The organization helps veterans and first responders facing mental health challenges

“It is essential that organizations like The White Heart Foundation receive our continued support,” actor Max Martini said as he participated in the foundation’s 17th annual Ride to the Flags Memorial Charity Motorcycle Ride on Sept. 8. 

Ride to the Flags began in 2008, accompanying the beginning of the Wave of Flags 9/11 Memorial at Pepperdine University. Although it is not officially associated with the memorial, the ride does end at the memorial for a short service. The event is an all-volunteer charity ride that in the past has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars forwounded warriors in need and the ride also supports veterans’ and first responders’ mental health through the foundation’s Guardian Project. This year, the event raised almost $50,000 to help veterans, according to Ryan Sawtelle, who founded the Ride to the Flags and was instrumental in starting the memorial as well.

Motorcyclists checked in at Naval Base Ventura early in the morning, followed by a ceremony on the base. 

“The command officer at the NAVBASE, Dan Brown, met with all of the attendees and we gave a presentation about the White Heart Foundation’s helping to address the mental health needs of veterans,” Sawtelle said. “There was a flyover, a rifle salute, as well as a wreath-laying and they played taps.” 

This year’s ride originally had approximately 175 registrants, but approximately 300 bikes showed up, meaning that between 400 to 450 people rode on the motorcycles, Sawtelle added.

After the ceremony at the base, the law-enforcement-escorted motorcycle pack began its 27-mile ride down Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu Bluffs Park where onlookers cheered their entry. 

Forgotten heroes

The Malibu Times caught up with some of the motorcyclists who drove in the ride.

“I’ve ridden in the ride for three years and I recognize its importance,” Pernell Rush said. “As a vet myself, the causes that White Heart Foundation supports are close to my heart as they assist troops and fellow service members, and, due to a tragedy last year, mental health situations that veterans face really hit home.”

Rush and his colleagues discussed the tragedy he alluded to, recounting how devastated everyone at the American Legion Riders Orcutt Post 534 was when a veteran who was due to have a custom-made wheelchair that would have great enhanced his quality of life committed suicide the evening before the ceremony giving him the wheelchair.

“I liked coming to the ceremony at Pt. Mugu,” said Keith Mason, who served in the Desert Storm era. Noting that it was his first time to participate in the ride, Mason added,  “The ceremony was reverent.”

“The American Legion is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization whose mission is to advocate for veterans and patriotism across the United States,” said Charlie Schmidt, the Orcutt Post ride contingent’s leader. Schmidt, who served 22 years in the Air Force, noted that he and others in Orcutt Post 534 often visit veterans’ homes and help them apply for veterans benefits at no cost. “We assist vets with getting ramps, special doors and other elements for a home that a disabled vet may need, transport them to medical appointments and provide a national network of local support for veterans and their families,” he said.

Attendees at the ride event visited booths that support both motorcyclists and veterans, such as the Military Animal Project, which provides certified equine and dog therapy to military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and anxiety and depression, thereby providing a unique opportunity that can positively impact their lives. 

“As long as there are veterans in need we have a responsibility to raise money and awareness for efforts such as the Foundation’s that are changing lives of our emotionally injured service people,” Martini said.

“I encourage everyone to lend support in whatever way possible,” Martini said. “And if you ride … join next year! I’ll be there!”

Oscar-winning actor Nicholas Cage just plunked down $10.5 million for a beach house in Western Malibu. The actor, who lives full-time in Nevada, bought the longtime family home of Lenard Liberman of LBI Media. The 4,000-square-foot home on four levels is on Sea Level Drive with access to a secluded beach. The home’s first floor has floor-to-ceiling windows to take advantage of its front-row ocean views. The property also boasts a rare rooftop deck, hard to come by in Malibu due to building regulations. Another selling point is the home includes a vacant lot next door, a rarity for beachfront homes that typically sit side-by-side. Cage was able to buy the house for below its asking price of $10.75 million.

Three incumbents and two newcomers answer questions concerning local issues 

Three incumbents and two first-time candidates for Malibu City Council took questions at the Eastern Malibu Candidates Forum on Saturday, Sept. 14. Despite the far-off location at Fire Camp 8, every seat was filled with roughly 60 voters interested in how each candidate stood on issues ranging across such topics as Pacific Coast Highway, development, civility, and processes at City Hall.

The candidates include Channing Frykmann, Haylynn Conrad, Steve Uhring, Bruce Silverstein, and Paul Grisanti.

Regarding PCH safety, Councilmember Paul Grisanti said people have driven Malibu’s main artery like it was a“Disneyland ride.” He stated that it’s been difficult to hire more patrols due to the “drastic shortage of Sheriff’s deputies available.” Noting a “change in attitude in Sacramento” since the tragedy on PCH last October, Grisanti said he favors stiffer penalties for driving more than 100 mph. “We need something more severe than taking away their car for a month.”

Newcomer Channing Frykman said, “We’re prioritizing PCH along with the incumbents. This is a shared mission.” Frykman herself was a victim when she was struck by a car in a crosswalk on PCH. Her husband was also hitwhile riding a bicycle in Malibu. The physician said she wants to continue “this positive lifesaving momentum that has been initiated.”

Haylynn Conrad, also a first-time candidate, said as a mother, she spends “a lot of time” driving children on PCH. “We [the City] can decide if we’re a highway or a boulevard,” she said, arguing the former would require eliminating lights and pedestrians. “If we’re a boulevard, we have residents, businesses, bicyclists, pedestrians. Right now, we have the agencies’ ears. Caltrans is actually asking us what we want because this is our neighborhood. We can come up with some really creative ideas that benefit everybody.”

Councilmember Bruce Silverstein called for lower speed limits, more stoplights,  and DUI checkpoints on weekends near “Nobu and other drinking establishments.” He added, “Malibu need not and ought not wait for Caltrans to make these changes. We declared a local state of emergency at my urging following the deaths of the four Pepperdine students …Steve Uhring supported my proposal but we were unable to get a third vote from City Council members who are more afraid of the city getting sued than they are afraid of seeing people die. We have two new candidates who both support immediate action. I hope that one of them will be elected in addition to Steve and I, and frankly if the two of them and Steve are elected I’d be thrilled because I support everything they stand for. Paul put a sign on his truck. That’s what he thinks it takes to stop people from speeding on PCH.”

“The biggest difference on PCH is enforcement,” commented incumbent Steve Uhring. “Having the California Highway Patrol and the Sheriff’s, even with speed cameras, you’re going to need enforcement. One of the other problems is pedestrians, visitors who come to the city running across PCH dodging traffic. We have to find a better way to put crosswalks in, stoplights. We don’t want to see anyone get hit. We’re going to have to keep focused on PCH safety every day.”

Regarding additional commercial development Silverstein stated, “If the applicant is legally entitled to do it, then they have to be given the right. It doesn’t matter what I think of their project. If an applicant comes before us with something they’re legally not entitled to do, it doesn’t matter how much I like their project, then they can’t do it. Then there’s the gray zone, which is most things. Commercial development, we don’t need any more. Unless somebody is legally entitled to it or they can demonstrate extreme community benefit there should be no commercial development. Extra-large homes, same thing … We should be encouraging small and medium-sized family homes.”

Uhring stated, “I think approximately 125,000 square feet of open commercial space is here in Malibu. I don’t think we need any more. A couple of years ago when I was on the Planning Commission, the City Council tasked us with dealing with mansionization … we did that and then Paul [Grisanti] led the team that tried to stop us. They did mailers to the residents scaring the heck out of them, telling them they were going to lose all their rights, which was not the case. There are things that can be done. There are ways to slow stuff down, allow people to get what they want to get … without changing the character of our city.”

“I think the Planning Department needs to be looked at,” said Conrad. “There could be some improvements with its structures and how it works so we don’t have these conflicts. A lot of our neighborly stuff comes down to the Planning Department. It’s a terrible shame many of the Woolsey victims can’t get homes built. It’s awful. If you’re not doing anything egregious or controversial get it done.” 

Conrad said “I don’t understand why it would take seven months,” for a homeowner to get a permit for a generator. As for commercial development, Conrad stated, “I don’t believe we need more retail spaces. We need more community spaces. We need more things to bring community together. We are a pretty divided community, inherently. We have gates, hedges. We want to have a healthy community.”

“I agree with you all,” Frykman said. “It’s such a majestic holy place where we live. It’s a privilege and a responsibility as we steward this absolutely beautiful protected area.” 

Frykman said protecting the community is “extremely important.” She advocated for residents to respond to the Malibu Community Lands Project. “For rebuilds, prioritize all of those that were affected by the Woolsey Fire to be able to expedite this process,” she said.

Grisanti brought up short-term rentals (STRs) when beginning his comments on development and the recently rejected hotel proposal in central Malibu. Defending his lone vote to approve the project, he argued that the Coastal Commission “explicitly told us we could not limit STRs because we did not have enough motel or hotel rooms in the city of Malibu. My calculus is, would I rather have 20 STRs ruining the peace and quiet of neighborhoods or would I rather have one motel in one location that is much easier to police? That was my thought on that.”

Defending his opposition to the total development square footage (TDS) limitation proposed by Uhring when on the Planning Commission, Grisanti argued that “the problem with the TDS resolution was they were punishing the older people who have been here a long time in a small house on a big lot by reducing the value of the property that their heirs could receive.” Rejecting the argument that his opposition to TDS limits helped facilitate Malibu’s ongoing mansionization, Grisanti countered that he believed that with his empty nest downsizing, he and Frykman have the two smallest houses of the five candidates.

There were some fireworks as Grisanti and Silverstein sparred regarding development.

Grisanti: “We have a very byzantine process to permit a remodel…it should be okay for somebody to say yes or no right away. What would be attractive to most people is a one-stop meeting where people would hear yes, it has merit and fits with our code, or no, you’re never going to get permits. Our Planning Department is like it is because we have a very hostile group that makes their lives miserable. If there is any way to change that we should try to change that.”

Silverstein: “We have a Planning Commission stacked with a majority of members who make their living on development. We’ve got a majority of City Councilmembers who appointed them and who support that approach. The Planning Department needs to be given direction by a City Council that honors the vision statement and mission statements and stop getting mixed signals. The residents of this town have consistently elected friends of theirs, business people who make money on development. Motives matter.”

“There’s been a majority who are pro-development. How has that worked out for you?” Silverstein asked. “You can elect all the people to my right,” he said, gesturing to candidates Uhring, Conrad and Frykman. “Don’t elect me, don’telect Paul. Paul and the people he appoints to the Planning Commission and the people he’s aligned with are the reasonyou’re seeing dysfunction. … Elect a different majority … what’s happening isn’t working … get rid of the majority that are pro-development.”

Grisanti defended his appointee to the Planning Commission, saying his commissioner has “competence in the subject matter. Our codes are very complex. I appointed a gentleman who attended 11 years of City Council meetings and Planning Commission meetings before I appointed him. He’s smart. He knows codes. He has a contractor’slicense. We had a conflict of interest conversation and I’m confident he has not betrayed any trust. There is no proof he’s done anything wrong.”

“I agree with Bruce,” Uhring stated, adding that he advocates for control on development. Responding to a charge of incivility from Grisanti, Uhring remarked, “I have a track record … If someone wants to know what I believe in, how I vote and how I treat people, it’s there for the public to take a look at.” 

Commissioner John Mazza expressed his concerns with not being able to address items not on the agenda

The reorganization of the chair and vice chair positions was the first item addressed at the Planning Commission meeting on Monday, Sept. 16.

Drew Leonard was elected as chair, and Dennis Robert Smith was elected as vice chair. Commissioner Kraig Hill nominated himself and John Mazza seconded, but Smith won by a 3-2 vote.

Mazza wanted to discuss an item that was not on the agenda and Commissioner Skylar Peak asked the Assistant City Attorney Kellan Martz and Interim Planning Director Maureen Tamuri if they are able to add permits to the agenda.

Despite not being chair, Mazza kept interrupting Martz at the meeting. Martz reminded Mazza about the Brown Act, and not being able to address items that are not on the agenda. Mazza was frustrated with not being able to ask about items not on the agenda. Leonard told Mazza to send city staff an email about any questions. 

The commission moved on to new items and motioned to grant a one-year time extension of Coastal Development Permit for Permit No. 18-032 and No. 20-031. The motion carried. 

The commission approved Coastal Development Permit Amendment No. 24-001 and Demolition Permit No. 24-036; an application to amend Coastal Development Permit No. 14-058 to allow construction of three new 4,000-gallon water storage tanks, a new water well to serve landscape and equestrian uses, and demolition and reconstruction of an existing retaining wall. Motion passed 4-1.

The commission approved Coastal Development Permit Amendment No. 24-004; an application to amend Coastal Development Permit No. 20-008 for new landscaping and site improvements.

After a break, the commission approved Coastal Development Permit No. 23-067, Variance No. 24-008, and Code Violation No. 23- 092. The application was for the construction of a new one-story, single-family residence with an attached two-car garage and attached second unit, onsite wastewater treatment system, driveway, hardscaping, pool, patio decks, and landscaping; including a variance for the required hammerhead turnaround and the fuel modification to encroach into the Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area and it’s 100-foot buffer.

The meeting ended in less than three hours. The next Planning Commission meeting is on Monday, Oct. 7, at the Council Chambers at City Hall.

PCH Master Plan Feasibility Study Virtual Workshop shows bicyclists and pedestrians are at most importance

Bike lanes, pedestrian sidewalks and roundabouts were mostly suggested at last week’s Caltrans PCH Master Plan Feasibility Study Virtual Workshop. Since July, Caltrans representatives and the City of Malibu have held in-person and virtual workshops to get community feedback on the main highway in Malibu, Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).

So far, 90 percent of voters want bike lanes, wider sidewalks, buses, center median landscaping in the center median, and more parking on the beach side of PCH, according to residents who attended and participated in the surveys at the meetings.

Executive Liason of Special Projects Ryan Snyder provided a report from the previous meetings and what participants have recommended so far. 

At the Sept. 12 virtual meeting, roundabouts were being suggested in areas such as PCH and Webb Way, PCH and El Matador Beach, and PCH and Bonsall Drive. A roundabout is an intersection where traffic travels around a central island in a counterclockwise direction. Vehicles entering or exiting the roundabout must yield to vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

The proposed improvement would bring PCH down one lane in each direction and provide a stop control for beachgoers. 

Some questions and concerns in the meeting chat, were addressing parking and student drop-offs near Point Dume and Zuma Beach.

“Between Point Dume and Trancas, we have school commutes — moving to a single lane in either direction, with any accident, will limit access to schools — has that been considered?” participant Julie B asked in the group chat. “Also, at Zuma Beach, the beach-side, parking often leads to slowing and stopping to back into street parking, again, a single lane scenario would lead to a complete stop of traffic eastbound, has that been considered?”

Participants also asked if, with addition to speed cameras that were recently passed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, if cameras should be implemented at traffic signals as well.

“This would help reduce the number of drivers who run red lights,” participant John Lewis said. 

City Manager Steve McClary was also in the workshop and thanked Caltrans and the participants for all the feedback. 

“I realized this might be a little challenging, but it might be helpful for members of the public to see the difference between what are the safest options here versus what might provide the different amenities,” McClary said. 

McClary also asked if it was suggested to only have bike lanes on the land side of the highway. McClary has also been interested in adding more public transportation to the highway for beachgoers. 

“We know it’s challenging to get people used to that, and I don’t think it’s going to happen tonight or tomorrow, but if we could get to the point where we had robust shuttle service that was serving people coming up from Santa Monica or Topanga and making those loops through Malibu and stopping at those beaches, I think would eliminate a lot of those cars and a lot of parking issues and U-turns,” he said. 

Public Safety Director Rob DeBoux was also at the meetings and mentioned the current construction on PCH but also thanked the public for their engagement and participation. 

“The cities got a new project that we have lined up and ready to go, to put a dedicated right turn lane from PCH to Trancas and improve the signal and timing crosswalk, that whole intersection is going to get reconfigured,” DeBoux said. “If you see something out there, please give myself or Caltrans a call. We’ll be happy to have somebody out there to take a look at that.”

Snyder thanked the city and residents for their participation and feedback and said another workshop is in the works. 

The study aims to identify safety and multimodal travel improvements for all users of PCH in Malibu, including options for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as enhancing transit opportunities on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Malibu. The PCH Master Plan will include community stakeholder engagement activities and community outreach meetings to gather input on various traffic calming measures and other street improvements, including a “boulevard” roadway. This Master Plan will be used in future PCH safety improvement projects.

For background information, review the Fact Sheet at malibucity.org/DocumentCenter. For further questions, please contact D7.System.Planning@dot.ca.gov.

7/31
Vehicle Burglary
A vehicle parked near Topanga Canyon Beach was broken into and ransacked. The victim left their key in a magnetic box and hid in front of the tire and upon return, the key box was missing, and his wallet and cellphone were taken. The victim said one of their cards was used at a Nordstrom in Beverly Hills for an estimated $4,000. The cellphone was worth $1,000. There were no security cameras available for evidence.

7/31
Vehicle Burglary
A vehicle parked near Topanga Canyon Beach was broken into and ransacked. The victim parked at the beach parking lot, and upon return, their window was shattered and their wallet and iPhone were stolen. The window was estimated to cost $400 to repair. There were no security cameras available for evidence.

8/2
Vehicle Burglary
A vehicle parked near Escondido Falls was broken into and ransacked. The victim parked their vehicle at the visitor parking lot, and upon return, the driver handles door was tampered with and pried open. The victim’s backpack, wallet, and other miscellaneous items were stolen. There were no security cameras available for evidence.

8/3
Burglary
A vehicle parked near Cross Creek Road was broken into, and multiple items were stolen. The victim noticed the front passenger handle was left open. The victim said they were sure they locked their vehicle before leaving it unattended. There were no security cameras available for evidence.

An estimated 250 volunteers displayed nearly 3,000 flags on Alumni Park at Pepperdine campus

They stood on the hill in record-setting, unmerciful heat overlooking Malibu’s coastline. Even the littlest among them shushed as Hung Le, Pepperdine’s senior vice chancellor for alumni affairs, opened the somber, honorific ceremony on Sept. 7 — a ceremony many attend annually as their way of remembering 9/11 and the lives lost in the terrorist attacks.

Students began the annual Waves of Flags tradition in 2008, and every year, the commemoration display educates attendees and onlookers of all ages about the importance of recognizing the overwhelming sacrifices that heroic men and women made to help keep America free. 

“These flags symbolize our nation’s resilience and faith,” Le said, requesting that all observe a moment of silence to remember and to seek blessings for all who lost a family member in the tragedy. 

Le was flanked by members of Squadron 3 from the Van Nuys Civil Air Patrol.

“It’s such an amazing event that honors the 9/11 victims and, importantly, keeps their memories alive,” 2nd Lt. and squadron leader David Schrempf said. “For three years, we have participated in the event so as to teach the cadettesabout respect and our common history — that is part of the role in serving our community.”

The first flag was planted by Pepperdine alumnus Alexander Hamilton, Oxnard’s fire captain. Then, volunteers began to plant the other flags, dispersed across the lawn as they slowly erected the waves of flags. 

Many veterans were accompanied by children as they volunteered to plant the flags.

“I joined the Navy because of 9/11 and it’s a cool coincidence that I attended Pepperdine after my service,” alumnus Ryan Leahy said as he volunteered with his three small children. “Pepperdine is a Yellow Ribbon program participant and that makes it easier for veterans who are scholars to attend the university — through that program and the GI Bill, 100 percent of our tuition is covered.”

Locals attended in droves — by estimates there were approximately 250 who volunteered. 

“I have attended the Waves of Flags for many years,” Randi Haim said. “It’s a privilege and an honor to respect and to honor and to always remember 9/11.”

Flags representing the nations of origin for the many victims from other countries are interspersed with the 2,624 flags honoring victims from the United States, demonstrating the tragedy’s worldwide effect. Flags from countries ranging from as far away as Guyana, which lost three citizens, to the United Kingdom, which lost 67 citizens, to Trinidad and Tobago, which lost 14 citizens. All will wave majestically at Pepperdine’s entrance until Sept. 27. 

The poignant patriotic display also celebrates the true grit of those who made efforts to minimize the impact of the terror attack, including Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., a Pepperdine alumnus. Burnett and others were on board the fourth hijacked plane, United Flight 93, which was headed to crash into the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. 

Some attendees were headed to the University’s Heroes Garden, which honors Burnett and others who attempted to regain control of the aircraft from the hijackers. Ultimately, the aircraft crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, killing 44 yet no doubt saving countless lives in Washington. 

Many know exactly where they were on 9/11.  

“I was on Pepperdine’s volleyball team at the time 9/11 happened,” attendee Lance Walker said. “We were downstairs in the gym when we saw the second plane crash into the World Trade Center. I remember thinking, the world won’t be the same after this.”

The annual flags display provides opportunities for moments of solidarity focused on battling wrongdoers. Upon attending the dedication for the Heroes Garden years ago, Burnett’s widow, Deena Burnett Bailey, gave voice to the intent of the attendees planting the flags — to always maintain a steadfast resolve to remember those who fight against evil and to work arduously to protect the rights afforded by the United States Constitution and our nation’s laws.  

“Heroes can give their lives all at one time, or they can give a little each day.” Bailey said. 

“Step Up Pepperdine!” stated the insignia on the T-shirts worn by the many Pepperdine students who volunteered. While honoring the victims’ legacies, the annual Waves of Flags also encourages all who pause to view the display to always step up for America.