Retrospective: Franklin takes the gavel — and rates snap back to 6.51%

The one thing. Manhattan Beach passed the gavel. At the May 19 reorganization, council selected Joe Franklin as mayor on a 5-0 vote, with Nina Tarnay as mayor pro tem, closing David Lesser's third turn in the chair before a room full of former mayors. Franklin set a thrifty tone for his year: transparency sessions on city operations and a "no net new positions" approach to staffing. Easy Reader →

At City Hall. The $5 shuttle started attracting advertisers. Also on the May 19 docket: Manhattan Village asked to wrap one or more MB Wave Rider microtransit vehicles in ads during the pilot, with staff recommending approval. Agenda →

The market. Rates snapped back. The 30-year mortgage jumped to 6.51% the week of May 21 (Freddie Mac), up from 6.36% a week earlier — the spring's brief rate relief is gone. Worth a glance before reading too much into late-May open-house traffic.

Schools. Costa's spring wasn't done. The boys volleyball team opened its state-tournament defense Tuesday after replacing six players from last year's national-championship roster, and the track team sent every athlete from section finals on to the Masters Meet — a program first. Easy Reader →

Next → a poll says Hermosa's third swing at a sales tax might connect.

Pier to Pier — the smart local read for MB & Hermosa. General information, not advice.