“Swap cheats citizens,” a Letter to the Editor last week by Martine Work, is right on. The decision to swap 532 acres of natural Charmlee parkland for 83 acres of Malibu Bluffs Park, only partially useful for playing fields, was blatantly political. The Council has placed political interests before the best interests of the city. Work is generous in attributing the interest in playing fields to 26% of the community as justification for ignoring the best interest of the City of Malibu.
Work refers to the Council going through the mandatory motion of listening to public comments. Worse, they do not respond to comments that don’t support the action they already planned to take before the meeting began. An example is that it was pointed out to the Council in its SWAP staff report that the proper state agency was never approached about obtaining Bluffs Park without swapping Charmlee. A suggestion that they place this action before the public for a vote received no response.
Unfortunately, Work is right in noting that the democratic process is ignored by our politically motivated City Council. How can they get away with it? First, unless one reads the Council agenda for every meeting, those opposed to a proposal have no notification the issue is to be discussed (unless The Malibu Times spills the beans).
When it comes to elections, members get elected because of a low voter turn out and a small, but solid, block of special interest voters.
Work ends by noting that “some Malibu citizens feel betrayed and ashamed.” Too bad that not enough of them vote.
Walt Keller