I am gratified that in his letter to the editor, Mr. Matt Borenzweig commends a Malibu West homeowners (sic) association and the Sheriff’s Department for their efforts in cleaning up the Trancas Canyon area. However, I am confused by his suggestion that the City government has done nothing to aid those efforts. Perhaps Mr. Borenzweig is unaware that the sheriffs work for the City, and are part of the City’s team. Several months ago, the problems at Trancas were addressed at a City Council meeting. City Council directed the sheriff’s community liaison to work with the Trancas neighborhood. Apparently, the City’s efforts have produced good results.
Mr. Borenzweig also takes the City to task for not addressing the aesthetic and social conditions in Malibu, specifically citing weeds on the center medians, empty buildings and homeless and day worker inundation. Regarding these specifics, I invite Mr. Borenzweig to consider the following:
Pacific Coast Highway is state controlled, and the City has no authority to unilaterally beautify the medians. That is why the City’s Public Works Department is working with a community-based group (The Malibu Green Machine), Caltrans, Pepperdine and others to partner in a beautification project.
I would invite Mr. Borenzweig to join the Malibu Green Machine in that effort. As to empty buildings, as far as I know, government cannot force a landowner to occupy his building. And finally, the City has aggressively pursued the problem of day workers. It partners with the Malibu Labor Exchange where workers and the community can meet in a safe, supervised and sanitary area. The problem of day workers could be instantly solved if the community would stop hiring those who are seeking work at Trancas or any other unsanctioned site.
I invite Mr. Borenzweig to contact the City if we can be of further service.
Andy Stern
Mayor, City of Malibu