A survey says that Malibuites work the first three hours every day just to pay their taxes. So that’s why we can’t get anything done in the morning. We Malibuites are government workers! Government work is puzzling, agitating and embarrassing. If Malibuites recollect, The Malibu Times, the Malibu Surfside News and Sen. Tom Hayden encouraged us to vote in favor of Proposition A. Proposition A was innocent on the face as it indebted additional property taxes on the landowners which would be used to improve and expand recreational facilities in the community. Ex Malibu Mayor John Harlow was the only voice of common sense. “Tom,” he asked me, “Why would Malibuites vote in a $4 million tax on their property when the city of Malibu will receive only $336,000 of return money into the community for recreational development.”
Time has passed and my memory has become bewildered, but as I recall, from the various news articles, Malibuites obtained only $300,000 of the four million to refurbish the Malibu Bluffs Park and there was a cost overrun due to bureaucratic bloopers of $217,000. Bureaucrats are storytellers. They lie about lying if they have to. I’m an algebra liar. I figure two good lies make a positive and the numbers look positive. Let us see, positive four million, plus positive two hundred and seventeen thousand in overruns equals..equals..equals. $4,217,000 of local taxpayer dollars to refurbish a community park.
So when Sen. Tom Hayden writes the governor and expounds, “It is time for Malibu to take the initiative and select new sites for their recreation programs. With its unique setting on Santa Monica Bay and the California coast, Bluffs Park must remain in the hands of State Parks and returned to a more natural state for the use of all Californians and our national and international visitors,” I remain bewildered. I wonder if Sen. Tom Hayden’s memory is as confused with age as mine is bewildered?
Tom Fakehany