The Malibu Times • January 18, 2024

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M A LIB U ’S AWA RD W INN IN G N E WSPA P E R S I N CE 1 94 6 VOL. LXXVIII • NO. XXXVIII

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

malibutimes.com • $.50 • WEEKLY

What in the heck was that on Sunday? Giant statue off Malibu coast, which turned out to be part of a promotional stunt, creates unexpected spectacle By JUDY ABEL Special to The Malibu Times

Malibu City Manager Steve McClary. Photo courtesy city of Malibu

Bright new year celebrating unity and safety in Malibu

Reflecting on 2023, and looking ahead to 2024 By STEVE McCLARY Malibu City Manager

In the spirit of unity and togetherness, I want to express my deepest thanks to all of you for your continued support and dedication to making the City of Malibu a wonderful place to live, work, and thrive. Our community’s strength lies in the bonds we share and the collective efforts to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.

In 2024, our focus remains unwaveringly on finding effective solutions for making Pacific Coast Highway safe. We understand the importance of this vital artery to our community, and we are fully resolved to work collaboratively towards improvements that ensure safety, efficiency, and a positive impact on our daily lives. As we gather with family and friends to celebrate various traditions and festivities, let us take a moment to cherish the moments of joy, appreciate the spirit of giving, and reflect on the values that CONTINUED ON PAGE A7

Anyone in southern Malibu Sunday who caught a glimpse of a giant statue floating slowly up the coastline near the water’s edge must of asked, “What the heck is that?” There hasn’t been such a large spectacle like that in Malibu since the filming of 1968’s “Planet of the Apes” surprise ending featuring a 30-foot high Lady Liberty head half buried on the beach in Point Dume. Sunday’s bizarre statue sighting up and down the Malibu coast was quite a head scratcher for many startled by its presence. The Malibu Times first noticed the huge statue Sunday morning at 10:30 in the water off Sunset Boulevard. At first glance, it resembled an oversized army man toy or even a variation of the La Salsa taco man with outstretched arms. The statue, placed on a barge pulled by a tugboat, continued north making a stop near Surfrider Beach, then turned around to head south. But by 3

Giant statue floating on a barge off the coast of Malibu on Sunday as seen from the hillside. Photo by Bobby LaBonge

p.m. the mysterious figure was being tugged again northbound for a trip toward the pier and seemed to be anchored there until The Malibu Times lost sight of it by dark. Turns out the statue is part of a

promotion for the rapper/musical artist Kid Cudi who released a new album Jan. 12 and one of the artists who worked on the piece is a Malibu native son. Sean Clark, born and raised in Malibu, comes from a family of sculptors and

Congressional paralysis and California’s budget deficit affect citizens The City of Malibu must develop a FY 2024-25 budget By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times

Carol Hoyt of Hoyt Family Vineyards and The Malibu Farmers Market Executive Director Deb Bianco pose together at last week’s market at Legacy Park. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMT

‘Waiting for that miracle’: Malibu Farmers Market hopes to remain at Legacy Park

Vendors and shoppers alike share their appreciation for Debra Bianco’s dedication and leadership By SAMANTHA BRAVO Of The Malibu Times

As the future location of the Malibu Farmers Market continues to be a concern among vendors and residents, the market continues to provide residents with their weekly groceries at Legacy Park. Despite the uncertainty, Debra Bianco, president and co-founder of the Cornucopia Foundation, said they’re still remaining hopeful for the market to continue operating at Legacy Park. “We made an agreement with the county, the site map. Are we thrilled with that site map? No,

it’s not our original footprint, but you have to take what you can, so we accepted it,” Bianco said. “Our paperwork with the county was handed in June [2023] and I did call the county on Thursday and they did ask me if I could send it again — only update it. They wanted to make sure all our documents [are] updated, that’s why we’re not there now; as far as we know, we need to get back there safe and we can keep our market going on. I have no idea what that might look like as of yet, but, good god, there’s always that miracle.” During the Malibu City Council meeting on Jan. 8, the council directed the Malibu Farmers Market to return to the LA County/ Santa Monica College property and said they will continue the discussion after the market returns. CONTINUED ON PAGE A7

As we enter a new year, it’s wise to get an informed perspective concerning the economic projections for the coming year at all levels of government from the federal, to the state, and, of course, to the City of Malibu. Currently, the U.S. Congress and Senate are returning from their holiday breaks, having faced severe obstacles to passing any legislation in the last calendar year. Now, Congress faces a daunting slate of issues to resolve since reconvening on Jan. 8, including two government-

shutdown deadlines and the need to address immigration, asylum laws, and border control issues, all in an election year, with control of the White House and Congress to be determined and an ongoing Biden impeachment battle. Congress faces deadlines of Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 for funding U.S. government programs and a failure to agree on 12 spending bills would bring widespread government shutdowns. That could translate into many agr iculture and nutr ition programs running out of funding on Jan. 19, along with money to fund highways, airports, housing programs, and veterans’ assistance. There is also contention among lawmakers concerning social safety net programs administered by the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services and regarding funding the Justice Department. When the House returned to gavel in on Jan. 8, it had a mere eight legislative days before the first deadline and only four more before the second. In that frenetic and contentious milieu, proposed legislation that directly affects Malibu could fall by the wayside. U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman stated in his most recent letter to Malibu, Topanga, and the Santa Monica Mountains’ communities that he vows “to seek additional funding for 2024, including $3 million for upgrades to L.A. Fire Department stations and $1.4 million to move overhead utility lines underground and remove accompanying wooden poles, CONTINUED ON PAGE A6

Reflecting on the year: Part two

individuals who have all contributed available for guests starting July Review of The Malibu to making 2023 a year to remember 21, the date of the release of the Times headline News in in our local area. “Barbie” movie. 2023 By THE MALIBU TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD

In this second installment of our 2023 year-end review series, we focus on the headlines from July through December that have profoundly shaped our communities and captured our collective attention. Join us as we delve into the top headlines, significant events, and remarkable

Pepperdine opens new campus in Switzerland Global learning and cultural Community unites for 22nd exchange to occur in a stunning annual Point Dume Parade villa overlooking Lake Geneva. Residents, classic cars, bikes, and horses fill Point Dume streets Malibu Surfing Association for the spirited parade filled with hosts Beach Blanket Bingo Party patriotic pride. The organization celebrates International Surfing Day at First Barbie Dreamhouse in Malibu Point on June 20. The hot-pink mansion will be CONTINUED ON PAGE A8 Published Jul. 6

artists, including his stepfather, Malibu Arts Commission Chair Fireball Tim Lawrence, who’s also an accomplished artist. “I came from a world of sculpting,” the 36-year-old Clark explained. CONTINUED ON PAGE A7

INSIDE

this week

Community gives back for National Day of Service |B1

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . A2 News Briefs . . . . . . . . . A3 • Man accused in grisly Malibu Lagoon barrel murder charged with second killing Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . A4 • Events Business . . . . . . . . . . . A5 • Hank’s Organic slated to open in Malibu at site of former market Real Estate . . . . . . . . . A8 Malibu Life . . . . . . . . . B1 • Malibu Music opens at Trancas Country Market People . . . . . . . . . . . . B2 • The Missionary: Part One Legal Notices . . . . . . . . B3 Business & Directory . . . B5 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . B5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . B8 • Waves men’s volleyball notches wins to begin season


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