Judy Abel’s story is FAKE NEWS. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy isn’t pushing a sports complex at Malibu Bluffs. All I suggested, and Ms. Abel took great pains to tape record our conversation, was that now that the city wasn’t pursuing a sports complex on the bluffs, and that city constituents were unhappy with the SMMC’s maintenance of Charmlee Park, maybe it was time to unwind the agreement, return Charmlee to its rightful owner — City of Malibu — and the Bluffs to its rightful owner — the State of California.
The original conception behind the land exchange was that the SMMC could pursue camping at Charmlee and the city a sports complex on the bluffs. Turns out that only seven campsites could be developed at Charmlee, and that the city will not pursue a sports complex. Since neither of the principal objectives of each party can be achieved, maybe it is time to unwind the land exchange.
I withdrew this item from the SMMC agenda for June 26 as a showing of good faith for further negotiations with the city. I’m waiting for the mayor to contact me. He can call me at 310-589-3200 ext. 110.
Joseph Edmiston
Chair, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy