The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, including Malibu, due to gusty Santa Ana winds and very low humidity from 12PM, Wed, Nov. 8 through 6PM, Thurs, Nov. 9. There is a 50% chance of winds reaching Red Flag duration Wed. afternoon through Thurs. afternoon. North/northeast winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 40 to 50 mph, and humidity ranging from 8 – 20%. If fire ignition occurs there could be rapid spread of wildfire that would lead to a threat to life and property.
Be prepared for potential power outages, fire, evacuations, hazardous road conditions due to branches in the road and malfunctioning traffic signals. Under CA law, come to a complete stop at any malfunctioning traffic signal. Move flammable furniture and materials away from your house, secure furniture. Check on elderly or disabled neighbors. Seniors, people who rely on wheelchairs, medical devices, or are otherwise not mobile, and owners of horses and large animals should consider leaving the area early. Ensure that you know how to open your garage door or electric gate when the power is out.
Jury makes its verdict four years after 34 people died
Four years after the deadliest maritime disaster in recent U.S. history a jury has found the captain of the Conception dive boat guilty of misconduct and negligence. 67-year-old Jerry Boylan faces up to 10 years in prison. Boylan was the captain of the Conception that caught fire overnight on September 2, 2019. The boat was anchored miles off shore of Santa Barbara. 33 passengers and one crew member died aboard when they were trapped below deck when flames engulfed the vessel. Prosecutors said Boylan failed to post the required roving night watch and never properly trained his crew in firefighting. The lack of a watch person meant the fire was able to spread undetected across the boat. A federal jury on Monday found Boylan criminally negligent in what’s known as seaman’s manslaughter. Boylan was the first to abandon ship and jump overboard. Four crew members who joined him also survived. Boylan was the only crew member to face criminal charges. Sentencing is set for February 8.
Pepperdine women's soccer player Skylar Enge launches a corner kick during an exhibition game against Arizona. Enge scored one of the goals in the Waves' 2-1 win. Photo by Kyle Cajero
Pepperdine has now beaten San Diego nine straight times
The Pepperdine Waves women’s soccer squad kicked in goal after goal after goal to win their fifth straight match on Oct. 27 in San Diego.
The Waves downed the University of San Diego 7-0.
Six different players — sophomore Tatum Wynalda, senior Tori Waldeck, freshman Julia Quinonez, sophomore Taylor Bloom, redshirt freshman Kendall Campbell, and junior Caroline Coleman — scored the victory, which was the Waves’ highest scoring contest of the season.
Pepperdine head coach Tim Ward said his team played with purpose and passion.
“We’re excited about the opportunities in front of us and we are focusing on one day at a time,” he said, “but again, it was so fun to see all of the women contribute tonight as there were some really special moments and goals out there.”
Wynalda led Pepperdine with two goals and an assist. She took five shots, including two on goal, and now has six goals this season. Waldeck scored one goal and took seven shots, five on goal. She has nine goals this season.
Quinonez kicked in her sixth goal of the season and recorded an assist. All three of her shots were on goal. Taylor Bloom’s goal, a header, was her second score of the season. Campbell’s score was her second of the season also. Coleman now also has one goal this season. She kicked two shots in the game. Additionally, Ava Verplancke, a freshman, tallied three assists and took three shots, including one on goal.
Wynalda scored first for Pepperdine in the game’s 30th minute. Senior Skylar Enge passed the ball between two Toreros to Wynalda. She nailed the ball with her right foot for the score. A few plays later, Quinonez kicked the ball to Waldeck for Pepperdine’s second goal.
In the 51st minute, Wynalda passed the ball to Quinonez, who then scored. Wynalda scored her second goal 11 minutes later. She kicked the ball from the just outside the right of the box for Pepperdine’s fourth goal.
Bloom headed the ball in the net in the 71st minute. Nine minutes later, redshirt freshman Kyra Murphy passed the ball to Campbell, who gave Pepperdine a 6-0 lead with her scoring kick. On a free kick, Coleman it the ball in the top left corner of the next in the 85th minute to solidify the Waves’ seven-goal win.
Pepperdine took 29 shots, including 20 shots on goal, while San Diego took nine shots, of which five were on goal.
Pepperdine goalkeeper Taylor Roth, a redshirt sophomore, had four saves. Harlee Head, a sophomore goalkeeper for the Waves, had one save.
Pepperdine has now beaten San Diego nine straight times. The Waves entered Wednesday’s match at the University of San Francisco with an 8-3-5 record. Pepperdine hosts Gonzaga on Saturday at noon. It is both teams’ regular season finale.
Emmaline Thorpe (left) of Santa Monica High School and Molly O'Neill of Malibu High School and will be recognized at the Oct. 19 Santa Monica-Malibu School District board meeting for their perfect scores on the Advanced Placement exams. Contributed Photos
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) proudly celebrates two high school students for earning perfect scores on college-level Advanced Placement (AP) exams in spring 2023. Malibu High School (MHS) senior Molly O’Neill and Santa Monica High School (Samohi) senior Emmaline Thorpe not only received the top score of five, but were also two of only 337 students nationally to earn every point possible on the AP 2-dimensional (2-D) art and design exam, which was taken by approximately 49,000 students worldwide.
“My AP perfect score was quite unexpected, but I am very excited that my portfolio impressed the College Board,” said O’Neill, who aspires to be film director like her grandfather and great-grandfather. “My experiences from taking photography in school have definitely supplied me with the knowledge I need for filmmaking, and so I am grateful I had the experience to create a portfolio.”
Both students were pleasantly surprised by their perfect scores, highlighting that their hard work and unwavering dedication played pivotal roles in achieving this remarkable accomplishment in the AP 2-D art and design exam.
“I put a lot of work into my sustained investigation, but was still unsure what score I’d get, so I’m extremely grateful for my score, and really appreciate the College Board’s recognition of my art,” said Thorpe, who hopes to study art in college. “Samohi has an amazing and supporting environment that I am grateful for. Everyone from Ms. Bouse, who has been my art teacher for four years now, to my family and friends, have been inspirational with their support and motivation.”
“I am overjoyed to celebrate the remarkable achievement of these two outstanding students who earned perfect scores on their AP exams,” said SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton. “Their exceptional accomplishment is a testament to their talent and dedication, as well as our unwavering commitment to nurturing the arts within SMMUSD.”
Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement program, acknowledged the pivotal role played by educators in nurturing and motivating diverse students to reach their full academic potential.
“AP courses and exams are college-level, requiring great focus and persistence among participating students,” said Packer. “We applaud the educators who encourage students to challenge themselves, who motivate and encourage diverse students to achieve their academic potential.”
The Advanced Placement program is committed to ensuring that students have access to the opportunities they have earned. Students who succeed in AP are not only more likely to succeed in college, but have the chance to save a significant amount of time and money by earning college credit or placement.
Colleges and universities around the world receive AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, and/or consideration in the admission process. To learn more about AP, please visit exploreap.org.
The Board of Education will recognize the students at the Oct. 19 school board meeting for their accomplishments.
Malibu High football players and coaches celebrate after the team's 34-8 win over Villanova Prep on Oct. 28. The squad concluded the regular season with a winning record for the first time since 2017, and a playoff berth for the first time since 2012. Photos by Jarrel Hamilton
The Sharks finish with winning record for the first time since 2017, to face Milken in first round of playoffs
When the Malibu High football team initially began preparing for their 2023 campaign, a number of the team’s players had never competed on the gridiron before.
So, Sharks head coach Mike Halualani said he and his coaches had to teach the players the basics of football and the specifics of eight-man football, a faster pace version of traditional football with the reduction of three players on offense and defense.
“It was pretty much the basics,” Halualani recalled. “We spent a lot of time on the fundamentals of tackling. Hopefully, we are still teaching. Hopefully, we are all still learning things. We still practice the basics every week. We are still learning things every time we play.”
The Sharks have learned a lot it seems — including how to win. The squad concluded the regular season Oct. 28 with a winning record for the first time since 2017. Malibu enters their Thursday night playoff matchup against the Milken Wildcats in Los Angeles with a 7-2 record. This is the first season the Sharks have qualified for the postseason since 2012.
Halualani said making the playoffs is amazing.
Malibu High football players and coaches celebrate after the team’s 34-8 win over Villanova Prep on Oct. 28. The squad concluded the regular season with a winning record for the first time since 2017, and a playoff berth for the first time since 2012. Photos by Jarrel Hamilton
“It feels good,” he said. “It is a great accomplishment for the kids.”
Senior wide receiver Travis Kies said he and his teammates are excited to be in the playoffs.
“It’s the first time Malibu has made the playoffs in 11 years, so we are all really looking forward to it,” he said.
Malibu defeated Villanova Prep 34-8 in their regular season finale Oct. 28. The contest featured stellar plays and touchdowns by senior quarterback Nico Miller, senior wide receiver Travis Kies, and Travis’ brother running back Tanner Kies, a sophomore. In the second quarter, junior wide receiver Brody Graham made an amazing one-hand catch that elated the whole team.
Halualani said the team has played good throughout the regular season but is still in search of playing a complete game. The coach said before the Sharks took on an opponent, he knew they had a chance to make the playoffs despite being inexperienced.
“Once we got through the first couple of games, I saw what they had learned,” he said. “They have come far from just being a bunch of kids learning to play football.”
The Sharks recorded victories over Desert Christian, Sherman Oaks CES, Calvary Baptist, Lucerne Valley, Hillcrest Christian, and Entrepreneur this season. There losses have been to Laguna Blanca and their upcoming playoff opponent Milken, which downed Malibu 44-8 in September.
“We’re all super excited to get revenge on them,” noted Travis Kies.
Halualani said Malibu must play their best game of the season to beat Milken.
“We are playing a really good, physical team,” he said. The coach noted that the Sharks didn’t make any errors against Villanova Prep.
“We are going to have to be more efficient in the playoffs,” Halualani said.
Kies said this season has been full of great memories.
“I’ll remember all the enduring practices and games that we all went through together and hopefully I’ll remember the season had some huge playoff victories,” he said.
Jerry Wolf (left) and his father Larry Sellers are shown on the set of the movie "Killers of the Flower Moon." The father and son were able to work together on the film before Sellers passed away in 2021. Contributed Photo
Second-generation actor, personal trailer speaks at weekly Composers Breakfast
By Barbara Burke
Special to The Malibu Times
Although his featured speaker needed no introduction to many Malibuites — he’s a product of the town’s schools, ball fields and beaches — Richard Gibbs, founder of the Composers Breakfast that meets weekly at Aviator Nation Dreamland, thoroughly enjoyed introducing Jerry Wolf, a long-time Malibuite who is the child of the renowned Larry Sellers, a Native American actor of the Osage Nation (“Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The Movie,” and “Crazy Horse”), and Malibu’s Susie Duff (“Remington Steele” and “Under the Gaydar”).
On Oct. 9, Indigenous Peoples Day, after spreading sage around the venue. Wolf began his comments with an Osage greeting and greetings in Cherokee as well.
“We defer to ancestral wisdom, so I first smoked out the room with sage as that is good housekeeping in our tradition,” Wolf shared, pausing reflectively. “The world around me is animated and we believe that all things are related.”
His prayer, he explained, constituted “a generational call of sharing and connecting with the ancestors before making his comments.”
Whether the ancient ones are from his mother’s or his dad’s side of the family, “Our relatives are watching us and looking out for us and they receive healing from us,” Wolf said. “You can feel it. We have a door to the other side and we came from an ancient place, yet we all forget, but we are coming back.”
He then sang a traditional Lakota thanksgiving song, commenting, “My Lakota brother shared a great insight with me and said that when one sings, they sing like they’re crying and that does not necessarily denote grieving, rather it can be humble.”
Jerry Wolf is shown on the set of the Martin Scorsese film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” in which he has a small part. Contributed Photo
Eliciting appreciative laughs from those assembled, the affable Wolf said, “It’s so joyful to be talking to a bunch of white people on Indigenous People’s Day and not on Columbus Day!”
The Western world is visual, Wolf noted, “However we all expand infinitely in our character which is the timeless essence of who we are.”
Analogizing Wolf stated, “Basically, our connectedness is like Wifi and everything has the powerful ability to connect.”
We all, he opined, “are here to do what we’re supposed to do.”
Unfortunately, he said, “There is a great imbalance which needs to be fixed as our ancestors on the other side, our guardian angels, appreciate being acknowledged.”
It’s easy to connect with them and with all living things, Wolf said: “Do an offering, even if you take a little bit of a meal and set it aside. However you want to pray, ask for good health for all nations.”
His fervent prayer, appreciated and observed by his attentive audience, simply stated, “Thank you for the ancestors and for your sacrifice and we ask for good health and healing. Thank you for the surf and for whatever moves the humans here to be better people.”
His mother, Wolf noted, “Taught me how to develop cultural allies and develop relationships with others who have become important people in my life. For instance, I adopted Nick Brokaw as a brother and he came back to Oklahoma where my father lived with me.” Brokaw directed Wolf in his lead roles in “Four Winds” and “Last Patrol in Okinawa.”
The Malibu Times asked for some background about Sellers, Wolf’s famous father who graced the film and television screens for decades. Before his father died, Wolf was honored to work with him during the filming of “Killers of the Flower Moon.” His father, an Emmy award nominee and a traditional practitioner until he passed away in 2021, taught Wolf about his tribal heritage as well as how to act.
Locally, Wolf was coached in Improvisational comedy by his mother and by the late Teddie Sherman, who also taught him a lot about being on camera. The brawny Wolf is a certified personal trainer who enjoys — and excels — in many sports, from surfing, to rowing, to paintball. He is the proud father of two little girls, with whom he is sharing his Osage and Lakota traditions.
“We all have a lineage and our soul heart is eternal,” Wolf said. “Like my father, I sweat and practice traditional customs.”
Attendee Ronnie “Ray” Padilla, who is Apache on both sides, enjoyed Wolf’s presentation immensely. It’s not long ago, Padilla observed, when such joyous events were not common. “I had to pretend I was Portuguese as a kid.” He said. “We had to change our name to sound Portuguese to get along in society.”
Wolf and others of his generation not only share their lineage and traditional customs, buy they are helping to change the appreciation for the landscape of the numerous cultures that make up the tapestry of Malibu and beyond. Slowly, slowly, more residents are welcoming and are thankful for the traditions of the indigenous Indians everywhere, including the Chumash who first inhabited the lands that later became known as Malibu, as evidenced by the fact that at the Malibu Women’s Longboard Championship, which was held right across from Aviator Nation at First Point Malibu on the day Wolf spoke, Chumash member KC Rodrigues led the opening blessing for the championship.
Chumash member KC Rodrigues led the opening blessing for the Malibu Women’s Longboard Championship on Oct. 9, the same day Jerry Wolf spoke at Aviator Nation Dreamland in Malibu. Contributed Photo
“It was a sincere and great honor to be physically and emotionally present while Indigenous American Jerry Wolf spoke to our Composers Breakfast,” Composer Phil Giffin said. “If I were limited to only four words to sum up my experience with him, those words would be: empathy, respect, love & gratitude.”
The Sam Simon Foundation not only helps humans, but its mission statement, “Saving the lives of dogs, to enrich the lives of people,” indicates it uses shelter dogs to do so. Photos Courtesy of Barb Velasquez.
A peek into the Sam Simon Foundation in Malibu
For a person with profound hearing loss, missing an emergency alert or smoke alarm can be the difference between life and death. That’s where the Sam Simon Foundation, located in Malibu, comes in. The foundation not only helps humans, but its mission statement, “Saving the lives of dogs, to enrich the lives of people,” indicates it uses shelter dogs to do so. Training rescue dogs into what are called “hearing dogs” is a mission the late animal rights activist Sam Simon started 20 years ago.
Simon, a successful animator and producer best known for “The Simpsons,” made a fortune and endowed the Sam Simon Foundation Assistance Dogs before he died in 2015. The foundation does no fundraising. It started with just with one instructor at a property Simon purchased in Ramirez Canyon. It’s placed hundreds of hearing dogs since 2005 and in 2010 expanded by training service dogs for combat veterans with PTSD.
The late Sam Simon started his namesake foundation 20 years ago, training rescue dogs into what are called “hearing dogs.” Photos Courtesy of Barb VelasquezThe Sam Simon Foundation not only helps humans, but its mission statement, “Saving the lives of dogs, to enrich the lives of people,” indicates it uses shelter dogs to do so. Photos Courtesy of Barb Velasquez.
Sam Simon Foundation Assistance Dog Program Director and Instructor Barb Velasquez poses with one of her four-legged friends. Photo Courtesy of Barb Velasquez
Prior to damage from the Woolsey Fire the foundation had a license for 23 dogs who are not kenneled but live in a home because eventually that is their goal, to live in a home and become a working dog. Now it can only accommodate 15 animals.
Typically, smaller breeds are chosen to become hearing dogs.
“Our focus is on rescuing dogs that are intended to complete training as a hearing dog,” Program Director and Instructor Barb Velasquez explained. “We’re looking for young dogs that are energetic, outgoing, friendly, and a dog that appears comfortable in a new environment; confident dogs. They’re the dogs that will likely do well in our program because hearing dogs can go anywhere with the person they’ve been matched with.
“They go to restaurants, workplaces, grocery stores. They are trained in socialization and the specialized work they do. We find out in training whether they have interest in the work. The hearing dogs work for toys and treats. That’s really their paycheck when they alert us to a sound.”
One in four dogs generally completes training. The others are adopted out as companion pets.
The Sam Simon Foundation not only helps humans, but its mission statement, “Saving the lives of dogs, to enrich the lives of people,” indicates it uses shelter dogs to do so. Photos Courtesy of Barb Velasquez.
The Sam Simon Foundation not only helps humans, but its mission statement, “Saving the lives of dogs, to enrich the lives of people,” indicates it uses shelter dogs to do so. Photos Courtesy of Barb Velasquez.The Sam Simon Foundation not only helps humans, but its mission statement, “Saving the lives of dogs, to enrich the lives of people,” indicates it uses shelter dogs to do so. Photos Courtesy of Barb Velasquez.
After training, hearing dogs help keep the hearing-impaired safe by warning of sounds. With a nudge of their noses, the dogs alert their owners to doorbells, telephones, smoke alarms, and other noises, then run to identify the source.
“For Sam Simon that was what was always important to him, giving the dogs an opportunity to see if this is the career for them. He felt that every dog that came in to this program would enrich someone’s life,” Velasquez said. “We’re pulling dogs from shelters and enriching their lives whether they become hearing dogs or we adopt them out as a companion pet. Sam also understood that with using rescue dogs not all would complete the specialized training.” That means some dogs are lifers and remain at the foundation.
Clients apply for dogs and then instructors make an in-person home assessment to try and match them with dogs that will fit their specific needs. Once a match is made the dogs are hand delivered so new owner and animal can be trained to work as a team. As an accredited program through Assistance Dogs International, follow-up visits are then made to make sure standards are followed. Due to the many visits involved, the service dogs are rehomed in California or nearby states where trainers can drive with the animals in just one day’s time.
“Clients do not pay anything for the service, only the pet’s basic needs such as food and veterinary care,” Velasquez noted. “Dogs, equipment and support is all funded through the foundation.
“If there’s someone who has a profound hearing loss and loves dogs and wants to be considered for a hearing dog we’d love to welcome your application.”
However, according to Velasquez, something to keep in mind is that hearing dogs can live with other pets, but not with other dogs. Living with other dogs can make for a difficult relationship because hearing dogs are working and being rewarded with toys and treats.
Companion dogs are also available for adoption.
According to the website, “Not all of our outstanding dogs can meet the demands of becoming a Certified Assistance Dog, thus the need for a ‘Career Change.’ They are, however, still winners, and make wonderful pets. Many are already housebroken and some know basic obedience commands. In short, these ‘near misses’ make wonderful companions. We can help match you with a lifelong canine companion.”
Applications for hearing and service dogs are available at SamSimonFoundation.com.
10/4 Burglary A vehicle parked near Cross Creek Road was broken into and ransacked. The victim’s cellphone and credit cards were taken from the center console. The victim said the suspects used his credit cards in several stores for an estimated $30,000. The victim said they were unsure how they entered their vehicle; there were no signs of forced entry. There were no security cameras available for evidence.
10/6 Vehicle Burglary A vehicle parked near Malibu Colony was broken into and ransacked. The victim said they hid their key fob on the rear tow hitch of the vehicle, and upon return, the key was missing, and their vehicle was ransacked. There were no security cameras available for evidence. The victim said their wallet was stolen and was notified of a $2,427 purchase made at a Best Buy in West Hollywood.
10/7 Burglary A vehicle parked on Latigo Canyon Shore was broken into and ransacked. The victim’s wallet, cellphone, and multiple electronics were stolen. The electronics stolen were a laptop worth $2,500, a cellphone worth $1,000, and Airpods worth $250. The victim said they were unsure how they entered their vehicle; there were no signs of forced entry. There were no security cameras available for evidence.
10/9 Burglary An office on Zuma Canyon was broken into and ransacked. A designer wallet was taken from the victim’s purse. The wallet was estimated to cost $600 to replace. The victim received a notification of a $506 charge made to their card. There were no security cameras available for evidence.
10/9 Vandalism The gate entry to Trancas Canyon Park was damaged, and parts of the grass was vandalized. The victim said the park was closed for remodeling and said they noticed tire marks on the newly remodeled grass area. The damaged chain was estimated to cost $2,200 to replace. There was no security cameras available for evidence.
The Malibu Library Speaker Series featured author and journalist David Quammen on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Malibu City Hall. Photos by Samantha Bravo/TMT.
Quammen shared his experience with animals like elephants, crocodiles, and various species
The Malibu Library Speaker Series continued last month by featuring author and journalist David Quammen.
Quammen shared stories and experiences on the assignments he covered as a journalist and how they inspired him in his books.
Quammen has written 18 books, which include “Breathless” (2022), “The Tangled Tree” (2018), “Spillover” (2012), “The Song of the Dodo” (1996), and most recently, “The Heartbeat of the Wild” (2023).
The Malibu Library Speaker Series featured author and journalist David Quammen on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Malibu City Hall. Photos by Samantha Bravo/TMT.
Though he began his career as a novelist (“To Walk the Line” [1970], and three other works of fiction), in recent decades he has written only nonfiction, focused mainly on science, the history of science, and the relationships of humans to landscape and biological diversity.
In the past 40 years, Quammen has also published a few hundred pieces of short nonfiction — feature articles, essays, columns — in magazines such as The New Yorker, National Geographic, Harper’s, Outside, Esquire, The Atlantic, Powder, and Rolling Stone. He writes occasional op-eds for The New York Times and other newspapers, and book reviews for The New York Times Book Review and The New York Review of Books. Quammen has been honored with an Academy Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and is a three-time recipient of the National Magazine Award.
His books have received various awards, and “Breathless” in 2022 was a finalist for the National Book Award. He lives in Bozeman, Montana, with his wife, Betsy Gaines Quammen (also an author: “American Zion” and the forthcoming “True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America”) and their family of three dogs, a cat, and a python.
At last month’s event, Quammen shared his experience with animals like elephants, crocodiles, and various species he encountered throughout his career. He also studied and wrote about viruses.
Guests asked Quammen about where viruses come from and how they spread. He said he addressed the question in a written piece for the New York Times Magazine.
“I find natural origin far more persuasive, but we need to know more,” Quammen said. “Viruses that live in other animals don’t come looking for us, we disturb the animals that they live in, we cut down the trees in their ecosystem, we capture animals and ship them to wet markets or eat them on the scene, we do all these things, and it’s that form of active human intervention, human disturbance, that allows viruses to spill over into us.”
Quammen said he goes more into depth in his 2012 book “Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic.”
“It’s we who we go and disturb them [animals],” Quammen said.
One guest asked Quammen about his opinion on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Getting vaccinated is not just for yourself, it’s for other people too,” Quammen said.
After the program, many stayed to ask Quammen questions about his books and also purchased multiple books.
“I had a wonderful time at the Malibu Speaker Series, I loved talking to and with these people, they were interested in the subjects, they listened to my stories, they laughed at my jokes and they had good questions, it’s sort of an evening you’d hope for when you’re a traveling writer,” Quammen said.
The next Malibu Library Speaker Series is on Wednesday, Nov. 29, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Malibu City Hall and will feature Mitch Albom, the author of “Tuesdays With Morrie,” “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” and “For One More Day.” Albom is an internationally renowned and best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster, and musician. His books have collectively sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, have been published in 49 territories and in 47 languages around the world, and have been made into Emmy Award-winning and critically acclaimed television movies.
Public Works Director provides a status report on capital improvement and disaster recovery projects
Two days after the City Council meeting last week, the Public Works Commission met on Wednesday, Oct. 25, to address improvement projects but also addressed its concerns about improving traffic safety on PCH.
Nearly 200 people attended the City Council meeting on Monday last week due to the fatal incident that killed four Pepperdine students on Oct. 17. The incident prompted residents to urge the City Council to take action and make PCH safer.
While the Public Works Commission is unable to address items that are not on the agenda, the commissioners did share their concerns on the incident and hope the city will increase enforcement on Pacific Coast Highway.
“If we want to prevent that level of catastrophic accident from happening again, we need other remedies, and I think the one that is most obvious is —we need more deputies, and we need [the California Highway Patrol] back,” Commissioner Wade Major said. “It’s horrible that it’s taken something like this to elevate that conversation again, but we need more deputies, we need more funding for the Sheriff’s Department from the county so that they can deploy more officers here because we are under-policed by the ration that is supposed to be a normal policing ratio, we should have is at least 15 cars patrolling Malibu believe it or not, and CHP could get us there.”
Public Works Director Rob DeBoux provided an update on improvement projects but also said they are working to bring more enforcement on PCH.
“They are trying to get there, it’s just the availability of CHP, so I am pushing to get CHP out there,” DeBoux said. “So were all working together to make that area safer.”
DeBoux said they have a lot of support from different agencies but was upset it took the accident to bring them together.
“I can’t say enough, it really upsets me that it has to get to this when a lot of us are pushing this [traffic safety on PCH] and doing this for a long time,” DeBoux said.
Chair Scott Dittrich asked DeBoux if they could schedule a joint meeting with the Public Safety Commission and have Caltrans in the meeting.
Dittrich also asked if Caltrans could add a guardrail on Malibu Canyon.
“I don’t know how many people have died off this year, but I know that has happened,” Dittrich said. “It would be very easy and very inexpensive.”
The commission received an update on the City Hall Solar Project and reviewed when the next commission would be. The commission voted to cancel the November and December meetings and scheduled a special meeting in January.
“We should let Caltrans know after Monday’s [City Council] meeting, we can’t control what the public says, but the purpose at least of the commissions is certainly not to bash them, it’s to try to come up with constructive ideas, that could be done quickly,” Dittrich said.
