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Malibu Food & Wine Festival debuts

By
Judy Abel
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(Photo left to right) Rob Pausmith, Lauren Rae Levy, and Marcel Vigneron at Saddlerock Ranch. Photo by Sidney Paiva

Festival created by Malibu residents promises star chefs, local flavor, and community spirit

Malibu’s culinary scene is getting a major new spotlight next month with the debut of the Malibu Food & Wine Festival, a three-day celebration of food, wine, and community at the picturesque Saddle Rock Ranch. Running Friday through Sunday, September 5–7, the event, created by locals, promises to bring together top celebrity chefs, award-winning wineries, local artisans, and families for an immersive tasting experience. 

An exciting feature of the event includes interaction between attendees and celebrity chefs, including host Adam Richman, Duff Goldman, Jet Tila, Neal Fraser, Ricardo Zarate, Celestino Drago, and Malibu’s own Helene Henderson, just to name a few, who will be cooking and serving in the scenic setting. Michelin-starred chefs, James Beard winners, and Food Network personalities will cook and serve their own dishes on-site, offering a rare opportunity for attendees to meet and interact with culinary greats.

Friday and Saturday events run from 6–10 p.m. (with early access at 5 p.m. for premium ticket holders), while Sunday’s family-friendly day runs 1–5 p.m. (12 p.m. early admission). “Sunday is for all ages,” Levy emphasizes. “We’re parents, too, and we believe in making space for families.”

“This is the kickoff year,” said Malibu resident Lauren Rae Levy, co-founder of the festival along with her husband, celebrity chef Marcel Vigneron, winner of TV’s “Last Chef Standing.” The Malibu resident of 11 years, is also a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, the festival’s charity partner. A portion of proceeds will go directly to the nonprofit to help make up for the cancellation of its annual Chili Cook-Off, BGCM’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The Chili Cook-Off has also long been considered Malibu’s signature social gathering. “This is a moment for the community to come together again,” Levy says. “There’s been so much disruption—between fires, evacuations, and events being canceled. We need that feeling of togetherness. And food is a universal language. What better way to connect than over a great meal?”

“When that event was canceled, I asked if our festival could step in as a solution. The answer was yes, and we’ve rallied ever since.” “As our community continues to heal from the Franklin and Palisades Fires, BGCM is proud to be part of an event that brings hope and connection to Malibu while supporting long-term recovery through our Community Recovery Services,” said Kasey Earnest, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Malibu.

Each day of the festival includes seven to eight wineries, a champagne and caviar lounge, and multiple spirits activations. There are three tiers of tickets (excluding Family Day), with general admission starting at $300. All tastings, beverages, parking, and live DJ entertainment are included. For an exclusive experience, guests can purchase a VIP six-course tasting dinner with wine pairings. On Friday, the dinner will be hosted by chef Marcel Vigneron and Hawaii’s Roy Yamaguchi. Saturday’s dinner features Michael and Bryan Voltaggio, well-known from television and their acclaimed restaurants.

Vigneron commented, “For me, food has always been the catalyst for community, and with tourism slowing in the aftermath of the fires, this festival is a celebration of Malibu and the spirit and flavors of California. I am grateful we are able to bring our community together, as I believe events like this are the best way forward.” 

That sentiment was echoed by another partner in the event. Rob Pausmith said, “As a proud Malibu native, I’m beyond thrilled to be a partner of Malibu Food & Wine… bringing this incredible opportunity to celebrate flavors and spirit and to bring our community together in a truly meaningful way.” 

While the chef lineup draws national and international names, supporting the local community remains a core value. “We didn’t want to create a separate ‘support local’ area,” says Levy. “Instead, local businesses are integrated with our star chefs, shoulder to shoulder. They’re marked with a ‘Taste of Malibu’ banner so guests can give them the extra love they deserve.” About 8–10 vendors are from Malibu, with one from nearby Topanga. All were selected in part because they were impacted by recent fires and evacuations.

With an extensive background in PR, branding, and hospitality—as well as partnerships in two major cookware brands—Levy is no stranger to the culinary world. Her connections helped bring in top-tier talent, while her Malibu roots keep the focus close to home. “Our hearts and bellies should be full,” she says. “That’s the goal.”

For more information, tickets, and a full lineup of chefs and wineries, visit malibufoodandwine.com.

Pedestrian injured in PCH collision

By
The Malibu Times
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Pedestrian Injured in PCH Collision

On Sunday, Aug. 10, at approximately 12:35 p.m., units from Los Angeles County Fire Department Division 7, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lost Hills Station, and Malibu Volunteers on Patrol responded to a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian collision at 22821 Pacific Coast Highway. The pedestrian sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Authorities confirmed all lanes of PCH have since reopened to traffic.

Streamlining and harmonizing the multiple and complicated statutory regimes

By
Opinion Columnist
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By Bruce Silverstein, Guest Column 

After the Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed thousands of homes in and around L.A. County, including more than 700 in Malibu, the governor of California, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, the Mayor of Los Angeles, and the Malibu City Council and Malibu city staff have worked together and separately to untangle and streamline the complex web of multiple statutory regimes that govern the planning and building process applicable to fire rebuilds. In this column, I address the actions taken (and still ongoing) by the Malibu City Council and Malibu city staff to simplify the planning approval process.  Although this column deals with relatively complicated legal issues, I have done my best to write the column in a manner that can be understood and appreciated by readers who are not trained in the law.

I begin by stating my view that the overarching objective of the Malibu City Council and Malibu city staff should be to craft a comprehensive legislative scheme that permits Malibu residents to rebuild the homes they lost to the Palisades Fire as efficiently, expeditiously, and economically as practicable. This column sets forth a general framework for helping to accomplish that objective.

By way of background, planning approval of any development in Malibu is potentially subject to both (i) the Coastal Act, which is implemented through Malibu’s Local Coastal Program (the “LCP”) and Local Implementation Plan (the “LIP”), and (ii) the Malibu Municipal Code (the “MMC”).  The most complicated development requires both (i) a coastal development permit (a “CDP”) pursuant to the Coastal Act, and (ii) some form of discretionary approval pursuant to the MMC. Obtaining a CDP pursuant to the Coastal Act and/or discretionary approval pursuant to the MMC can be a laborious, expensive, and multi-year process, which can include one or more appeals and often results in a material alteration or rejection of the proposed development.

In an effort to streamline the rebuilding of homes lost to the Palisades Fire, the governor adopted multiple Executive Orders (“EOs”) that creates a blanket exemption from the permitting requirements of the Coastal Act for certain fire rebuilds. This is in addition to certain provisions of the Coastal Act (through the LCP and LIP) that establish specific exemptions from the requirements of obtaining a CDP for certain fire rebuilds. Additionally, the Malibu City Council has adopted various amendments to the MMC that permit certain fire rebuilds to obtain planning approval through a “plan check,” which is an expedited, efficient, and relatively economical method of approval. Moreover, pursuant to a recent action by the Malibu City Council, fees for a plan check are waived where the applicant is the owner / occupier of the home that was destroyed or substantially damaged by wildfire. Fire rebuilds that qualify for a blanket exemption from the permitting requirements of the Coastal Act pursuant to the EOs (or, at least, a specific exemption from the CDP requirements pursuant to the terms of the Coastal Act) and/or streamlined and fee-free plan check approval pursuant to the MMC are commonly referred to as “like-for-like, plus 10%” — a term that sounds simple on the surface, but which involves multiple technical specifications that are not the same pursuant to the EOs, the Coastal Act, and the MMC.

Where both the MMC and the Coastal Act apply to a proposed fire rebuild, the proposal cannot obtain planning approval unless it satisfies both statutory regimes. It is like an intersection with two separate traffic signals and a rule that it is impermissible to enter the intersection unless both signals are green. A single green light (i.e., satisfying only one of the Coastal Act or the MMC) is inadequate to proceed. Where the EOs eliminate the permitting requirements of the Coastal Act, the traffic signal for the Coastal Act is perpetually green, and where the Coastal Act (through the LCP and LIP) provides a specific exemption from the requirement of a CDP, the traffic signal for the Coastal Act will be green more quickly and more often than the signal is red. Additionally, where the MMC permits planning approval pursuant to a plan check, the traffic signal for the MMC also will be green more quickly and more often than the signal is red. And, where the applicant qualifies for a fee waiver, the planning permit is free of charge from the City of Malibu. Accordingly, where a proposed rebuild qualifies for a blanket exemption from the Coastal Act’s permitting requirements and/or a specific exemption from the CDP requirements of the Coastal Act, a plan check planning approval pursuant to the MMC, and fee waiver, obtaining planning approval for the proposal is more efficient, expedited and economical than it would otherwise be without applicable fire rebuild accommodations.

Many residents (and some architects and other planning professionals) mistakenly believe that EOs’ qualifications for a blanket exemption from the permitting requirements of the Coastal Act and the MMC’s qualifications for planning approval through a plan check review are co-extensive. That is not so. There are ways in which the EOs’ qualifications for a blanket exemption from the permitting requirements of the Coastal Act are narrower than the MMC’s qualifications for planning approval pursuant to a plan check; and there are ways in which the MMC’s qualifications for planning approval pursuant to a plan check are narrower than the EOs’ qualifications for a blanket exemption from the permitting requirements of the Coastal Act. Further complicating the analysis is that the specific statutory exemptions from a CDP contained in the LCP and LIP (where the EOs do not completely eliminate the Coastal Act permitting requirements) are not entirely coextensive with the MMC’s qualifications for planning approval pursuant to a plan check. It is only by harmonizing the EOs, MMC, LCP and LIP that the City Council can provide the broadest approach to developing a proposed fire rebuild that can obtain planning approval free of the permitting requirements of the Coastal Act and pursuant to an MMC plan check.

Fortunately, the EOs expressly vest the City of Malibu (through the Malibu City Council) with broad authority to interpret the EOs as they apply in Malibu. Specifically, one of the EOs states, in pertinent part, that “[l]ocal agencies that issue development and building permits for development projects shall be the sole agencies that may determine whether a property or facility is eligible for the suspension[] [of the permitting requirements of the Coastal Act]” and that “[s]uch determination shall not be appealable to the California Coastal Commission or to any other state executive agency or department.” The Malibu City Council also maintains broad authority to interpret the MMC and also to amend the MMC if the Malibu City Council deems it beneficial to do so. The Malibu City Council also maintains authority to interpret the LCP and LIP, but that authority is subordinate to the authority of the Coastal Commission to adopt or impose a different (typically narrower) interpretation.

In order to provide the broadest approach to developing a proposed fire rebuild that can obtain planning approval free of the permitting requirements of the Coastal Act and pursuant to an MMC plan check, the Malibu City Council needs to use its broad interpretive authority to develop both (i) an expansive and liberal interpretation of the EOs that exempt certain fire rebuilds from the onerous permitting requirements of the Coastal Act, and (ii) an equally expansive and liberal interpretation of the MMC that qualifies the same fire rebuilds for planning approval pursuant to a plan check review. And, where the existing language of the MMC does not permit a reasonable interpretation that brings the MMC in line with the EOs, the Malibu City Council needs to further amend the MMC to correlate with the expansive and liberal interpretation of the EOs. It also would be helpful for the Malibu City Council to adopt reasonably liberal interpretations of LCP and LIP with respect to the provisions thereof that deal with exemptions from CDPs available for fire rebuilds. Moreover, although it may seem odd to a lay person, there is no legal requirement that the same words in the EOs, MMC, LCP, and LIP must be interpreted the same way. As such, when adopting interpretive guidance, it is imperative that the Malibu City Council be clear and precise about which Order or Ordinance is being interpreted. At the same time, the Malibu City Council needs to ensure that the interpretive guidance and any amendments to the MMC are accomplished in a manner that does not inadvertently open the door to greater development of Malibu outside the context of fire rebuilds. Although the Malibu City Council and city staff have worked hard to improve the planning approval process for fire rebuilds, the work done so far does not always address the critical distinctions between and among the EOs, MMC, LCP, and LIP with sufficient precision, and that there is a critical need to do so moving forward.

Outside the planning process, there are other measures that can and should be pursued to make the fire rebuild process more efficient, expeditious and economical. As suggested by a motion brought by County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, those measures include efforts to create economies of scale for goods and services that will be needed by the many residents who are working to rebuild their lost homes. Legislative efforts to secure grants and/or low-interest loans also should be pursued. The Malibu City Council and city staff also must continue to explore the possibility of a sewer system that is carefully tailored to facilitate the rebuilding of homes lost along the beach in Eastern Malibu without opening the floodgates to unwanted larger development that previously was impracticable on account of the limitations of septic systems along the beach. And, if a sewer system proves to be impracticable, efforts must be made to find ways to reduce the formidable cost of seawalls and septic systems along the beach.

It also is critical to understand that the building code imposes requirements that must be satisfied separately and apart from any planning approval, and the City of Malibu has constrained discretion to ease the requirements of the building code, which is a creature of state law. The most recent of the EOs excuses certain requirements of the building code, but there still remain many building code requirements that may be difficult to satisfy, and which will impede the ability of some residents to rebuild efficiently, expeditiously, and economically — especially where the property is on the beach or an area that has exhibited historical geological instability. That, too, needs to be examined by the Malibu City Council and city staff, and every reasonable and legally permissible effort must be pursued to liberalize the process of securing building code approval. Additionally, efforts should be pursued to secure the governor’s further relaxation of the building code for requirements that do not provide a real and necessary foundation for safety. Among other things, efforts must be pursued to permit residents to use pre-existing foundations and septic systems that were not destroyed by the Palisades Fire. And, if practicable, the process for obtaining proof of geological stability in previously developed areas of historic instability needs to be streamlined.

Further complicating the rebuilding process is that there also are other legislative and administrative regimes that apply in certain instances — such as Fire Department requirements, and Water Quality rules, and other regulations imposed by outside agencies. As such, the City of Malibu also must work with these outside agencies to secure their cooperation in liberalizing the rebuild process — as the city recently accomplished with the fire department agreeing that water flow deficiencies may be satisfied with water tanks.

In the final analysis, despite the best intentions and hard work of everyone involved to make the fire rebuilding process as efficient, expeditious, and economical as practicable, there remains a long road ahead, and the process will be too much for many residents who lost their homes. We must do the best we can to shorten that road and make it more passable and less expensive wherever practicable. Otherwise, more and more of our friends, neighbors, and community members will throw in the towel, sell to opportunistic speculators and developers, and leave Malibu.

Rosenthal Estate reopens with a toast to resilience and renewal

By
Barbara Burke
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Guests raise a glass beneath the ancient oaks at the Rosenthal Estate’s soft opening, celebrating the vineyard’s resilient return with award-winning wines, fire-salvaged treasures, and the spirit of renewal. Photos by Scott Crawford

Guests gathered under the oaks for the soft opening of Malibu’s historic vineyard, savoring award-winning wines, salvaged treasures, and the triumphant return of a beloved estate nearly lost to fire

The harmonious and uplifting verses of “California Dreamin’” performed live by Erinn Alissa set the perfect tone on August 3, warmly welcoming guests beneath the majestic oak trees of the Rosenthal Estate. The sunlit afternoon marked a long-awaited moment of celebration as the 250-acre property opened its gates for a soft reopening, inviting patrons to rediscover its bucolic beauty, storied vines, and the spirit of resilience that defines this treasured Malibu vineyard.

Once threatened by the devastating Woolsey Fire, which scorched much of the property’s grounds, the Rosenthal Estate has returned — reimagined and reinvigorated. Though the fire left parts of the estate scarred, the tasting rooms were miraculously spared, allowing the heart of Rosenthal to beat on. Now, after years of recovery, the estate is once again pouring wines and welcoming visitors for weekend tastings.

Guests at the soft opening were treated to a variety of Rosenthal’s elegant and expertly crafted wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Viognier, Merlot, and Chardonnay. As glasses clinked and conversations flowed, the experience was elevated by both the estate’s meticulously curated indoor tasting rooms and the expansive outdoor lawn, which offered sweeping views and the calming presence of nature.

Planted in 1987, the Rosenthal Estate was the first vineyard in Malibu. Its 28 acres of vines sit 1,450 feet above sea level in a microclimate uniquely suited for viticulture. So distinctive is this terrain, it led to the establishment of the Malibu-Newton Canyon American Viticulture Area (AVA), a designation separate from the broader Malibu AVA. No other wines in the world are produced from grapes grown solely in the Malibu-Newton Canyon AVA, giving Rosenthal’s wines a terroir that is truly one-of-a-kind.

As part of the relaunch, tastings are now available on Saturdays and Sundays with two sittings offered each day. Guests are also encouraged to explore vineyard tours that provide a closer look at the estate’s historic vines and scenic landscape.

For longtime fans of Rosenthal, the event was not only about wine—it was also a celebration of meaningful artifacts that were saved from destruction. Patrons marveled at two iconic elements that survived the fires and now symbolize the estate’s endurance.

“It is amazing that Rosenthal could save the piece of the Berlin Wall that once was showcased in their PCH tasting room,” said guest Catherine Schubert. The historic fragment was purchased by Mr. George Rosenthal at a private auction and had long been a conversation piece and symbol of strength.

Equally symbolic was the return of the beloved oversized chair that once stood outside the original tasting room on Pacific Coast Highway. “Just as amazing is that we were able to save the iconic large chair that was outside the tasting room.” Clayton Glenn said as he shared his harrowing story of helping to excavate the large chair from the cement outside what once was the PCH tasting room. Just as Rosenthal aficionados have done for years, guests at the soft opening climbed up on the large chair, raising their wine glasses as they toasted the new beginnings for the Estate. As others looked on, they shared a magical moment, celebrating not only the opening of a favorite Malibu venue, the fact that the vines will soon yield more glorious grapes, but also that the event marked Rosenthal’s victory over disaster – a message most welcome as we all rebuild Malibu.  

The afternoon was more than just a reopening — it was a homecoming. The Rosenthal Estate, with its rich history, unique wines, and vibrant community, has returned to offer a place of gathering, reflection, and celebration. As Malibu continues its own journey of recovery, the reopening of Rosenthal is a poignant reminder that from the ashes, beauty — and great wine — can rise.

Rosenthal Estate Wines is located at the intersection of Kanan Dume Road and Newton Canyon Road. Reservations for weekend tastings can be made at rosenthalestatewines.com. For more information, email tastingroom@rosenthalestatewines.com or call (310) 456-1392.

Driving Change: The day we stop accepting death on our doorstep

By
Michel Shane
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Michel Shane and his daughter, Emily, are shown in this undated photo. Emily would be getting ready to celebrate her 29th birthday on Saturday, Aug. 9, if she wasn’t killed by an angry driver 15 years ago. Photo courtesy of Michel Shane

By Michel Shane, Columnist 

On Aug. 9, my daughter Emily would have been 29.
Instead, 15 years ago, she became just another statistic on the Pacific Coast Highway. One minute — one devastating moment — and an angry driver, eager to lash out, made my child his victim. No sidewalk. No protection. Just inches between Emily and someone’s rage.
I’ve endured 15 years of that pain. Fifteen years of watching this community wring its hands while more families join the club nobody wants to be part of. Fifteen years of “thoughts and prayers” while we do nothing that saves lives.
I’m done.
Done accepting that 61 deaths over 15 years are just the cost of living in paradise. Finished watching $154 million get allocated for PCH while we keep applying band-aids to a system built to kill. Finished pretending that painted lines on a highway somehow protect human lives.

The truth about our death trap
PCH isn’t just dangerous — it’s intentionally dangerous. We’ve built a highway that forces cars, cyclists, and the few brave souls who dare walk to share the same space. It was designed for vehicles to go 65 mph — a speed that isn’t posted anywhere. Then we act surprised when people die.
PCH was built last century, and instead of embracing the new century and everything it offers, we’re relying on technology from the previous century and hoping we’ll appreciate painted lines and warning signs.
Two weeks ago, I wrote about a man and his companions who walked across PCH as if it were a rural road, unaware of the danger. They had no idea they were crossing a deadly trap. Emily knew the risk — she was being cautious. But it didn’t matter.
Every week, I see visitors risking their lives trying to reach Nobu or Zuma Beach. Every day, cyclists gamble with death because they have no other choice. Every shift, our first responders face scenes that didn’t have to happen.
And we keep telling ourselves: “That’s just PCH. It’s always been dangerous.”
That’s a lie.

Here’s what saves lives
Stop with the painted bike lanes. Stop with the warning signs. Stop with the useless thoughts and prayers. You want to save lives? Here’s how:

Right now: Install smart protection systems that work with our existing roads. Technology and lights — like the lane assist in your car — that alert drivers when they’re drifting into danger zones. Elevated guides that let cars cross for driveways but prevent the deadly wandering that kills people. Smart detection systems at beach crossings that warn drivers when someone’s trying to cross safely. Cost: $3 million to $4 million instead of $200,000 in paint that drivers ignore.

But what about driveways and buses? Smart infrastructure means barriers that work with reality, not against it. Elevated barriers that cars can cross when they need to access driveways, but high enough to prevent the deadly drifting that kills cyclists and pedestrians. Technology and lights — almost like the lane assist in cars — that alert drivers when they’re veering into protected space. Flexible delineators that bend when buses pull over but spring back to protect people.

We’re not talking about concrete walls. We’re talking about smart design that saves lives without disrupting commerce or emergency access. The space is tight, but so was Emily’s — just inches between her and that angry driver.

This year: Manual barriers that drop flat when fire threatens, but protect human beings every other day. GPS systems that automatically give emergency vehicles green lights. Cost: $4 million to $6 million.

Before more families lose everything: Fully protected infrastructure spanning 21 miles. Barriers that emergency vehicles can pass through, allowing tourists to feel confident. Cost: $10 million to $18 million total.
You know what that is? A fraction of the $154 million already committed to PCH — money that’s just sitting there while we debate whether human lives are worth protecting.

The blue highway
During Woolsey, when PCH turned into a parking lot, the ocean was right there, ready to ferry people to safety while everyone else sat trapped, waiting to burn.
We’d rather spend $154 million repaving the same deadly highway three times than invest in reliable transportation. The ocean doesn’t crash into families trying to reach the beach.

This stops now
I can’t bring Emily back. But I can stop watching this community accept preventable death as normal. No one should have to walk in my shoes.

In December, I wrote that it wouldn’t be nice to go a year without deaths on PCH because we did something to fix it. Now, due to fire damage and construction, we might achieve a death-free year — not because we made PCH safer, but because we made it nearly unusable. What does it say about us that it takes a disaster to make our main street safe?

As this paper reaches you on Thursday, I’ll be preparing for what should have been Emily’s 29th birthday on Saturday — the last year of her 20s. Would she have been married? What career would she have chosen? Would she have been happy? Where would she be living? All these questions I ponder as I miss my sweet girl. Instead, I’m writing this, hoping no other parent has to mark the same kind of anniversary.
Someday — I don’t know when, and I hope it never happens — another parent will receive the call I received 15 years ago. Unless we stop accepting “that’s just how it is.”

Here’s what love looks like: Refusing to let one more family join The Empty Chair Club and demanding that $154 million in PCH funding — plus Olympic infrastructure money — creates actual protection instead of prettier pavement over the same killing machine.

Love means calling everyone — City Council, supervisors, senators, representatives — until everyone listens. Show up to the next council meeting. Vote for representatives who understand that human life matters more than bureaucratic convenience.

Love means saying: No more Emily’s. Not one more. Not on our watch.

The money exists. The technology exists. The only question is whether we love our community enough to demand better, or whether we’ll keep accepting death as the price of paradise.
I know what Emily would want. I know what every family who’s lost someone on PCH would wish to.
What about you?

Call your State Representatives — they control PCH, not the city:
State Sen. Ben Allen: (310) 318-6994 | ben.allen@sen.ca.gov
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin: (805) 642-1904 | assemblymember.irwin@assembly.ca.gov
Gov. Gavin Newsom: (916) 445-2841 | governor@gov.ca.gov

Next City Council Meeting: Aug. 11 at 5:30 p.m.. Demand that they pressure the state.

Your choice: Accept another death or demand the protection our community deserves.

Fraser Bohm pleads not guilty in fatal crash that killed four Pepperdine students

By
The Malibu Times
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Fraser Michael Bohm (Left) of Malibu released from custody after posting bail on Friday night. (Photo credit Perfect Game) after killing four Pepperdine Seniors. Insatgram@ niamhrolston, Facebook/Asha Weir, Barry Stewart and Deslyn Williams in a tragic car accident on Oct. 17.

Malibu resident Fraser Bohm, accused of killing four Pepperdine University seniors in the high-speed crash along Pacific Coast Highway in October 2023, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder.

Bohm, now 23, appeared in a Los Angeles County courtroom Wednesday alongside his newly hired attorney, Alan Jackson — a high-profile defense lawyer who earlier this year secured an acquittal for Massachusetts woman Karen Read in a widely publicized murder trial.

Prosecutors allege Bohm was traveling more than 100 mph in a 45-mph zone when he lost control of his BMW on Oct. 17, 2023, striking and killing sorority sisters Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams. The young women were pronounced dead at the scene. Bohm was uninjured.

The crash occurred along a dangerous stretch of PCH known locally as “Dead Man’s Curve,” an area notorious for high-speed collisions.

Bohm’s defense is expected to argue he was fleeing a road rage incident at the time of the crash, though investigators have not confirmed that claim. Speaking to reporters outside court, Jackson said he intends to challenge the prosecution’s case and will seek to have Bohm’s $4 million bail reduced.

Bohm was briefly arrested after the crash and released within hours. He was later taken into custody and formally charged. He also faces possible civil litigation from the victims’ families.

Bohm is scheduled to return to court Sept. 5.

Malibu stakeholders asked to dream big

By
Judy Abel
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Malibu Arts Commission

City asks for community input on future performing arts center

”Dream big” was the message at a community outreach meeting at City Hall to gather input on what residents want in a new performing arts center identified by stakeholders as a project to be built on city-owned land in Malibu.

Initial outreach for the city conducted by Tripepi Smith Marketing cited a performing arts venue as a needed asset for the creative community in Malibu and a strategy for providing space to families seeking creative outlets for children close to home.

The proposed site for the center has been identified for the parcel formerly known as the La Paz lot, now called Cross Creek Ranch, located on Civic Center Way on the north end of the new commercial development. The City Council authorized staff to work with the developers of that new space, Pacific Equity Properties, Inc., to create a conceptual rendering for a potential performing arts center. That developer has not secured a contract on a new center, however. 

The site was identified for use in part because some of the other civic center area Malibu-owned parcels are currently being used to support fire recovery efforts, staging, and essential services. 

The proposed project is situated adjacent to the new development that already includes a spacious underground parking lot that could be shared or used for evening performances and events when office workers in the development are off-site. Tenants, including restaurants, are said to be ready to sign leases, which could possibly accommodate food service needs to the arts constituency. 

A 20,000-square-foot center is being proposed for the site, an idea some questioned as problematic due to the footprint of the parcel that includes a large hillside outcropping that will not be demolished. But, with so much square footage to play with, there were plenty of suggestions on how to develop the space.

The Malibu Arts Commission and area residents met July 30 at City Hall to voice their suggestions on what amenities a newly built art-focused center should include.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voting member Julie Carmen suggested some essentials, including a wood sprung floor, a child safe space with glass windows for parents to observe, boys and girls locker rooms with restrooms, and a larger space that can be used for community serving organizations such as the Malibu Film Society or the Young Actors Project that lost their former home at the Malibu Playhouse. “Please reserve theater and rehearsal space for vetted local nonprofits to use, but not be forced to pay fair market rent,” Carmen implored.

Arts Commissioner Dennis Smith said he’d like the center to include an art gallery or possible museum space for local and visiting exhibits. Others agreed and asked for a sculpture garden to be incorporated into the design.

Malibu Film Society Board President Scott Tallal asked, “Is this space going to be local-serving or visitor-serving? If it’s visitor-serving and you want concerts and really big events to come in, then you need to keep a 300-seat theater. If you want to be local-serving, you have to look at the experience of the two largest venues that we have in Malibu.” Tallal cited Smothers Theater at Pepperdine University, which he said can be hard to fill at 400 seats. The other is the Malibu Film Society, which he said rarely sells 200. “The reason I’m asking this question is that if you reduce the size of a large room, that frees out space for rehearsal halls, and recital halls, and other spaces that can be utilized or to create community as well as for the audience.” 

Others were skeptical about building entirely, in calling it a redundancy to the auditorium space already available at City Hall, and questioned whether the city would be able to fund such an ambitious project. Former Councilmember Paul Grisanti answered that query saying, “There are other people in this community who are raising children here. They’ll do anything to get what they want. They’re working with us on the schools. They’ll work with us on building things that work. If you give them a project, they will want to sign on and be sponsors of it. And it’s as simple as that…You don’t accomplish anything by insisting that you really want to have all the financing lined up right now before we draw the first thing. If you draw something that people like and want, they will find a way to help the city pay for it.”

The Arts Commission will review the feedback and form recommendations for City Council to consider. More information is set to be discussed at a future City Council meeting.

Go to MalibuCommunityLands.org for more.

Mystery investor spends $65M on burned-Out La Costa Beachfront lots for future luxury development

By
Judy Abel
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Aftermath of the Palisades Fire along Pacific Coast Highway, showing the devastation and loss of homes. Photo by Hayley Mattson/TMT

A wealthy foreign investor has scooped up nine La Costa burned-out beachfront properties with sales totaling $65 million so far. The unknown buyer has been working with luxury real estate agents Weston Littlefield and Alex Howe of the Weston James Group based out of Los Angeles. The mystery investor is focusing on La Costa beachfront lots with 40-foot frontages at a minimum for optimal future development and already has architects and expeditors in place, according to the New York Post. 

Since the lots were not listed for sale, the agents used public records to track down owners. Those who sold weren’t interested in the complicated process of rebuilding beachfront homes, seawalls, and advanced onsite wastewater treatment systems, and therefore willing to sell now off-market. The investor says he’s willing to face the rebuild hurdles and hopes new construction will draw wealthy buyers to the area.

Local business owner questions process of awarding post-fire microgrants

By
Judy Abel
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Thirty-year Malibu resident Alexandria Skouras was forced to close her boutique Pistol & Lucy for five months while Pacific Coast Highway was mostly off-limits to the general public. Photo courtesy of Alexandria Skouras

Some fire-affected Malibu businesses received much-needed grants, but at least one didn’t 

When the Palisades Fire hit Malibu hard in early January, local boutique Pistol & Lucy was directly affected. While most of the La Costa neighborhood surrounding the clothing and gift store burned, luckily Pistol & Lucy and all the other little shops in the old La Costa strip mall on Pacific Coast Highway at Rambla Pacifico survived the flames. Still, the La Costa Post Office, Pistol & Lucy, and Blue Malibu, another boutique next door, were forced to close. PCH was completely shut down for weeks after the fire. Then another blow came in February when a mudslide buried the intersection where the locally run shop has served loyal Malibu customers and visitors for 15 years.

The tiny boutique, owned by 30-year Malibu resident Alexandria Skouras, was forced to close for five months while PCH was mostly off-limits to the general public. During that long period with absolutely no business, Skouras continued paying rent. Although her landlord offered a little rent relief, her beloved business was on the brink.  “I felt powerless, just powerless,” Skouras said. “It’s a frustrating feeling. You’re paying rent and no income is coming in.”

While Skouras was eventually able to reopen after PCH did so before Memorial Day, her business is still struggling. Initially with limited hours due to the unpredictable traffic on the reopened highway, Skouras remained the solo employee. The proprietor hires part-timers when she can afford it. This summer season, which typically accounts for the bulk of her sales with tourist traffic, has been difficult without the usual throngs of tourists coming into town, although she said her loyal clientele “has been in to support. I get one or two people a day, nothing like it used to be.”

A few months ago, when the city of Malibu announced microgrants for fire-affected businesses, Skouras applied to help keep her business afloat. When the grants were recently announced, the shop owner was shocked that Pistol & Lucy did not receive anything. Skouras is now trying to get a direct answer as to why her business, locally owned and directly impacted, did not receive any relief funds from the city. She’s also questioning exactly how those funds were distributed and why some businesses located on the other side of town that may have been impacted by lack of business, but not forced to close as she was, received funds. Skouras is asking for a clear understanding of the selection criteria and decision-making process.

The city states: “The need exceeded the amount of funding allocated, which demonstrates the impact on small businesses in our community, and we’re committed to continuing our local business support through both regional partnerships and direct assistance. Additional consideration was given to small businesses with more than two employees.”

The city received a total of 157 applications requesting $2,816,762 in funding. The Malibu Administration and Finance Subcommittee was only able to award 46 grants ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 through the City’s Small Business Micro Stabilization Grant Program, totaling $300,000. A list of businesses that were awarded grants can be found on the City of Malibu website at malibucity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/7523?fileID=80961

The largest grants, totaling $15,000 each, went to restaurants OLLO, The Sunset, and Howdy’s, followed by Geoffrey’s and Malibu Seafood, which each received $12,500.

Skouras received an email stating: “We truly understand the significant impact on small businesses in our community, and we remain deeply committed to supporting businesses through both regional partnerships and direct assistance. It was clear that every applicant was deserving, and it saddens us that we couldn’t extend help to everyone at this time.”

Skouras acknowledges that all Malibu businesses were affected, but said some Eastern Malibu sites like her business were affected more than others due to a complete closure of PCH for five months and that she’s still impacted. “I’m still in disbelief. I would like an explanation. Was there a problem with my application?” she questioned. A city staffer said her application was not faulty, but that there just wasn’t enough funding to go around.

Skouras insists that if she had received financial help and her neighboring business next door did not, she would have shared the relief money. “If I had received the money and my neighbor Roxy at Blue Malibu didn’t, I would have given her half,” she said.

The MalibuRebuild.org website states: “The City is working closely with partner agencies such as Los Angeles County Supervisor Horvath, Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), United States Small Business Administration and other local partners to bring additional resources to Malibu. We encourage you to explore additional funding opportunities, such as the Malibu-Topanga Business Interruption Fund and others listed on our website at MalibuRebuilds.org/Small-Business-Resources. Please sign up to receive business-specific updates.”

Malibu native Dean Cain joins ICE

By
Judy Abel
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Malibu-raised actor Dean Cain, 59, announced he has signed up to become a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. Best known for his role as Superman in the 1990s TV series “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” Cain said it’s unclear what his specific duties will be, but he is willing to perform “any duties the agency asks of me.”

Cain, who already serves as a sworn reserve deputy police officer and reserve deputy sheriff in Idaho and Virginia, posted an ICE recruitment video to social media, writing, “I felt it was important to join to help our first responders to help secure the safety of all Americans.”

He said he is unsure whether he will be arresting individuals. Cain, who raised his son in Malibu before moving to the Las Vegas area, joins ICE as part of his continued involvement in law enforcement.

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