Aftermath of home fire debris from the Palisades Fire along PCH. Photo by Hayley Mattson
Bioremediation can be a less expensive but longer process
After a group of local scientists from UCLA, USC, and other nonprofits — calling themselves CONSORTIUM (Community-Oriented Network for Scientific Observation, Recovery, and Tracking of Impacts from Urban Megafires) — released initial findings after a year of testing for toxins in the Eaton and Palisades burn scar areas, the group presented insights on how to remediate properties affected by the wildfires.
CONSORTIUM underscored that there would be wide variability in harmful chemicals across each property tested and “that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for remediation,” according to iO Wright of the nonprofit PostFire.org, which presented the findings last week. However, CONSORTIUM discussed two remediation options for soil that they claim are widely trusted.
The first is scraping your lot, which was carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, that removed 6 inches of topsoil from ash footprints of burned homes. Depending on lot size, this could leave untouched soil that a property owner may wish to have scraped by a contractor for disposal at a hazardous waste facility. This remediation method typically involves testing the soil for toxins until a safe threshold is met, so fresh, clean soil can be laid over the top. “That is one of the most fail-safe methods of remediation,” said Wright. However, the scraping method can be expensive.
An alternative is bioremediation — sometimes called ecological remediation — a much slower process, but drastically cheaper than scraping a lot. The process mimics nature by drawing on principles of ecology to not only address pollution but also restore ecosystem function and biodiversity. Ecologists work with nature’s own cleaning systems by using living organisms — fungi, bacteria, and plants — to clean up polluted soil and water. Certain fungi are especially good at starting this process. They can attack tough contaminants like oil or pesticides and break them into smaller pieces. Once the fungi get started, bacteria and other microbes move in to finish the job. It’s like nature’s assembly line for cleaning up messes.
When ecologists arrive at a contaminated site, they start by testing the soil and water to identify which pollutants arepresent. Once that is determined, they choose the right organisms for the job — selecting specific fungi, bacteria, and plants known to break down those particular contaminants. The site is then prepared by adding nutrients, adjusting pH levels, or mixing in materials like compost to help organisms thrive. If the site-specific organisms are not already present, ecologists may add fungal spores, bacterial cultures, or plant-specific vegetation.
The process can take a year or more, so progress must be monitored by regularly testing contamination levels and adjusting conditions as needed. By using multiple species rather than just one — since different organisms tackle different pollutants and work better together — ecologists can prioritize local species that naturally grow in the area and ensure the most important “cleanup species” are present and healthy, allowing nature to do the heavy lifting of restoration.
Because urban wildfires create toxins from burning plastics, batteries, and synthetic materials, and because toxicity levels can vary across different areas of one site, property owners may wish to use a combination of both methods to facilitate a rebuild: using the scraping method for the site’s foundation and selecting customized bioremediation for other areas of their lot through controlled human intervention that can speed up natural processes.
UCLA professor Dr. Shaily Mahendra of CONSORTIUM said bioremediation is “just the way nature cleans and heals itself. It is a slow process. That’s how earth restores and renews itself. As a technology, we are referring to what we call enhanced or engineered bioremediation … that means what nature would take hundreds of years to do, we could do in one year and speed it up … nature will take care of it. This is a little more monitored, more documented. This is a ramped-up, custom solution that would be very useful in certain areas, particularly post-fire soil applications.”
Dr. Danielle Stevenson, founder of the nonprofit Centre for Applied and Ecological Remediation (CAER), stated that CAER, which partners on bioremediation services in collaboration with landscape architects, uses EPA methodology. “We follow all the steps needed to be in compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks, which is really an important thing to consider when selecting a remediation option for your site. Just to ensure that whoever you contract is going to give you the data you need — that will help you with a lawsuit or insurance claim, or if you plan to sell the lot down the line — it’s going to be really important to have the right types of documentation about the remediation process and the testing that’s been done.”
A volunteer uses a wheelbarrow to haul fire debris from the beach in one of many cleanup efforts over the past year. Many in Malibu are complaining about fire debris still on the beach as well as closed bathrooms and other environmental concerns. Contributed photo
Residents demand accountability as aging septic systems, stalled repairs, and marine debris from the Palisades Fire intensify concerns over stewardship of Surfrider, Zuma and others
“Terrifyingly embarrassing,” “inexcusable,” “perplexing,” and “infuriating.” Those phrases describe the feelings expressed by many Malibuites concerning the inoperative restrooms at Surfrider Beach and other Malibu beaches that force beachgoers to use port-a-potties.
“It’s awful for Malibu’s most iconic beach, Surfrider, to have non-working toilets and a large port-a-potty taking up parking spaces in the small parking lot!” said Andy Lyons, a Malibu native and community advocate.
The problem is not new. The problem is not news to the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches & Harbors. The problem offends and inconveniences locals and visitors alike. In Lyons’ view, the problem should not exist and should be immediately addressed.
“Malibu’s beaches deserve real stewardship, not slide decks!”
Noting that Malibu’s public beach restrooms have been closed for years and septic tanks continue to need repairs, Malibu Councilmember Haylynn Conrad has doggedly pressed Beaches & Harbors to address Malibu’s unsanitary and unsightly beach bathrooms.
“Our community and visitors deserve real facilities, regular maintenance and consistent trash pickup on our beaches andwe need to demand better. Malibu’s beaches deserve real stewardship, not slide decks,” Conrad declared. “I have been pushing Beaches & Harbors for months to finally repair the public bathrooms in Malibu so we are not forced to rely on porta-potties that the county is already paying for. I drove to Marina Del Rey to attend the Beach Commission meeting on Jan. 28 in person when they finally put Malibu on the agenda. They voted to allocate $1.3 million to repair our beach bathrooms which I am pleased about — I’m grateful to see that move forward.”
At the commission meeting, Beaches & Harbors staff provided data regarding beach bathroom closures. The data reveal that bathrooms at Surfrider and Topanga beaches have been closed since June 2024. Bathroom number four at Zuma Beach has been closed since April 2022. Zuma Beach bathroom number seven has been closed since July 2023. September 2024 marked the last time that beachgoers could use Zuma bathrooms numbered one and eight.Bathroom numbers three, six, and nine are open on Zuma Beach as are the bathrooms at Zuma lifeguard headquarters and Zuma yard.
Addressing dysfunctional septic tanks on Malibu beaches
Staff from Beaches & Harbors informed commissioners and the public that common septic tank issues at Malibu beaches include sewage leaks and spills, sewage backups, and the need for emergency pump-out services. The commission is taking a phased approach to repairing the restrooms that are not open and to upgrading restrooms at Point Dume, placing Surfrider on the fast track, with that project slated for completion by the end of this month. The projected completion for repairing and upgrading Zuma bathrooms one and nine, as well as three restrooms at Point Dume is December 2026. Plans are being developed to repair and upgrade restroom facilities at Zuma lifeguard headquarters, Zuma Yard, and Zuma bathrooms two, three, six, and eight.
Commission staff listened to a presentation regarding the department maintaining and operating 18 septic systems in Malibu. Repair assessments were conducted by a certified septic system vendor, and locations for repair were selected based on the extent of repairs needed at each location. Septic repairs involve replacing floats and pumps, PVC Checkvalve relief and piping as well as replacing fans, filters, chemical pumps, blenders, UV lights and housings, flow meters, lids and concrete surrounding lids, installing new electrical conduit, splice boxes, and ensuring watertight connections, according to the presentation.
Malibuite Madelyn Glickfeld has served on the Beach Commission for two and a half years and was appointed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. She explained that budgetary limitations are requiring a phased approach to the beach bathroom repairs and upgrades in Malibu. “The county’s budget is in dire straits,” Glickfeld stated. “There is not enough money to complete the project to repair all of Malibu’s beach bathrooms in 2026.”
The Zuma underpass and other Malibu bridge concerns
Glickfeld, who has lived in Malibu for 35 years, has previously served on the Wastewater Advisory Board, is a former commissioner serving on the Coastal Commission, and has worked on the water resources working group. She addressed another agenda item at the beach commission meeting, to wit, conditions at the Zuma underpass.
“We want to make sure that the sand coming from the mountains makes it all the way to the ocean because that is how beaches are replenished,” Glickfeld explained. “Over the years, Caltrans has dumped dirt from its projects. All up and down the coast, we are facing an engineering issue as bridges are no longer sufficient to allow sand to go through. At the Zuma underpass, water collects when we get as little as 2 inches of rain and we have to close it. They haven’t raised the bridges at Bonsall and Busch either.”
Glickfeld explained that the Beach Commission, “Has no regulatory authority, merely advises the county supervisors and only holds four meetings a year.” The commission expresses concerns to Beaches and Harbors, which then brings matters to the attention of the Los Angeles Regional Water Board, she added.
Debris on beaches
The commission also addressed what Glickfeld described as the ever-increasing problem of beachgoers dumping garbage on beaches. “We need to stop grooming beaches with tractors because doing so hurts natural beaches and pre-dune habitats and their ecosystems,” she emphasized. Another priority for the commission in Glickfeld’s view is for the county to more strongly address sea level rise, large wave protection, and beach retention, especially at Zuma Beach so that sand collects at Westward Beach naturally.
“The county is working on three pilot projects,” she stated. “Zuma, Point Dume State Beach, and Westward beaches are one project and Topanga Lagoon restoration is another. The third pilot project is at Dockweiler.”
Glickfeld acknowledged that people are very frustrated with the management of Malibu’s beaches, and she encourages citizens to show up at commission meetings as well as to send commissioners and county supervisors letters and to make telephone calls expressing their concerns.
Collection of fire debris on East Malibu beaches
Conrad and Glickfeld both voiced extreme concerns about the amount of debris on Malibu’s beaches due to the fire and recent rains. Conrad directed Malibu Times to Darren Graves, who is spearheading efforts to clean up debris caused by the Palisades Fire.
Graves characterized his and other volunteers’ efforts as addressing, “The ongoing saga of fire debris removal from public lands beyond the realm of private property in East Malibu from Duke’s to Topanga Boulevard.”
“Starting in March of 2025, we started pulling fire debris from the ocean and I would estimate that we removed between three to five tons within three months,” Graves said. “When there were storms, the beach sand dropped between 7 and 8 feet, and debris was exposed.”
The all-volunteer crew is primarily composed of the Sutton sisters, Graves explained, noting that Julie Sutton Bacino, her spouse and Suzie Sutton Rottman and her spouse, “removed debris because no one else did. We in Malibu are stewards of the environment — Malibuites always clean up the beach.”
“The ocean in Malibu is hurting.”
Last year, Malibu Times reported that Barbara Gentile, co-owner of Malibu Divers and the company’s director of education, was spearheading an effort to address Palisades Fire marine debris. Gentile is extremely worried about the status of the marine ecosystems and coral reefs along the Malibu coastline after the fire and subsequent rains, both of which deposited toxic debris near and on coral reefs and marine ecosystems. Gentile is also a public safety diver for the Los Angeles County Sheriff Reserve Dive Team and American Academy of Underwater Sciences diver with Reef Check.
At the Beach Commission meeting, Gentile gave a presentation entitled, “The Blue Force™: Mobilizing citizen divers for local ocean recovery.”
“Our aim is to restore our shores and utilize a collaborative effort to rebuild and protect Malibu’s marine ecosystem,” Gentile explained to commissioners that on April 1, 2025, she led a scuba diving operation focusing on surveying the debris afflicting the coastline from Carbon Beach to Chautauga Boulevard. “Due to the fire and extreme rainfall, debris, an estimated nine miles of coastline were negatively impacted. The ocean in Malibu is hurting. Fires. Floods. Runoff. All of those are endangering marine ecosystems, which could collapse.”
The Palisades Fire ocean recovery area includes the Rustic Canyon storm drain, the ocean along Chautauga Boulevard, Temescal Canyon Road, Coastline Drive, and Las Flores, Gentile informed. “Solving these real problems requires more than testing — it also involves lobbying for funding and it takes observation, empathy and action! Environmental action is what we need to do because our ecosystems need us.”
“The ocean needs our help. Doing nothing is not the answer”
Gentile’s call to action involves activating The Blue Force to demonstrate that, “we value where we live and address underwater debris damage in service to Malibu and our planet.”
Malibu Times asked Gentile about necessary next steps to activate The Blue Force. She explained the need to focus on identifying the experts needed, funding a boat equipped with side sonar that can detect debris, recruiting qualified divers and determining a cleanup plan focusing on team organization and funding.
“At the end of the day, we need funding to pay for the effort because we need professional staff and boats,” Gentile noted. “We need to restore the reefs. If a person has garbage in his backyard, he wouldn’t use it for planting vegetables to eat. The concerns along the shoreline are analogous — the settlement and debris settle and poisons the marine environment. There is no doubt in my mind that we need to take action now! Recovery is the missing step between assessing the damage and resiliency — assessing the damage without recovery is an incomplete response to this disaster. The ocean needs our help! Clearly, doing nothing is not the answer.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is vehemently denying reporting by the Los Angeles Times that she ordered the LAFD’s Palisades Fire after-action report to be softened at her request. Photo credit Karen Bass Press conference ABC image
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is vehemently denying reporting by the Los Angeles Times that she ordered the LAFD’s Palisades Fire after-action report to be softened at her request. The newspaper first uncovered that the report, released in October, had been edited to downplay criticism of department failures.
Residents who lost homes and businesses have condemned the LAFD’s lack of pre-deployment of fire crews ahead of repeatedly forecast high-risk wind conditions, as well as the department’s performance in battling the catastrophic blaze that killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,800 structures throughout Pacific Palisades, Topanga, Malibu, and unincorporated Los Angeles County. The after-action report was commissioned to learn what steps the department could improve upon and what lessons could be learned in fighting future wildfires.
In a series of scathing reports faulting the LAFD’s handling of the fire and subsequently watering down the final draft of the after-action report, the Times latest allegation is that Bass herself ordered the altering of the report to lessen the city’s exposure to legal liabilities due to oversights or negligence.
Two anonymous sources who provided the accusations against Bass said the mayor is not telling the truth about her involvement in the editing of the report. They also claimed that although she was involved, they could not pinpoint whether the instructions to water down the report were line-by-line edits or a general directive. Both sources told the newspaper they would testify under oath should the matter proceed to court.
An 18-year-old woman was rescued Sunday morning after suffering an ankle injury on the Escondido Falls Trail in Malibu.
The incident prompted a coordinated response from Malibu Search and Rescue, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. Crews worked together to reach, treat, and safely evacuate the injured hiker from the popular trail area.
Malibu Search and Rescue is a volunteer unit that operates under the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and responds to emergencies throughout the Santa Monica Mountains. Sunday’s successful evacuation highlights the ongoing collaboration among local agencies to keep outdoor enthusiasts safe on Malibu’s trails.
Officials remind hikers to wear proper footwear, carry adequate water, and be mindful of trail conditions when exploring the area.
A powerful winter storm continues to impact Malibu, Topanga Canyon and much of Los Angeles County, triggering road closures, evacuation warnings and significant travel disruptions across the region.
Topanga Canyon Boulevard Closed
Topanga Canyon Boulevard (State Route 27) remains closed in both directions from Pacific Coast Highway to Grand View Drive until further notice due to heavy storms and hazardous conditions. Multiple locations within the closure area have experienced mud and debris slides.
Maintenance and GeoTech teams are on scene assessing slope stability and clearing debris. Caltrans crews have been preparing for the storm by relocating equipment, installing K-rail barriers, placing sandbags and stabilizing retaining walls along SR-27 and nearby sections of Pacific Coast Highway. The highway will reopen only once it is deemed safe.
Motorists should expect the closure to remain in place at least through the Tuesday morning commute, with possible extensions depending on storm impacts.
Current Conditions in Malibu
As of Feb. 16, around mid-to-late afternoon PST (approximately 4:39 p.m. PST), Malibu is experiencing ongoing rain from the storm system affecting Southern California.
Current conditions include:
Light to moderate rain, with occasional heavier bursts
Cloudy and windy skies
Temperatures ranging between 55 and 57 degrees Fahrenheit
A high probability of continued precipitation in the short term
Earlier thunderstorms brought periods of heavier rainfall, and while the current rate appears lighter, additional downpours remain possible.
Recent rainfall totals:
Approximately 0.17 inches fell about 30 minutes prior to late afternoon reporting (around 4 p.m. PST).
About 0.16 inches accumulated over the past 24 hours, though totals vary by location depending on local gauges and storm intensity.
Hourly rainfall rates during peak activity may have reached 0.5 to 1 inch in short bursts, increasing the risk of localized flooding and debris flows.
Soils in Topanga and surrounding burn scar areas are already saturated from recent storms, heightening concerns as additional rain moves through the region.
Heavy Rain and Flood Risk
The National Weather Service forecasts the most intense period of rainfall Monday, particularly between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., with showers continuing through much of the week.
Projected storm totals include:
2 to 4 inches across coastal and lowland areas
4 to 8 inches in mountain and foothill communities, especially within burn scar zones
The Weather Prediction Center has issued a slight risk of excessive rainfall for the central and southern California coast through Tuesday morning, warning that heavy rain could create localized flash flooding in urban areas, roads, small streams and wildfire burn scars.
Thunderstorms remain possible, bringing gusty winds, reduced visibility and isolated hazards such as brief tornadoes or waterspouts.
Evacuation Warnings in Burn Areas
Evacuation warnings remain in effect for neighborhoods impacted by last year’s devastating wildfires, including areas scarred by the Palisades Fire and related burn zones such as Sunset and Hurst. The warnings were issued following a flood watch covering a wide swath of Los Angeles County.
Mayor Karen Bass said she has directed emergency crews and city departments to be prepared to respond to mudslides, debris flows and flooding.
Residents in burn scar areas are urged to remain alert, gather essential items and monitor official emergency alerts through Tuesday.
LAX Ground Stop and Travel Impacts
The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) issued a ground stop for departing flights Monday as heavy rain moved across the region. Travelers are advised to check directly with their airline for updated departure information.
Drivers throughout Los Angeles County should anticipate standing water, downed trees and potential traffic signal outages. Under California law, motorists must come to a complete stop at any malfunctioning signal.
Dangerous Marine Conditions
The National Weather Service has issued a gale warning through 2 a.m. Tuesday for inner coastal waters from Point Mugu to San Mateo Point, including Santa Catalina and Anacapa islands. Southwest winds of 20 to 30 knots, gusting to 35 knots, and combined seas of 6 to 9 feet are expected.
A special marine warning was also issued after radar detected severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts, with wind gusts exceeding 50 knots. Impacted areas include Dana Point, Newport Harbor, Alamitos Bay and the Port of Los Angeles. Mariners are strongly urged to remain in port or seek safe harbor.
Beachgoers should be aware of heavy surf, rip currents, beach erosion and storm debris in the water.
Utility and Emergency Response
Pacific Gas & Electric said it is using artificial intelligence and machine-learning enhanced weather models to determine where to stage crews and equipment.
“This weather event will progress in several phases,” said incident commander Paul Bury. “On the coast, we’re expecting heavy rains and winds, whereas the higher elevations are going to see snow. We’re staging crews to make sure they are ready to safely restore power to customers in a timely manner.”
Sandbag Locations
Sandbags are available at:
All LA County Fire stations (some locations provide sand)
Camp 13, 1252 Encinal Canyon Road — sand and bags
Fire Station 70, 3970 Carbon Canyon Road — sand and bags
Zuma Beach main entrance, 3000 Pacific Coast Highway — sand and bags
Malibu Library, 23519 Civic Center Way — filled sandbags available through April 15 (staff will load vehicles from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Residents are reminded not to remove sand from beaches.
Safety Reminders
Officials urge residents to:
Stay off the roads if possible
Prepare for mudslides, debris flows and standing water
Be ready for potential power outages
Watch for emergency crews and work vehicles
Check on vulnerable neighbors
Never approach downed power lines — call 911
Authorities continue to emphasize vigilance as the storm system moves through the region, with conditions expected to evolve over the next several days.
🚩 TOPANGA CANYON BOULEVARD 🚩
Topanga Canyon Blvd (State Route 27) closed in both directions from PCH to Grand View Dr until further notice due to storms.
MALIBU STORM UPDATE: 2/16 – LA County Evacuation Warning remains in effect for Palisades Fire burn area due to potential mud & debris flows. Rain expected thru at least Thurs. (Evac Zone MAL-C111: Topanga Beach Dr west to Carbon Beach Terrace).
A Los Angeles judge has ordered prosecutors to relinquish a cell phone belonging to Fraser Bohm, the 24-year-old charged with the murders of four Pepperdine University students killed in a devastating crash on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.
Judge Thomas Rubinson, presiding at LA Superior Court in Van Nuys on Tuesday, issued a compromise ruling requiring the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to deliver the device in a sealed bag to the laboratory of a defense-appointed technical expert. Prosecutors will be permitted to observe the data extraction to ensure, in the judge’s words, that “nothing nefarious” occurs.
Bohm has pleaded not guilty to four counts of second-degree murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in connection with the 2023 crash that claimed the lives of Niamh Rolston, 20, Asha Weir, 21, Peyton Stewart, 21, and Deslyn Williams, 21, on a stretch of road some have called “Dead Man’s Curve.”
Authorities seized the phone after Bohm allegedly declined to provide its passcode following the accident. Prosecutors, who have been unable to access the device’s contents as a result, had opposed returning it, citing concerns that Bohm could “modify, alter or delete” potentially critical data. His defense attorneys countered that information stored on the phone could prove vital to their case.
Judge Rubinson also ordered the District Attorney’s office to hand over thousands of pages of documentation relating to 128 non-fatal crashes recorded at or near the same location in the ten years preceding the incident, along with records of all speeding citations issued on that stretch of highway in the two years prior to the crash.
Deputy District Attorney Nathan Bartos pushed back against the scope of the order, arguing the material was “irrelevant, over-broad and unduly burdensome,” adding, “That’s 128 accidents that have nothing to do with this case.“
Bohm, who is currently out of jail on $4 million bail, appeared in court with his parents on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Bohm’s next court hearing is scheduled for April 9.
Sharks Gear Up for Citrus Coast Title with High-Level Preseason Training and Championship Focus
The Malibu High Sharks boys volleyball team didn’t ease into preseason training last month — they sharpened a championship mindset.
The squad’s practices end with a six-on-six scrimmage, and the competitions have been action-packed, with the volleyball rarely touching the gym court, explained Malibu senior outside hitter Keegan Cross, 18.
“How high level our six-on-sixes have been has me really excited,” he said. “It shows me I’m playing with the highest level this team has ever been. Carrying out long rallies during these six-on-sixes — people trying their hardest, putting in full effort — it’s really cool to see. There have been rallies that went on for a minute or two, which is pretty long in volleyball.”
Cross noted that it is a substantial improvement from a couple of seasons ago.
“The ball might be hit once and then it would land on the ground with no contest,” he said.
The Sharks are preparing for a 2026 campaign in which they aim to win the Citrus Coast League title for a third consecutive season and make a deep run in the CIF postseason.
Malibu head coach Derek Saenz said practices have been fun and competitive.
“The intent is there,” he added. “We have a purpose, and we are making sure it stays fun. We have team goals and individual goals — of course everyone wants to win CIF.” The bunch began preparing for the season in the wake of the players practicing with and playing in national tournaments with various volleyball clubs.
Saenz, who has coached most of the Sharks in past volleyball club tournaments, noted how all of the players have won medals at either USA Volleyball or AAU national tournaments. The coach added that Cross, senior Alex Galan, sophomore Luca Calvo, and juniors Timur Podgore, Lucas Galan, Martin Kurial, and Madeus Lupo have all earned All-American nominations at those events.
Cross, who played club volleyball with Southern California Volleyball Club 18-1 Molten, said club volleyball helps the Sharks refine their skills for the high school season.
“Our practices started a little slow with everyone coming from club season, but after the first one or two practices, we all started playing together and realized this season is going to be super fun,” he said.
Podgore, 17, said the Sharks are all playing at their highest level after training with different clubs and coaches, which he said has helped refine their technique.
Malibu finished their 2025 campaign with a 23-9 overall record including a 10-0 mark in the Citrus Coast League. The squad entered the postseason with high hopes but was defeated by Notre Dame (SO) 3-1 in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV Boys Volleyball Championships.
Saenz said the playoff loss was a disappointment especially since the team advanced to the quarterfinals of the Division VI playoffs in 2024, but he believes Malibu can be championship contenders in any CIF division.
“We are good enough,” Saenz said. “The main goal is to win a CIF championship wherever we are at.”
The coach also wants his team to celebrate their accomplishments such as the squad’s seniors — Cross, Galan, Julian Calvo, Taj Menteer, and Sebastian Longo — staying together as a team during the growing pains in previous seasons.
“The coolest thing is that they stuck with it,” said Saenz, who began coaching most of the group when they were eighth graders. “We’ve had seniors before, but they haven’t had the structure where it’s an entire class of kids that have committed.”
While Podgore said the Sharks play best when they are scrappy, Cross expects the Sharks’ offense to shine. Saenz highlighted several players. He said Podgore’s work in the weight room has paid off, and Cross, Calvo, Galan, and Longo are playing well. Lupo is bounding higher than ever on the court, and Kurial is making a tremendous impact, Saenz said.
The Sharks begin their season with a Feb. 17 home matchup against Royal. Many Malibu players are excited about the matchup since they play on the same club volleyball teams as several Royal players, said Saenz. “They have rivalries with their club teammates,” Saenz noted. “They want to beat them.”
Malibu plays at Palisades on Feb. 19 and then hosts Granada Hills Charter on March 3 — another important match for the team since Saenz is a Granada Hills alumnus and the Sharks lost the game last season. “We didn’t play our best last year,” Cross said. “I think it is a game we should have won.”
Cross, an All-CIF player two seasons ago, said the Sharks are motivated because this will be their last season together as a group.
“I want to do the absolute most with this little time I have left,” he said. “I couldn’t care less about the individual accolades. I care more about what our team can accomplish. The ultimate goal is winning CIF.”
Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff are linked to a real estate transaction in Malibu. Several news sources including NewsNation and Yahoo are reporting the couple closed on a $10 million estate in the Point Dume area near Zuma Beach. The former vice president and first ever second gentleman previously lived in a 3,500-square-foot home in Brentwood while she served in office. Emhoff had purchased the four-bedroom home for $2.7 million in 2012, two years before marrying Harris.
That home is said to be worth $4.7 million today. The couple had reportedly been concerned over security threats in Brentwood, including a suspected burglary attempt and the home’s close proximity to wildfire areas. Harris has served as district attorney of San Francisco, California’s attorney general, U.S. senator, and vice president of the United States. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2024. Her book chronicling that campaign, “107 Days,” made the New York Times bestseller list.
Brad Sherman, Malibu’s congressman, discussed relevant principles of federalism and questioned both the constitutionality and feasibility of the federal government assuming control of local permitting.
In late January, President Trump signed Executive Order 14277, entitled “Addressing State and Local Failures to Rebuild Los Angeles After Wildfire Disasters,” mandating that the Small Business Association and the Environmental Protection Agency take over permitting authority for Eaton and Palisades fire victims who are rebuilding. The order authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the SBA Administrator to promulgate regulations allowing builders to self-certify that construction has met “state and local substantive health, safety, and building standards.”
The order strongly criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom’s and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ pre-fire preparation, wildfire response, and rebuilding procedures. “This marked one of the greatest failures of elected political leadership in American history, from enabling the wildfires to failing to manage, and it continues today with the abject failure to rebuild.”
Several federal, state, county, and local officials voiced strident opposition to the executive order, with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voting to oppose the federal government usurping jurisdiction over rebuilds and Newsom pointing out that the state, counties and cities are “STILL waiting for the president to grant disaster recovery funding.” Newsom’s response added, “He should keep LA out of his mouth unless he is planning to grant the disaster funding they need.”
Brad Sherman, Malibu’s congressman, discussed relevant principles of federalism and questioned both the constitutionality and feasibility of the federal government assuming control of local permitting. He noted, “The Tenth Amendment reserves to the states functions not expressly given to the federal government and permitting has always been in the purview of local and county governments.”
Sherman’s strong reservations also center on concerns that building along Malibu’s coastline and on the land side, where there are landslide and slope stability concerns involve special considerations and allowing self-certification could literally lead to disasters.
Nevertheless, the SBA issued a new “Regulatory Guidance to cut California’s red tape and expedite the Los Angeles rebuild” on Jan. 29. The guidance allows builders to self-certify compliance with substantive state and local rebuilding requirements for SBA disaster borrowers who have waited 60 or more days for their permits and other rebuilding-related approvals. Accordingly, the new guidance will allow wildfire survivors to bypass permitting delays and to begin rebuilding using the $3.2 billion in SBA disaster relief that has been approved for Eaton and Palisades fire-afflicted communities. According to the SBA, it approved 12,600 disaster loans for Los Angeles totalling $3.2 billion in disaster relief, “representing over half of all disaster aid approved in fiscal year 2025.”
The SBA’s guidance elaborated, stating, “Yet despite this unprecedented federal response, less than 25% has been drawn down by borrowers due to enormous permitting backlogs that prevented survivors and their builders from beginning the rebuilding process.”
Borrowers interested in the self-certification option to “bypass local bureaucracy are required to submit just two documents to the SBA: A disaster loan modification application and a builder’s certification,” according to both the guidance and letters SBA has sent to borrowers. Once those submittals are approved by the SBA, those documents formally amend the borrower’s loan authorization agreement, replacing the language that would otherwise require local permits before rebuilding can begin.
The guidance informs, “While this action immediately addresses permitting delays affecting California wildfire survivors, the same process will apply in the future to any local jurisdiction whose permitting systems prevent survivors of presidentally declared disasters from moving forward with recovery.”
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, HRL’s employees, California agencies, Los Angeles and Ventura county officials, and city officials in Malibu and nearby communities were informed that HRL (formerly Hughes Research Laboratories), Malibu’s largest employer, will lay off 376 employees working at the Malibu, Lost Hills, Camarillo, Westlake, and Santa Monica campuses. The notice stated that affected employees will be laid off effective April 3, adding, “These layoffs are expected to be permanent.”
The notice informed that, “HRL may close satellite campuses and relocate existing staff to Malibu or to one of the remaining satellite campuses as a result of the RIF.”
Laid off employees in the Cabinet Makers, Millmen and Industrial Carpenter’s, Local #721 will be impacted. Employees were notified that HRL is providing commercial outplacement services to support impacted staff and that such job search support will be provided by Local Workforce Development Boards and their partners.
A total of 258 Malibu-based employees will be laid off, including a director of information systems, numerous engineers, chemical and gas handlers, scientists, and support staff.
The RIF’s effect on Malibu
HRL’s laying off of 258 workers in its Malibu campus couldn’t happen at a more trying time in the city. Clearly, it is too early to quantify the mass layoffs’ monetary effect on the City of Malibu’s coffers, local businesses, Malibu schools, and possibly, the local real estate market. HRL’s reduction in force is occurring when the city, which a few years ago enjoyed a large surplus, is dipping into some of its reserves to address infrastructure repairs and improvements after the Palisades Fire and to assist those who are rebuilding as the city awaits reimbursement from FEMA for its fire response expenditures.
