Mark Burton

Mark Burton opposes the proposed 7-story high-rise apartment project at 2nd and Sepulveda due to concerns about public safety. He cites the intersection's history of severe traffic incidents, including fatalities, and argues that the project would increase risks for pedestrians, cyclists, and first responders. He requests detailed documentation and analysis to justify the approval of the height waiver under public safety laws.

Mark Burton argues that Manhattan Beach residents are complacent and not adequately informed about city governance and financial decisions. He criticizes the City Council for a lack of transparency and highlights issues such as rising employee numbers and compensation, pension debt, and misused taxes. He calls for greater resident engagement to improve accountability and transparency.

Mark Burton supports real term limits for the Manhattan Beach City Council, advocating for a maximum of two terms. He argues that without such limits, the same candidates serve for many terms, leading to complacency, a lack of fresh ideas, and a culture of secrecy with fewer adherence to open meeting laws.

Mark Burton argues that the City should address the issue of polluted stormwater and animal waste in Polliwog Pond to protect children's health. He supports partnering with LA County to develop a stormwater cleanup project, citing the availability of Measure W funds and the City's stormwater tax as resources to accomplish this. He emphasizes the need for leadership on the City Council to take action.

Mark Burton shared an article by Paul Wafer highlighting a 61% increase in Manhattan Beach's per capita city expenses over five years, despite a population decline. He also notes Manhattan Beach has the highest per capita expense among similar California cities, questioning why city officials are not addressing the issue.

Mark Burton opposes the City Council's decision to award a $27.8 million contract to a contractor with a history of labor law violations and misleading disclosures. He cites the contractor's past administrative prosecution for failing to pay prevailing wages, misclassification of workers, failure to disclose settlements, and a lack of transparency on its website as reasons for his criticism.

Mark Burton supports real term limits for city officials, arguing that the current system allows mayors to run for multiple terms after sitting out, leading to a lack of accountability and transparency. He cites increased city employee costs and a disconnect between officials and residents as negative consequences of the existing system.

Mark Burton supports Manhattan Beach adopting a City Charter. He argues that being a chartered city, like Redondo Beach, provides greater local control and the ability to resist state mandates, citing examples where Redondo Beach successfully challenged state laws and election changes.

Mark Burton supports Manhattan Beach adopting a city charter. He argues that chartered cities, like Redondo Beach, have more control over local affairs and can challenge state housing laws, whereas general law cities, like Manhattan Beach, must comply with state mandates that lead to high-rise residential projects.

Mark Burton shared a summary written by the League of California Cities’ legal staff explaining the concept of charter cities in California. The post outlines the differences between charter cities and general law cities, defines 'municipal affairs,' and describes the process for a city to become a charter city.

Mark Burton published a post sharing a petition to oppose the proposed 7-story building at 2nd & Sepulveda in Manhattan Beach. The post argues that the project would significantly change the neighborhood's scale and character, and negatively impact traffic, safety, and quality of life.

Mark Burton posted a request for people to sign a petition opposing a building project. He claims the project will affect the community and stated that the campaign needs support.

Mark Burton opposes the use of residential overlays on commercial/industrial sites to meet housing requirements, citing the New Commune v. Redondo Beach case. He argues that such overlays violate state law because they do not guarantee residential development and fail to meet mandatory density and use requirements.

Mark Burton shared a letter from Mr. Philip Wah of 'Stop The Rise' expressing concerns about the legality of Manhattan Beach's reliance on Residential Overlay Districts following a court ruling against similar practices in Redondo Beach. The letter asks the City Council to assess risks, develop mitigation strategies, and consider revising the housing plan to avoid legal challenges.

Mark Burton argues that charter cities in California have the authority to set term limits for city council members. He cites Article XI, sections 3(a) and 5(a) of the California Constitution to assert that city charters have the force of state law and grant charter cities supremacy over municipal affairs, including term limits.

Mark Burton supports real term limits for City Council members, arguing that current 'faux' term limits allow politicians to serve indefinitely by sitting out for two years between terms. He claims this has led to fiscal mismanagement and a lack of accountability, citing increased costs and a disconnect from residents. Burton calls for voters to support candidates who advocate for two-term limits and a return to fiscally responsible governance.

Mark Burton opposes the approval of certain multifamily housing projects in the Residential Overlay District on Sepulveda Blvd., citing concerns that they may violate state housing laws based on a court decision. He requests that the Community Development Director halt these projects or conduct traffic and parking surveys before proceeding.

Mark Burton shared an essay by Paul Wafer arguing for a 10% reduction in the city’s operational budget through various cost-saving measures. These include freezing new hires, implementing productivity standards, holding monthly operational reviews, exploring AI automation, and reducing overtime. The post also encourages public input on additional cost-reduction ideas.

Mark Burton opposes the construction of 7-story high-rise apartments on Sepulveda. He claims the project is unsafe and urges people to sign the Stop the Rise Petition.

Mark Burton argues that the City of Manhattan Beach's Residential Overlay District (ROD) on Sepulveda Blvd. may no longer be legally valid due to a recent court ruling. He suggests that the City is seeking a legislative solution but doubts it will pass with State Senator Scott Weiner in office. He shares Assembly Bill AB 2741, introduced by Assemblymember Muratsuchi, which aims to address the use of residential overlay zones in housing element compliance.

Mark Burton opposes the use of residential overlays in Redondo Beach's housing element, citing a court ruling that found such overlays noncompliant with state law. He argues that the overlay failed to guarantee minimum residential density and did not meet site-designation requirements for lower-income housing. The post highlights the court's conclusion that the city's approach may be vulnerable to legal challenge and suggests that similar programs in other jurisdictions may need to be revised.

Mark Burton supports limiting city councilmembers to two terms, citing policy reasons such as preventing power entrenchment, encouraging new perspectives, increasing electoral competition, and promoting citizen legislators over career politicians.

Mark Burton supports term limits for the Manhattan Beach City Council, arguing that they promote fresh ideas, broader community participation, and prevent the concentration of political power. He claims that without term limits, incumbents gain unfair advantages that discourage new candidates and limit leadership opportunities. He notes that the upcoming election may feature only three candidates, all long-serving incumbents, which he views as unhealthy for local democracy.

Mark Burton opposes high-rise apartment developments along Sepulveda Blvd in Manhattan Beach, citing traffic safety concerns, insufficient parking, and risks to pedestrians and cyclists. He argues that these developments exacerbate congestion, create dangerous access points, and may violate housing element requirements based on a recent court ruling.

Mark Burton shares an article about Jon Bell, owner of Deep Roots Garden Center, who opposes a housing development project at the former nursery site. Bell is concerned about the safety of the intersection of 2nd Street and Sepulveda, citing frequent accidents, and criticizes the developer for using his business's name to potentially deflect public scrutiny.

Mark Burton opposes the City's handling of traffic safety on State Highway 1, criticizing the lack of a schedule for pursuing State Priority Corridor Status and the failure to address traffic impacts from high-rise apartment construction along the route. He argues that the City and Caltrans have neglected to account for the increased traffic risks caused by new developments.

Mark Burton opposes high-rise apartments on Sepulveda Boulevard due to concerns about increased traffic accident risks on Highway 1. He argues that these risks include rear-end collisions, sideswipes, U-turn accidents, and dangers to pedestrians and cyclists, citing factors like high-speed merging conflicts, visibility restrictions, and infrastructure limitations.

Mark Burton shared a report highlighting the dangers of Sepulveda Blvd. in Manhattan Beach, specifically near a proposed new development at 2nd Street and Sepulveda. He implies concern about the safety risks associated with the area, suggesting that the location may be unsuitable for new development due to its deadly traffic conditions.

Mark Burton opposes the City Council's perceived inaction on high-rise apartment projects in the community. He argues that the Council should demonstrate political persistence and leadership by exploring options such as lobbying for legislative changes, conducting traffic and parking studies, and developing community-specific criteria to assess health and safety concerns.

Mark Burton explains that the South Bay Council of Governments (SBCOG) will administer Measure A funds through a new Joint Powers Agreement (Trust) with 11 South Bay cities. He anticipates that the Trust will distribute housing funds to some SBCOG cities, but likely not Manhattan Beach. He clarifies that the Trust is a separate public entity subject to the Brown Act.

Mark Burton opposes the application of the State’s Density Bonus law in Manhattan Beach, arguing it is unsuitable for a small, densely populated city. He suggests that cities like Manhattan Beach, which are under 5 square miles and have populations under 40,000, should have the discretion to review height-waiver requests rather than being subject to ministerial approval. He cites the proposed 7-story high-rise at 2nd Street and Sepulveda as an example of a project that would cause traffic and safety issues.

Mark Burton shared a comment by Paul Wafer arguing that the City Council should challenge state laws that limit local control over development and should actively advocate for changes to the Residential Overlay District. Wafer emphasizes the need for responsible governance, leadership, and efforts toward balanced development that align with the community's character and values.

Mark Burton shared a link to an article by the California League of Cities arguing that having a city charter is preferable for cities. The article explains that city charters provide more autonomy and reduce state interference in municipal matters.

Mark Burton is organizing a protest against a high-rise apartment project in Manhattan Beach, encouraging attendees to bring signs highlighting safety concerns. He invites community members to participate in the protest and supports a petition opposing the development.

Mark Burton opposes Howorth and Lesser seeking to extend their time in office beyond 12 years. He argues that long-term tenure leads to closer ties with City Hall insiders and special interests, resulting in reduced accountability and weakened independence, with residents no longer coming first. He believes eight years is sufficient for city council service.

Mark Burton argues that the City of Manhattan Beach faces a projected $10 million deficit due to an increase in the number of employees, leading to higher personnel costs. He supports implementing a hiring and promotion freeze for non-sworn positions until the total number of employees is reduced to around 320.

Mark Burton opposes the City Council's consideration of new revenue-generating actions, such as tax or fee increases, to address a projected $10.9 million deficit. He argues that the City should instead implement a hiring freeze and eliminate full-time positions, as staff growth has outpaced population and needs. He also criticizes the local press for not covering the deficit, which he claims leaves residents uninformed.