Closing Statements: Hans Laetz

From April 3-6, Malibu Patch will share a running series called 'Closing Statements.' It will give the seven City Council candidates an opportunity to share with readers their final thoughts regarding the upcoming election. Election day is April 10. The statement below is written by Hans Laetz.

I am Hans Laetz. Malibu knows me. I don’t need lawn signs for name identification. I am not part of the legacy gang that’s run City Hall. 

I’m the independent, a challenger. But unlike the other challengers, I bring a real track record of accomplishment to the table. Examples:

When city staff gave a Chicago bank major loopholes to allow 26,000 square feet of new commercial development at Trancas, our Planning Commission and City Council gave away everything. The developer got every exemption to our General Plan that he dreamed of. And the city got zero in return – they didn’t even make the developer widen PCH in front of his store.

I took a major risk with my own money, filed a lawsuit, and appealed to the Coastal Commission. That brought the developer to my house, where I was able to extract turn lanes and bike lanes on PCH, some pedestrian paths, 7.6 acres of commercial land removed from development and dedicated to park space, and some good neighbor promises like trash pickup from the creek.

I won big. The city council had given away huge variances from the General Plan. I won back safety improvements and a park.

Now, let’s look at public safety: After the 2007 Canyon Fire, the Malibu City Council refused my request to join the state investigation into what happened. The state probe lagged. Our city did nothing.

Again acting individually, and spending a great deal of time and my money, I filed as an individual intervenor. I worked with the state in going after Edison and the wireless companies that caused that fire. The state wants $99 million in fines. I argue that the money should be spent on pole safety in the mountains of Malibu. We already have won $12 million in fines, and the rebuilding of power lines in Malibu Canyon will come from that.

And at the city hall, I’ve stood up at literally dozens of meetings to demand that safety improvements be made on PCH. I even wrote for the city a 31-page inventory of problems to fix on PCH. The sheriff’s department incorporated that report into its new plan to fix the highway – the first PCH safety improvement plan since 1964.

And now, the city council is moving towards a citywide PCH safety master plan. ASPCH and the current council deserve a lot of credit for this, of course. But ask those people which candidate has been pushing this, month after month, at the city and state, long before election season.

So, it’s time to wrap up this election campaign with some old-fashioned promises. If I, Hans Laetz, am honored to be elected, I will:

• Vote for steep impact fees for new commercial development. 
• Refuse to participate in closed-door deals with developers.
• Support emergency court action to make sure State Parks doesn’t poison the surf line at Malibu Lagoon as it digs out the sludge there.
• Fight any sewer plan that includes wasting clean water, by dangerously injecting it into the top of an active earthquake fault.
• Vote to end the funneling of state gas tax money to rebuild interchanges on US 101 in Agoura Hills, and redirect that money to fix Highway 1.
• Demand that the MTA find funding to build a safe and attractive bikeway next to PCH in the Topanga Canyon and Pacific Palisades areas, to connect to a safe and sane bike lane in Malibu.
• Work for local control of Zuma Beach and other county-owned parks in our city.
• Use state law to force open Dan Blocker Beach, which the county has fenced off for 20 years.
• Advocate for retail diversity, and put an end to city policies that have driven up business rents.
• Make sure that the Association for Malibu Public Schools has all the resources and support it needs as it negotiates a split from the Santa Monica school district.
• And personally help disconnect the door locks at City Hall, and relocate public meeting rooms from the dungeon to the windows.

Thank you for reading this, and I hope to earn your vote and keep your trust.

Public safety. Local control. Protect and enhance the Malibu Way of Life.

Elect Hans Laetz to Malibu City Council.

Thanks again.