HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!
The Malibu Times The Malibu Times NEWS PA PER • MAGAZ I NE • O NL I NE
NEW S PAPER • MAGAZINE •ONLINE Malibu’s Award-Winning Community Paper Since 1946
VOL. LXXVI • NO. IX
THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022
malibutimes.com • $.50 • WEEKLY
Community, council views mixed on armed presence in schools
Captain Jennifer Seetoo emphasized advocating prevention by providing school security services By SAMANTHA BRAVO Of The Malibu Times
The discussion to hire an expert to guide the city in response to school safety, and the idea to implement armed presence in local schools, was the main topic of discussion during the City Council meeting on Monday, June 27. Item 7C and 7D, was the most anticipated item discussed on the agenda, which involved implementing a program to protect school students from gun violence. At the request of Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Silverstein, the item was continued from June 13. To start off the meeting, Inter-
im City Attorney John Cotti announced his departure, and Assistant City Attorney Trevor Rusin was appointed as the new interim city attorney. “I wanted to thank you all and the public for all their support over the past 18 months, you have a great city, a great council and a great, great staff, so I wish you all well and I will miss you,” Cotti said. The council also acknowledged the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu (BGCM) Executive Director Kasey Earnest and the 2022 Youth of the Year Candidates. Southern California Edison Government Relations Manager Andrew Thomas provided a presentation on the Wildfire Mitigation and said his department will also provide a full wildfire reliability report with the City of Malibu on July 6. While the spring school year just ended, the fall semester is right around the corner. The council called an emergency to create a Request for Proposal (RFP) before the school year on Aug. 15. In the wake of the most recent mass/school shootings, Mayor Paul Grisanti and Councilmember Karen Farrer met with representatives CONTINUED ON PAGE A6
(From left) Mayor Paul Grisanti, City of Malibu Recreation Coordinators Loren Davis and Amanda Rigali, Malibu Arts Commissioner Julie Holland, Malibu Arts Commissioner Fireball Tim Lawrence and Community Services Department Deputy Director Kristin Riesgo pose for a group photo during the opening reception of the "Art of Surf," art exhibition at City Hall on Saturday, June. 25. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMT.
‘Art of Surf’ a tribute to Malibu’s deep roots in surf culture This year's community art exhibition received over 75 submissions By SAMANTHA BRAVO Of The Malibu Times
Framed photographs and hand-painted surfboards covered the walls of City Hall Saturday evening for the opening reception of "Art of Surf" the art exhibition
Two Malibu beaches rank among top 51 on waterquality report Las Tunas, Nicholas sparkle on Beach Honor Roll, but Malibu Creek rates poorly on River Report Card By EMMANUEL LUISSI Special to The Malibu Times
Malibu has received both good and bad news for its 32nd Heal the Bay Annual Beach Report Card and their 3rd annual River Report Card. Las Tunas County
organized by the Malibu Arts Commission. Community Services Department Deputy Director Kristin Riesgo said this year they had over 75 artists submit for this artist surf show. “We narrowed it down to 37 exhibiting artists and keeping with the theme of art of surf there’s a variety of mediums represented in the show so we have oil painting, photography, ceramics, all sorts of
different things, but it’s great getting to know the artist and speaking with them today,” Riesgo said. “Getting back together in person and having a multi-artist community show has been great.” Malibu artist Jackie Robbins had her photograph called "Surf Dream" and shared the background of the photograph. “I had observed her surfing and taking her share of the waves of
Zuma Creek Bridge reconstruction complete
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this week
The National Park Service Ribbon cutting ceremony (NPS) and the Santa Monica held with park officials Mountains (SAMO) Fund — and donors the official nonprofit partner for By JIMY TALLAL Special to The Malibu Times
Nicholas Beach was one of the two beaches in Malibu that made the honor roll among the top 51 beaches in the Los Angeles County. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMT
Beach and Nicholas Beach were two of just six Los Angeles County beaches that made the honor roll among the top 51 beaches. The beach report graded more than 700 beaches and logged clean water-quality marks between April and October of 2021. The Beach
Honor Roll List of beaches along the California coast has grown from 35 beaches in last year's report to the current 51 beaches. Heal the Bay President and CEO Tracy Quinn acknowledged Malibu for its continued success of CONTINUED ON PAGE A8
After being destroyed in the Woolsey fire of November 2018, the Zuma Creek Bridge (not the one on Pacific Coast Highway) has been rebuilt and is now open. The bridge is on the Backbone Trail about a mile from the Newton Canyon trailhead on Kanan Road. Not intended for vehicles, it offers a safe stream crossing for trail users like hikers, bikers, and equestrians. It also serves to protect important amphibians and other native wildlife living in and near the creek bed.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) — held a dedication ceremony for the Zuma Creek Bridge on June 13. The new bridge is the latest accomplishment in a long list of fire recovery efforts since the Woolsey Fire damaged 112 miles of trails, 30 structures and outbuildings, and 88 percent of federal park land in the Santa Monica Mountains. The $60,000 it cost for materials to rebuild the bridge came from a variety of corporate and nonprofit donors, including the Santa Monica Mountains Fund, REI, the Ventura County CommuniCONTINUED ON PAGE A8
Malibu prepares for holiday weekend crowding on PCH City reminds visitors to keep canyons, beaches and trails safe and clean
the guys which I just love,'' Robbins said. “I worked on this piece for a long time with applications on a computer to get a very original look to it.” Robbins said she loved having her work displayed at Malibu City Hall. “I think it adds a lot of cache for an artist to be displayed at a city hall or any city because it’s a little different than a gallery,” Robbins said.
Mayor Paul Grisanti asked visitors to be mindful while visiting the beaches this holiday weekend. The city is also encouraging residents and visitors to help keep beaches, By SAMANTHA BRAVO PCH, canyons, and trails safe and Of The Malibu Times clean. The City of Malibu is coordinat“Please celebrate responsibly by ing with partner agencies to pre- designating sober drivers, using pare for the large number of visitors rideshares or taxis. Please keep your eyes on the road, and don’t this holiday weekend.
text and drive. Slow down and watch for pedestrians and cyclists on PCH and cars pulling in and out of beach parking,” the press release says. “Pack it in, pack it out — dispose of your trash in proper trash containers, and if you see litter, please pick it up and throw it away in a trash container. Alcohol and fires are prohibited on beaches in Malibu.”
The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACOFD) is also reminding the public that most fireworks are illegal in the county except for professionally operated, permitted displays. Illegal fireworks are extremely dangerous and can cause serious injuries, burns, and wildfires. The possession or use of illegal fireworks in Los Angeles County can result in
fines up to $1,000 and up to a year in prison. The LACOFD provides a list of public fireworks displays in the county at fire.lacounty.gov/ fireworks-safety-and-july-4th-celebration-information. No permits have been issued for the 4th of July holiday as of June 24. The city will announce permitted public fireworks displays CONTINUED ON PAGE A8
Providing possibilities with Los Courage Camps | B1
Opinion . . . . . . . . . .A2 News Briefs . . . . . . . .A3 • West Basin Water District Presentation Calendar . . . . . . . . . .A4 Local News. . . . . . . . .A7 • SeaNSoul Surf a different kind of surf shop Real Estate . . . . . . . . A8 • Events Malibu Life . . . . . . . . B1 • Lori Lerner Gray presents film award named after late son Malibu People . . . . . . . B2 • Malibu Movie Sneaks: Part Two Legal Notices . . . . . . . B3 Business & Directory . . B5 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . B5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . B8 • Pepperdine Waves Men’s Golfers Receive All-American Honors