In a recent letter to the editor, Tom Fakehany recounted a conversation he had with a disabled wheelchair bound man at the Whale Watching Point at Malibu Bluffs Park. According to Mr. Fakehany “I observed tears build up in his eyes when I informed him that he would be losing his favorite weekend haven from his city apartment.”
In his letter Mr. Fakehany says he was at the park in the role of a supervisor with the Sheriff’s Disaster Communications Service. It also appears that he was telling park visitors what the future configurations of the park would be, including frightening a disabled wheelchair bound person into believing that there would no longer be disabled access or a whale watching point.
Was Mr. Fakehany speaking on behalf of the Sheriff’s Department when talking about the future of Bluffs Park? I don’t think so. State Parks has a very good working relationship with the Sheriff’s Department. We do not attempt to speak for each other unless we are working in an agreed upon format, such as a joint project or an Incident Command situation. Has Mr. Fakehany discussed the future of the park with my staff? I am not aware that he has. If he had, he would certainly have been assured that disabled access would be a key element of any future plans for that location.
It appears then that Mr. Fakehany has taken it upon himself to use fear tactics and spread misinformation about the future of Bluffs Park. Why would someone want to do this? And why would they do it at a time when the City of Malibu and California State Parks are working very closely with an adjacent landowner to address all issues of mutual concern at Bluffs Park?
Of course State Parks Director Rusty Areias is aware that disabled people regularly use the park. He will insure that any future plans include that use as a priority. After all, he is the person who brought the City and the Coastal Commission together to solve their differences at Point Dume, which resulted in disabled access where there had been none before. The future of Bluffs Park is bright and will include access for all people. Let’s move toward that goal and away from fear and misinformation.
Russ Guiney
Angeles District Superintendent