The Malibu Times reporter Sylvie Belmond’s piece on the proponents of the planned bond measure exposed WHO: Mona Loo and the Malibu City Council; WHAT: $15,000.000; WHEN: November 2001, WHY: DAMNIFIKNOW. Malibu City Councilmember Tom Hasse’s (who rents in Malibu and does not pay property taxes to the city) commentary on the future use for the $15,000,000 is fuzzy govermentise, to say the least. The intention of the pro-bond committee is not as fuzzy. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the money will be to buy open land and fifteen percent (15%) to replace the youth playing fields, etc.
The previous article by The Malibu Times reporter Ken Gale was much clearer in nature, and simply stated that there was not enough development money allocated in this bond issue to meet the immediate needs of the community, as most of the money is going to natural areas. The city council cannot change that. There could have been enough money, as in compromise.
The Malibu City Council has kowtowed big time to Mona Loo’s group and proposed a flawed bond. They have done so at great cost to the Malibu taxpayer, calling for a very special election (the cost, if I recall, around $50,000) at a time to favor the proponents of the bond issue instead of at the next general election the following April.
Deirdre Roney asks the voters, “Do we care enough to save ourselves?” I can save myself, because I am voting NO.
Katie Cooper