As most of your readers know, the unjust firings of cashiers Harry McDermott and Nancy Cicatelli by Ralphs market here in Malibu has caused quite an uproar. A brief view of the circumstances surrounding this incident are as follows.
Two Pepperdine students entered the Ralphs Market in Malibu and attempted to purchase beer and wine. These same two students had been checked for I.D. numerous times prior to the above incident and were found to be of legal age. The I.D. that the students were using was false. The same two students, already known to be of legal age by Mr. McDermott and Miss Cicatelli, were checked through their stations. Both had purchased beer and wine. Officers from the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) were at the scene and cited the clerks for selling alcoholic beverages to minors. Under Ralphs’ zero-tolerance policy pertaining to sales of alcoholic beverages to minors, the two hard working cashiers were fired unconditionally.
After reading the above story in The Malibu Times just after Thanksgiving, I knew I had to do something. I penned a letter to the editor of the Times, called and wrote a letter of protest to Ralphs corporate headquarters and started making phone calls. Those hard working cashiers were guilty of nothing more than being in a hurry. As the word got around Malibu, I found that I was most certainly not alone in my feelings. Everyone that I had contacted was outraged by the way Ralphs was handling this situation.
Now let’s fast forward to the appearance (Dec. 24, 2002) for Miss Cicatelli and Mr. McDermott at the Malibu courthouse. I arrived at the courthouse at approximately 8:30 a.m. and was met by numerous concerned citizens of Malibu. Not only were they giving moral support to Nancy and Harry, most opened their wallets and gave as much as they could to help them through Christmas. Some of the concerned citizens that were there are highly visible in Malibu politics. There were three ex-mayors, there were ultra-conservatives, ultra-liberals, people who are pro growth and people who are slow growth. All of these individuals coming together in the interest of justice!
Speaking of justice, just as predicted, the ABC violations against Harry and Nancy were dismissed in the interest of justice. Now Malibu has to come together to get Nancy and Harry’s jobs back. It is going to be a long haul but when Malibu’s citizens get angry, the long haul is nothing. Ralphs had better be ready because here we come. Get out the signs and call the press. Just a side note to Ralphs, you want this to go all the way? Give them their jobs back. They didn’t do anything wrong.
Pete Haynes