Misguided info on Legacy Park

By The Malibu Times · Wed Jul 30 2008

Apparently, V. Gerald Scordan has teamed up and joined Susan Tellem in her misguided and misinformed criticism of the city's purchase of the Chili Cook-off site. (Remember Ms. Tellem's "Lunacy Park" disparagement?)

First, Scordan states that the land was "vastly over-priced." Is he kidding? The city paid $25 million for the land, which included three commercial properties that returned $17 million in secured bonds. That means, in effect, the city only paid $8 million for almost 19 acres of land smack in the prime center of town. One might say that is a pretty good real estate deal, ranking right up there with the Louisiana Purchase.

Second, Scordan suggests that the city should have moved A&B Plumbing to the Lumber Yard, and then buy the A&B site and use it to fix PCH. Considering that just up the street the small PC Green parcel recently sold for $25 million, I'm glad Mr. Scordan is not my financial advisor.

Third, Scordan clearly doesn't know the difference between storm-water and wastewater. In this phase, Legacy Park is attacking the problem of storm-water, which accounts for 95 percent of the pollution in the creek, lagoon, and on the beaches. When this project is completed, almost 100 percent of the storm-water will be cleaned and treated-garnering accolades from major environmental groups like Heal the Bay.

Finally, neither Susan Tellem nor Gerald Scordan ever mention that in buying the Chili Cook-off, the residents will have a beautiful park, instead of the crowded shopping center that was planned on the site. That's probably why over 1,000 residents donated $2,500,000 to help purchase the property.

Curiously, Mr. Scordan is not listed, nor is he a registered voter in the City Malibu. Is that because he doesn't live here or that it is just easier to complain than to participate in community affairs to solve a pollution problem, beautify the center of Malibu and leave a legacy for our children and the future generations to come?

Ken Kearsley