I’m certain that most residents of Malibu have seen the headline in the Los Angeles Times, “Campfire started Tahoe blaze.” The question is, will the City Council call a halt to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy which allows overnight camping in the mountains just a ten minute brushfire away from our homes? Frankly, I doubt it. As a lawyer friend recently said, “A concession once granted is difficult to rescind.” The City Attorney is probably meeting with SMMC on this subject privately, but meetings should be open to the public and noticed in advance.
It is one thing for a council to pursue an action which is of obvious benefit to the City; overnight camping in the mountains obviously is not. Is Malibu the next victim of an out of control legal or illegal campfire? The council should feel personally responsible for an action which is of no benefit to residents and potentially will jeopardize their lives.
Walt Keller