Celebrity trainer victim of car heist in Malibu
A man accused of stealing celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels’ car was arrested on July 4, according to media reports.
The District Attorney’s office confirmed that Gerjuan Deshon Harmon, 29, allegedly took Michaels’ 2011 Bentley GT from her Malibu home on July 3. Harmon was arrested the next day after crashing the stolen vehicle during the Burbank police’s pursuit of him. Michaels filed a police report on the Fourth of July after noticing some of her personal items, including her car, were missing.
Harmon, who was on parole for prior felony burglary charges, faces 22 years in prison if convicted of his new charges, E! Online reported.
Michaels was unharmed and tweeted about the burglary shortly after the arrest, saying “hi guys – thanks so much for all your concern regarding the burglary. We are all fine & that’s what counts. Stuff is just stuff after all.”
Michaels is best known for her work as a trainer on the reality television show “The Biggest Loser” and its spin-off “Losing It With Jillian.”
Rent control bill amended
A proposed bill that would have lifted local rent control agreements in mobile home parks in California was amended during the Senate Judiciary Committee July 3 and will no longer change rent control rules, according to government documents.
The documents state that AB 317, written by Assemblyman Charles Calderon, was changed during the meeting then passed along with the recommended action to “pass as amended.”
Under the amended version, the bill will not affect rent control rules in mobile home parks in Malibu and throughout the state.
Originally, the bill was written to exempt mobile homes from rent control ordinances if the mobile home is not the owner’s only residence.
Residents of both Paradise Cove mobile home park and the Point Dume Club spoke out, saying the bill would be a disaster for homeowners.
The Malibu City Council also opposed the bill. Mayor Laura Rosenthal met with a member of Calderon’s staff at the state capitol in March and voiced her displeasure with the bill. During its March 26 meeting at City Hall, the council unanimously moved to oppose AB 317 and authorized Rosenthal to send a letter to State Sen. Fran Pavley and other interested parties urging them to oppose the legislation.
The bill had already been changed a number of times prior to the July 3 revisions. It was first introduced Feb. 9, 2011, then amended in the Assembly April 25, 2011 and Jan. 4, 9 and 23 of this year, before being amended again in the Senate May 23.
The bill is still being reviewed.
Malibu Park drowning death under investigation
Los Angeles County sheriff’s authorities are investigating the drowning death of a man who was found floating in a pool last week at a private residence in Malibu Park, Lt. Weber of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station confirmed. Weber said the case was being handled by the county sheriff’s homicide bureau, although it is not necessarily being considered a homicide. Officials at the homicide bureau could not be reached for comment.
Deputy involved in fender-bender
A deputy rear-ended a vehicle at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Las Flores Canyon Friday afternoon, Lt. Josh Thai of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s station said.
The two-car collision happened just after 3 p.m. as the deputy was pulling over the vehicle for a traffic violation. The crash occurred when the vehicle stopped abruptly at a yellow traffic signal as the deputy’s vehicle was approaching, Thai explained.
The deputy was uninjured but the other driver was taken to a hospital after complaining of back and knee pain. Pacific Coast Highway remained open in both directions.
Sierra Club releases Coastal Commission ratings
The Sierra Club has released its 2011 California Coastal Commission Conservation Voting Chart, which rates the coastal conservation efforts of the commission, and found its score had dropped from the previous year. According to a release from the environmental group, the 24th Voting Chart is sponsored by Sierra Club California and League for Coastal Protection to “measure pro-conservation scores of the Commission.”
The chart examines 23 separate votes made by the commission. The environmental club says it chose the votes based on the predicted impact on coastal resources, the potential to set a statewide precedent and whether the project employed any paid lobbyists.
“We are disappointed that the overall conservation score for the Commission dropped from 61% in 2010 to 56% in 2011,” said Amanda Wallner, organizer for Sierra Club California. “This is the second year in a row we have seen a decline in the conservation voting score.”
According to the club’s release, while the commission enforced staff recommendations and followed past development standards in some instances, it still demonstrated an “inconsistent” approach to protecting certain environmental areas and did not enforce agricultural and open space restrictions in many instances.
“These decisions highlight the importance and value of ongoing public involvement to make sure that the commissioners adequately and correctly review proposed projects against California Coastal Act criteria,” Wallner said in the release.
To see the voting chart in full, visit sierraclubcalifornia.org.
Olympic water polo coach signs on at Pepperdine
Water polo coach Terry Schroeder will return to Pepperdine to serve as head coach of the men’s water polo team for the 2013 season. Schroeder ran the school’s water polo program for 20 years and led the Waves to the 1997 NCAA championship. He is currently the head coach of the USA men’s water polo team that will compete in the Summer Olympics in London.
“We are so excited to welcome Terry Schroeder back home to lead our men’s water polo program,” Pepperdine athletic director Steve Potts said in a press release. “Terry is one of the most accomplished student athletes in Pepperdine history, led our team to an NCAA National Championship as head coach and has distinguished himself as head coach of the USA National team.”
Schroeder will officially take his position as head coach Jan. 1, 2013. Assistant coach Gary O’Brien will continue to serve as the interim head coach for the 2012 season.
Senior choir class to start
The Malibu Senior Center is hosting a new choir class on Mondays at 10 a.m. for Senior Center members. They will learn the fundamentals of singing and performing different musical styles. Laura De Mieri, a local musical therapist, will teach the class. For more information, call 310.456.2489 ext. 357.
Visitor Center in Thousand Oaks closes
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area’s visitor center, the Thousand Oaks Visitor Center, closed permanently on July 8.
The group’s new center, the Anthony C. Beilenson Visitor Center, opened on June 9 at King Gillette Ranch. The National Park Service, the California State Parks, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority are jointly running the center.
For more information, call 805.370.2301.