A longtime neighborhood security patrol is threatening to silence its sirens if Manhattan Beach residents don’t cough up more money by the end of the year.
Beachside Neighborhood Patrol (BNP) board member Ted Kleynerman made the announcement at the recent Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Association (MBNA) meeting.
“Due to membership decline, Beachside will not be able to continue our services as of Jan. 1,” said Kleynerman, adding that 75 percent of Manhattan Beach residents are resting on the commitment of about 25 percent of the residents, whopony up the annual $400 fee.
Established in 1970, BNP contracts the security work out to the uniformed Bay Ridge Security, which currently sends one car out seven days a week for about 18 hours.
Kleynerman refused to disclose the cost of the contract or how much money BNP takes in from the fees.
“We won’t publish it, but all members receive the financials,” Kleynerman said. “My intention is not to air dirty laundry. This is just a very important service and they (residents) should support it if they want it.”
The private security service has politicized the well-to-do neighborhood as the MBNA supports the service while its rival civic group, the Manhattan Beach Community Group (MBCG) does not.
According to media reports, the MBCG stopped making their $3,000 annual donation last year. Several of the organization’s members also cut off their support.
“I was one of the members that dropped out because I don’t think they did that good a job,” said MBCG member Ed Eisenberg.
MBCG President Ira Zalcman said the matter should be one of personal choice.
“I believe that people should have and do what makes them comfortable and secure and safe in their lives. I have never discouraged anybody from joining Beachside. People need to do what people need to do,” said Zalcman.
But MBNA President Edmond Dweck countered that he’s received a lot of correspondences from local residents that are very concerned about the possible demise of the BNP.
“Whether this is political or not, it is the duty of both the Manhattan Beach Community Group and the Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Association to rally the residents in support of the Beachside Neighborhood Patrol,” said Dweck.
Kleynerman said the deadline is now set and he recently sent out a mass mailing to about half his list of 1,000 residents.
“We’ve had some replies, but it’s not overwhelming,” he said.
