The following letter was sent to Doug Failing, district manager, Caltrans.
About four months ago I requested a street sign be erected at the corner of Via Escondido and Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Three government agencies and 15 people later, it seems it is no one’s responsibility. Mr. Don Dalby suggested I write you to request a courtesy sign be erected. The following is my story.
I moved into my neighborhood eight years ago and since that time there has been no street sign identifying Via Escondido. There is a street signpost but never a sign that exists on PCH at the corner of Via Escondido. In February of 2003, I contacted the City of Malibu via e-mail and requested a sign be put up. Melissa Irwin of the streets management department responded stating it is Caltrans responsibility and referred me to Richard Calvin, street management.
I contacted Richard Calvin of the City of Malibu who said its Caltrans responsibility and referred me to Dennis Cutting of Caltrans. I contacted Dennis Cutting via phone and Ron Thrash returned my call. Ron asked questions defining the location, etc., and said he would do some research.
About a month after that, I called Dennis Cutting again since I hadn’t heard from Ron or anyone else at Caltrans. Ed Bolgatz returned my call and discussed reasons why it’s not Caltrans. A 4×4 post was the reasoning it was not Caltrans responsibility if I understood him correctly. Ed then referred me to Sheik Manoudin.
I called Sheik Manoudin and he referred me to the County of LA Department of Street Maintenance. After four phone calls I spoke with Justin Schmitz. He said it wasn’t county’s jurisdiction that Caltrans maintained the state highway. He referred me back to Sheik Manoudin.
I called Sheik Manoudin at Caltrans back and he referred me to Samir Haddaeen. I spoke to Samir Haddaeen of Caltrans and he said it wasn’t his responsibility and that I should contact Richard Calvin at the City of Malibu.
I can anticipate that should one of the homeowners try and attempt on putting up a replacement street sign at the corner of Via Escondido and Pacific Coast Hwy the news will break that the person was arrested for tampering with state property without permission and that the signage does not meet state, county and city safety standards.
Rey Cano