On behalf of the Malibu Coastal Land Conservancy (MCLC) I am confused and disappointed that at this weekend’s Chili Cook-off event, the City Council purposely did not recognize the MCLC, and its treasurer Ozzie Silna, as the largest contributor in Malibu’s fundraising effort to acquire the Chili Cook-off property. The Malibu Coastal Land Conservancy’s contribution of $500,000, positioned as a matching challenge to the rest of the community, provided the City with $1 Million of the $2.5 million that Malibu eventually raised in this effort.
The posters at the Chili Cook-off event this weekend properly acknowledged the contributions of Steve Soberoff and Michael Koss who contributed $250,000 each and also the generous members of the Malibu community who helped raise the remaining $1 million. For some unfathomable reason, no recognition was given to the MCLC for its contribution.
We, on the other hand, have openly thanked the City Council for joining the MCLC and the rest of the environmental community in making this acquisition a reality. The Council’s past positions opposing this acquisition effort, such as their strong support for developing the Chili Cook-off property with 185,000 square feet of commercial development under Measure M, obviously made it difficult for them to passionately get behind this effort. Fortunately for Malibu the community rejected their Measure M development plan and subsequently the City Council acknowledged their error and helped Malibu make a giant step forward.
Steve Uhring, president
Malibu Coastal Land Conservancy