Santa Monica Park Rangers discover marijuana plantation
Park rangers recently discovered 3,500 marijuana plants growing across a 9.6-acre area of park land in the Santa Monica Mountains, according to a press release from the National Parks Service. The Recreation and Conservation Authority and California State Park officials have worked in the past two weeks to clear the area and reverse environmental damage from the marijuana plantation.
“Marijuana cultivation is a serious and rising problem in the Santa Monica Mountains and other park lands across the country,” park Superintendent Woody Smeck said. “The environmental damage caused by marijuana cultivation in otherwise pristine natural areas costs approximately $12,000 per acre to clean up.”
Along with the introduction of dangerous herbicides and pesticides, officials say the marijuana site topographically altered land and diverted water from a nearby stream.
With marijuana-growing season, which runs from April through November, in full swing, rangers are encouraging hikers and bikers in the park to follow designated trails, as marijuana plantations often occur in remote park locations. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. Suspicious activity includes drip irrigation lines running along streams, camping equipment, food supplies, propane tanks and seedling cartons in unusual locations.
Santa Monica mayor appointed to SMMC
The California Coastal Commission has appointed Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Board, according to a press release.
Bloom was sworn in as a member of the SMMC board on June 28. He also serves on the California Coastal Commission.
“I’m proud of my record on the environment,” Bloom said. “On the California Coastal Commission, I’ve fought to protect our irreplaceable coastline and its resources.”
Bloom is a candidate for the State Assembly, hoping to represent the 41st Assembly District. The 41st district includes Malibu and Santa Monica, as well as parts of Ventura County and the west San Fernando Valley. The seat is currently held by Assemblywoman Julia Brownley.
Bill passes requiring rural homeowners to pay fire fee
California Gov. Jerry Brown and the state Legislature recently passed a bill requiring rural homeowners living in fire-prone areas to pay a $150 annual fee for fire-prevention services. The bill was signed into law last week in Sacramento.
Brown has said the state cannot afford the cost of fighting fires in susceptible areas. The fee could bring in as much as $200 million a year to fire prevention services. Additionally, Brown is considering whether or not local governments should take on more firefighting costs in these rural areas.
More than 846,000 Californians currently live in rural “state responsibility areas” where Cal Fire is the primary responder.
Taxpayer groups are reportedly preparing to fight the fee in court. They argue that the fee is actually a tax and should not have been passed through the Legislature without a two-thirds vote. Additionally, some rural homeowners are fighting the fee because they already pay a local fire fee.
40th Annual Malibu Arts Festival on the horizon
The 40th Annual Malibu Arts Festival will take place July 30-31, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. outside the Malibu Civic Center. Featuring 150 award-winning painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelers and artisans, the event promises festival visitors a wide selection of beautiful art to choose from.
The event, sponsored by the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, will feature interactive chalk-artists, live musical entertainment, a dining terrace and a “Kids’ Village.” The Chamber is also offering a special “Members Only” showcase of local businesses, musicians and the new Malibu Wine Trail Garden at Legacy Park on Sunday July 31, 12 a.m.-5 p.m.
The public is invited to this free admission weekend-long event. VIP parking is available for $7 next to the event. More information can be obtained by visiting www.malibu.org or by calling the Chamber at 310.456.9025.
Local school district, ex-superintendent named in hate-crime complaint
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and former superintendent Tim Cuneo were named last week in a federal complaint filed by a civil rights group over an alleged racial incident that occurred at Santa Monica High School in May. The complaint was filed by Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic HOPE, in the Central district office of U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte. Former Santa Monica High School principal Hugo Pedroza was also named in the complaint.
Two white members of the wrestling team are accused of chaining a black teammate to a locker at Santa Monica High School on May 4. It was later revealed that the victim’s mother, Victoria Gray, was not immediately contacted by school officials following the incident. The Los Angeles Police Department and the county sheriff’s department are currently investigating the matter.
Ali previously filed a complaint against Samohi wrestling team coach Mark Black and the two wrestlers accused of carrying out the alleged incident.
Regional Transportation Plan workshop scheduled
The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has scheduled a series of workshops for July and August as it develops a Regional Transportation Plan. SCAG is required to develop a plan every four years. The closest meeting to Malibu takes place Aug. 16 at SCAG’s office at 818 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Meetings will also take place in August in West Covina and Carson. Ventura County workshops took place earlier this week in Thousand Oaks and Oxnard.
“The RTP considers the role of transportation in the broader context of economic, environmental and quality-of-life goals for the future, identifying regional transportation strategies to address mobility needs,” a press release from the City of Malibu states.
More information can be obtained by visiting www.scag.ca.gov/RTP2012.
DUI checkpoint planned
The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station will conduct a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint in the City of Malibu July 22 between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to a press release from the sheriff’s station.
“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is continuing its ongoing campaign to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes,” the release states. “DUI checkpoints are conducted to identify offenders and get them off the street, as well as bring awareness to our community of the dangers of impaired driving.”
EIR presentation for Malibu High School renovation planned
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will conduct a community presentation to discuss renovation and expansion plans for Malibu High School on Thursday, July 28 at 6 p.m. at the MHS library at 30215 Morningside Drive. The school district plans to build a new two-story building for classroom, library and administrative uses, renovate an existing building and build a new 150-space parking lot adjacent to the athletic field. The existing Library and Administration buildings would be demolished. After the project is completed, high school and middle school students would be separated in different buildings.
Those who wish to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the project may do so by contacting Janece Maez at 310-450-8338 ext. 268 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Comments may also be emailed to measurebb@smmusd.org.
House catches fire on Carbon Beach
A beachfront house caught fire late Tuesday afternoon on Carbon Beach, Sheriff’s Deputy Roberto Garcia said. Garcia said the county fire department did not know the exact cause of the fire, although he said paint discovered in the garage may have been played a role in the blaze.