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Executive Editor LORI JACOBUS JULIE TOBIAS
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EDITOR’S N
OTES
ISSUE 44 APRIL 2017
NICK BETTS Managing Editor ADDISON ALTENDORF
Senior Editor CHRISTY CALAFATI
Beauty Editor TARA OWENS
Lifestyle Editor TRACEY ROSS
Wellness Editor DIANA NICHOLSON
Sustainability Director ANDREW MCDONALD
Travel Editor LESLIE WESTBROOK
Copy Editor KIM LEDOUX
TRUTH & TOUGH LOVE
Contributing Editor AMELIA FLEETWOOD
Editor at Large SAM HALL KAPLAN
Rogue Writer BEN MARCUS
Sustainability Advisor BRAD DIAZ
Sustainable Lifestyle Editor EVELINA CHRISTOPHERSON
political contributors JAMES HALL ELISABETH JOHNSON
Contributors DAVID STANSFIELD MARSHALL THOMPSON SUSAN TELLEM MARI STANLEY MARIE MANVEL GUS JOHANSON ANNEMARIE STEIN
Contributing Photographers LYON HERRON TIM HORTON JEN BEL EMILY SCHER NATHAN FAGAN ANA LEMES TREVOR PIKHART JUSTIN MEHREN JOEY MENSCH CAT GREGORY YVES BRIGHT
True to his word, loyalties intact, Malibu icon Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner continues to stay on mission for the betterment of Malibu.
Always one to promote successes, I am equally one to own up to the failures especially of those we fought so hard to support and lead our community, and in this issue, it’s time to dispense some truth and tough love. It seems two members of the pro-preservation majority on council have lost sight of their purpose, making some seismic missteps, and shaking the community’s confidence in the slate. Council member Skylar Peak, who ignored compelling arguments made by Mullen and Wagner toward the rule of law in the Sanctuary City decision, and the lack of impacts to implementation at the city level, was the deciding vote to make Malibu a Sanctuary City, resulting in local and global backlash with far reaching implications. Recently, council member Mullen took a particularly condescending tone with supporters of the Farmers Market for their use of the public comment platform, suggesting they were wasting the City’s time. The market, who’s lease is still in limbo, continues to appeal to the council - and rightfully so - for the added muscle they need to keep the market in the civic center. To date, The Cornucopia Foundation has no long term lease in place despite assurances the county has made on record to Malibu City Council. The Farmers Market is not only an important part of our community, it also represents our strongest adherence to the Coastal Commission requirements regarding public serving amenities and public access. Council absolutely needs to babysit this issue and see it through to completion. Granted, Mullen is new to public office, but in light of his recent actions (on more than one issue), it seems he is in need of proper guidance. It would serve him to spend more time studying the City Council Policy Handbook (and doing his homework), instead of getting his Cliff Notes from the lame duck regime. Without question, two of the slate need to work on their loyalty and one, possibly two, need to work on respect. Thankfully, council member Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner continues to be fiercely focused, with a clear understanding of public policy, staying on mission and true to the platform he campaigned on. As I look to his leadership for guidance on what we need to do to get the slate back on track, his loyalties remain unquestioned as he looked at me and said: “Keep holding our feet to the fire. You will end up being the glue that keeps us together.” - Cece Woods, Editor in Chief
ON THE COVER / STEVEN LIPPMAN
COVER PHOTOGRAPHER TREVOR PIKHART
Born and raised in Southern California, Trevor Pikhart is a photographer with a passion for outdoor adventure and surfing. A contagious personality and a can-do attitude bring good vibes to both on-location and studio shoots. His positivity and fresh perspectives have garnered success, yet he is hungry (also for food) to further his work goals. Trevor also serves as Photo Editor for A Walk On Water, a non-profit that provides surf therapy to individuals with special needs and once got the wave of his life at Lagundri Bay on Nias.
LOCAL
MALIBU BECOMES A SANCTUARY CITY City Council passes the ‘symbolic’ gesture with a 3-2 vote sending shock waves through the community by passing a national issue without feeling the pulse of the people. BY CECE WOODS March 13th, 2017, will go down in history as the night Malibu turned a corner, with headlights off, and drove down a very dark road. It is the night our city leaders, entered into an historical experiment by bringing a polarizing national issue into our local politics and declaring Malibu a Sanctuary City without appealing to its constituents and feeling the pulse of the people. As shockwaves reverberated through the community, locals took to social media to express their emotions. Many residents were clearly angry - even outraged. News of our Sanctuary City status was reported by virtually every major news entity. This embarrassing failure of local governing, prompted people from all over the country to flood local media and city hall with messages and letters expressing complete shock and utter disappointment in our City Council’s decision. With close to 70% of the community (see poll right ) now in a collective meltdown over the inevitability of increased crime coupled with an underperforming Sheriff’s Department - not to mention the possibility of losing FEMA disaster funding looming as the White House slaps sanctions on Sanctuary Cities, it is clear that our city leaders thought nothing of the chaos and destructive forces that accompany a decision as monumental as the one they made that night. The resolution, passed by Laura Rosenthal, Lou LaMonte and Skylar Peak, will undoubtedly bear a stiff price - and we have already begun to feel the fallout.
The poll above was created by The Local after one of our posts about the decision went viral on Facebook. The sign below, appeared at Leo Carillio state beach on April 4th with the obvious intent of humiliating our town for the decision to become a Sanctuary City. Council member Rick Mullen told local news it was a “prank” and the City Manager said it would be moved immediately.
A conclusion one might come to is that the support Rosenthal received for proposing the motion hopes the “symbolic gesture” will payoff in one form or another. It seems as though Rosenthal and LaMonte may have set their sights set on on plum political gigs in the future, and Rosenthal, without question, sees every situation, regardless of its solemnity, as a branding opportunity. She was well aware of the worldwide attention declaring Malibu a Sanctuary City would receive. With this decision, Rosenthal, Peak and LaMonte have officially turned on a tap of hate - and it will be a while before we can turn it off. Whether they would like to acknowledge it or not, they have now reached a dismal new level of unpopularity. Thankfully, Rosenthal and LaMonte’s days are numbered.
LEADERSHIP LOST
THE slate has lost it’s synergy By CECE WOODS It became overwhelmingly apparent since the March 13th City Council meeting that the new pro-preservation majority, Skylar Peak, Rick Mullen and Jefferson Wagner, have now settled into their new political personas with the official transition of “power” coming across as an indecipherable swirl of contradictions. With very few collective decisions made as team since they were sworn in, the slate it seems, has lost its synergy. All that pillow talk during the campaign of “draining the swamp” is looking like empty promises made in the dark. The community, who voted overwhelmingly for the slate with the intention of having a strong relationship with their newly elected council members, is beginning to feel like a tawdry one night stand. After months of observation, the new Council appears to be engaged in their own nonlinear war. Instead of a battle between The Machine and Pro-Preservation, the current fight for control at City Hall bears more resemblance to a Byzantine conflict where multiple nations all fought one another at once and could switch sides at any time. Even the small victories we looked to the slate to accomplish in the first 100 days appear impossible. Simplistic approaches to victory seem obsolete. Every decision made by council since the slate was sworn in has left residents feeling like council takes pleasure tossing grenades into our local eco-system (the one doing the most damage was the 3-2 vote approving Malibu as a Sanctuary City). We are now in a permanent state of disorder - locally and nationally. As a community, we are collectively shell shocked. What I have personally witnessed in the first three months of the new regime is the darker undercurrent seducing what I thought would be our most powerful asset to lead Malibu into a new era. Is it an emotional affair or something more insidious? I am convinced that shady relationships and abuses of power absolutely exist, without question. This is no hazy conspiracy theory. Now we are left with deciphering who is truly in command. As Federal Election Commission member Ann Ravel so eloquently put it last November, “The alligators are multiplying.”
SOLID AS A ROCK - Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner has proven to be the only one on the slate (so far) who has shown to be a solid leader; stable, consistent and always prepared to protect the people and the environment by staying true to every single campaign promise.
LOCAL
MALIBU’S PURGATORY; THE DREADED PCH
BY SAM HALL KAPLAN
Time for a local gut issue, and there is nothing better in Malibu to seed anxieties, send a shiver down most spines, and set teeth gnashing than to consider what to do about traffic on the city’s main street, the dreaded PCH. Forget the debate over Malibu as a sanctuary city, whether it is a conceit or courageous. It’s political posturing that after all the rhetoric will affect no one. But traffic on the PCH affects everyone in Malibu, and its accompanying disquieting haphazard parking along the PCH exacerbates the traffic and makes getting in and out of cars edging the roadway a daily danger for residents. Now that is an issue all living in Malibu, or just visiting, or passing through, in a car or on a bike, can relate to, and so I comment on public radio 97.5 KBU, select websites, and The Local. Traffic is an emotional and frustrating issue, as witnessed by the turnout and discussion the other evening at City Hall at a joint meeting of the public works and public safety commissions. Aired was a protracted study of parking along PCH prepared by the city in collaboration with the Southern California Association of Governments and Caltrans. Making this study especially appealing is that in addition to examining current road and shoulder conditions, it notes parking related collisions, assesses safety, and concludes by making specific recommendations for troubled stretches of the PCH, which of course is most of the PCH. And it boldly prioritizes them, all 63 of them, weighing them 1 (for highest) through 8. In a world of bureaucratic babble, you have to love the detailed recommendations. Though I suspect some people will take exception. In particular, since there will be a loss of public parking, it will be interesting to see how the Coastal Commission reacts. Will its commitment to public access yield to public safety concerns, or vice versa? The parking issue is particularly urgent, prompted by recent deadly accidents involving pedestrians along the PCH. And then there has been the obvious increase in the visitors to Malibu, as evidenced by the chaotic, indeed frightening, scene edging the PCH on most weekends. Can it be made safer by limiting parking, narrowing driving lanes, and better signage and striping? And what about more policing? And how about revisiting speed limits, and just everyone going slower? As expected, opinions ran the gamut, from a recitation of studied concerns to churlish complaints. A prayer might have helped. The report still has to go before the City Council, which can be expected to be its long winded deliberative self. Being televised can do that to an elected body, even if few people watch. The recommendations ,when approved and in time implemented, no doubt will make PCH safer, and prompts me to amend my opinion of the past, that if Malibu is a piece of heaven on earth, as many residents contend, then the PCH has to be its hell. Perhaps more apt would be to describe driving PCH as a form of purgatory, an intermediate state between heaven and hell. However, as a planner, I should note that improving roadways almost always generates more traffic; traffic being like water, flowing downhill, to find its way into the most conducive channel. And, if I need to remind those who live in Malibu, the PCH is the one and only channel. You just have to be sensitive to the ebb and flow of currents, and watch out for the bikers and the speeders. And that means you. As Pogo once boldly stated, we have met the enemy, and they are us.
LOCAL
THE MALIBU MEMORIAL PARK PUSHES FORWARD
The environmentally friendly Malibu Memorial Park project pushes forward in spite of (false) reports of a “fatal blow”. BY CECE WOODS On Feb. 27th, The Malibu Times reported that the Malibu Memorial Park Project “may be on life support.” In fact, with overwhelming community support, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The project was recently given the green light to go in front of the Planning Commission next month. Recently, the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority ( MRCA ) sent a letter opposing the project, located on the corner of PCH and Malibu Canyon, saying it violates the Coastal Commission’s LCP for Malibu, which calls for coastal visitor-serving businesses there. Fred Gaines, attorney for The Malibu Memorial Project, responded to the MRCA letter, detailing the Determination of Use for the property according to the City, as well as the time the MRCA had to respond opposing the project - which has since long passed. “Pursuant to Malibu Municipal Code Section 17.04.220 (Appeal of Action), a decision of the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council by an aggrieved person by written statement setting forth the grounds for appeal within 10 days of the Resolution. In this case, no appeal was filed by MRCA or any other party and the Planning Commission’s determination that the cemetery/memorial park is similar to and not more objectionable than other permitted or conditionally permitted uses in the CV-2 zone is final. In fact, MRCA did not submit any opposition or comments during the City of Malibu’s administrative hearing process and, as such, is now precluded from opposing the City’s determination.” The MRCA letter is just part of the political spitting match going on between pro-development supporters, who want a hotel, and pro-environment advocates who want to preserve open space and public views. This project, which is community serving, environmentally and socially responsible while protecting and preserving Malibu’s rural landscape, seems to be getting in the way of lining the pockets of special interests.
A WIN-WIN FOR MALIBU I The Malibu Memorial Park project not only serves the residents, it will have cutting edge, green technology and options for people and pets while preserving open space and views. Santa Monica Mountains
Pepperdine University
Malibu Memorial Park
Malibu Lumber Yard
Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Ocean
SANTA MONICA CITY COLLEGE REACHES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY BY THE LOCAL MALIBU STAFF The Machine attempts to muscle control by shutting out members of the community who could have valuable input on the new Santa Monica College satellite campus that will be located in the Civic Center. In an all too common theme, “The Machine” continued to quietly bulldoze pro-preservation behind the scenes by locking out key stakeholders and educators with valuable input from the SMCC Collaborative Brain Trust Strategic Planning Session that took place on March 6th at City Hall. The pro-preservation majority, who resoundingly elected three council members into office last November, was not represented at this meeting, nor were the other two other local news publications (The Local and Surfside News) made aware of this planning session touted as seeking the community’s input. No amount of spin is going to change the fact that “The Machine” got the memo with the usual cast of characters included. Showing up in full force; Sharon Barofsky, Carol Randall, and Karen York ( Malibu Times ) along with council members Laura Rosenthal, Lou LaMonte, and few other carefully chosen individuals. While all council members were invited, newly appointed council member Jefferson Wagner could not access his city email. He communicated his frustration and disappointment to City Manager, Reva Feldman, for the lack of communication and inability to access information on the strategic planning session which would have allowed him to attend. Upon hearing about the meeting and the absence of outreach to the pro-preservation contingent, The Local contacted Malibu City Manager Reva Feldman to inquire as to why key stakeholders in the community (and press) were not recognized and asked to participate in the strategic session. After a long email thread with Feldman, which yielded no answers to our questions regarding the issue, The Local received a phone call from SMCC President, Dr. Katherine Jeffrey, (whose staff was included in the email thread). Dr. Jeffrey apologized for the absence of proper outreach regarding the first meeting and expressed her regret that key stakeholders were not well represented. Dr. Jeffrey expressed her desire to have better communication about these strategic planning sessions going forward. On March 13th, the same day Dr. Jeffrey reached out to The Local, she went in front of City Council to express her apology publicly. the meeting was inconsequential, brief,
This satellite campus for Santa Monica College is located in Malibu’s civic center, adjacent to the courthouse and public library. The building is 25,500 square feet on 2 levels. This new facility includes classrooms, computer and science labs, an art studio, and a lecture hall.
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POLITICS
A “Sanctuary” to Threaten Our Sanctuary BY Elisabeth Johnson
On March 14, 2017, in a 3-2 vote, the Malibu City Council declared Malibu a sanctuary city. Martin Sheen initially proposed the idea to the City Council in December. The term sanctuary city is believed by most to mean that the city will not aid the federal government with the enforcement of immigration laws. However, the concept of a sanctuary city is often misunderstood. That misconception is due in part to the modern rhetoric associated with sanctuary cities, but also the lack of underlying knowledge about the processes of immigration and criminal law. The implications of the city’s recent declaration are impracticable and pose legal, economic, and environmental complications. Furthermore, many of those implications are specific to Malibu’s unique locality and culture. While the word sanctuary is defined as a place of refuge or safety, it is also defined as an oasis or nature preserve. Thus, we as citizens must balance the effect that the sanctuary city declaration has on undocumented persons against those that affect our home and environment . . . our sanctuary. In order to understand the legal implications of this declaration, it is important to understand the process that occurs when a city becomes a sanctuary. Local law enforcement is critical in assisting with federal immigration laws. However, to a certain degree, compliance at the local level is not mandatory. When an individual is stopped and arrested by a city law enforcement officer, that arrested individual is booked into a county jail. At the county jail, the individual’s fingerprints and background information are sent to the FBI who then sends the information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Federal law requires the sharing of this information between local law enforcement and the federal government. If the information submitted to ICE leads them to find that the individual is undocumented, ICE requires the county jail to hold that person for an additional forty-eight hours. During this period, ICE will obtain a warrant and begin deportation proceedings. President Trump’s executive order allows ICE to begin the deportation process sooner. However, this is not required according to the Department of Homeland Security because it could be a violation of a person’s fourth amendment rights. Thus, the element of choice comes into play at the local level. A county is permitted to choose whether to comply with President Trump’s expedited deportation process. However, the sharing of an individual’s fingerprints and information with ICE and the forty-eight hour holding period are mandated by federal law and binding on individual localities. Because of this process, Malibu’s declaration of itself as a sanctuary city will likely have no effect on undocumented persons because the actual decision of whether to assist the federal government is the responsibility of the county jail and only follows a legal stop for a purpose unrelated to an individual’s citizenship status and comes after the forty-eight hour holding period. Malibu does not have a city police force, but is serviced by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Lost Hills Station #1010 on Agoura Road. However, even if Malibu had its own police force, the decision to comply with President Trump’s expedited deportation proceedings would begin at the county level with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. It is the responsibility of the LA County Sheriff, an elected official, to determine whether the county will comply with President Trump’s expedited deportation process. It is also unlikely that the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department would inconsistently apply federal law across its jurisdiction. Even if the city’s declaration had legal footing, the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department would not likely apply one law in Malibu and another in surrounding communities out of fairness to those that it services. President Trump has threatened to pull federal funding from cities that declare themselves sanctuary cities. In fact, on Monday, March 21, President Trump published a list of 118 sanctuary localities that refused to comply with the forty-eight hour holding process, which is mandated by federal law. President Trump has full legal authority to withhold funding under the Supreme Court case, South Dakota v. Dole.[1] While proponents of the sanctuary city argue that Malibu does not receive enough funding from the federal government for this to be an issue, it is poor stewardship to disregard these funds as influential in our community, specifically those regarding the environment. While it may be true that Malibu does not need any federal funding to survive, more could be accomplished if federal funding was combined with local resources, especially regarding environmental issues. Thus, writing off the aid Malibu receives from the federal government as irrelevant is misguided. It should also be noted that President’s Trump’s ban on federal funding to sanctuary cities may prevent Malibu from being eligible for federal funding in the future, which would have a drastic effect if the city’s financial position changes at any point. Furthermore, President Trump’s ban on federal funding to sanctuary cities would make Malibu ineligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding in the event of fire, flood, or other natural disaster, which makes the sanctuary city declaration increasingly irresponsible. On Monday, March 27, Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinforced President Trump’s promise, adding that sanctuary cities should be punished and may be denied Justice Department grants for state and local law enforcement. Making Malibu a sanctuary city may have been done as an act of solidarity, however, the negative effects will be widespread. First and foremost, it is not always understood that a sanctuary city only affects an undocumented person after a legal stop and after mandatory sharing of information with the FBI. This also indicates that making a city a sanctuary has less effect on the children of undocumented persons than common rhetoric might lead one to think. This lack of knowledge will attract undocumented persons to Malibu under the impression that they will be provided safe harbor, when in reality, this is not the case. That is, when undocumented residents recognize that Malibu is a sanctuary city, many are under the assumption that it means they will not be arrested or that their information will not be shared with the federal government at all. However, any person violating a United States or California law may be stopped and arrested and that person’s information will automatically be sent to the FBI. This misconception is extremely detrimental because as population increases in general, crime rates will also increase. The same will happen when the population of undocumented persons increases, even if temporarily. This is especially problematic in Malibu, because one source indicates that Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department may be underperforming on its contract with the city. Furthermore, the city is also without an Emergency Services Coordinator. This is important because the Emergency Services Coordinator is “is responsible for maintenance and implementation of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan.”[2] This position has been vacant since the beginning of the year. Both of these issues pose serious threats to our community’s safety, especially when paired with an increase in population.
Making Malibu a sanctuary city may have been done as an act of solidarity, however, the negative effects will be widespread. The city’s misconception of the implications of a sanctuary city disguised as an act of solidarity have a direct negative impact on Malibu voters. However, the negative impact spreads to other areas of the community such as residents that live in unincorporated Malibu, temporary residents who own vacation homes, and students and staff of Pepperdine University. Thus, this decision will flow down to other members of our community who facilitate our economy by spending money in our city, whose children attend our schools, and who make other positive contributions to our community. This is especially an injustice to Pepperdine students and faculty because Pepperdine is not within the city’s jurisdiction and residents of Pepperdine’s campus were not allowed to vote for the members of city council, yet city council members’ leadership is directly affecting and endangering Pepperdine students and residents, and members of the Malibu community in general. Thus, this detrimental act of solidarity was not in the best interest of the community in its entirety. In fact, many Malibu residents are unhappy with the decision. Within seventy-two hours of the decision, over 100 residents contacted Councilman Jefferson Wagner to voice their concerns. Wagner estimates that approximately 80-90 percent of those that contacted him were not in favor of the sanctuary city. Within three days of the vote, Wagner also received interview requests from three separate news agencies. Wagner interviewed with two of the three news agencies. Residents have also contacted Councilman Rick Mullen to express their dissatisfaction. This is not a party-line issue, but an issue that will affect everyone in our community regarding environmental, public safety, educational, and traffic issues, all of which were promised to be issues of immediate importance during the recent election. A local government’s primary responsibility is to serve the needs of its local community first and protect the safety and well-being of the constituents in its jurisdiction. A local government’s job is not to make symbolic gestures on poorly-researched federal issues. Public service at the local level means using leadership, respect for the law, and good stewardship to serve members of one’s community. It does not mean making irrelevant federal party-line issues a part of local law at the expense of wasting time on more pressing local issues. James Madison said, “We are right to take alarm at the first experiment of our liberties.” In this instance, as voting citizens and members of the community, we are right to take alarm at the fact that some of our city council members have chosen to make a decision that is not in the best interest of our citizens, and have also chosen to prioritize a federal issue with little legal effect over more pressing local issues for which they are directly responsible. [1] South Dakota v. Dole, 483 U.S. 203, (1987). [2] City of Malibu Website
ENVIRONMENT
THE CAT THAT CHANGED AMERICA ...and malibu BY STEVE WOODS
If it was not for an untagged male mountain lion pressured out of our local Malibu mountains and pushed deeper into the small urban island of Griffith Park, there may not have been a Poison Free Malibu, a rodenticide ban or plans to build a wildlife corridor across the 101 Freeway, and certainly no famous picture of P-22 walking in front of the iconic Hollywood sign. A new film documentary focuses on a mountain lion tagged P-22, the challenges Pumas are facing from the encroachment of suburban development across California wildlands and the plan to build the world’s largest wildlife crossing. This would help connect mountain lions to a larger genetic DNA pool along with other wildlife to one of the last undeveloped wildlife corridors that would connect spaces better suited for them. There is an urgency to get the crossing built as mountain lions are running out of time in California; they are threatened by urban sprawl, inbreeding, vehicles, rat poison and ultimately extinction. If they do not get the help they need now, they will most certainly be gone in 50 years. It may have been mountain lion P-45, a dominant male that challenged P-22 to get out of his territory surrounding Malibu and flee for his life. P-22 was pressured out of the frying pan and into the fire of an urban landscape dominated by herds of fast moving metallic beasts traveling in concrete streams to the North, South and East. His choice? Santa Monica? No! To the northwest across the 101 Freeway into an area with other males or head East…East it was, into unmarked territory, free of any scents of other males but the open spaces ended at the 405, one of the busiest freeways in the world. Turn back and face P-45 or risk a crossing? Too many mountain lions have died crossing other roadways but P-22 did the impossible and survived crossing the 405. There were never any sightings of a mountain lion on the Bel Air side of the 405 nor anywhere on Mulholland Hwy. P-22 must have jumped over a thousand backyard fences in the heavily developed neighborhoods to the east with such stealth as to avoid detection but there may have been a few pets along the way that were detected missing. Pushing east through an endless maze of hillside communities with barking dogs, another formidable obstacle presented itself… the 101 Freeway. Nobody knows for sure but biologists believe he may have crossed the freeway over a bridge near Universal Studios in the Cahuenga Pass and scampered up into the open brush that networks into one of California’s largest urban parks named after Griffith J. Griffith. Griffith donated his land for the purpose of giving everyday hard working Angelinos a place to enjoy undeveloped nature. Though the 4,400-acre park was not the 200 square miles that are ideal for a mountain lion, P-22 claimed all for his lonely self along with the herds of healthy deer but unfortunately his diet also included raccoons, coyotes, rabbits and mice with dangerous levels of anticoagulant rat poison. P-22, the most famous mountain lion in the world, is both a celebrity and a messenger. So far he has managed to survive the deadly traffic of Los Angeles, stealthily navigate the city’s massive urban sprawl, and take up residence in an area that represents 3% of a normal size home range for a mountain lion. He also miraculously recovered from a potentially life-threatening case of rodenticide poisoning. For the most part P-22 has overcome the odds, but his story is a cautionary tale with an important message – one that is explored in the upcoming documentary film “The Cat that Changed America.” Being a long time Malibuite who has been hiking and mountain biking the hundreds of miles of Malibu trails for over 30 years, I have been fortunate enough to have had some rare visual encounters with these beautiful yet stealth cats who have witnessed me more times than I will ever want to know. For those who are fearful or squeamish about the idea of being in an area with or in close contact with mountain lions, please take note of the wildlife camera footage that takes a picture every 6 seconds. One camera is placed on a hiking trail and shows a mountain lion sitting on the trail. Every six seconds, for several frames, you see P-22 sitting. In the next frame, he has vanished. Six seconds later, a jogger runs by in the same spot that P-22 was sitting and the jogger never had a clue. P-22 has helped to create a movement that is shifting our view of mountain lions and, with effort on our part, we are learning to co-exist with this important keystone species. His story can be a catalyst to help change America and the rest of the world. Beth Pratt-Bergstrom, that smiling blonde who never travels without her life-size P-22 cutout, is the California Director of the National Wildlife Federation and is spearheading the efforts to raise $10 million in private funds to add to Cal Trans and other State and Federal Funding Grants to complete the $50 million dollar estimated project. For the sake of the Mountain Lions, let’s hope that California stakeholders do not lose federal funds because some California cities continue to defy federal law by claiming Sanctuary City status. $3 million has been raised by private donations so far and if you are interested in helping contribute to a great cause please contact Beth Pratt-Bergstrom of the National Wildlife Federation at www.nwf.org/california or email prattBnwf.org National Geographic photographer Steve Winter donated the rights to use this photo of P22 for the campaign to raise funds to build a wildlife bridge.
YOU’LL BE RELIEVED TO KNOW THERE IS HOPE
PHOTO BY TIM HORTON
A NEW MODEL APPROACH FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION CALL US 1-866-445-9104 sobamalibu.com
OPINION
DESPERATE TIMES
BY CECE WOODS
The usual hate mongers have resurfaced, coming out of the dark corners of the internet to appear in the flesh, masquerading as concerned citizens in the “Letters to the Editor” section of The Malibu Times. Their goal? To sow seeds of distrust in the community and continue the reign of The Machine. Once thought of as a valuable media instituion, but now, with it’s falling readership (not to mention waning power and influence) publisher Arnold York continues to stagger to new lows each week, hand selecting hate laced letters hoping to discredit those who oppose his agenda. Clearly, he thinks nothing of promoting ignorance, intolerance, lying, and just about everything else that can be wrong with a society. The good news is, these attacks will only appeal to anyone who can’t be bothered to think them through, usually the closed minded who subscribe to the The Malibu Time’s archaic form of journalism and lack of integrity. The ones who can’t be bothered to ask, not just the moral questions, but the all-important practical one: “How will this help the community?”
#WINNING - People know hate when they see it and this comment left on the Malibu Times website in response to the libelous letter written by Ted Vaill mentioning myself and The Local co-founder Steve Woods. Kudos to Thomas Smith for calling it like he sees it!
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ART
A CASE FOR BIG CLAY BY JANET FRIESEN
I love art for all the positive energy it brings into our life, and I also love art for the controversy it can provoke. I decided to do an article on Big Clay #4, the 45-foot sculpture by Urs Fischer that Bill and Maria Bell own and display at their residence on PCH. Why did the City of Malibu determine that this sculpture must be taken down? I spoke to the artist, residents, city officials and arts commission members to try to understand this complex and emotional issue. In March of 2016, the City Council ruling on an appeal by the owners, determined that Big Clay was a “structure” and must be taken down because it was over the height limit of 28 feet, “Significantly “ obstructed public and private views” and had a foundation. Watch this link for more detailed info on City Council ruling. Staff reports call all art seen as public art. https://www.malibucity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/11142016-865 As I asked questions, I learned that there is nothing in the municipal code that states a piece of art is a structure. And I’ve learned that the City has many sculptures which do not have CDP permits (Coastal Development Permits). It was pointed out to me by a city official (who wished to remain anonymous) that there are currently sculptures without CDP permits in Legacy Park.
“ Big Clay is NOT a structure, it’s a sculpture, bottom line. That is what it was intended to be, and that’s what it is. You don’t inhabit it, you don’t use it, it doesn’t give you shelter. It doesn’t do anything. Art doesn’t make direct sense. Art doesn’t have a direct purpose, structures usually do.” -URS FISCHER
Close up of Big Clay #4
I met Urs Fischer 6 years ago at a friend’s house in Malibu and recently spoke with him about the controversy surrounding his work. Here are some excerpts from that conversation: JF: Why in your opinion are the City and some residents making such a big deal over this? UF: Maybe they don’t want to see different people with different opinions. Sometimes people pay a lot of money for the homes they have and they fear their investment gets undermined. They don’t share the same values and there you have a problem. When I’m in Malibu and I look down, I see houses that don’t integrate that well into the beautiful landscape. They are a bigger eyesore to me. And let’s say a lot of cars that move down the street, or trucks, they’re as big as the sculpture, almost. They’re not very pretty either. If you come from an aesthetic point of view I would say that is a bigger issue. JF: How do you respond to your work being labeled a structure? UR: Big Clay is NOT a structure, it’s a sculpture, bottom line. That is what it was intended to be, and that’s what it is. You don’t inhabit it, you don’t use it, it doesn’t give you shelter. It doesn’t do anything. Art doesn’t make direct sense. Art doesn’t have a direct purpose, structures usually do. JF: What would you like the outcome to be?
“The sculpture is not a structure as defined by the City of Malibu and thus not subject to height restrictions. It is a work of art which I, unequivocally, support. I am an advocate for the display of art.” Ed Ruscha, renowned artist, friend and neighbor.
UR: I’d like Big Clay to stay there and not be seen as an obstruction. There is nature and then there are man-made things. Of all man-made things that you can see in Malibu, I don’t think it’s the “most obscene” to me. It’s closer to nature than some other ‘structures’ built by humans. Urs referred to the following letter he sent to the City:
“I have gotten to know Bill and Maria Bell over many years as one of the world’s leading patrons of contemporary art. Their continuous support has been enabling many great things to happen for many artists. In 2013 I had a major retrospective of my work at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. At the time Maria Bell was the chairman of the board at the museum. The sculpture in question was an integral part of that show. To have this sculpture in their collection, parts of which are installed in the stunning building by the grandmaster of Japanese architecture, Tadao Ando at 27712 PCH means a lot to me. Mr. Ando’s framing of landscape heightens our experience of it the same way as a poem or an artwork reflects and helps us to see, to understand, what we experience. The low-lying building he created for the Bells, with its disciplined spatial gestures, faces west. It frames the view from the Pacific coast. At the other side of the Pacific lies Japan, the home of Mr.Ando, the home of his heritage he works from. This leap across the Pacific is something to take into consideration to understand the ensemble that the building forms with my sculpture. Eastern calligraphy attempts to captivate, through the motion of the brush, a profound understanding that can be shared with everyone. In play with one of the most stunning landscapes in the world, Malibu and Mr.Ando’s almost invisible building, the very essence of my sculpture starts to unfold: our urge to hold on to and express the beauty we experience in life. The original clay model for the Big Clay sculpture comes from holding a portion of clay that fits in a palm. It is formed with both hands in a sensual and repetitive gesture, like a bodily motion. I stop before a conscious composition comes into play. In order to just represent a moment, before it represents something specific. I made hundreds of small models, then I start the selection process, not unlike a talent show, by elimination. I continue until only one is left. This model gets enlarged through a series of technological means before it gets cast in metal.
ART The final sculpture stands for a moment. A moment which we wish we could preserve. Like a sunset over the Pacific, the taste of a fruit, a smell or a human touch. One might ask why a sculpture, based on a simple gesture, has to be this big. My understanding is that, at first glance, landscape is very elementary, like a drawing made by a child’s. Sky, mountain, ocean, sun. Big things. Big clay is nothing else than elementary. The longer we contemplate landscape we see details. Vegetation, animals, insects, rocks and structures. All of them build a big picture. Everything is the same, an oak tree is an oak tree, but each has its own expression. That is what makes life precious. My sculpture attempts to speak about that. The individual in the infinite variety that is life. To me, the situation of the remarkable landscape Pacific coastline, the building by Mr.Ando and my sculpture, form a coexistence that is not to be understood as an intrusive act but as one that seeks harmony with the landscape it sits in. Bill and Maria Bell’s dedication to Malibu and their extensive involvement in the visual arts are an enrichment to the community. It is not often that we meet such open minds, even rarer someone that acts on it. I have great admiration for them and their endeavors. I hope you will agree to allow Big Clay to stand where it is. I strongly feel that the piece found its home. Thank you, Urs Fischer
“The final sculpture stands for a moment. A moment which we wish we could preserve. Like a sunset over the Pacific, the taste of a fruit, a smell or a human touch.” In a Planning Commission meeting in March of 2016, John Mazza vice chair of the planning commission concluded that the sculpture is not a structure. He read the whole code and found nothing that would prevent Big Clay from remaining. Public views are the only thing that possibly came up. Because the piece is more than a 1000 feet from a private residence, a resident’s complaint is not valid. Big Clay is very difficult to see from PCH so Mazza concluded it doesn’t obstruct the public’s view. Mazza reread the municipal code and found that there are zero requirements for regulating art. He said that unfortunately the art task force was ignored by the city council when they recommended that the city adopt regulations. Mazza concluded,“ I don’t see any regulation of public art in the history of Malibu.” He cited public art at the old courthouse and a 25 foot Tony Smith sculpture at a private residence as examples of art that have no permit. Mazza concluded ”I’m going to make the motion that this project does not require the Planning Commission to act on it. It’s not covered by Malibu codes or the LCP.” (Local Coastal Plan). David Brotman, head of planning, concluded, “This is a gray area we have here. Council set this thing up and it requires some legislation. There is enough history about artwork and the City’s desire to have artwork, that there is a hole there someplace and so I don’t think I can grant the variance but I don’t want to vote against this thing… the council has made such a big deal about public art. It is in some way public art … the artwork in this house is phenomenal; it takes your breath away. I’m sorry, there is a place for something like this in this world even in rural Malibu… I’m going to vote however I can to kick it upstairs.” (Watch this link for March 7, 2016 planning commission mtg http://malibu.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=1173) Minutes from City Council meeting June 13th 2016 MOTION Mayor ProTem La Monte moved and Councilmember Sibert seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 16-30 denying Appeal No. 16-002 and denying Administrative Plan Review No. 15-108 and Variance No. 15-047 for the after-the-fact-placement of a 45-foot tall art sculpture with a 20-foot by 20-foot base in the Rural Residential-Two Acre (RR-2) zoning district located at 27712 Pacific Coast Highway (Rosebud Ventures, LLC). The question was called and the motion carried 3-1-0, Councilmember Peak dissenting and Councilmember House absent.
Untitled (Big Clay #3), 2008-2011 Urs Fischer’s monumental sculpture Big Clay, on permanent display at the Brant Foundation Art Study Center. Since 2009, the centre’s exhibitions, highlighting such artists as Fischer and Josh Smith, have made the pastoral setting, a short drive from New York City, another destination on the contemporary art trail. The openings themselves curated by Brandt have become chic country-afternoon gatherings where aficionados mingle with supermodel friends of Brant’s wife, Stephanie Seymour.
Fischer began squeezing, pounding, and poking lumps of clay into more or less accidental blob like forms. “I make them fast, not thinking about composition, and select a few,” he said. “It’s very raw.” With help from Scipio Schneider, a graphic designer whom he met when they were both sixteenyear-old schoolboys in Zurich, he found out how to scan the three-dimensional clay forms into a computer so that they could be reproduced in large scale”
At the City Council meeting this February, neighbor Marc Gurvitz a neighbor who has complained about Big Clay said, “So at some point, it has got to come down, or I don’t think anyone in this room should even bother to apply for a permit, just do what you want, because no one is going to do anything about it anyway.” However for Gurvitz to have a valid complaint, his view obstruction must be within 1000 ft and block significant views of the ocean or canyons. Gurvitz is approximately 1,250 feet away. Another neighbor across the highway complained but did not have a view determination. He can not see Big Clay because of the trees. Big Clay is referred to as public art by some because it can be seen by the public. Concern came up in a conversation I had with a City Council member that if Big Clay fell down and possibly injured or kill someone, the City would be held responsible. I emailed Joseph Perazzelli, who did the structural engineering on the base for the sculpture: “The permanent foundation base for the sculpture is a 21’x23’ two way, 12” structural concrete slab supported on four sides by 18” wide continuous footings embedded 24” into competent bearing soil. All concrete is 3000 psi, inspection required. The slab design is made to resist a combination of loads: Dead Load + Wind or Seismic. And the base dimensions are proportioned to contribute a 1.5 factor of safety against overturning. The 1” stainless steel sculpture base is connected to the concrete with 327/8”diameter epoxy anchor bolts spaced approximately 12” of just within the cast aluminum shape to resist uplift and shear.” Aby Rosen,real estate investor and collector, installed a Big Clay in NYC. “It’s 2 feet high and weighs 20 tons. “I’m spending a million dollars to install it. It’s something that’s pushing the envelope.”
ART “ I think this is a classic example of over regulation where city government is telling us what art we can have in our garden. Where does that end? “ - Peter Morton I spoke to Peter Morton, a trustee of MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles) and homeowner in Malibu: JF: What is your relationship to Urs Fischer? PM: I’ve been collecting Urs’ work for approximately 10 years. I think he’s truly an amazing artist. I love his work. The city is incredibly fortunate to have probably the most important sculpture made in Los Angeles in the last decade sitting in Malibu. JF: How do you feel about ‘orders’ to take Big Clay down? PM: A lot of people believe we are over regulated in this country. Personally I think it’s an infringement of one’s civil liberties. JF: Several people I spoke to have a fear that if Big Clay stays, anyone could put up whatever they want in their back yards, including, for example, a giant swastika? PM: One of LA’s most respected museums, MOCA, placed this sculpture in front of their museum before it went to the Bells home. That to me is telling the public that MOCA views it as a piece of art, not some obscene sculpture.
“The city is incredibly fortunate to have probably the most important sculpture made in Los Angeles in the last decade sitting in Malibu.” - Peter MORTON In asking arts commission members about their role in this. Catherine Malcolm stated. “The controversy over Big Clay came to the Cultural Arts Commissions attention very late. So late in fact, that the City Council had already ruled the work of art in violation of City building code. From my understanding, Malibu City Council was asked to make their evaluations based on existing planning codes for “structures” as we currently do not have any policies or guidelines for art. It’s more than a shame that Council was not given the opportunity to take the time to reach out to the Arts Commission or to be able to take the time to develop an arts policy that could more appropriately address this situation.” Richard Gibbs, Chair of The Malibu Arts Commission, gave a straightforward answer, “ I cannot be a member of an arts commission for a city that prosecutes people for displaying art.”
Urs Fischer in his Brooklyn studio. Fischer was born in Zurich Switzerland in 1973, lived in Amsterdam and eventually moved to New York.
When Bill and Maria Bell built their Malibu home it was with the agreement with the state that the public would eventually be able to view their collection. Big Clay is certainly an asset to the city with a value in the millions. Sotheby’s currently estimates Big Clay #4 between 5-6 million dollars. Who knows what that value will be down the road? The Bell’s collection of contemporary art is certainly one of the best worldwide. Larry Gagosian the art dealer who owns the 16 Galleries worldwide and represents the work of leading international artists, including Fisher, made the following comment, “you can build an ugly building anywhere. But a beautiful sculpture creates a fuss. Seems unfair and shines an unflattering light on our values.” My kids and I look for Big Clay on PCH when we drive by the Bell’s. Sometimes we catch a glimpse through the Eucalyptus trees and sometimes not. My daughter recently said, “Mommy maybe Big Clay pretends he is a sculpture and then moves around at night when we are all sleeping.” Urs Fischer expresses a similar sentiment, “I don’t know what to look for in my work but I consider it a good friend of mine.”
At the time of printing Big Clay is being Disassembled. This art was part of Malibu’s heritage for the future. It is reckless and short sighted to make this kind of decision.
Urs had his office dig up this document from Homeland Security which defines the work as a sculpture.
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CITY
CITY MANAGER CONTRACT UNDER REVIEW the SHAKE-UP RUMORS ARE GETTING LOUDER
By Cece Woods
Could change be in the air at City Hall?
Over the past year, there has been a continuous cycle of disturbing changes at City Hall, which continues to struggle to get its bearings under the guidance of City Manager Reva Feldman who took over the position last May. The growing lack of clarity surrounding the day to day business of running this City is now being scrutinized, at length, as the City Manager’s contract is currently undergoing a review by City Council. Now approaching its second month of the process (which is highly unusual), it appears that Feldman could be finally be losing her grip on the ‘what happens behind closed doors stays behind closed doors’ strategy she used to run the City over the last year. Her lack of transparency and inability to be forthcoming is being highlighted as council digs deeper into the discovery process. Could they be getting close to finding out where all the bodies are buried? Before the new council took to the dais in January, it appears the City functioned with no real oversight. Council allowed them to slide on virtually every discrepancy. But now that the (presumably) pro-preservation slate ,who campaigned on cleaning house at City Hall, has taken office, we’re hopeful Feldman has lost her golden parachute. Recently, when speaking with council member Rick Mullen about Feldman’s particularly poor job performance, he said: “Give me an example.” Well, here you go.
EMERGENCY DISSERVICES From the moment Feldman stepped into the position as City Manager, the slow motion collapse of City Hall began. It’s no secret that Feldman is prone to forcing out and shuffling around her staff which has resulted in long-standing, devoted employees departing their posts with very real and detrimental effects on our City. The City’s first big loss under the new Reva regime, was Brad Davis, Emergency Services Coordinator. Davis was in charge of training and certifying resident volunteers as Emergency Responders (C.E.R.T), sending out emergency alerts to residents and other emergency services duties. Shortly after Feldman took over the role as City Manager, she put Davis on what was reported to be a forced “medical leave” with no second in command in place for this important public emergency position. Six months later, on December 22, 2016, Davis turned that “medical leave” into his official resignation. Immediately after his announcement. Davis landed a plum position in Foster City where they will undoubtedly benefit from Davis’s invaluable experience our city was fortunate to have for well over a decade. Unfortunately, Davis’s untimely “medical leave” happened to coincide with Malibu’s most dangerous season for weather conditions, and Feldman, to our knowledge, had no trained replacement for Davis’s position on staff, leaving the city in a very vulnerable position. Noticeable deficiencies were evident almost immediately. Emergency alerts sent out through the City’s Nixle system were untimely or not sent out at all. On November 9, 2016, a fire broke out in Corral Canyon. This was a very hot night and any change in weather could have led to a devastating outcome. Although the fire was contained in approximately 20 minutes (thanks to L.A. County Fire Department) no alert was sent to residents from the city. Furious at the complete disregard for the safety of the residents of Corral Canyon, I contacted council member Peak. He assured me he would follow up with Feldman as to why the City alert was not activated. Feldman issued no apology, instead calling the fire “brief,” making the excuse it was “outside the city limits.” In other words, and in Feldman’s mind, the residents in unincorporated 90265 are not her concern, nor did she take into account that Corral Canyon has only one access road that runs through Malibu city proper. This fire was one wind gust away from potential disaster inside the city limits, similar to the 2007 fire that destroyed over 50 homes. Yet Feldman told the community she “had it handled.” Instead of hiring an interim replacement for Davis to keep the Emergency Preparedness and CERT programs operational until she could find a permanent replacement, Feldman chose to take care of her needs first. She created a new position placing more burden on the city’s budget, by hiring yet another personal assistant, Assistant to the City Manager. She continued to leave the post of Emergency Services completely unmanned for the last six months. That’s right, six months. Of all the things a city manager could overlook, none touches in intensity and consequence as much as the absence of an Emergency Services coordinator, especially in a disaster-prone community like ours. The disconnect between the City Manager and her responsibility to protect the community was crystal clear with the city’s failure to participate in October 19th’s Great Shake Out exercise. This annual opportunity is for people in homes, schools, and organizations to practice what to do during earthquakes, and to improve preparedness. Shakeout.org reported that 10,667,89 Californians participated in this year’s life-saving drill, yet under Feldman’s rule, Malibu was a no-show. Protecting the public is the FIRST responsibility of government and the City Manager and ,at this point, there is no question Feldman has been severely derelict in her duties with regard to the public safety of our town. This kind of city managing is undeniably dangerous. At press time, The Local learned that Feldman had passed over Malibu-based applicant David Saul for Public Safety Manager (which is now replacing the Emergency Services Coordinator position) Having a local resident in charge of Emergency Services would have been the best decision for the community. This makes the most sense because of Malibu’s history of becoming isolated by weather-induced landslides ,earthquakes or other natural disasters. Saul received more than 30 letters of recommendation and is well respected in the community. He also intimately understands the local landscape and has close ties to emergency responders. This is not the first time Feldman has passed over a qualified resident in favor of an outsider for a city staff position. The day after the fire, November 10, Corral Canyon resident Steve Woods approached a sheriff investigating the cause of the fire. The sheriff expressed concern immediately over the fact that the city did not send out an emergency alert to residents. So while Peak and Feldman tried to pass off this incident as being insignificant, professional emergency responders did not.
Residents have had to step up to inform the community of emergency situations and fill the void. our City Manager’s failure to replace the Emergency Services Coordinator in a timely manner.
CITY How long will it take for this department to run at full speed as it did when Brad Davis was at the helm? Only time will tell, but it doesn’t look promising based on Feldman’s track record. It is increasingly important to this community to have it running effectively and increasingly frustrating knowing that Feldman is in control.
THIS KIND of city managing is undeniably DANGEROUS CONFLICT OF MANY INTERESTS Feldman, who has been with the City since 2005 is no stranger to procedure and protocol. Yet city hall has become increasingly conflict-ridden under her supervision and this decision maker is making decisions that don’t seem to be in the broad public interest. Employee Turnover - Along with Brad Davis leaving his post as Emergency Services Coordinator, Barbara Cameron, Grants Acquisition Coordinator, Lisa Pope, City Clerk and Victor Peterson, the City’s longest employee, all suffered a similar fate under Feldman’s rule. Selective Code Enforcement - This is a big problem and has resulted in 4 lawsuits, so far, all currently in litigation with potentially disastrous outcomes. As long as the city staff continues to operate as they have under Feldman’s guidance, litigation will be ongoing and the city will be hemorrhaging money on legal fees. Failure to Review City Contracted Services - If city staff is enabling the contractor to get the work, how can they effectively audit the work? Where is the oversight by unbiased auditors reviewing outside vendors for performance quality assurances? Paying Contractors In their Personal Name -The City’s Warrant Register, the tabulation of payments the City makes twice monthly which is reviewed by and certified by Feldman, Thows checks written to the business owner’s personal name (?) instead of the contracted business entity. The list of deficiencies is staggering.
THE holy grail of noncompliance
Nothing screams derelict of duty more than staff being forced to admit the city hasn’t performed a performance audit for over ten years. In the Agenda posted on March 29, 2017, city staff requested $9,800 for two department performance audits, with no actual admission of lack of fulfilling requirements as per the Council Policy Handbook. At this rate of two performance audits per year can we expect compliance within another 10 years time? This issue only came to light after concerned resident, Ryan Embree addressed the Council directly during public comment. Embree exposed the ongoing violation ignored by the City Manager, forcing Feldman to comply.
For many years, Feldman headed the Finance Department – during which not a single performance audit occurred.
Without question, City Manager Reva Feldman has an innate ability to avoid answering direct questions. Below is part of an email thread regarding the first Santa Monica College Collaborative Brain Trust Meeting that excluded key members of the community and two of the three local newspapers. After I sent the email below to the city manager, I received a phone call. Not from Feldman, but from council member Rick Mullen.
While most of the performance audits that were not conducted took place under Jim Thorson’s direction, Feldman held the position of assistant City manager and should have been well versed in this policy. It is high time that Council admit they have a serious problem employee on their hands. The professional negligence is staggering. If Feldman is not replaced, only failure and gridlock await.
To BE CONTINUED.
Council member Mullen, who I had established regular communication with since the election, and collaborated with on The Local, informed me he was calling me in an official capacity, as my “city council member”. Unbeknownst to me, Mullen had just gotten off the phone with Feldman. He was less than forthcoming with that information. Thankfully, Feldman was eager to share that she now involved our council member in an issue that was between myself and the city manager only. While council member Mullen is new to the position on council, Feldman, on the other hand, is extremely skilled at allowing others to fall under the bus while pretending she’s not the one doing the pushing. She thought nothing of using council member Mullen as a pawn to take the heat off of her.
I find the informal manner Feldman addresses our council member in city correspondance to be extremely unprofessional, especially when communicating to resident and member of the press.
Although Feldman was able to convince council member Mullen this was a non-issue. That turned out to not be the case. Santa Monica College was looking for a group of residents who represented multiple and varied viewpoints; unfortunately city staff provided the college with a list of participants that certainly did not representative of a broad cross-section of our city. The day after this email was sent, the president of SMC, Dr. Katherine Jeffries called me to personally apologize for the miscommunication. She informed me that her staff worked directly with the City, which is under the direction of City Manager, as to who would be attending the first meeting. Because of this issue, Dr. Jeffreys and her team felt it was important to make a formal apology to the community at the March 13th City Council meeting.
WELLNESS
TIME TO SHED THOSE WINTER POUNDS EAT THE RIGHT CARBOHYDRATES BY DIANA NICHOLSON
If you’re serious about wanting to tip the scales in your favor, a diet low in carbs and eating smaller portions can produce fast weight loss without leaving you hungry all day. However, cutting back on carbs is no easy task because they make up 45% - 65% of our daily caloric intake.Carbohydrates are essential, primary fuel for your muscles and brain, to move, think and function properly. The question is how much carbs and which kind are best? Don’t worry about the difference between simple and complex carbs, because our bodies need both. So make mindful choices that provide your body with energy, fiber, vitamins and minerals. For instance, if you have a choice between a candy bar or an apple, both of which are carbohydrates, obviously choose the apple! Simple carbohydrates are broken down quickly by the body to be used as energy. Carbs to include in your diet are found naturally in foods such as fruits, vegetables, milk, and all milk products.
You’ll find good complex carbs and dietary fiber in whole grains (example: oatmeal), fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, stalks, leaves, roots, dried fruit, dried beans, and legumes.
Simple carbohydrates to avoid: soda, candy, artificial syrups, processed sugar, white rice, white bread, white pasta, potatoes (which are technically a complex carb, but act more like simple carbs in the body), cookies and desserts. Complex carbohydrates are starches and fiber and are considered sugar to your body because in order to use them for fuel, your body has to break them down into glucose for energy. But they have a more complex chemical structure, so they take longer for your body to digest and process, which may be a better option. You’ll find good complex carbs and dietary fiber in whole grains (example: oatmeal), fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, stalks, leaves, roots, dried fruit, dried beans, and legumes. Complex carbohydrates to limit include less refined carbohydrates, such as packaged crackers, cookies, cereals, and breads. Low-carb diets do more for you than just shed the pounds. They reduce blood sugar, blood pressure and triglycerides. They raise (the good) and reduce (the bad) cholesterol. They also account for more weight loss and improve health much more than the calorie restricted, low-fat diet. Hibernation is over, time to shed those winter pounds! For more information go to diananicholson.com
Diana Nicholson Health and Wellness Editor, Fitness Expert Dedicated to Educate Support and Empower www.diananicholson.com -Diana Nicholson Health Coach/Pilates/Yoga/Gyrotonic diananicholson.com 310-429-1513
6435 ZUMIREZ DR. #16
This upscale, re-designed, contemporary yet warm 3 story townhouse is one of a kind. Customized blonde treated concrete floors flow seamlessly out onto the three separate outdoor living spaces. This newly designed home features all remodeled bathrooms including modern sinks with Italian fixtures and deep luxurious contemporary Japanese soaking tubs. Watch your favorite TV show from your spacious glass waterfall shower in the TV “mirror.� The Master bedroom features a private enclave balcony assuring total privacy by way of the unique walls and arches as well as a gas fireplace with charcoal fire balls for that added style and decor. The privacy throughout this unit is created by the second and master bedroom placed separately on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The large second bedroom features its own private balcony, an expansive vanity with his and hers sinks, and a separate en suite bathroom with a walk in closet. No expense was spared in reimagining this beautiful and private townhome.
$1,275,000
LIFESTYLE
WOOD KITCHENS I won’t lie, I’m still a fan of crisp white kitchens (I’m currently working on two), -but having designed a hundred and one of them at this point I’m starting to crave something different. Apparently I’m not alone with this sentiment as I’m seeing a huge resurgence of wooden kitchens popping up left right and center. While I’m still not fully on board with an all wooden kitchen (unless you know exactly what youre doing), a rustic wood accent is something I can truly appreciate.
DESIGN TRENDS 2017
WITH Designer Janette Mallory
Interior design trends you’ll see this year will be rich in texture - think wood focal points in the kitchen, opulent mouldings, and deep, muddy jewel tones. Here are some examples to inspire you to enhance the style of your space.
DESIGNER JANETTE MALLORY
Applied MOULDINGS They’ve been around for centuires and there’s no doubt that applied mouldings are making a serious comeback as of late.
I’m seeing them in projects far and wide – from ultra-modern spaces, to super traditional ones. And they’re a great way to add texture, interest, and really play up contrast (my favorite tool of the bunch). There’s no question that, if done right, it’s the best way to set one space apart from all the others. A sleek and sexy couch set against an ornate crown is the ultimate in design sensibilities.
MUDDY JEWEL TONES While I truly believe that navy isn’t going anywhere fast, there’s no question that an emerald green hue, and similar jewel tones are quickly following behind.
That being said, my favorite way to tackle said tone (which I do worry will become a little too trendy down the line) is in a muddied application. Not only is a muddied jewel tone a great way to incorporate today’s hottest hue, I’m confident it will feel timeless for years to come.
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