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The Malibu Times The Malibu Times NEWS PA PER • MAGAZ I NE • O NL I NE
NEW S PAPER • MAGAZINE •ONLINE Malibu’s Award-Winning Community Paper Since 1946
VOL. LXXV • NO. XLIII
Investigation by former City Manager against Mayor Pro Tem released
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022
malibutimes.com • $.50 • WEEKLY
Certain Malibu beaches see high bacteria levels
Sheriff reports: crime up 17.5 percent in Malibu, nine deaths on PCH
Evidence supported conclusion that Silverstein did not mistreat Feldman because of her gender
New Malibu liaison from Lost Hills Station introduced
By JIMY TALLAL Special to The Malibu Times
The “Confidential Investigation Report” into allegations of harassment and gender discrimination against Mayor pro-tem Bruce Silverstein by former City Manager Reva Feldman was completed last July. However, the results weren’t made public due to attorney-client privilege. On Feb. 3, Malibu City Council decided to waive its attorney-client privilege and release the findings to the public. The evidence supported the conclusion that Silverstein did not mistreat Feldman because of her gender. Allegations of general harassment, hostile environment, bullying, and other disruptive behavior unrelated to a protected class group like gender or race is not illegal. The hostility Silverstein exhibited towards Feldman “reflected Silverstein’s dissatisfaction with Feldman’s performance in managing the City, and that they disagreed over various business issues,” the report concluded. There was no evidence that this conduct involved her gender, no evidence he mistreated other women, and CONTINUED ON PAGE A8
By JIMY TALLAL Special to The Malibu Times
The 2021 report from the LA County Sheriff ’s Office, on the agenda of last week’s Public Safety Commission meeting, indicated some startling increases and decreases in Malibu crime compared to 2020— particularly when it comes to “grand theft auto.” In the pre-pandemic year of 2019, there were 23 car thefts in Malibu. In the pandemic year of 2020, there were 19. In 2021, that number tripled to 60. (“Grand theft auto” includes the theft of any car worth over $950 Bacteria advisories were issued at Leo Carrillo State Beach, Latigo Shore, and Topanga Canyon Beach, where bacteria levels have exceeded health standards set by the Los Angeles and may result in a felony convicCounty Department of Public Health. Photo by Julie Ellerton/TMT tion.) Swimming, surfing not standards set by the Los Angeles areas may have exceeded state Simple assaults almost douYou’ll often see signs posted near bled—from 16 in 2019 and 22 in County Department of Public bacteria levels. “The signs are areas where there’s natural runoff, advised at beaches 2020 up to 40 in 2021. Burglary Health. Other nearby beaches posted not always because there like Topanga and Malibu Creek. with posted signs of locked vehicles increased; from affected include Mother’s Beach is confirmed bacteria levels, but Most of our piers in the Santa By JUDY ABEL 93 incidents in 2020 up to 112 in Marina del Rey and a few in because there is a trigger that Monica Bay have storm drains Special to The Malibu Times incidents in 2021; however, it’s Santa Monica and Venice. there’s a potential. Any time under them, so rainwater runoff still not back up to the level of Health officials advise against we have a significant rainfall, will come out of there.” t’s currently not advised to the pre-pandemic year of 2019, entering the water at these whether or not it’s at the beach, Look for signs posted in either when there were 156 burglaries of swim or surf at three Malibu locations. all that rainwater runoff goes white or yellow. Barnes explained locked vehicles. In addition, grand beaches due to high levels Pono Barnes, Ocean Lifeguard to the beach. At certain trigger the difference. “White signs are theft (property worth over $950) of bacteria. Bacteria advisories Specialist for the Los Angepoints, signs will be posted at posted when there’s a flowing increased from 44 cases in 2020 were issued at Leo Carrillo State les County Fire Department, the direction of Los Angeles storm drain to alert beachgoers to 53 cases in 2021—back to the Beach, Latigo Shore, and Topan- explained the water quality signs County Public Health. We work that a storm drain is flowing even ga Canyon Beach, where bactepre-pandemic level of 50 in 2019. posted at these beaches are to together with them, and they though they may not visibly see ria levels have exceeded health CONTINUED ON PAGE A8 There was also some good inform beachgoers that certain notify us of any testing results. news—residential burglaries were down by almost half, with 40 incidents in 2019 and 45 incidents in 2020, decreasing to 25 incidents in 2021. Lt. Chad Watters from the Lost Hills Sheriff ’s Station is now designated as the official liaison to the not able to organize a COVID-19 City of Malibu. He takes over for City received 167 vaccination site, the CVS Phar- Lt. Jim Braden, who is reportedly registrations for testing macy and Malibu Urgent care on CONTINUED ON PAGE A8 Webb Way would be the primary on January 22 and 29 INSIDE location to receive the vaccine. this week By SAMANTHA BRAVO “I understand that some people Of The Malibu Times believe that it’s not in their best interest to get vaccinated, but I’ve While Malibu City Hall has been in favor of getting vaccinated been closed to the public for near- ever since they said they were goly two months, the city has hosted ing to be able to offer a vaccination two COVID-19 testing events for and when they come around with this next booster, I’ll get that one the community. Malibu Community Emergency too,” Grisanti said. “I am an older Response Team (CERT) members person, and I understand that some donated a total of 55 volunteer people don’t think it’s a good idea, hours over the last two weekends but I think it’s a good idea, and I Moonshadows Makes to operate the testing event, joined think it’s a good idea for younger Yelp’s Annual Top 100 U.S. by the Malibu Medical Group staff. people, too.” Restaurants List PAGE B1 According to Media Information According to the City ManagOfficer Matt Myerhoff, 167 reg- er updates, as of January 18, 2022, istrations were made for the two there have been 1,698 confirmed Opinion . . . . . . . . . A2 testing sites on January 22 and 29. positive cases and 13 deaths in the Steve Soboroff, the businessman who built the center that houses Whole Foods market, has News Briefs . . . . . . . A3 “We want to make people have City of Malibu. erected a seven-foot-tall blow-up Los Angeles Rams character in honor of LA’s local team the ability to make an informed Public Health Director Barbara Calendar . . . . . . . . . A4 making it to the Super Bowl this Sunday. Contributed photo choice for themselves,” Mayor Ferrer said to see the winter surge who built SoFi Stadium, where the the house he built is the Rams’ Paul Grisanti said. “The important of COVID infections decrease, Real Estate . . . . . . . . A6 big game will take place Sunday. house. It’s the greatest venue thing to remember is that people safety precautions should continMalibu Life . . . . . . . B1 Soboroff is impressed with the for NFL football or any kind of are less sick than they would be if ue in order to slow the COVID-19 Legal Notices . . . . . . B3 team’s success and his friend who football or soccer ever built in the they weren’t vaccinated. The surviv- transmission. Business Svs. & Dir. . . B5 “These include wearing a mask made it happen in Los Angeles. world,” Soboroff praised of SoFi ability of COVID has been going up and up because of people who when around others until trans“The world is looking at Stan’s Stadium. Classifieds . . . . . . . . B6 mission is lower; testing, if possible, house. Stan Kroenke is a Malibu Soboroff thought with all the are vaccinated.” Sports . . . . . . . . . . . B8 Grisanti said while city hall is resident (one of many homes), but CONTINUED ON PAGE A8 CONTINUED ON PAGE A8
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Malibu sees decrease in Whole Foods Center Developer COVID-19 cases Wishes Good Luck to Fellow Malibu Shopping Center Owner Steve Soboroff Predicts a Rams Super Bowl Victor y By JUDY ABEL Special to The Malibu Times
In a gesture of fun and overwhelmingly goodwill, the owner of The Park at Cross Creek shopping center in Malibu has paid a friendly tribute to a rival shopping center owner across Pacific Coast Highway. Steve Soboroff, the wellknown businessman who built the center that houses Whole Foods market, has erected a seven-foottall blow-up Los Angeles Rams character in honor of LA’s local team making it to the Super Bowl this Sunday. The blow-up Rams figure at the amphitheater area of the shopping center is also in tribute to Soboroff ’s friend Stan Kroenke who owns Malibu Colony Plaza, the LA Rams team, and