Local Coastal Program update
The California Coastal Commission has filed its brief for the city’s case that is going before the appellate court in which the city is demanding the right to put the commission-created Local Coastal Program and one created by the city before the voters of Malibu. The city had filed its brief in early October. The commission then requested an extension to its 30-day deadline to file a response. The city will now file a reply to the commission’s response by the end of the month. After that, it is up to the court to set a hearing date. The city has asked that the date be set as soon as possible.
City Attorney Christi Hogin has said at past City Council meetings that there was hope the court would be able to make a decision before the end of January, so that if it is in the city’s favor, an election could take place in April. But in a recent meeting, she said that {is probably not possible after the commission extended its time to file its brief.
Election Day in April
The City of Malibu will conduct its General Municipal Election on April 13 for three City Council seats. Each elected official will serve a four-year term. Potential candidates can pull papers from now until Jan. 16. They must gather from 20 to 30 signatures and return them to City Hall by Jan. 16.
Sample ballots and polling place notices will be mailed by March 23. The last day to register to vote is March 29.
Absentee ballots may be requested from March 15 to April 6 by filing a written application with the city clerk. The application must be signed by the applicant and show the voter’s place of residence.
Any individual, organization or group that distributes absentee-voter ballot applications must have their address and phone number on each application. After receiving completed applications, they must submit them to the city clerk within 36 hours or before the application deadline, whichever is sooner.
Voter applications are available at City Hall or by contacting City Clerk Lisa Pope at 456-2489 ext. 228.
New EPA director
On Nov. 12, Gov. Schwarzenegger appointed Terry Tamminen, Environment Now’s executive director, to head the California Environmental Protection Agency. Tamminen has more than 10 years of experience in environmental advocacy and action. Environment Now’s executives will assume Tamminen’s responsibilities at the organization.
Mary Nichols named to UCLA post
Former California Resources Secretary Mary Nichols, has been named director of the UCLA Institute of the Environment. Nichols, who is now a member of the California Coastal Commission, will take the helm of the institute on Jan. 1. During her tenure as resources secretary from December 1998 to November 2003, she shaped California clean air, water and land conservation programs. Nichols is currently a member of the California Coastal Commission. The Institute of the Environment, founded in 1997, sponsors interdisciplinary research, teaching and public service programs that focus on environmental issues of the Los Angeles region and the world.
The institute includes 65 faculty members from 10 academic divisions and professional schools, including
public health, atmospheric sciences, business administration, law and urban planning.
Rally for Dennis Kucinich
Celebrities and Dennis Kucinich supporters alike walked down an aisle of red carpeting to enter a private home in Malibu where a star-studded fundraiser Sunday night raised money and awareness for the congressman’s campaign to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Actors and actresses including Lindsay Wagner, James Cromwell and Mimi Kennedy spoke out in support of Kucinich’s proposal for a Department of Peace and his plan for a single-payer universal health care system. Kucinich addressed the group of 150-plus people gathered. He talked about his plan to get the United States out of, and the United Nations into, Iraq. He said the United States must end the occupation, because, as long as there is an occupation, there is a war. After answering several questions from the guests, the group gathered around the pool outside to honor and celebrate the winter solstice.
Clothes and toy drive
A Malibu High School junior, Melissa Carridad, and the Los Angeles Police Department Air Support Division are collecting clothes, shoes, toys, games and Spanish books for needy children in a Northern Mexico orphanage. New or used items for children ranging from babies to teenagers will be accepted. To arrange for a pick-up or ask for collection locations, contact Carridad at 924.9353.