Redondo Beach mayor used racist, sexist language in recently discovered emails

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. – The shocking statements in an explosive NBC news interview, in which Redondo Beach City Councilmember Todd Lowenstein stated that low and medium-income families do not “deserve” to live near the ocean, are the tip of the iceberg of the disdain for minorities and others by city officials. As detailed in the Los Angeles Times, recent emails have been uncovered from Redondo Beach City officials, including Mayor Bill Brand, which contain untoward statements about minorities, women, and cancer survivors. 

These emails, which can be found here, include references to:

• “Angry black women”
• “The Latino-laden Coastal Commission” 
• Redondo Beach Councilwoman Laura Emdee’s weight and gender
• Former Mayor Steve Aspel’s colorectal cancer

These recently discovered emails came to light in the legal discovery process as a result of CenterCal Properties’ lawsuit against Redondo Beach after plans to redevelop the waterfront were thwarted by an initiative changing the use of the property. 

Much like the recently released racist conversations from elected officials in the City of Los Angeles, these elected officials and their allies have exposed them. In written communications, they never expected to be made public, with multiple vile comments that show their true colors.

In one email dated February 6, 2017, Mayor Bill Brand (with a statement that it was “Paid for by Brand for Mayor – 2017”) wrote, “Where’s the angry Black woman in you?”

In another email dated February 7, 2017, Mayor Bill Brand wrote, “The increasingly Latino-laden Coastal commission is not going to be happy about the exclusivity of the CenterCal project.” This email follows last week’s statement from Mayor Brand’s ally, Councilmember Todd Lowenstein, that low- and middle-income families don’t deserve to live near the beach.

In an email dated May 18, 2017, Mayor Brand ally Lezlie Campeggi wrote, “Back to an all-male City council! I swear the more weight [Councilmember] Laura Emdee loses the more she looks like a man!” Another person on the email chain, Wayne Craig, then states “That’s good as Nils apparently like his women carrying a bit more extra equipment if you get the drift. He is German after all.”

In an email dated May 5, 2014, Mayor Bill Brand wrote, “OK, here is my first pass at an ass-kicking editorial to ram it up [Councilmember Steve] Aspel’s cancerous ass.”  Brand wrote this with full knowledge that Councilmember Aspel was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2010. (Thankfully, Councilmember Aspel has recovered from cancer following multiple treatments.) 

“Their statements are unacceptable for an elected official. They expressed their true, unguarded sentiments that they never expected to be made public. As the first African American woman to run for Redondo Beach City Council and a person who has faced racially motivated cyberbullying and stalking, I was not shocked to learn that the Mayor and a few Councilmembers expressed racist and misogynist views in writing. This is the same Mayor that lured me to Palos Verdes Cliffs using a Planning Commission position to intimidate me. The Mayor and Councilmembers associated with the emails are unfit to be the leaders of Redondo Beach. They should immediately resign,” said Tonya McKenzie.