The big news this week is that the Malibu Chain Store Ordinance, which would put some major limitations on commercial development throughout all of Malibu, has come to life again. Previously, the proposed ordinance (which the city council had stalled around on, practically studying it to death) was overwhelmingly opposed by most of the commercial landowners, who threatened all sorts of litigation if the ordinance was enacted.
Well, the commercial landowners and developers may have overplayed their hand a bit because there is a new group who have just presented to the city a very thorough ordinance, obviously drafted by professionals and seemingly legally vetted, which means there is some significant money and expertise behind the push.
When I saw that Michele Reiner, wife of Rob Reiner, was the highly visible named proponent of the measure, along with several other proponents, it’s clear this is going to be a battle for the heart and soul of Malibu, and it’s going to be played out at the polls this November. In the past, “Preserve Malibu,” while very sincere, seems a bit amateur and, these days, politics takes money—usually a great deal of it—and considerable expertise to be successful, even in a small town like Malibu. The new group has experienced professional consultants who have handled major campaigns before and appear to know what they are doing. Once the measure, entitled “Your Malibu, Your Decision Act,” gets the requisite signatures, it’s headed for the November ballot.
The annual Dolphin Award presentation ceremony is coming up a week from Saturday and the event is already sold out. After 20 plus years of Dolphin winners, we’re running out of spaces large enough to handle this year’s winners, their guests and previous winners.
This year, we’re launching the Dolphin Foundation, currently in formation. Our thanks go to local attorney Steve Weinberg of Holmes Weinberg, working gratis on getting us nonprofit status. In the interim, our thanks to Debra Bianco of Cornucopia for allowing us to piggy back on its 501(c)(3) while we jump through all the necessary hoops.
This year’s Malibu Film Society’s black-tie, red carpet Oscar party at the Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue sold out. It was a roaring success, and we didn’t even serve pizza. It actually felt like you were there watching it all on the big screen, with the same excitement they had at the actual theater. The Malibu Film Society may have to take a larger role in movies in this town next year. There is a rumor that the old, low rental lease on the Malibu Theater is about to end, and there is no way a movie theater can compete for the space with a cluster of national retail chains willing to pay top buck. So it’s probably going the way of the theater in the Last Picture Show.
The Sage Room Restaurant closed at PCH and Kanan Dume, but it wasn’t vacant for long. Gravina, another Italian restaurant, opened at the same location, with a very good kitchen.
Later this month, another restaurant will be opening on the PCH side of the pier, strangely enough to be called The Malibu Pier restaurant. For you old-timers, it’s where Alice’s Restaurant used to be and, more recently, the ill-fated Beachcomber Restaurant.
The Malibu Weight Watchers group, which meets every Monday night at 5:30, is looking for a few well-rounded individuals who would like to be a little less well-rounded. We just need a few more to be able to make this a reality show.