Michael Jackson, Candidate for Redondo Beach District 2

Michael Jackson, a 20-year resident of Redondo Beach and a 30-year resident of the South Bay, is running against two other candidates to represent Redondo Beach City Council District 2. The incoming president of the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce and a 27-year veteran of the aerospace industry, he currently serves as the chairman of the Redondo Beach Harbor Commission.

Below are Jackson's responses to a questionnaire compiled by Patch editors with suggestions from readers.

Redondo Beach Patch: Why are you running to represent Redondo Beach's District 2?

Michael Jackson: As a 20-year resident of Redondo Beach, small business owner, and Chairman of the Harbor Commission, I possess the background and experience to restore balance and common sense to District 2. I want to utilize my 27 years in aerospace to focus on basic nuts and bolts priorities that we have actual control over like keeping our neighborhoods safe and our fire and paramedic services the best they can be, and promotes an environment to attract and retain local business.

We cannot afford to spend city resources chasing rainbows ,so let's get back to doing what city government does best and make Redondo Beach the most spectacular destination spot in Southern California.

Patch: In your opinion, what is the No. 1 issue facing District 2?

Jackson: The most important issue in District 2 is restoring balance and common sense to city government and focusing our energy on issues we actually have direct authority, responsibility, and control over. We need to get back to what we as city leaders are supposed to do, keeping our neighborhoods safe, maintaining high quality police, fire, and paramedic services, fixing our streets, servicing our parks, and balancing our city budget given these challenging economic times. 

As Chairman of the Harbor Commission, our waterfront has been neglected for over 40 years, and I have been leading efforts to make the longstanding improvements that are now being realized with the Waterfront Revitalization project. And even before this project was envisioned, our Commission took steps to approve the Shade Hotel along Harbor Drive, the new Redondo Landing improvements, Seaside Lagoon upgrades, construction of the new Harbor Patrol, the Moonstone Park master plan, and getting funding for placing new moorings inside the basin to attract boaters from other marinas. All of these improvements set the tone for the Waterfront Revitalization project now underway.

Patch: What is your position on AES' plans to repower its power plant on Harbor Drive?

Jackson: Everyone, including myself, opposes having a power plant in our neighborhood, but it is not up to local residents to determine whether or not it should continue to operate. If this was the case, we would not have any power generating facilities anywhere. We must leave the decision whether or not AES should continue to operate in the hands of the experts within the California Independent Systems Operator (CalISO) who have the knowledge, expertise, and responsibility for determining what the future energy needs are for the power grid for the next decade and longer within the entire Southern California region. If they determine the plant is not necessary, we should work with the property owner to decommission the plant as soon as possible. If they decide the energy is needed to supply the power grid, we must then work with the property owner to phase out their existing facility and work cooperatively with them so they can downsize and modernize a much smaller, efficient, and environmentally friendly facility that meets the needs of the region while getting rid of the existing structure.

Patch: What is your position on Measure A, the ballot initiative that would rezone the Harbor Drive property in hopes of preventing the construction of a new power plant?

Jackson: Everyone, including myself, opposes a power plant, but I want to see a solution that actually gets rid of this facility, and that requires sitting down with all parties involved and finding a viable common sense solution. I am against Measure A because it is poorly written, misleading to the voters and will likely cost the city in potential lawsuits.

Patch: If elected, what are your top three priorities?

Jackson: We need to focus on what local government can do best. First and foremost, protecting our residents, neighborhoods, and supporting local businesses.

Second, the city has done very little if anything during the last 40 years to make improvements to our waterfront, something I have supported 100 percent, as long as it is now done to reflect our local character with the best interests of residents and existing pier merchants and tenants. We must always remember that Redondo Beach was the first working harbor in Southern California and we must retain that character and tone as we finally take steps that will create the most spectacular destination location anywhere.

Third, we must protect and preserve our local economy that is based on our aerospace industry. We all have relatives, neighbors, and friends who worked for TRW, Hughes, Northrop, and Rockwell, as these companies continue to be the foundation of our workforce and our economic base. We must ensure that the L.A. Air Force Base is not list during the next round of base closures so the $8 billion we receive annually is not jeopardized. Our local economy, jobs, home values, city services, and overall quality of life depends on the base remaining here in the South Bay.

Patch: Share one specific example of demonstrating your leadership and execution skills.

Jackson: Having worked in the aerospace industry for 27 years with Hughes Aircraft, TRW, and Boeing before government agencies and elected officials, I have had the opportunity to represent their interests to support space and defense programs that have helped keep jobs here in the South Bay and throughout Southern California. One specific example is with the C-17 aircraft production line in Long Beach that was threatening to close because of the lack of funding. Because of a coordinated and unified approach working with elected officials at all levels of government, local aerospace suppliers, labor unions, community leaders, and stakeholders from throughout the region, we successfully engaged members of Congress to maintain funding to keep that program alive as it currently is today.

Patch: Why should people vote for you?

Jackson: Citizens of Redondo Beach should vote for Michael Jackson because I have the commitment, qualifications, and expertise to represent District 2. I also have the experience being a small business owner and aerospace industry employee to address issues with a balanced, common sense approach, and with an understanding that we must work with our fellow city council members to find common solutions to our local problems. No one has the right to get their way 100 percent of the time, and I would much rather work to find “win-win” solutions to our city’s issues than try to win with “all or nothing” philosophy.

Patch: Is there anything else you'd like to say?

Jackson: Residents of District 2 have a clear choice on March 5 to decide who their representative on the Redondo Beach City Council should be. They can keep who they have and continue along the same myopic “all or nothing” approach to city government or elect someone who believes in representing the best interests of ALL District 2 residents whether you agree with them or not. I believe in working to find common ground on all issues and seeking “win-win” solutions that resolve problems rather than perpetuating them into the future. I believe in working collaboratively with our elected officials inside city hall and not going around the system by constantly seeking signatures for ballot measures in front of supermarkets and drug stores. I believe in restoring balance and common sense to city government in Redondo Beach, something we have desperately lost the last four years.

Residents of District 2 deserve better.

Related:

• Michael Jackson for Redondo Beach City Council
• Michael Jackson for Redondo Beach City Council on Facebook
• Michael Jackson [Patch]
• Redondo Beach District 2 candidates prepare for election [Easy Reader]
• Redondo council District 2 candidates answer questions from The Beach Reporter [Beach Reporter]

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