Whoever cut the power to Malibu High School’s stadium lights: you had better hope you didn’t tell anyone who could use a cool $5,000.
According to the agenda for the next City Council Meeting on Sep. 22, Councilwoman Laura Rosenthal is requesting staff to offer a reward for information “leading to the arrest and conviction of person(s) responsible for cutting wires to the field lights at Malibu High School.”
According to Rosenthal, offering a reward will help deter vandals from future mischief when it comes to MHS.
“I’ve had a couple people ask me to do this and I thought it was a great idea,” Rosenthal said, adding, “People want to send a very clear message to somebody that would try to vandalize our school and try to stop community gatherings and really try to go after our kids—because that’s who’s really hurt by this.”
The staff report, which is available on the city’s website, lists the legal precedent for such an award as the Special Reward Fund in the Malibu Municipal Code. The fund authorizes council to seek rewards for information on crimes in Malibu, “including crimes that ‘jeopardized the rights, safety or property of persons within the city.'”
When asked how cutting the stadium lights fit this description, Rosenthal said that it’s a right for the community to spend time at the high school in the evening.
“It jeopardizes the right for families to gather at night in Malibu, because there are no other places for people to gather at night,” Rosenthal said.
As to the specific award being offered, Rosenthal stated that the amount, listed in the staff report as $5,000, is up for debate.
“That’s just typically what we ask for, so we can reduce it or increase it or whatever,” Rosenthal stated.
Rosenthal said she decided to present the idea of the city establishing a reward for info, regardless of the district’s actions.
“Well, the district might be [offering a reward] too,” Rosenthal said.
On Friday morning, SMMUSD Superintendent Sandra Lyon announced that the school board is also offering an award for information on the cut power at MHS.
“Our district has the WeTip program which offers rewards up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of individuals engaged in illegal activity on our campuses,” Lyon said in an email to The Malibu Times.
Lyon also provided information for anyone wishing to contact the district in regards to the reward.Â
“Anyone with information regarding this crime or any others should call 1.800.78CRIME or log onto www.wetip.com,” Lyon wrote.
