In a recent letter to your editor regarding the acquisition of the Chili Cook-off site by the city from the Malibu Bay Co., the writer, apparently politically motivated, this being an election year, engages in a fanciful revision of the truth. He attempts to discredit and minimize the contributions of Sharon Barovsky and Andy Stern and elevate the participation of the Malibu Community Action Network (MCAN). The facts provide evidence to the contrary.
Credit is due to the hundreds of people, organizations, local, county and state agencies, the City Council, city staff, city attorney, city manager, city grants coordinator and everyone who made it possible to acquire the site and fund its acquisition. As to MCAN’s participation, I am informed by a representative of the Bay Company that no one representing or associated with MCAN was involved at any time or in any way.
Following the rejection by the voters of a proposed development agreement between the city and the Bay Company (Measure “M”), which involved several Bay Company properties and gave the City a three-year option to buy the cook-off site, the Bay Company (to no one’s surprise) elected to discontinue further negotiations with the city. Nor should it come as a surprise if the Bay Company decision was influenced by the gratuitous insults and vituperation directed at the Bay Company and its owner, Mr. Jerry Perenchio, by their critics and opponents.
However, almost immediately thereafter and notwithstanding the unfavorable negotiating climate, the City Council authorized then acting mayor Sharon Barovsky to pursue efforts to purchase the cook-off site only, which, as you know, were ultimately successful. We can look forward to the elimination of all commercial development on the site and the creation of a central park we have all dreamed about. Sharon Barovsky, Andy Stern and the other members of the council did what the skeptics said couldn’t be done. We’ve got a winning team on the council. Let’s not break it up.
David Kagon