I am writing this letter for two reasons: one positive and one that is highly critical. First, I want to commend and thank the Malibu West homeowners association and the Sheriff’s Department for their efforts in cleaning up the Trancas Canyon area. As many residents in this area know, the corner of PCH and Trancas Canyon has become a dangerous cesspool of trash, transients and crime. In fact there was a recent murder, yes a murder, related to the transients who congregate there. It had come to the point where the residents would not walk down the street anymore. There had never been any response to these issues from the city other than to suggest putting outhouses in the area to accommodate transients. Great idea, but no thanks!
However, despite the lack of help from our own city government, the police and homeowners have begun to work together to rid the neighborhood of this problem and it is working.
I suggest to the city in the strongest terms that the majority of families that live in Malibu are fed up with the lack of action on these types of issues. The city government is too caught up in petty and ridiculous land disputes to realize the anger and frustration over the generally worsening aesthetic and social conditions in Malibu. Reference the number of readers who have recently complained about weeds on the center medians, empty buildings and homeless and day worker inundation. They should be focused on these issues but cannot seem to because they are so distracted by the fanatics that occupy their time with out of the main stream, archaic ideas.
Based on the so far successful efforts in Trancas, it is indeed possible to make progress. I warn the city not to impede these types of efforts as many are so frustrated with the blight of this city. Wake up, city government, or you may find yourself ousted soon. Maybe we should have never become a city or should reverse this failing model. Fellow citizens, make your opinions to the city known, lest this becomes worse and worse for all of us.
Matt Borenzweig