As many of your readers know, Malibu High is proposing to install permanent lighting for its football field. This project is the culmination of years of planning, the hard work of many within our own community, and hundreds of thousands of private community raised dollars.
What many of your readers may not be aware of is there is a minority movement within our community trying to derail this project. This same minority opposition, when lights previously shined on Malibu High School’s football field, was virtually silent. Nonetheless, they are now trying to convince our City Council to deny or so significantly modify the current lighting plan as to make the lights virtually unusable or worse, cause the project to become cost prohibitive.
The lighting project as currently presented has been carefully crafted to balance the concerns of this minority opposition. Significant efforts have been undertaken to ensure that the environmental impact of these lights will be less than when lights previously illuminated the Malibu High School football field. There is no need to make any further changes.
It is time for the city to demonstrate its support for our children and their education. Malibu’s excellent public schools are an asset which must be supported, even if that support means that the selfish wants of a minority of Malibu’s citizens are compromised along the way.
Malibu High School provides excellent educational and athletic opportunities for our kids. Its athletic facilities are not only used by the school but also have become a centerpiece of Malibu’s municipal recreational and athletic facilities.
Our children should be able to enjoy playing under the lights. Parents should be able to see their kids perform on our athletic field without having to miss work. Finally, and most importantly, our kids should be able to compete for their high school without having to make academic sacrifices. This lighting proposal will accomplish all of these goals.
I urge our city council on Monday night to approve the lighting plan as currently presented. It is time that we act collectively to provide a resource which we all can be proud of and will be enjoyed by all Malibu residents for years to come.
Mike Sidley