I am truly disheartened by the letter to the editor written by John Harlow and Doug O’Brien, “Muddy thinking on ball fields.” These statements can’t be dismissed as just errors. They are boldfaced lies.
The Malibu Coastal Land Conservancy (MCLC) held several meetings for the sole purpose of informing the citizens of Malibu that the MCLC was supportive of utilizing all of the proceeds from the bond measure for the purpose of acquiring land for recreational purposes and was going to try to raise restoration funds to clean the lagoon and Surfrider Beach from other sources. The presentation was made by Steve Uhring, president of the MCLC. (Over 100 people attended these meetings.) Both Harlow and O’Brien attended several of those meetings. Uhring’s disclosure and their attendance are recorded on video tape. (So much or that lie.)
On April 2, 2001, (well before the vote on the bond) the following statement appeared in The Malibu Times: “Ozzie Silna did say to the Coalition group on Thursday, March 27, 2001, as follows: “How about. . . utilizing those (bond) funds solely for the purchase of land for recreational facilities, parkland and a Community Center?” He concluded his remarks by saying, “I believe that it is . …important that we bring the community together and focus on an achievable goal of delivering the recreational facilities and Community Center that Malibu desperately needs.'” (So much for that lie.)
Their misguided and divisive behavior, (whether in their individual names or as the Lily’s Cafe Steering Committee) is an outrage. Although more than 62 percent of the voters supported the Bond Measure, they unfortunately (with a last minute flyer demeaning the MCLC) misinformed enough of the community to defeat the Bond Measure. A Bond Measure that would have resulted in the acquisition of all the land needed for the recreational needs for the City of Malibu.
The Malibu Coalition for Parks and Land (all of whom support the recreational needs of the community) decided that the time before the General City Election was too short in order to achieve a successful outcome. Hopefully, we will have another opportunity, in the November election, to vote to raise the money needed for the acquisition of land for those facilities. (So much for that lie.)
Ozzie Silna