Welcome to the Manhattan Beach Residents Association Website

The Manhattan Beach Residents Association (MBRA) was formed over 20 years ago for the purpose of providing information and education to residents of Manhattan Beach. MBRA is an all-volunteer organization, working to preserve the residential character and quality of our unique neighborhoods, promote local businesses, support local schools, and increase broader participation in City government.

We have a new email address: YourMBRA@gmail.com

Latest Observer now available online...MBRA has, after a hiatus, resumed putting our newsletter, The Manhattan Beach Observer online at this website. To see the latest (May 2010) edition, click on the "Observer" icon to the left. A few (but by no means all) older editions are also there. This online service is in addition to the hardcopies. You may call (310) 379-3277 to order back issue hardcopies.

Last Board Meeting Highlights...The Aug 2 MBRA Board Meeting addressed several continuing issues, including the effect of the City's decision to partially reopen Sand Dune Park, and the Shade Hotel's desire to extend their hours of operation and the effect on the near-by residents. We have committed to filing an Amicus Curiae brief in support of the City's attempt to reduce pollution and litter by banning the use of plastic bags. The City's attempt to ban plastic bags was successfully challenged in court by the plastic bag industry. Bill Benz of the local law firm Carico Johnson Toomey LLP met with the MBRA board and is doing the legal work pro bono.

The Board also discussed utility undergrounding, but since the City has decided against our recommendation to survey the districts before spending more money on plan development, it appears there will be little news on this front until those plans are developed in a year or two.

MBRA was among those who urged City Council to entertain competitive bids for garbage/recycling service, rather than just awarding the contract to Waste Management again. We expect to see some action at the City Council's August 3 meeting.

In new business, Evelyn Frey reported on progress on her campaign for Mobi Matt access to the beach — a campaign MBRA continues to support. She and we still have to persuade some recalcitrant officials, but Evelyn's tenacity is moving us closer to success.

Be involved in Your MBRA...The MBRA Board meets one day a month, usually on the first Monday of each month, at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Public Library. If you have a particular question or issue for the Board to address, email your name and any questions to YourMBRA@gmail.com, or call (310) 379-3277. If you'd like to attend a Board meeting, please let us know.