Hopefully those elected will be more respectful-not bad examples like Andy Stern/Sharon Barovsky ([Ken] Kearsley is off council). At the last council meeting, it was disturbing to see government representatives display unethical childish behavior. Ideally, government leaders would act with dignity not letting slander/rudeness publicly upset them or feel it necessary to rebut -instead showing leadership qualities.
I’m especially shocked at uncalled for (seemingly planned) attacks against Susan Tellem at the council meeting and in a letter to the editor written by Andy Stern (March 27), reflecting lack of research. I suggest he find out the true facts-I did. Evidently, these attacks were intended to get voters to not vote for Susan Tellem but for their endorsed candidates (pointing to genuine fear – perhaps they were beginning to see Tellem’s strength, willingness to challenge city needs, and genuine affection for Malibu). I attended nearly all the open forums, read the material and did my own investigations before making my voting decision. It’s disappointing that so many Malibuites had no idea regarding issues-voting only so a neighbor/friend could get on the council.
I’m also fed-up with all the City Council members taking credit for defeating the LNG proposal (see Andy Stern’s letter); and the snide remarks at the council meeting about Ozzie Silna, who has contributed immensely to the city, over half a million dollars to the Coastal Advocates, and went personally to Sacramento, years before the city’s involvement, to help combat the LNG proposal. He did this with the real leader that helped us defeat the LNG proposal, Susan Jordan, head of the Coastal Advocates. It was a small group of environmentalists that first joined together, faithfully attended weekly strategy meetings, and grew after the [Pierce] Brosnan’s involvement. Event organizer Owen Bailey (Sierra Club) helped with the last event. And, it was Malibu that joined with Oxnard (they were much more organized then we were). Thank you Andy for being there at some of meetings (and Ms. Conley Ulich)-but realize that you both (like many of us) were the fly on the horses tail-don’t pretend to be the horse!
Alessandra DeClario