THE LOCAL SPECIAL ISSUE - NO ON MEASURE W by The Local Malibu

SPECIAL ISSUE: NO on MEASURE W

SKYLAR

PEAK 90265 FROM THE CREATORS OF

M A G A Z I N E

“MALIBU’S MUST READ PREMIUM NEWSPRINT PUBLICATION”

Founder, Editor in Chief

CECE S. WOODS

FROM THE CREATORS OF

Creative Director JIM JORDAN

Co-Founder STEVE WOODS Executive Editors STEVE WOODS LINDA ATKINSON RON BERKES

CURATORS OF COASTAL CUTURE

Publishers

KYM GOLD RON BERKES ADDISON ALTENDORF Dir. of PR and Marketing OLIVIA SMITH

Editor at Large TRACEY ROSS

EDITOR’S

NOTES

90265 M

M A G A Z I N E

ISSUE 19 SEPTEMBER 2015

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CLAUDIA TAYLOR ROB TAYLOR DAVID STANSFIELD DIANA NICHOLSON AUDREY RUTH CAROL HOYT BRIAN TIELEMAN RANDY OLSON DANIEL BRALVER LORY MAYOTTE LIZA UTTER JEN BEL GUS JOHANSON ANNEMARIE STEIN KIM LEDOUX RAMSEY MATTHEWS

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TIM HORTON NICK CALAFATI JEN BEL EMILY SCHER GOODMAN DIANNE SCHALLERT BRIAN O’DELL

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HASHTAGS: #curatorsofcoastalculture #malibu #90265 FOR ADVERTISING: thelocalmalibu@gmail.com Malibu is a beautiful rural coastal town. The LAST thing we need is yet ANOTHER SHOPPING MALL - and that is what you are voting on Novembver 3 - ANOTHER SHOPPING MALL. Regardless of a potential lease the developer may or may not have agreed to with Whole Foods, once you approve a project like this, you put the power in the developers hands to put whatever tenants they see fit, not what businesses best serve our community. VOTE NO in November. Save Malibu from over development.

COVER PHOTO OF SKYLAR PEAK BY EMILY SCHER

emilyscherphotography.com

A LETTER FROM LONGTIME MALIBU RESIDENT

CAROL MOSS

We love our amenities, our luxuries and conveniences and it is tempting to choose to have them close at hand. But we are the very few fortunate ones who live in paradise here and experience the beauty of Malibu in it’s still quiet moments. This Malibu treasure is something we need to protect, not only for ourselves, but for the endless stream of visitors who need refuge from the pressures of life, and the unborn who will meet even greater challenges in generations to come.

PHOTO BY TIM HORTON

There are those of us who hold the vision of Malibu as a place of refuge in the overcrowded world at our doorstep. A place of mountains and beaches and some stillness to calm our spirits and bodies in this hyper demanding contemporary world.

We can find beautiful stores and restaurants in nearby locations. Indeed, we already have them here in abundance. But quiet? Nature? Clean fresh air and see breezes? These are our treasures to preserve for ourselves and for all humankind. Please consider hard and realize how important your vote is on November 3rd. Should we “sell our souls for a mess of pottage”? Join me in voting NO on Measure W Thank you, Carol Moss

MALIBU TREASURE: Malibu is a natural gem that need to be protected and preserved for everyone in the Golden State.

NO ON MEASURE W

MONOPOLIZING The following is an excerpt from the Sept. 28, 2015 edition of The Malibu Post (http://themalibupost.blogspot.com)

“I don’t understand,” a friend said recently. “How did Whole Foods get on the ballot?” The answer is, Whole Foods isn’t on the ballot. Although the 38,425-square-foot shopping center planned for the 5.88acre site on the corner of Civic Center Way and Cross Creek Road that is on the ballot as Measure W has been called “Whole Foods in the Park,” and “Whole Foods and the Park,” and it is wonderfully fortuitous for the developer that he was given the letter W for the ballot measure, what the people of Malibu will be voting on in November is neither a Whole Foods nor a park, it’s whether the developer should be allowed zoning variances to build a bigger project.

MALIBU

Any development over 20,000 square feet automatically triggers a community vote. Measure R mandates that if a developer wants more than 20,000 square feet, the project must be approved by the people. However, even if Measure R never passed, city code would still have restricted the amount of development to much less than the developer is seeking approval for. The only way this project gets to be 38,425 square feet is through voter-approved variances. The code-complying alternative provide by the developer in the Environmental Impact Report for the project is described as: The proposed project site totals approximately 256,168 square feet. Development under the Code Complying Alternative would consist of a supermarket (28,879 sf) and 129 parking spaces. Pursuant to the Malibu Municipal Code and the Local Coastal Program, a total of 166,509 sf of landscape area and open space are required to be provided. The total landscape area and open space provided under the Code Complying Alternative would be 166,719 sf. Therefore, the Code Complying Alternative would meet the requirement. The development proposal on the ballot this November definitely doesn’t meet that requirement. Malibu voters are being asked to give this developer permission build on 70,494 square feet of the property’s landscaping requirement—that’s almost two acres of extra concrete.

Here’s an aerial view of the proposed development for scale. The large gray building is comparable in size to the two-story Malibu County Mart building, shown with the red roof in the foreground. The developer is proposing five buildings on the site, with 220 parking spaces. As the “Code-Complying” version of the project described above indicates, the 24,549-square-foot main structure could technically be built under the city’s existing land use restrictions, but even that would trigger the Measure R vote requirement for projects in excess of 20,000 square feet. This building is described as a Whole Foods in the developer’s campaign materials, but is not identified as such in the actual ballot measure. Malibu City Attorney Christi Hogin has said on record that if the plans are approved, the developers are free to put anything they wish in the space. It may become a Whole Foods. It may not. Here’s the actual ballot measure. It doesn’t say Whole Foods, because that’s not the point. Measure W is asking if Malibu residents want to approve extra entitlements for a shopping center. It’s not asking if we want a Whole Foods, and it certainly doesn’t guarantee that the community will get one, if the measure passes. That promise is being made by the developer, a man who is currently suing the city to overturn Measure R. The developer is also proposing four smaller buildings, each about the size of a family home: 3,015 square feet, 3,086 square feet, 3,592 square feet, and 4,183 square feet. This space, and additional hardscaping, including the parking lot to accommodate the restaurants and shops that will occupy the four extra buildings, is really what we are voting on in November.

NO ON MEASURE W Perhaps the easiest way to visualize the Measure W issues is with a little help from the Monopoly game. Let’s dig out all of the pieces (except maybe the iron. Nobody ever wants the iron) and take a look: Here’s what the developer could build on the property without variances.

All of those beautiful glossy ads appear to be trying to convince Malibu voters that the project will look like this.

Here’s a more accurate representation of the square footage: the green pieces are the extra four buildings, which will house restaurants and shops.

And here’s the full build out, with the La Paz shopping center next door, the Santa Monica College satellite campus that will be built next to the library, and the proposed Malibu Bay Company development on the lot currently used for the Chili Cook-Off.

NO ON MEASURE W

MONOPOLIZING

MALIBU

The developer is also offering three small park areas, described in the developer’s proposal as: “Shane’s Inspiration Playground, a fully accessible playground with facilities for children with special needs”; a “Sensory Garden”; and a “Kitchen Community Learning Garden,” which will “provide learning opportunities for children and adults interested in growing sustainable organic food, and including school classes.” These are lovely ideas, but critics of the project point out that they are a small part of the plan. According to the project’s specific plan, the playground is 6200 square feet, the sensory garden is 3000 square feet, and the community garden is 2500 square feet.

To facilitate all of this extra development, the developer is asking the voters to approve variances that would allow the open space requirements for this property to be greaty reduced. This would permit the developer to substitute walls with plants on them--”verical” landscaping--for a large proportion of the lanscaping requirement.

NO ON MEASURE W

EMPTY SPACES BY STEVE WOODS

PHOTOS BY DOLORES GILLHAM

Has anyone noticed all of the “For Lease” signs in the windows of commercial properties from Topanga to Trancas? With so many empty commercial spaces empty for years, it makes one wonder why there is so much pressure being put on the City of Malibu to permit undeveloped commercial properties in the Civic Center in order to build Malibu as a shopping destination that cannot be economically viable with Malibu’s small population base. There are literally hundreds of thousands of square feet of commercial properties that have been vacant for years and years and many of these properties don’t have visible “For Lease” signs. Some of the largest commercial office buildings in central Malibu are collecting dust, but you would not know unless you peaked inside or searched online. Some of the most visible and oldest empty spaces are Granita with its recent casualty, Theodore Beach and Theodore Man next door and just down the sidewalk is the empty Suntan Salon and the much missed Mailboxes and More. But starting from the West are the numerous empty spaces at the new Trancas Development, “for lease” signs above the Malibu Gym at Kanan and PCH, the entire Solstice Ranch formerly known as the Beau Rivage restaurant, entire office complexes between Puerco and Pepperdine, the old post Office next to UrgentCare, the Chevron Station just east of there, multiple retail outlets in the Country Mart, La Salsa , The Louis Busch building, the Thai Dishes Complex ( currently being renovated )the old Malibu Court House and a slew of other buildings large and small on either side of Zuma Jay’s building which also is lacking tenants. Since our local population cannot support the success of existing commercial properties, developers who want to build new facilities have to invite out of town shoppers in order to be profitable. Will the City of Malibu facilitate the creation of Malibu as a shopping destination on par with Rodeo Drive or Fashion Island in Newport even though the main artery in and out of Malibu is already a commuters nightmare? Malibu has found itself at a tipping point of urban sprawl that is threatening it’s area’s 27 miles of semi rural coast line which has inspired the recent support of Measure R giving voters a chance to weigh in on proposed development. One of the decisions for voters in November will concern a massive new complex that includes a proposed Whole Foods to be built on vacant land in the Civic Center even though Malibu has a Ralphs, Pavillions, Vintage Grocers and Pacific Coast Greens. Malibu has a population of just over 13,000 residents but Whole Foods Corporate Franchises recommend that interested investors establish an outlet in a population base of at least 200,000. In order for a Whole Foods to be viable in Malibu, owners will have to seek tens of thousands of out of town shoppers reach central Malibu via an already congested PCH and funnel them down a pedestrian clogged Cross Creek Road and the traffic gridlocked intesection of Webb Way. Even if a Whole Foods were to commit to a bonafide lease, what would happen if it failed? What retailer would takes its place? Would Malibu vote for a Target or a Walmart? Local residents used to be able to vote for the success of businesses with their pocketbooks. But now we are left with nationally subsidized corporate franchises who need tax write offs and who cater to serving non locals instead of business that support local needs.

NO ON MEASURE W

MALIBU CITY COUNCIL DENIES CITIZENS THE TRUTH

In 2014 Malibu voters resoundingly approved Measure R because they could no longer trust their council to listen to resident’s concerns regarding the dangers of overdeveloping Malibu’s Civic Center. Last Monday night their distrust in this council’s decision-making was again validated. After Malibu residents packed the Council chambers and delivered some five and a half hours of testimony on the planned Whole Foods mall, the City Council, in a 4 to 1vote (Skylar Peak voting no), approved the project which will now go to a vote of the residents this November. Residents listened, astounded, as council stamped approval on this mall EIR based upon some of the most outlandish testimony ever delivered at a Malibu council meeting. This City staff, and council along with developers justified the impacts of this mall by:

DENYING: TRUTH.

Preposterously claimed that Malibu traffic has not only not increased in the last 25 years, but has in fact decreased.

DENYING: FACTS.

Whole Foods dangerously increases traffic as proven in Malibu’s recent PCH Safety Study, approved by this very Council.

DENYING: EXPERTS.

Caltrans, Sheriff’s Dept, Fire Dept, Beaches and Harbors, LA County Lifeguards and this City’s own PCH Traffic Safety Study states that Malibu traffic has significantly increased.

DENYING: RESIDENTS.

Denied Serra Canyon residents the necessity of a safe evacuation route in the case of a catastrophic fire or earthquake emergency.

DENYING: STUDIES.

Economic impact studies show that adding yet another supermarket in Malibu would harm, and possibly destroy, existing businesses across this town.

ON ASSIGNMENT : Exec. editor Steve Woods watched the entire 5 plus hour meeting from Kauai as the Malibu City Council validated - and passed - a flawed Environmental Impact Report for the Whole Foods in the Park Project.

“I WANT YOU TO DO MY TAXES”

- Andy Lyon to the traffic engineer who grossly underestimated traffic counts in the Whole Foods in the Park Environmental Impact Report.

DENYING: SAFETY.

Denying every report that more traffic on PCH creates greater dangers for residents and visitors, more accidents and more fatalities. Dangerously, this fabricated and flawed traffic study will be the baseline for every future Civic Center development: Hotels, Malls, Expansions, etc.. It is clear that our current council and staff have elected to ignore Malibu residents and instead now represent commercial developers as togeth- er they lay the groundwork for massive new development in the Civic Center.

WITH JAWS DROPPED... Malibu residents listened in total disbelief as Lou Lamonte said “The traffic study is going to take more time, it is going to delay it.” he continues “I don’t care what the law actually says ,what it really means to me is we couldn’t actually refuse this project entirely, all we can do is delay it.“ Followed by another outrageous statement from Laura Rosenthal who spoke to the council by phone “I have confidence in the reports we got.” Many longtime residents also testified about the steep increases of traffic volume on PCH, but it was Andy Lyon who delivered the most poignant line of the evening when he pointed to the City’s Traffic expert and said ,” I want you to do my taxes.” Elected City Councils are sworn to office to represent the citizens of their towns. This one repeatedly fails to do so. - STEVE WOODS

NO ON MEASURE W CITY OF MALIBU HIRES DEVELOPER ACE TO PLANNINGDEPARTMENT Malibu locals Sam Hall Kaplan and former mayor Jefferson Wagner recently went on record with the 97.5 KBU about the newly hired City Planner Chris Deleau following the announcement via press release from City Hall. If you live, and care, about Malibu as a community, if not just your property values, you have to be sensitive to the overt politics swirling in and above a confused City Hall. The latest municipal machination has to be the surreptitious announcement late Friday – not incidentally the preferred time for controversial press release – of the hiring of Chris Deleau as the city’s planning manager. There was little question that the amiable Bonnie Blue was not up to the job in which she had been recently appointed; indeed was a deer in the headlights during the recent city conflagrations, as has been most of the skittish city staff. But DeLeau for all his affability and, yes, planning experience, is a primarily private sector lobbyist and a most questionable choice, coming as he does from the consultant firm of Schmitz and Associates. Talk about a wolf being invited into the hen house. The firm and its indefatigable director Don Schmitz has been very much a presence in Malibu, seen at almost every meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission, as well on the fringes of several task forces, ever ready with a quip and comment. Principal among those he represents has been the sprawling La Paz development, which was one of the projects that prompted Measure R. Very much also a presence acting as Schmitz’s gofer and echo through the protracted planning process has been DeLeau. Recuse himself as he may, Deleau sitting behind a dominant desk at City Hall has to send a powerful message to staff as well as to the public. In my opinion as a experienced planner and journalist, what we have with this appointment is nothing less than the politicalization of City Hall. I was willing to give the city the benefit of the doubt over its mishandling of a confusing Measure R, which I fear will not be the best matrix to judge a large development, especially if well packaged as Whole Foods promises to be. But then there was the pathetic abdication of the city council and city staff of its planning prerogatives to the slick consultants of developers; that is what triggered the last minute effort to save the hallowed trees at PCH and Cross Creek. Yes, they were saved, but a lot of aggravation would have been avoided if the city was doing its job. Then there was the staff fumbling and the council’s feebleminded embrace of the fabricated traffic studies, and once again showing little initiative. There also is a history of the staff not responding to resident queries, and the council quick to denigrate anyone challenging their questionable judgment. And now this appointment. Several weeks ago this commentary was taken to task for describing the city council as timorous. The phrase I would now use is inept. Time for a recall? - SAM HALL KAPLAN

FORMER MAYOR JEFFERSON WAGNER GOES ON THE RECORD. WAGNER TELLS KBU NEWS THAT HE’S SHOCKED, BUT NOT SURPRISED BY THE LOBBYIST MOVING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE. DELEAU FIRST AND FOREMOST IS A CAPABLE DEVELOPER … AND WILL BRING A DEVELOPER’S PRIORITIES TO THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT. WAGNER, A FORMER CITY COUNCILMAN, TOLD KBU NEWS THAT THIS, QUOTING NOW, “MEANS THERE IS GOING TO BE A FASTER PROCESSING OF DEVELOPER’S APPLICATIONS. AND NOT AS MUCH OF AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE APPLICATIONS THEMSELVES.” “I GUARANTEE YOU“ WAGNER SAID.``YOU ARE GOING TO SEE MORE APPLICATIONS FROM COMMERCIAL DEVELOPERS. YOU’RE GOING TO SEE THEM MOVE QUICKER, AND YOU WILL SEE THE CITY SIGN OFF ON MORE VARIANCES AND INTERPRETATIONS THAT FAVOR THE DEVELOPER.” WAGNER SAID THE APPOINTMENT SHOWS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL APPARENTLY DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE SENT IN THE LAST ELECTION WHERE AN ELECTION BALLOT WIDELY INTERPRETED TO BE A SLAP AGAINST A RUSH ON COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT PASSED BY AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY. AGAIN, QUOTING JEFFERSON WAGNER, “WE HAD A 6040 VOTE THAT SAYS PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY. THE CITY DOES NOT SEEM TO COMPREHEND THAT. CITY MANAGER JIM THORSEN TOLD KBU MONDAY THAT DELEAU IS A MAJOR ASSET AS HE IS A MALIBU NATIVE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE CITY’S COMPLICATED ZONING RULES AND LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM. THE OVERRIDING ZONING PLAN THAT THE STATE HAS IMPOSED ON MALIBU. THORSEN BRISTLES AT CRITICISM THAT DELEAU WILL DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN A PROPER AND IMPARTIAL JOB. THE CITY DID NOT EXPLAIN WHAT DELEAU’S ROLE WOULD BE VIS-A-VIS PLANNING DIRECTOR BONNIE BLUE.

NO ON MEASURE W

HONK!

By Steve Woods

IF YOU THINK TRAFFIC HASN’T INCREASED ON PCH IN THE LAST 18-25 YEARS! IF YOU THINK TRAFFIC HASN’T INCREASED ON PCH IN THE LAST 18-25 YEARS! On June 11 th, the City Planning Commission heard from a traffic consultant that was hired to convince those in attendance and city officials that traffic has not increased in the last 18 -25 years! One member of the Malibu City Planning commission, John Mazza, seemed incredulous and questioned the traffic consultant, “This report is telling the people of Malibu that there has been no traffic increases in 18-25 years. Is that correct? Is that what you are saying?”. As ridiculous as this report sounded, 3 of the City Planning commissioners believed the “No traffic increases in 25 years” story and voted to approve the Whole Foods EIR. Nevermind the fact that State Parks, who does not work for the City of Malibu or commercial developers, have documented numbers showing visitors to State Parks around Malibu have increased in double digits year to year. These Parks include the Malibu Lagoon, Point Dume, El Matador, El Pescador La Piedra, Leo Carrillo and Point Mugu State Parks. Residents are all too familiar with the horrific increased parking problems of Corral Beach, Solstice Canyon, Winding Way, Paradise Cove, Westward and Zuma Beach. All of which must be accessed by PCH. Commissioner Mikke Pierson, along with John Mazza who did not vote to approve the Whole foods EIR, also had questions for the hired traffic engineer over the validity of the numbers. “I went back to every single date during these traffic studies and I looked at what I could find on the internet as to the weather, and by amazing coincidence, or by I don’t know what to make of it, virtually every count in the last 10 years were made on foggy or even drizzly days,” Pierson said. “I don’t know what the odds are on that; they seem thin.” The remarkable answer from the City’s contracted engineer is that “Weather does not affect traffic counts on Pacific Coast Highway”. Almost every single resident in Malibu, especially those who live here year round, knows that statement is not true. Weather makes a huge difference as evidenced by last poor weather on Memorial day weekend and the low visitor turn out. Since developers pay for all the consultants who work on the EIR it is no wonder that developers suggest “special” consultants to the city so that it is easier to get permits approve. Are there ANY residents who actually believe that traffic has not increased in the last 25 years? I doubt it. Unrelated to the Planning Commissioners meeting this last week’s city council unanimously approved a comprehensive $20 million dollar plan in a Stantec Report that recommends 130 suggestions on PCH for safety improvements. But Ryan Embree, a 30-year Malibu resident, 15-year City of Malibu Transportation policy advocate and volunteer says more law enforcement is needed. He applauded the plans improvements and the suggestions for more posted speed limit signs but without an increase in law enforcement. “Speed Creep” will continue to evolve to dangerous levels. He has been a strong advocate for re-establishing a contract with the California Highway Patrol whose contract ceased since the incorporation of the City of Malibu in 1991. Malibu residents need to speak up and demand that a real and accurate independent traffic study be done before tens of thousands of added vehicle trips are permitted to travel down PCH and funnel through Cross Creek Road and Webb Way to the massive new proposed Shopping Malls in the Civic Center. Some of these businesses cannot be financially successful from a small Malibu based population and will require inviting tens of thousands of out of town shoppers to add to our existing congestion problems . For those that care about our safety and future, Malibu residents can show up and let the City Council on July 13th hear your views and concerns. As evidenced by the numbers of residents who spoke up and showed up to Save the Trees and by those who stood up and supported Measure R, residents can take some power away from those who want to turn Malibu into Newport Beach or a Rodeo Drive by the Sea. Malibu is at a tipping point and residents need to tip it in their favor if they want to preserve their future without increased urban degradation from run away commercial development.

Malibu is a unique land and marine environment and residential community whose citizens have historically evidenced a commitment to sacrifice urban and suburban conveniences in order to protect that environment and lifestyle, and to preserve unaltered natural resources and rural characteristics. The people of Malibu are a responsible custodian of the area’s natural resources for present and future generations.

PHOTO BY LINDA ATKINSON

MALIBU MISSION STATEMENT

NO ON MEASURE W

A WHOLE LOT OF PROBLEMS for WEBSTER

PTA over

MEASURE W ENDORSEMENT NEWS BLOTTER Webster Elementary School is turning away a generous contribution from the Whole Foods Market. That’s because the school has been dragged into the political fight over the proposal to build a supermarket and shopping center on Cross Creek Road. The principal of the school says it will turn away developer Steve Soboroff’s offer to build a garden and special needs playground at the school. Three PTA leaders at the school had worked with the developer to build community support for the supermarket vote. They went so far as to have pictures of their kids taken waving signs …. that said PTA supports Whole Foods. The school says the PTA and the school have not endorsed or opposed the supermarket project … and will not. One of the PTA officers … featured in newspaper ads touting PTA support of the supermarket … reportedly had requested that her letter not be used in the newspaper ad. Principal Susan Semereg Powell has apologized to the community for the controversy that the tentative acceptance of the Soboroff donation has caused. K B U U radio has been running free campaign announcements …. Both Sides Equal Time … that also carry the Soboroff message … which states that P T A and education leaders have endorsed the yes vote. The radio station has determined that the statement is misleading … but will not pull or edit the announcements unless directed to by the Whole Foods advocates. K B U U is running an announcement alerting listeners that a false claim is made on the radio station …. but the station itself does not censor political speech. EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is the guideline from the CA. PTA website stating clearly that members are prohibited from using to use the PTA name to promote any form of political ballot measure or candidate the PTA has not taken a position on. A current PTA officer/board member is prohibited from using his/her title or the name of the PTA to endorse: • a ballot measure on which PTA has not taken a position • any candidate even for purposes of identification in print, electronic, or website candidate literature.

MISLEADING

A message from WEBSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL October 15, 2015 Dear Webster Families, At this time I believe I need to dispel some rumors that are going around regarding PTA involvement with the Whole Foods and Park Project, in particular the advertisement that was placed in the Malibu Times last week, and most recently a phone call that was made in the last few days. We want to make it clear that Webster PTA’s support as an organization was never offered to the campaign to pass Measure W -- a local measure on the November ballot. Webster PTA has no position on this initiative. The PTA was unaware of the Measure W campaign’s intention to place the letter, signed as individuals, in newspaper ads and online advertising. Once we became aware of this, PTA president Stephanie Schmelzer immediately contacted the campaign to insist they withdraw any future use of Webster PTA’s name. The phone call was then made without consent from any Webster PTA member. The PTA never offered or paid for any advertising for Measure W. Separately, Stephanie had been approached by Whole Foods with a partnership opportunity that included a generous donation to Webster PTA and inclusion in the Whole Foods Inner-City Garden Exchange Project. I truly appreciate Stephanie’s interest in expanding partnerships with businesses in the community, as their support and donations allow us the opportunity to add programs, purchase technology tools and teacher materials.

MISLEADING

We have been talking about our garden and its connection with Whole Foods since last June. In addition, it has been discussed at every PTA board meeting since then, and was included in our information at the Sip and See prior to Back-to-School Night. The plan to accept the donation from Whole Foods was also announced at our PTA General Meeting. A letter to the editor appeared in the local paper suggesting PTA resources were put into the Measure W campaign and that students were used to promote it. This is not true. Some AMPS leaders have gone so far as to suggest Webster PTA has harmed their efforts, and PTA leaders have been threatened and bullied, which is unacceptable. It is also very disappointing to see such behavior in a city that prides itself on “community” and support of public schools.

MISLEADING

Our PTA leaders are volunteer parents with one interest – supporting all students at Webster. We are fortunate to have a strong group of such involved parents. I know I speak on behalf of our PTA when I say that we are sorry for any concern these recent events have caused and wish for nothing more than to continue our work of supporting the students, teachers and families at our wonderful school. To do that work and to avoid even the appearance of any impropriety, the PTA executive board, with my support, declined the Whole Foods donation. We greatly appreciate everyone’s support and volunteer efforts that help make Webster a positive and collaborative community. We are now moving on to more important things, like the Halloween Parade at 1pm on Friday, October 30th ~ and we hope to see you there! Sincerely, Susan Samarge-Powell, Principal

Above: is the ad for YES on Measure W that shows clear voliations of PTA guidelines and policies. Members of the Webster PTA used their status with the non profit organization to persuade voters. These ads ran in print and online for two consecutive weeks in the Malibu Times and Surfside News.

NO ON MEASURE W

PETA vs. WHOLE FOODS

These allegations come on the heels of another run in with the law, as Whole Foods was recently fined by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs for “systemic” overcharging customers. But Co-founder and CoCEO John Mackey apparently saw it differently. He said, “We don’t think our track record is any different from any other supermarket. It went viral in the media and we feel we were victims.” WOW!! Whole Foods is the victim. Let’s blame the customer for our mistakes!! Not in our community.

Photo by Maile Mason

It’s astonishing, but comes as no surprise to me, that the Malibu Times, September 24th, issue would publish a “cutesy” but non relevant editorial regarding the newly planned Wildlife Crossing. While I certainly support, and donate to the project, it has little or no relevance for Malibu residents. The more important, and relevant issue, of greater concern for all 13,000 Malibu residents, now and in the future, was news of a PETA class action lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed Monday, September 21st. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Why should this be of vital interest to Malibuites? The class action suit alleges, Whole Foods duped customers in their meat department. “You’ll see signs, placeards, and even napkins bragging about so-called “humane meat” sold at a premium price from farms that Whole Foods touts as having “No Cages, No Crates, No Crowding” and more. Further, the class action lawsuit states that Whole Foods’ “5 Step Animal Welfare Rating System” violates California consumer-protection laws by snowing shoppers into paying higher prices for meat from animals on farms raised under standards that differ little, if at all, from the industry’s paltry minimum standards. In the suit, PETA asks the court to prevent Whole Foods “from continuing its unfair and deceptive business practices”.

Michael Osterman at PC GREENS and his granddaughter Sloane, a third generation Malibuite. FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN SAVE MALIBU VOTE NO ON MEASURE W.

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NO ON MEASURE W

WHOLE FOODS ROTTING ON THE VINE

A BARREL OF BAD PRESS LEAVES CONSUMERS WITH A RANCID TASTE IN THEIR MOUTH FOR THIS CORPORATE PREDATOR.

NO ON MEASURE W

CITY OFFICIALS SPOKE LOUD AND CLEAR:

“When you make this land use decision don’t in your mind limit yourself to just “Whole Foods” because if you recommend approval of the specific plan and the specific plan as it’s being proposed is ratified by the voters, then any grocery store could go in to that space. Whether it’s a Gelson’s or a Whole Foods or a FOOD FOR LESS... You can know that these land use decisions are going to have a broader application.” - Christi Hogin, Malibu City Attorney

“I think it’s asinine for us to adopt a study that said [traffic has] stayed the same or gone down.” - Skylar Peak, Malibu City Councilman

Isn’t it implicit upon us to limit this EIR to this project only and at least at some point say if Whole Foods never shows up or Whole Foods bails out and this becomes a 99 Cent Store there’s a problem here? - John Mazza, Malibu Planning Commissioner

supports a NO vote on Measure W

With hundreds of thousands of square feet of EMPTY commercial space available in Malibu, why should we vote yes to build more?

WHOLE FOODS IS NOT THE WHOLE STORY. Tha last thing Malibu needs is something we DON’T NEED.