Residents tell council of shootings, parking and bike‑safety concerns on Gardena streets

Several residents used public comment at Tuesday’s Gardena City Council meeting to raise safety and transportation concerns that they said affect daily life in the city.

Herman Bakaria, a long‑time Gardena resident, described recurring disturbances around a neighborhood bar he identified as “Party on Western.” Bakaria said he has observed “four shootings just in the last year,” frequent police responses, and what he described as harassment of women and drug offers to his son. He told council he has repeatedly contacted parking enforcement and local staff and asked for more police attention; the mayor and staff said the police chief was available to follow up after the meeting.

Brandon Smith, who said he uses Redondo Beach Boulevard multiple times per week for errands, urged the council to plan now for future bike infrastructure. Smith asked that a planned median width in the current boulevard improvement be reduced so the corridor could more easily accommodate separated bicycle lanes in the future. He argued that a narrower median (he cited a 10‑foot target) would make later installation of protected bike facilities less costly and easier than keeping a wider median.

Council members and staff responded to both commenters: the mayor and staff encouraged Bakaria to meet with the police chief after the meeting so officers could follow up, and public works staff said the city’s Artesia/Redondo streetscape projects are scheduled and that major reconstruction of Artesia Boulevard is under way soon. Council members did not take immediate action on either public comment but asked staff to follow up with the residents.