-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy McLeod
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 1:09 PM
To: Eleanor Manzano <[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: Replacement Plaques- Veterans Memorial - BLUE FOLDER CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.
Sorry. This page here to be a Blue Folder item for all pertinent departments .
Thank you!
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> Good morning.
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> It’s been almost a year since 9 plaques at the Veterans Memorial and two bench plaques (one of which was mine) were unfortunately stolen.
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> I’ve been in touch with several community departments/personnel on status to replace, first and foremost, the plaques on our Veteran's Memorial. It appears it is a “budgetary” issue along with assuring anti-theft plaque materials (ie aluminum) are used.
> I am moving ahead to pay for my own bench bronze plaque replacement. I have also spoken to several residents who would gladly donate to have the plaques on our Veterans Memorial replaced. Needless to say, homage to our veterans is of utmost importance—and in my opinion take precedence over other expenditures. The areas of the memorial where the plaques were stolen are obvious - and upsetting. >
> Can the City and/or Task Force come up with a plan to replace these plaques and hopefully install a video camera at the Memorial? If our budget (estimated $50-70k) is unattainable, perhaps a donation or gofundme program? >
> The longer time goes by, the more I fear we will not put this issue as a priority. >
> Thank you and thank you for honoring the lives and sacrifices of our veterans in our City. >
> Kathy McLeod
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>
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> Sent from my iPhone
From: Kathy McLeod
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 8:02 AM
To: Eleanor Manzano <[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: Replacement Plaques- Veterans Memorial
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.
Please put the below communications as a Blue Folder item for each pertinent department meeting including:
City Council
Mayor
Budget & Finance
Public Works
Parks and Recreation
Community Department (?)
Police
Safety & Crime Dept.
Thank you.
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Kathy McLeod
Date: January 15, 2025 at 7:26:21 AM PST
To: Tom Lasser
Cc: Peter Dabbieri
Subject: Re: Replacement Plaques- Veterans Memorial
Thank you for your quick response Tom.
I did indeed mis-type my number - sorry about that. It’s This is good news (at least it’s some news) and it sounds as if the Task Force is on top of this issue. I’ve been in touch with Public Works the past few months and hear the same — it’s a “a budgetary issue”.
The residents feel (as I’m sure you do) that the City can — and absolutely should — allocate dollars to fixing and maintaining our Veterans Memorial, along with the historic and landmarked Library Plaque. I will continue to hold off on purchasing a replacement plaque for my family’s memorial bench until after the election.
As Im sure you’re aware, hundreds of cities across the Country have replaced their stolen plaques (including Manhattan Beach Bruce Beach Plaque) within days/weeks/months of being stolen. I hope our City will put this issue on high priority in 2025.
Thanks again Tom for your response and for all you do for our Veterans and the Memorial. And thank you for your past service to our Country.
Best,
Kathy
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 14, 2025, at 7:19 PM, Tom Lasser wrote:
Ms McLeod. Was forwarded your message regarding
replacing the stolen plaques at Veterans Park.
My name is Tom Lasser and I am the chair of the
Redondo Beach Veterans Task Force.
Had been waiting for the City budget to include
funding for replacements. I visited Redondo public
works on the first anniversary of the thefts last
week. Found out that public work is ready, but they
still don't have the budgeted money to proceed.
We provided photos of the plaques. They do have
estimates and a local vendor with lower cost
replacements.
Need to get City Council to budget for them to start
and the budget cycle starts after the municipal
elections in March. Probably April 2025. Am
meeting to lobby for the funding.
I counted six missing at the Memorial. One was the
original one from 1984 on a pedestal in the rotunda
and two were relocated from other veteran's
memorials in Redondo. One of the other three
sponsored plaques must have been yours and
believe the city is obligated to replace them since the RBVM is city property. I also had the opportunity to
examine the police report from January 2024.
I have attached John Gran and Peter Dabbieri, both
members of the Task Force, who have also been
working on this.
I tried to call you at the number you
provided below but it could not go through?
My number is
LTC Tom Lasser,USA,retired
Redondo Beach Veterans Task Force