Soboroff Accepts Reiner Challenge to Debate Measure R Despite Delayed Response

After months of excuses, refusals and hiding, award-winning film director and part-time resident of Malibu Rob Reiner has issued a press release handpicking a debate opponent and negotiating the rules of the debate with himself.

“The whole thing is a TV comedy show,” said Los Angeles Police Commission President Steve Soboroff, a longtime civic helper in Malibu and a partner in the project that includes Whole Foods and the Park. “The City has practically been begging for months to hold a debate on Measure R. Former Mayor and current Planning Commissioner Jeff Jennings accepted Rob’s televised challenge almost a month ago. Now right before the election we get a press release that says he is now ready to talk but only to me and only under his conditions?

“If the Reiner camp wants a debate, then it should include City leaders whom he says are liars,” he added, “not a part-time resident celebrity and a local property owner.”

Current Mayor Skylar Peak has come out in support of Measure R as has his Planning Commission appointment John Mazza, Soboroff observed.

“One of them could be Rob’s debate partner! However, no one had stepped up over the last weeks and months even after Jeff Jennings made the formal challenge,” he said. “I thought that after Reiner refused, our Mayor or Commissioner Mazza, who sits next to Jeff Jennings on the Planning Commission, would have volunteered. But we have heard nothing except for a desperate press release concocted by Rob’s Beverly Hills consultants. ”

With all that said, Soboroff remains undaunted by Reiner’s delayed challenge.

“If he wants to debate with me, I’ll meet him anytime. He can bring commissioner Mazza or ?, and I will bring Commissioner Jennings,” Soboroff said. “Pick a date and we will see you there. The people of Malibu deserve to know the truth about Measure R. I want it put on local TV and the city has volunteered that service.”

As of press time, no time and date for the debate has been set. In fact, Soboroff said he has never been contacted by the Reiner consultants.

“Rob has my home number,” he added, “from when I supported him in the past on issues that did not have such major errors!”

— News release from Steve Soboroff