Hermosa Beach’s city manager is stepping down after a seven-year run. The city announced Suja Lowenthal’s departure on May 8.
“I am leaving Hermosa Beach with deep pride in what our team has accomplished together,” Lowenthal said in a statement. “This City is strong— operationally, financially, and culturally—and I’m confident Hermosa Beach will continue on its upward path. I will always cherish the opportunity I had to serve this extraordinary community.”
Born in Madras, India, Lowenthal was the first person of color and first female to serve as Hermosa Beach’s city manager.
“…She played a pivotal role in advancing numerous quality-of-life improvements for Hermosa Beach residents and businesses,” according to the statement. “She spearheaded the City’s first-ever permanent outdoor dining deck program—revitalizing downtown commerce and creating a more vibrant and pedestrian-friendly experience. She also led the resurfacing of more than 10 miles of City streets, completed nearly 5 miles of sewer repairs, and implemented long-overdue facility upgrades.”
Lowenthal presided over balanced budgets, key system and facility upgrades, the establishment of a new mobile mental health system, and the city’s first employee recruitment and retention incentive program. Under her leadership, Hermosa Beach became one of the only full-staffed cities in the region.
In recent weeks, the relationship between Lowenthal and council members became tense, and her employment contract was put up for review.
You can read more about her departure at Patch.