A civic project · Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, made accessible.
Better Redondo translates what's happening at City Hall into language residents can actually follow — so that participating in local government doesn't require reading a 200-page PDF first. We publish in three formats: Research reports on the data, Opinions on what should change, and Updates before and after every Council meeting.
Research · long-form
Our data, in plain English.
Built from primary sources — City budget PDFs, the Housing Element, the LA28 official plan, county assessor records — and updated as the numbers change.
What's actually in the FY 2026-27 budget?
Civic · 12 minThe City Manager's proposed budget lands $130.9M in spending against $129.6M in revenue — and draws the General Fund balance to zero. A plain-English breakdown before the June 2 public hearing.
The slow rebirth of the South Bay Galleria
Property · 12 minSixty-seven years, four owners, two phases, 650 new housing units coming, and a K Line station in 2036. A timeline of the mall's history and the redevelopment in progress.
What BeachLife 2026 was worth to Redondo Beach
Economy · 9 min40,000 attendees, a $100K permit fee, and a deal Council split 3–2 on. The actual economic impact, the cost side, and what the contract should probably look like.
The Pier hotel market, by the numbers
Economy · 11 minNine pier-zone hotels, ~860 rooms, $9.2M in hotel tax. A deep look at the inventory, the pricing, and what it means for residents.
The 2028 Olympics in Redondo Beach
Civic · 9 minVenues, traffic, hotels, marketing, and what the LA28 Games will mean for residents and businesses.
A decade of Redondo real estate
Property · 12 minTen years of property values, the housing stock, affordability, neighborhood spreads, and what's getting built.
The City budget, in plain English
Civic · 10 minWhere every City dollar comes from, where it goes, what the Council voted on, and how Redondo compares to its neighbors.
Opinions · randomly
Opportunities to explore.
Signed takes on specific decisions, streets, businesses, and buildings. Each piece argues the case, takes the strongest disagreement seriously, and leaves you better equipped to form your own view.
PCH Is Broken
Pacific Coast Highway through Redondo Beach is a state highway that acts like a wall — dividing neighborhoods, threatening pedestrians, and moving cars at the expense of everything else. The city has been nibbling at the edges for years. It's time to say what the problem actually is.
June 5, 2026 · By Samuel Thompson · 10 min
Updates · twice a month
What City Council is doing.
A Preview the day after each agenda drops, and a Recap the day after each meeting.
Council Recap: June 2, 2026
RecapThe FY 2026-27 budget hearing opens, the lighting assessment holds at 1991 rates, and Brad Waller becomes the next Mayor Pro Tem.
Meeting Tuesday, June 2, 2026 · 5 min
Council Preview: May 19, 2026
PreviewThe Solid Waste rate hearing was set seven weeks ago. Now it's actually on the agenda. Plus continued FY26-27 budget framing.
Meeting Tuesday, May 19, 2026 · 4 min
Why this exists
Local government in Redondo Beach is more open than most residents realize — and harder to follow than it should be. Better Redondo is a small project to close that gap.
Every City Council meeting is public. Every agenda is online. Every budget document is downloadable. The barrier to participation isn't access — it's translation. We do the translation so you don't have to.