Since acquiring the Chili Cook-off property is actually a good idea, why are so many Malibu voters opposed to the reelection of the incumbents, Sharon Barovsky and Andy Stern? The answer is because instead of providing leadership we need during this critical acquisition, their actions have created one debacle after another.
In 2004, our City Council
(Sharon and Andy) actively campaigned for Measure M, a massive development agreement that would have allowed developers to construct a major shopping center on the Chili Cook-off property. Malibu voters formed the Malibu Community Action Network (Malibu CAN) to defeat this City Council sponsored development project. Malibu CAN’s agenda was to acquire the Chili Cook-off to create Malibu’s Central Park. In a subsequent vote, 60% of Malibu voters agreed with Malibu CAN and rejected this development program.
Soundly defeated, the City Council developed a plan to acquire the Chili Cook-off property. This plan included receiving $11 million in free grant money the State had offered to Malibu to help with this acquisition. In an amazing administrative blunder, the City Council failed to file the proper paperwork needed to receive the grants and we lost access to these free funds.
The grants lost, the City Council’s solution was to borrow $17 million dollars via a bond measure to complete the Chili Cook-off acquisition. Now, instead of using these millions to buy ball fields, to improve our schools, to construct a new library, to build dog parks, to improve PCH, or to replace the hardware store we lost, our City Council is using our money to pay off a $17 million dollar debt we should never have had. This City Council has shamelessly squandered our money, our city’s assets and our good name. Voters have every right to want to oust these Incumbents.
Steve Uhring