you want me to carry forward, now's the time to flag them. Agendas get posted 72 hours before meetings on the Legistar calendar.
→ ⚡ What I'm watching: I'll be paying close attention to how we're pacing on economic development initiatives, coastal infrastructure, and public safety capacity. The first quarter of the year sets the tone for what gets prioritized, and I want to make sure you needs are front and center.
🔹 Youth Commission meets Wednesday, January 7 at 6:30pm. This is a special meeting (normally scheduled for the first Thursday, but shifted due to New Year's Day). The Youth Commission gives students a voice in city decisions, and I consistently learn something every time I attend. If you've got kids interested in local government, this commission is one of the best entry points.
👉 View the City Council calendar
🥕 Weekly Markets
🔹 Farmers' Market by the Pier (Veterans Park) — Resumes Thursday, January 8, 8am–1pm after the New Year's break. 309 Esplanade.
🔹 Riviera Village Farmers Market — Open Sunday, January 11, 8:30am–1pm. Triangle Lot, 1801 S. Elena Ave.
📱 Access Redondo
Do you have a problem or need to report an issue to the city? Use the Access Redondo App.
2026 starts with systems coming back online and people showing up. The blood drive on Wednesday isn't glamorous, but it's the kind of civic infrastructure that makes a city work. The Youth Commission meeting gives students real exposure to how decisions get made. The ARTesia improvements show what happens when volunteers and city departments coordinate effectively.
I spent 30+ years building systems in tech, and the pattern holds: small, consistent inputs compound over time. That's true for software, and it's true for cities. Every donation, every commission meeting, every volunteer cleanup shifts the baseline slightly upward. Keep showing up, and the results follow.
If you've got thoughts on what Council should prioritize this quarter, 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.
See you around the neighborhood.
