Malibu Democratic Club Hosts Reiner Q & A

More than 150 people filed into Webster Elementary School’s auditorium on Wednesday night to hear Rob Reiner speak on the Measure R initiative. 

The event was sponsored by the Malibu Democratic Club, which just passed a resolution in support of Measure R. Attendees appeared largely in favor of Measure R as well, with many donning pro-Measure R t-shirts and asking Reiner questions such as why four of five City Council have come out against Measure R. He had no answer but alluded to more political action after the Nov. 4 campaign in light of a recent email controversy. 

“We need to make city officials accountable to the public, not to each other,” he said. 

The hourlong event was mostly tame until the last few minutes of the evening when the only opponent to speak up, local Realtor Paul Grisanti, asked Reiner about the language of Measure R, arguing that it allows for significant exemptions. 

“You’re not reading your own initiative correctly,” Grisanti told Reiner.

Grisanti then referenced City Attorney Christi Hogin’s analysis of the measure, which found that “if the measure is adopted, its exemptions would allow the five existing Civic Center shopping centers to increase their formula retail occupancy to as much as 83% of their aggregate retail square footage.”

Reiner responded by saying that all already-existing chain stores would have to vacate their spaces in the shopping centers for that to become reality.

“The percentage you have is so farfetched,” Reiner countered.

Still no debate scheduled

John Densmore, a Malibu local and former drummer for The Doors, said he thought the night’s event would be a debate between Reiner and Measure R opponent Steve Soboroff. But both sides have yet to settle on the terms of the debate. 

Earlier this week, “No on R” campaign leader and Malibu developer Soboroff requested the debate be livestreamed online but closed to the public, according to emails shared with The Malibu Times. He later suggested 25 pro-Measure R and 25 anti-Measure R people be allowed to attend. As of Thursday evening, no date, location or time had been finalized. Reiner does not want the event to be held at City Hall. 

LA Times columnist Steve Lopez and CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Dave Bryan have been asked to moderate. 

Paul Grisanti asks Rob Reiner a question during Wednesday’s event at Webster Elementary.

Rob Reiner speaks about Measure R on Wednesday night at Webster Elementary.