Monday marked the first Malibu City Council meeting following a much-publicized investigation into alleged perjury by Mayor Pro Tem Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner, and a dozen or so Malibu residents came to council chambers to express their support for Wagner, who is also a longtime small business owner and community member.
Among those who spoke were former mayor Walt Keller, who suggested council send a letter to the district attorney’s office in support of Wagner, and others who suggested council intervene.
Deborah Frankel described the accusations as “seriously uncool” while later Skylar Peak described Wagner as “one of the most honest people [he] has ever known.”
There were also some who came to point fingers at those they believed were responsible for reaching out to the DA and accusing Wagner of not residing in the city.
Among those were Ted Vaill, who admonished the “gestapo-like tactics” of the DA’s office and suggested the investigation was launched at the request of City Manager Reva Feldman. Even stronger language came from Linda Vallejo, who accused Mayor Rick Mullen and the rest of council of “hiding behind a woman’s skirt”—that of the sole female city council member, Laura Rosenthal—instead of speaking out at the time of the search.
“I don’t know how you can even look at Jefferson. I’m embarrassed for you,” Vallejo said, adding, “Laura, we are well aware that you lead this all-male posse that is now circling the drain.”
Wagner thanked his supporters for their kind words and then immediately sought to distance himself from some of the comments.
“Let’s try and focus on facts and remember that, although this council doesn’t work together perfectly all the time, there’s not a member of this council that does not have their heart into this city in whatever faction, whichever direction takes up most of their interest,” Wagner said. “I respect all the work that Lou and Laura and Rick and Skylar have done, and I would hope you respect their work and their actual areas that they concentrate most of their time on.”
Plastic bottle ban will slowly roll out
On the heels of what appears to be a successful plastic straw, cutlery and stirrer ban, council is now working on the roll out of a ban that could see single-use plastic bottles under one liter outlawed.
Both Wagner and Council Member Lou La Monte suggested a slow roll out of the ban, beginning with education and removal from city property.
“I think the message might be a little too bold,” La Monte cautioned. “I think when we start taking giant bites out of these things, it becomes hard to digest.”
Wagner agreed, suggesting a simultaneous educational program along with the ban, saying the city should “do this in steps.”
Rosenthal suggested the following schedule: First, ban the sale or use of single-use plastic bottles on city property; next, ban the use of plastic bottles for events that need city permits—such as the Guitar Festival or Chili Cook-Off; then, a complete ban of the sale, taking them “off the shelves” in Malibu.
“Does the spring of next—a year from now—are you guys comfortable with that time period for outreach?” Peak asked.
Mullen requested more information on comparable programs in other cities before setting the schedule in stone.
The item is set to come back before council later this year.