As president of the Malibu Association of Realtors (MAR), I write to correct the statements made in a letter published in last week’s Malibu Times titled, “Realtor Board trespasses.” This letter alleged that Beverly Taki, a MAR board director and city council candidate, voted for her own endorsement. In point of fact, she did not. I also need to address the assertion that MAR is a professional organization without a political agenda and therefore, should not endorse candidates. In the past two Malibu City Council elections MAR voted to endorse City Council candidates, once in the same manner as in this election, by the vote of the Board of Directors, and once by polling the members after our candidates forum.
MAR is both a professional and a political organization affiliated with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the California Association of Realtors (CAR). These associations lobby legislators and government at all levels, local, state, and federal. They monitor new legislation and support or oppose legislation that would affect private property rights and the health of our industry. At our CAR Convention in February we were encouraged to run for local public office if we felt the call to serve.
We Malibu Realtors may not agree on many things, but I assure you we are absolutely committed to maintaining the quality of life we all enjoy here. Towards that end we have this year sponsored buses on two separate occasions to transport Malibu residents to the Coastal Commission Hearings. We placed ads in the local papers for the upcoming Coastal Commission Conference of concerned citizens in opposition to the LCP that will be held on April 13, at Calamigos Ranch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Attendance is free of charge, please attend.) We have placed ads in the local papers warning the citizens of Malibu that their private property rights are under attack. MAR is working very hard to make sure that we don’t end up with another de-facto moratorium here that could last for years while endless expensive litigation awaits resolution in the courts.
If we hope to prevail with the California Coastal Commission we must all put our personal preferences aside, accept the election results and give our support to our newly elected city council members. It’s time we put past trespasses aside and pull together in focusing on the huge challenge before us, reclaiming local control from the California Coastal Commission.
Kathryn Yarnell