The initiative process — together with the ability to recall elected officials and repeal laws by referendum — has been a proud, if contentious, part of California’s political system for more than 100 years. It serves as a necessary check on our elected officials and allows voters to engage in direct democracy and express their will.
Measure R, the Your Malibu, Your Decision act, is the perfect example of such an initiative.
Collectively, we are supporting Measure R because we are concerned about the prospect of runaway commercial development — much of it made possible by the sewer system that is being imposed upon Malibu. We’re also supporting the measure because it promises a more diverse mix of resident-serving businesses and helps protect businesses like the movie theater, Urgent Care, and our own businesses. But perhaps most significantly, we’re supporting Measure R because it empowers the residents of Malibu to approve or reject large commercial development projects that would forever alter our community.
That out-of-town developers oppose giving residents that authority is no surprise. After all, they’ve worked hard to streamline Malibu’s development approval process and elect council members who support their plans — including the former pro-development mayors featured in their campaign mailers. And they have significant money at stake.
But pleading inconvenience and financial hardship doesn’t make for a winnable campaign, and so the developers and their allies have gone a step further and subjected Malibu to a noteworthy disinformation campaign designed to confuse and scare voters. It’s a strategy all special interests use when they want you to vote “no” on a measure, and it works often.
So let’s look at the allegations developers have made and the facts:
• Measure R does not, contrary to their statements, stop Malibu Urgent Care from relocating or Whole Foods from moving to Malibu. Like movie theaters and pharmacies, Urgent Care and Whole Foods are exempted from the measure. Indeed, the owners of all three entities have asked to be left out of the “No on R” campaign.
• Developers have also suggested — ironically and cynically — Measure R could lead to more development and more chain stores in Malibu. It’s a claim so absurd it begs the question if Measure R in fact increases development, then why are developers opposed to it?
• We’ve also heard about the potential for lawsuits and questions about Measure R’s costs. While we can’t stop developers from threatening suits, the threat reeks of blackmail and desperation. To be clear, these threats are empty: Measure R is based on similar laws that have withstood scrutiny in Del Mar and other coastal communities. As for the Measure’s cost to taxpayers, developers bear the costs associated with the holding a vote on any large, new development.
Lastly, a word about who opposes and who supports Measure R: a mere two developers are funding the entire “No on R” campaign. Neither lives in Malibu. Neither does their lawyer, who recently wrote an op-ed opposing Measure R, a lawyer who has fought against clean air standards, against improving auto emissions, against product liability settlements, against clean water standards and against the EPA ban on asbestos.
Conversely, more than 2,000 Malibu residents signed petitions to place the measure on the ballot, a host of former Mayors and the current Mayor, Skylar Peak, along with hundreds of residents and business owners, have endorsed Measure R, and dozens of local volunteers have run the campaign.
The company you keep matters, especially in campaigns like this.
We are not overly concerned about the developer misinformation campaign. Unlike the opponents of this measure, we actually trust the voters of Malibu. That’s what Measure R is all about — giving us, Malibu’s voters, the power to determine what this community should look like, not just today, but many years from now.
Indeed, as residents, we have pledged ourselves to protecting the unique and beautiful town we live in. Our city’s Mission Statement says, “Malibu is a unique land and marine environment and residential community whose citizens have historically evidenced a commitment to sacrifice urban and suburban conveniences in order to protect that environment and lifestyle, and to preserve unaltered natural resources and rural characteristics … by establishing programs and policies that avoid suburbanization and commercialization of its natural and cultural resources.”
Those are powerful words and a powerful mission. We think it is worth fighting for and that’s why we’re working so hard to pass this measure. We invite you to join us and vote “yes” on Measure R.
Michael Osterman
Owner, PC Greens
Candace Brown
Manager, Zuma Jay’s Surfboards
Dr. Judy Villablanca, M.D.
Pediatric oncologist
Rick Mullen
Former Malibu Public Safety
commissioner
Dru Ann Jacobson
48-year Malibu resident/
Measure R petitioner
Carol Moss
Local activist/Measure R
petitioner
Leigh and Carla McCloskey
59- and 39-year Malibu
residents
Rebecca Ogorman
Local activist
Dolores Gillham
Local activist
Maggie Lückerath
Concerned citizen