I have been trying to figure out why Malibu CAN, which consists of Ozzie Silna and Steve Uhring as their principal members, are so adamantly opposed to Measure M. Before I start, I want you to know I like Steve and Ozzie-they’re my friends. The main objective of their $80,000 lobbying of Planning Commission members was for the City to be able to get the Chili Cook-Off site. Because of the great work of the Planning Commission, the City Council went back to the Malibu Bay Company and came back with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy the Chili Cook-Off site, take it out of development, and keep it as open space forever.
This deal diminishes approximately 100,000 square feet of development, cleans up the lagoon, and gives us a Central Park. This is an environmental dream. Now all of a sudden, Ozzie and Steve don’t want it anymore. This reminds me of when President Clinton and the Prime Minister of Israel gave Yassar Arafat 97 precent of what he wanted and then he turned down the deal. The same thing is happening here. It defies explanation – except if you’re looking at the April, 2004 Malibu City Council election.
Here’s their plan for the April ’04 race. Defeat the Malibu Bay Company Development Agreement and cling very closely to the California Coastal Commission who has usurped Malibu’s local control. There are so many things that they are doing in a desperate attempt to discredit this City Council. All of their numbers on square footage and traffic are wrong. They falsified Heal the Bay’s position on our upcoming ballot. When Mark Gold, director of Heal the Bay complained (9/4 Malibu Times), they ignored his request to remove his name from the ballot opposition arguments. They also refused to remove Delores Walsh’s (the God Mother) name from their opposition ballot statement, even when she asked that her name be removed because the statement was “false and misleading.” This is the group that keeps saying the Planning Commission voted unanimously against Measure M when in fact only three out of five voted on the issue and they didn’t disapprove it, they just made suggestions.
The list goes on and on. Tahey haven’t filed a financial statement yet, and nobody knows where their money is coming from except everyone knows the money is coming from Ozzie, but he won’t say. Ozzie may become too hot to lead this campaign. So watch them put in a new front man. Who knows who it may be, but I’m sure we’ll find out soon.
Lloyd Ahern
