Let’s get ready to rumble.
In one corner, accomplished director, actor, writer and political activist Rob Reiner.
In the other corner, Whole Foods development proponent, former Malibu Village owner and LAPD Police Commission President Steve Soboroff.
After a lengthy email battle over the terms, Soboroff and Reiner finally agreed to publicly debate the merits and weaknesses of Measure R this Sunday in Malibu. Soboroff, who has spent $50,000 of his own money to fund the “No on R” campaign will go toe-to-toe with Reiner, who along with his wife Michele, led the charge to get the initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot. The proponents have raised $330,000.
Scheduled for 5 p.m. at Malibu City Hall, tickets for the free hourlong event are being split between proponents and opponents, with approximately 80 seats up for grabs on each side.
There had been talk of keeping the debate closed to the public and only streaming it online, and broadcasting on local television after an emotionally charged group loudly heckled the Malibu City Council over a campaign sign debacle. Eventually, the two sides agreed to an audience.
In what seemed like a preview of Sunday’s showdown, Soboroff and Reiner exchanged nasty emails while debating the debate.
“I will face every single person of Malibu on their TV, computer, Youtube, but a big part of your crowd is unruly,” Soboroff told Reiner in a thread local media was carbon-copied on. “…You don’t need the security blanket of the roudies [sic] that follow you around all the time, you are a professional actor.”
Reiner didn’t hold back, either.
“I am willing to face the voters of Malibu. You seem to be frightened of them. First you want someone to hold your hand during the debate, then you want it behind closed doors,” Reiner said in another email to Soboroff, referencing an earlier request that each of them have a partner in the debate.
CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Dave Bryan and Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez have agreed to moderate the event. In a column published this week, Lopez was very playful about the circumstances surrounding Measure R.
“In some ways, what’s happening in the Bu is a typical community battle over growth, development and traffic. It’s the same story in hundreds of towns,” he wrote.
“Except that in those other places, you don’t go to a slow-growth rally headlined by producer-director Rob Reiner, with Dick Van Dyke in the audience, Doors drummer John Densmore sitting next to you, and lots of buzzing about a $100,000 campaign donation from Victoria Principal, who never saw feuding this rancorous while starring in ‘Dallas.’”
He also disclosed that he had been asked to moderate the event, and stood “ready to serve” as “the future of Paradise is at stake.”
Those hoping to attend the debate are asked to contact each campaign directly for tickets. City Manager Jim Thorsen said it will be broadcast live locally and streamed online.
Soboroff and Reiner will be allowed 2-3 minute opening statements, closing statements, 90 seconds to answer each moderator question and 30 seconds of rebuttal. The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department will also be present.
