The city has accomplished a great deal in the past four years, including: the creation of two new parks; the acquisition of over 7 million dollars in State and Federal funds to improve water quality in the Civic Center; the restoration of Trancas and Los Flores Creeks; and the dedication of a new Senior Center that has served hundreds of our senior citizens. Our financial house is in order for the first time in years, and we have many new projects in the works. But, I think our greatest accomplishment is our improved relationships with outside agencies, witnessed by our negotiated agreement with State Parks to allow our ball fields to remain at Bluffs Park until a new location can be found. And The League of California Cities has now joined our legal argument that the Coastal Commission’s attempt to force Malibu to accept an unreasonable LCP “unconstitutionally deprives the City of Malibu of the rights enjoyed by other coastal communities to determine the content of its own LCP and deprives Malibu’s citizens of the right to self-determination.”
Unfortunately, the most misunderstood accomplishment was Measure M, the referendum on the Bay Company Development Agreement. The Council had an obligation to negotiate the best deal it could get. What is seldom mentioned is that the Council also voted to let the residents have the final approval. The public, for many reasons, decided to reject the agreement. We did our jobs; the voters did theirs. Unfortunately for Malibu, the “us versus them” rhetoric continues to permeate our political discourse. I believe it’s time for everyone with strong views to lay down their swords and come together to work for the common good to of our community, our environment, and our future.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported my efforts on City Council. Because of that encouragement, I am announcing my candidacy, and I pledge to run an issue-oriented campaign free of personal invective.
Ken Kearsley