17. 21-0331
Presentation from the History Advisory Board Regarding the Proposed Language for Plaques to be Placed at Bruce's Beach Park and the County Lifeguard Administration Building (City Manager Moe).
A) APPROVE LANGUAGE
B) ALLOCATE FUNDING FROM THE PUBLIC ARTS TRUST FUND
C) AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO AWARD CONTRACTS NOT-TO-EXCEED $20,000 TOTAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MUNICIPAL CODE PURCHASING REQUIREMENTS
As a resident of over 20 years in Manhattan Beach, I fully support the History Advisory Board and the huge amount of hours these members have devoted to ensuring that the plaques were worded as accurately as possible with the information available, and then reviewed by history experts to get unbiased outside advice and guidance. These members have devoted so much of their time to volunteer for our city to ensure this history has been properly represented on these plaques. I sincerely hope that our City Council will continue to show this committee the support and appreciation that they deserve. Thank you in advance, Donna Thomas
Please let’s do this right and get a professional’s input on the historical data and wording. This is our town’s history that should be embraced by all residents without succumbing to any questionable wording. The plaque was agreed upon, so let’s do our due diligence to create one we are all proud of.
Please hire an unbiased firm to double check the facts! There are a lot of half truths in the history report. Which is their main source material. Do not accept the plaques language "as is' Time to hire a professional historical firm for something this important.
I read with interest the revised text the History Advisory Board members submitted for the Bruce’s Beach plaques. Aside from reading like a dull book report, the language is clearly intended to paint MB as a historically racist beach town. While I commend the committee for removing the stories about the KKK and other uncorroborated tales, the narrative is sprinkled with QR codes linking directly back to the History Report. The report, as we know, was not properly vetted by unbiased historians, despite pleas from many residents to do so. It is clear the HAB is too emotionally involved with the narrative to consider the advice of actual California historians in writing not only the plaque language, but the history report itself. I respectfully request that City Council dismiss the HAB, thank them for their service, and hire unbiased professionals to complete this important work. This is worth doing right, and the HAB has been given enough time to prove they are not up to the task.
I fully support the History Advisory Board's proposed language for the two plaques - one at Bruce's Beach Park and the other at the County Lifeguard Administration Building. The History Advisory Board followed the direction of City Council by drafting a factual account of the history of Bruce's Beach based upon the previously accepted History Report. The process has been completely transparent and the History Advisory Board has completed the Herculean task of drafting language that reflects an accurate account of events, while also being appropriate in tone and substance. I urge the City Council to accept the plaque language and move forward with replacing the historically inaccurate plaque that is currently standing at Bruce's Beach Park - please do not continue to further delay this process. I would also like to thank the History Advisory Board for their commitment and dedication to telling the true story of the Bruce's Beach history.
The HAB did an excellent job researching the history of this area and the Bruces. Please approve their language as written. They know far more about this than anyone on council after hundreds of hiyrs of hard, meticulous and thorough research. It’s not flattering to our town but it’s history. Don’t whitewash it by watering down the proposed language.
Some people claim that monuments erected to celebrate past historical figures should not be removed because they represent important historical information. Here, we have the opportunity to actually do that - like plaques in Philadelphia and Boston that give context to the places people visit. Let's not repeat the sins of the past, but acknowledge our past and move forward.
Local, regional and international visitors will be interested by and drawn to these plaques.
As a resident of over 20 years in Manhattan Beach, I fully support the History Advisory Board and the huge amount of hours these members have devoted to ensuring that the plaques were worded as accurately as possible with the information available, and then reviewed by history experts to get unbiased outside advice and guidance. These members have devoted so much of their time to volunteer for our city to ensure this history has been properly represented on these plaques. I sincerely hope that our City Council will continue to show this committee the support and appreciation that they deserve. Thank you in advance, Donna Thomas
Please let’s do this right and get a professional’s input on the historical data and wording. This is our town’s history that should be embraced by all residents without succumbing to any questionable wording. The plaque was agreed upon, so let’s do our due diligence to create one we are all proud of.
Please hire an unbiased firm to double check the facts! There are a lot of half truths in the history report. Which is their main source material. Do not accept the plaques language "as is' Time to hire a professional historical firm for something this important.
I read with interest the revised text the History Advisory Board members submitted for the Bruce’s Beach plaques. Aside from reading like a dull book report, the language is clearly intended to paint MB as a historically racist beach town. While I commend the committee for removing the stories about the KKK and other uncorroborated tales, the narrative is sprinkled with QR codes linking directly back to the History Report. The report, as we know, was not properly vetted by unbiased historians, despite pleas from many residents to do so. It is clear the HAB is too emotionally involved with the narrative to consider the advice of actual California historians in writing not only the plaque language, but the history report itself. I respectfully request that City Council dismiss the HAB, thank them for their service, and hire unbiased professionals to complete this important work. This is worth doing right, and the HAB has been given enough time to prove they are not up to the task.
I fully support the History Advisory Board's proposed language for the two plaques - one at Bruce's Beach Park and the other at the County Lifeguard Administration Building. The History Advisory Board followed the direction of City Council by drafting a factual account of the history of Bruce's Beach based upon the previously accepted History Report. The process has been completely transparent and the History Advisory Board has completed the Herculean task of drafting language that reflects an accurate account of events, while also being appropriate in tone and substance. I urge the City Council to accept the plaque language and move forward with replacing the historically inaccurate plaque that is currently standing at Bruce's Beach Park - please do not continue to further delay this process. I would also like to thank the History Advisory Board for their commitment and dedication to telling the true story of the Bruce's Beach history.
The HAB did an excellent job researching the history of this area and the Bruces. Please approve their language as written. They know far more about this than anyone on council after hundreds of hiyrs of hard, meticulous and thorough research. It’s not flattering to our town but it’s history. Don’t whitewash it by watering down the proposed language.
Some people claim that monuments erected to celebrate past historical figures should not be removed because they represent important historical information. Here, we have the opportunity to actually do that - like plaques in Philadelphia and Boston that give context to the places people visit. Let's not repeat the sins of the past, but acknowledge our past and move forward.
Local, regional and international visitors will be interested by and drawn to these plaques.