A Worrisome Woolsey Fire Anniversary

I would like to have commented on this the third anniversary of the disastrous Woolsey Fire that Malibu is well on to a gladdening recovery, aided by a dedicated City Hall displaying egalitarian initiative and empathy.

That of course is the impression the city’s self-serving bureaucracy and self-aggrandizing City Council majority would like to have the public think, buoyed by a gratuitous propaganda effort, much in the cynical spirit of former city manager, Reva Feldman, and now her sinecured entou

But judging from recent comments in the social media and criticisms echoing over time across the city, from the beaches at Big Rock, the coffee shops in Civic Center, to the dog park in Trancas Canyon, including the anguished accounts of burnout victims, most residents are marking the anniversary of Woolsey with sighs of frustration and shrugs of disgruntlement.

Found particularly unctuous was the open letter in which the City bemoans the fire, the worst in its history with nearly 500 homes lost, and then lists all the things it is doing to aid the rebuilding and to encourage the community to be more prepared for the next disaster: the sum being if you read between the lines that you’re on your own, and if you evacuate, you do so at your own risk.

There have been no feet on the ground by city workers, knocking on doors, organizing brigades, leading drills, like the air raid wardens I remember did in my neighborhood in World War Two, acting as volunteer firemen on alert and to aid first responders and the disabled and elderly.

Sitting at P.C.’s Zooming from distant homes or City Hall just doesn’t work as public service; the scripted mayoral pronouncements ring hollow.

More specifics of what the city is not doing, and should be doing, was stated with palpable anger in the social media responses to the letter. Among the more scathing were those of Carolyn and Chris Carradine, the latter in disclosure I worked alongside at Disney Imagineering.

The Carradines lost their home off Kanan, arguably they feel due to an inept City Hall and a worthless Fire Department; a welcoming home I remember fondly.

Carolyn in her reply in Next Door Malibu called the letter “a joke” and added: “This is what you come up with after 3 years?! No fire breaks, no neighborhood training since the firemen do nothing, and no punishment or dismissal of these men who let our homes burn, no moves for underground wires…no big water tanks installed…no repairs of hydrants…” She continued:

“Basically you have done nothing in 3 years. NOTHING. Who are you trying to kid? What a worthless bunch of do nothings. And I understand you paid a lot of money for a “consultant” You didn’t need a consultant. Just ask anyone who lost their home, and they will tell you what Malibu needs...”

Her remarks hit a civic nerve, and were followed by a stream of insightful comments by the dauntless Paul Taublieb and Mari Stanley, as well as Shirley DeBurgh Hague, Lani Hicks, Jae Flora-Katz, Terry and Gwen Lucoffs, and a host of others recommending a litany of reasoned actions by the city.

In addition, there was some sharp criticisms included of the city’s vaunted rebuild program, to be sure from residents still slogging along, perhaps because they don’t have the political connections that has worked for others.

To be sure, they spoke with the promise of anonymity, out of fear if outed their plans and permits would be deep sixed by a haughty city employee.

More on those City Hall misdeeds next week, as Malibu moves into the fourth year of attempting to recover from the Woolsey Fire and Reva’s mismanagement.