Who stands the most to gain by attacking honest citizens who took out political ads in The Malibu Times? The answer is candidates who favor the Coastal Commission’s radical plan to convert our private homes into State parks and our downtown into Cancun-north. To try to accomplish this, they’ve sent anonymous letters and threatened filing false FPPC complaints against candidates who believe Malibu has the right to write its own laws and residents who are exercising their right to free speech.
Let’s put an end to false rumors that candidates “controlled” these ads. As a concerned citizen, I told everyone I know to take out ads to endorse the candidates of their choice. People who speak out on issues that matter and stand up for what they believe in should be admired by all of us.
There is something quite wonderful about widespread grassroots support and residents expressing themselves in full compliance with the law. Contrary to the claims of the losers in this election who are dredging for votes, recent “independent expenditure” ads in the Malibu Times meet every legal test: The individuals were never acquainted, not a “Committee” and weren’t “formed for the purpose of endorsing or opposing a candidate.” There was zero “coordination with the candidates” and the content was from public sources or personal opinions. Individual endorsers 100% controlled the content of their ads, corresponded individually with the newspaper and sent their payments to the newspaper of their own volition and with no intermediary.
And everyone should know that our City Attorney has legally approved the right of all of us to take out political ads. When asked in writing “Can any person legally spend up to $499 as an Independent Expenditure to endorse a City Council candidate if he or she is not a member of a Committee or of a group of persons formed to endorse a candidate and if the expenditure is not made at the behest of or in coordination with the Candidate or the Candidate controlled Committee and if they print their name as the sponsor of the ad?” the City Attorney wrote back “Yes, an individual can spend up to $499 and you can spend that on an ad as an individual. The Municipal Code does not have any further requirements. Free speech at its best.”
To further dispel the suggestion we’re not allowed to share our ideas, I contacted the FPPC and asked if people making Independent Expenditures could get outside help and opinions as long as it wasn’t from Candidates or Committees. Their answer was “Yes-if they agree with your opinions, have complete authority to control the content of the ad, and pay for the ad themselves-because no one can twist someone’s arm to sign a check to pay for an ad that they don’t approve of.”
I encourage everyone to exercise their precious First Amendment rights, and oppose attempts to chill political speech-especially when it’s done to silence opposition to the Coastal Commission’s LCP.
Anne Hoffman