Letter to Malibu Coalition for Parks and Land, cc The Malibu Times:

I received your absentee ballot brochure in the mail. I was planning to vote in favor of your proposition prior to receipt of that brochure, but your brochure has changed my mind because of its blatant dishonesty and emotional appeal. Where did you say anything about the needs of this community and our all joining together as a community to resolve those needs? Instead we got demagoguery and fear tactics which have little or nothing to do with the ballot issue and which only tend to divide and inflame our populace. Have you been seduced by the Malibu Township Council and the old no-growth coalition? You have certainly adopted their tactics. Be honest and maybe you would get more votes. Sorry you had to stoop so low. Yes, I am going to vote, but I am going to vote “No,” and so are the other three registered voters in my house. Next time–if you get a next time–maybe you will be honest and community-building, not divisive.

Mike E. O’Neal

The recent editorial submitted to The Malibu Times by representatives of five organizations has only one point with which I agree: The Malibu Coast needs to be protected and shared. However, the Coastal Commission’s draft LCP does not achieve that goal.

Mr. van de Hoek, in his zeal to cheerlead for the Coastal Commission’s Land Use policies, has the local control issue all wrong. First, he says “local control” is about the authority to issue permits under an LCP. Roy, obviously, does not understand that simply administrating policy set by nonelected, outside regulators is not ‘local control.” The City Council is fighting for the right of the residents, through their elected officials, to establish the policies that are in compliance with the California Coastal Act. For instance, currently, the City Council permits 1,200 square foot guest homes. The CC staff is recommending that the limit be 750 with no stated justification. If residents don’t like the city’s policy, they can vote out the council members who voted for it. If they don’t like the Coastal Commission’s policy, they have no democratic way to seek recourse.

Second, how can Mr. van de Hoek make statements about a meeting between the city and the Coastal Commission which he did not attend? As far as I know, he did not ask anyone from the city to give him an account of the meeting. Had he bothered to ask, he would have discovered memos of understanding which clearly show the city did its level best to work with the Coastal Commission to bring forward an LCP that would best serve Malibu residents as well as the larger community. It is irresponsible that none of the five people signing for organizations in the editorial did their due diligence before making their public statements. These coastal protection issues are too critical to treat with such bias and misinformation.

And, finally, I can’t imagine what Mr. van de Hoek and the other signers find so wonderful about the Coastal Commission’s ordering us off the ball fields, rezoning the property that would have replaced those fields so that now only a hotel can go there, mandating unrestricted parking on Bird View and Cliffside (and all of Point Dume for that matter), instituting an illogical access plan with unrealistic time lines, mandating the city require or provide for public view points on residential beach front or bluff properties, telling the city it must spend public and private acquisition funds on public accesses instead of building much needed active recreational facilities that are both visitor and community serving, and mandating a host of other punitive policies that exceed the Commission authority.

These CCC policies, some already determined to be illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court, are then coupled with a brick-wall approach to the city’s concerns.

Obviously Mr. Van de Hoek places a different value on the rights of Malibu residents than does this City Council.

Sharon Barovsky

Malibu councilmember

BOOK SOUP

It’s an evening of books and cooks, wit and wisdom as Malibu gears up for this year’s Odyssey dinners to benefit the Los Angeles Public Library. The event, which takes place on Nov. 5, will be hosted by a who’s who of L.A elite including Wallis Annenberg, Elizabeth Hirsch and Richard Riordan as well as locals Richard and Liane Weintraub and Karen and George Rosenthal.

The 54 sit-down dinners take place at prime locations throughout the city. Each one features an intimate evening with the most celebrated superstars of the printed page.

Eighteen guests will join the Weintraubs at their spectacular Italian villa overlooking the Pacific where they’ll hang onto the words of Richard S. Tedlow. The Harvard University professor is considered to be one of the country’s leading business historians. His latest book, “Giants of Enterprise,” chronicles the life and times of industry titans like Sam Walton.

Henry Bromell, meantime, will bring an air of mystery to the Malibu Estate Winery. There, the author will share the details behind his latest political thriller, “Little America.”

Any adoring reader willing to plunk down $300 or more can select the location, host and author according to their own literary tastes. For those with a basketball Jones (addiction), it could be championship coach Phil Jackson; space cadets can fly high with Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin; while food fans will get the dish from Patina’s Joaquim Splichal. Carl Reiner will be around to tickle the funny bone; gift-for-gabbers Arianna Huffington and Larry Elder offer political insight; and celluloid stars like Sidney Poitier will have tales from Tinseltown. The dinners are expected to raise $400,000 for library literacy programs. So whether it’s facts, fiction or fun that tickles your fancy, the Odyssey dinners promise to be a tasteful event as well as a novel idea.

ART OF THE PALATE

It will be an extravaganza for the senses at the Barker Hanger on Nov. 5 as the design industry hosts Dining by Design to help in the fight against AIDS. An impressive team of stylists, graphic artists, interior designers and architects has spent months working on the evening’s elaborate, eye-popping table decorations. The entertainment program is equally impressive and includes featured performers from “The Lion King” and “Aida.” Tickets for the dinner, show and VIP reception are fetching upwards of $1,000. But for a mere ten bucks, you can get a sneak peak on Nov. 3 and 4.

MR. BILL GOES HOLLYWOOD

Word has it that Malibu’s Kelsey Grammer will be sharing the spotlight with an unlikely co star-Microsoft boss Bill Gates. The world’s richest man is expected to put in an appearance on “Fraiser” when the top-rated show celebrates its 200th episode on Nov. 13. The story line is anyone’s guess, but there’s nothing like a little good advice when the chips are down.

The voting public of the cities of Santa Monica and Malibu has led the way. In spite of the fact that only one-third of the households in these two cities have children, the voters have selflessly voted overwhelmingly to support our schools. In fact, over 80 percent, time after time.

We have an opportunity in the business community to make a difference. John Deasy, the new superintendent, is bringing a new energy, focus and positive attitude to the district. The district needs our dollars to support the board, the staff and the superintendent in their efforts to improve public education. Get involved. There has never been a better time to make a difference.

Todd Hess

Towing spoils occasion

The Malibu community at large was wonderfully supportive of all the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day walkers on the final leg of their 60-mile journey. Too bad, however, that this good will was spoiled for many by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs from the Lost Hills Station and Malibu Towing Service.

A more fitting company name is Malibu Towing Disservice. Many weary walkers and crew members returned to where their families and friends had parked their cars only to find their cars had been towed by Malibu Towing Service.

Some had driven several hours to get to the ceremonies. Although some vehicles were parked on the beach side shoulder where there were stretches of ‘No Parking’ signs, they were not blocking emergency zones, entrances, exits. Participants, many limping, bandaged, wrapped–“walking wounded”–had to call for additional help to transport them to their well-wishers’ towed cars. This worsened the traffic jam around the ceremony site. To add insult to injury, it was ultimately discovered the cars were parked within walking distance (that is, if one was physically able to walk at that point). Considering the critical lack of parking in the area and the dedication and huge commitment of all those involved in this charitable event as walkers, crew, fiscal, physical and emotional supporters, the towing of vehicles was highly insensitive and demonstrated a lack of compassion.

This was certainly a contrast to the community service and support exhibited by the Trancas Starbucks (another local business) the previous year. In support of Avon participants, they sold hot drinks to all, while they waited to enter the holding area for closing ceremonies, for only 25 cents. They also allowed as many as they could handle to stay inside the store out of the storm. Their goodwill probably prevented many additional cases of hypothermia.

The guidewords of Pallotta TeamWorks events are, “Be humankind, be both.” Towing the vehicles was both inhuman and unkind. The negative attitude and lack of community and philanthropic support conveyed by Malibu Towing and the sheriff’s station was exacerbated by the absence of signs stating the location to which the vehicles were being towed. Also, when Avon participants phoned the sheriff’s station, the sheriff’s did not disseminate the information either.

If Malibu Towing was permitted use of Malibu High School as a storage facility for towed vehicles, why was this facility not offered for additional parking for the families and well-wishers of the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day participants. It could have been a win-win situation with parking fees being contributed to the school and fewer vehicles being towed. Evidently, it was more important for Malibu Towing to use Malibu High grounds to further their own financial gain, than it was for supporters of the fight against breast cancer to have place to park in relative proximity, without risk of being towed.

Rather than honoring the heroic efforts of those involved with the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day, Malibu Towing Service and the Lost Hills Sheriff Station chose to dishonor the participants, and for many put a damper on the celebration of an amazing, rewarding and incredible experience.

I have spoken to many members of the Malibu community. They overwhelmingly are appalled at hearing of the lack of both compassion and philanthropy shown by this local business and the local sheriffs. It does not reflect well on the Malibu community.

Wendie Olshan

The following statement was issued by City Councilmember Tom Hasse on 10/27/01:

During my 1994 City Council campaign, I advocated a $15 million bond measure to purchase vacant commercially zoned properties as a market-based solution to prevent the entire Civic Center from being developed.

In 2000, I coauthored, along with then Mayor Pro-Tem Joan House, the Advisory Bond Measure O that appeared on the November Special Election ballot last year. Fifty percent of Malibu voters supported the bond, saying they would support a real $15 million bond measure in the future.

So it is with regret that, after analyzing the current Bond Meaure K, comparing it to other cities’ bond measures and watching the campaingn for it and against it unfold, I find myself opposing Measure K and urging Malibu voters to defeat it on Nov. 6.

Measure K is poorly written. Almost every other city bond presents voters with pre-negotiated specific properties for specific use to be purchased for a specific price. This enables the voters to know what they get for their willingness to increase their property taxes.

Based on my experience, none of the six property owners who own 99 percent of all the remaining vacant commercially zoned land in Malibu are willing sellers.

It is wishful at best and false political advertising at worst to think that these sophisticated property owners will be moved by a voter-approved $15 million bond.

Measure K’s laundry list of uses sounds great–parks, playgrounds, playing fields, trails, community centers and to protect natural areas and wildlife habitat. But the devil is in the bond’s details. By law, if approved, only up to $2.25 million of the $15 million bond can be used for improvements as suggested.

In short, Bond Measure K cannot deliver on the public improvement it promises.

Worst, however, is what I envision happening with the remaining $12.75 million which, by the very language in Measure K, can only be used to purchase property for one of the seven uses listed above. It is no secret that there is a segment of this community that wants to acquire property for a 40-plus-acre wetlands in the Civic Center–the “protect natural areas and wildife habitat” listed in the bond. And there is another larger segment which wants to acquire property in the Civic Center for “parks, playgrounds and playing fields.” By not specifying which properties are to be acquired for which uses, since no pre-negotiations have taken place, this bond will set off a mad legal and political scamble for the $12.75 million, with each side claiming the voters voted for “K” and their purported use.

Finally, let me counter some misleading campaign rhetoric that a $15 million property tax increase is the only way to fund new parks, playgrounds, sports fileds and a senior-teen community center in Malibu.

Since 1998, working with by council colleagues, the city now owns three parks, (Charmlee Nature Preserve, the Las Flores Pocket Park and the newly acquired 12-acre Trancas Canyon Park). The city also leased property and constructed the Papa Jack’s Skateboard Park and continues to lease the Equestrian Center from the school district. And two proposed development agreements, if approved, would result in the retention of three sports fields on six acres at Bluffs Park (Crummer/State Parks) and a new 19-acre park at Point Dume along PCH, complete with a 15,000 square foot senior-teen community center and three sports fields (Malibu Bay Company). That’s a total of seven city parks–all acquired without any new taxes.

These are my concens about Bond Measure K. I hope Malibu voters will consider them carefully before they vote. I still believe that a specific bond measure could work to achieve real results in Malibu and pledge to work with my City Council colleagues and Civic Center property owners to fashion a real bond measure with real results.

Tom Hasse

Malibu councilmember

Fear of Anthrax? I have none. Fear of Lyme disease? Yes, I do have for those who are unaware of the ubiquitous nature of Borrelia Burgdorferi, the bacterium which causes Lyme disease.

Borrelia Burgdorferi has been occurring in nature for centuries. According to the 1995 United Nations Security Council document, four species of borrelia were monitored for use as biological weapons in Iraq, including Borrelia Burgdorferi, Lyme disease.

Currently, there are less than 50 patients infected with anthrax. Lyme disease cases in the U.S. are estimated to be 2 million, costing society $18 million.

There have been three deaths due to contact from anthrax. Patients infected with Lyme disease have died due to complications from the illness. Pregnant mothers can pass the Lyme bacterium to their babies through the placenta and breast milk.

The rash, which occurs in 50 percent of patients, is the ONLY marker for Lyme disease; this is proof of infection–the diagnostic gold standard. If you have the rash, you have the illness and should be treated with antibiotics immediately with a 4-6 week course of antibiotics. Undertreatment or delayed diagnosis often result in a chronic, insidious difficult to treat disease.

Rheumatic fever, acne, recurrent otitis, bronchiectasis, recurrent cystitis and Lyme disease, are examples of illnesses treated long-term for persistent infection without any dire consequences as a result of the medications used.

I am not recommending that the people take antibiotics indiscriminately. But for Lyme, an illness which can be cured with early treatment, I would suggest consulting a physician regarding antibiotics, since the bacteria can disseminate to the central nervous system within 12 hours and lay dormant for months to years.

If the clock could be turned back seven years ago and my expanding rash identified and treated, I could have avoided persistent disabling Lyme disease, for which I have to take doxycycline and biaxin on a daily basis.

Barbara Barsocchini

Board member, Lyme Disease Resource Center

On the second Friday of every month, Malibu holds its Women in Film networking breakfast. That’s the way it’s been for the past 11 years without hiatus. One of our meetings fell on Sept.14, three days after the attack on America, the day President Bush named “Day of Prayer.”

America was in shock and we started to cancel the breakfast. We asked ourselves if this is appropriate. On television, I heard Chief Bernard Parks say, “Don’t let the terrorists take your freedom away. Continue your day as usual.” Members were calling and asking, “Is there going to be a breakfast this Friday?… Let’s do it…. We need to be around people…” Someone asked, “Should we give out American flags at the breakfast?” I said no. Let’s just do what we normally do. Let’s give out love.

And so it was all about love that morning. We had an open mike. Everyone had the opportunity to come up and say who they are, what they do, what they need, and what they can offer.

I was surprised to see the majority of the people who were from New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. Some had arrived in Los Angeles within days prior to the attack. One member asked us to try and forgive the unforgivable. We held hands, we hugged and kissed one another. At one point we all stood and sang “God Bless America.”

There was always something special about the Women in Film breakfasts that I could never put into words. On Friday, Sept. 14, it became very clear that through networking, mentoring and empowering one another comes love.

Candace Bowen