Malibu Strong? For a Change, Let's Try Malibu Smart

Battered as it has been by the recent horrendous wildfires while still reeling from past natural disasters and baleful growth, its resident population halved, environment vandalized and commerce crippled, “Malibu Strong,” it is definitely not.

The epigram on the frayed tee shirts distributed in the wake of the Woolsey fire by a City Hall that had abandoned its residents rung hollow then, and is a faint echo now in the wake of the Palisadcs Fire and the patent prospects of redevelopment.

Yes, those rapacious real estate interests are in the shadows.

Suggested therefore is a new axiom, “Malibu Smart,” for if this benign seacoast village has any hope to recover from the natural and manmade disasters that periodically threaten it, urgently needed is a committed, competent, trusted governance, not compromised and inept as shamefully in the past.

The time is propitious, what with the rebuilding process still to be organized, and the reelection of two reform minded councilpersons, Bruce Silverstein and Steve Uhring, and the election of indefatigable Haylynn Conrad, which should give the Council a welcomed responsive and responsible majority.

You go gal!

And critically, a new city manager is to be hired. Hopefully it will one who will avoid the usual gladhandling of special real estate and development interests; instead pursue a transparent and accountable governance, and will eat lunch at his or her desk, not unabashedly at Nobu as a guest of someone seeking City Hall favors.

Most importantly, someone who will embrace the city’s noble Vision Statement, and pledge to pursue its Mission Statement; a person who understands and appreciates Malibu’s heightened value as a livable exurban residential community. and not a tourist town of trophy houses and AirBnB rentals.

No, this is not an advertisement for myself, now in my 90th year, quite comfortable engaged as a writer at leisure, and impaired as I am would not be able to sit through a Council meeting for any length of time.

But I am confident there are several longtime residents of Malibu who have the administrative experience if not institutional memory, and who may not have all the exacting qualifications of a city manager, but nonetheless a rugged resolve to do the heavy lifting needed.

Living in Malibu, knowing Malibu, loving Malibu, I feel, are all important.

Malibu is special and because of that, needs someone special, maybe co-managers, part time, or whatever. Time to think out-of-the box, shake up the system. City Hall could use it.

So before the city once again retains a headhunter for no doubt will be a costly and protracted effort, let’s initiate a search locally now, form a screening committee of select councilpersons, a City Hall staffer, and a few experienced residents, beat the drum, and see who be challenged.

Amen.