High School Students Quiz City Council Candidates

• Questions Raise Issue of How Kid-Friendly and Family-Oriented Is Malibu’s Planning

BY BILL KOENEKER

The second in a series of candidates forums was held recently at Malibu High School auditorium, where the students quizzed nine of the 10 candidates vying for the two vacant seats on the city council.
Two students from the school’s newspaper, The Malibu Current, posed questions to the candidates who attended. Jan Swift later told the Malibu Surfside News he had suffered a burst appendix and was unable to attend.
Since this was his first forum, Kofi told the sparsely attended meeting about himself. He was born in West Africa, he said, and moved to Malibu 20 years ago. He said he currently lives at the residence of longtime Malibu resident Cher.
Kofi said he has worked with David Foster, the award winning record producer, and helped in the production of music albums with $5 billion in sales.
Kofi said many of Malibu’s wealthiest and well-known residents have contributed millions of dollars to causes outside of Malibu. “They do not want to have anything to do with local politics,” he said.
He said he could be a bridge and direct some of that philanthropy to Malibu. “I am committed to add value to your lives,” he said.
One of the first questions, probably of most interest to the students, but also to residents in Malibu Park, is what position the candidates take on nighttime lighting for student events on the campus.
Mike Sidley said he supported the lights and said the Local Coastal Program Amendment process would ultimately be successful.
“I know the community does not support lights 24/7,” he said.
Matthew Katz, who said he did not think the football team has ever been that good, would appeal to the players and ask them what they would do if they realized how the lights and noise were upsetting families in Malibu Park.
Steve Schienkman said he supported the 16 lighted nights. “I fought to keep the temporary lights,” he said.
Greene said, with the California Coastal Commission vetoing temporary lights, it was up to the LCPA process.
Kofi said the reason the CCC said no to the lights was they would light up the ocean. “I am for the lights,” he said, and said the LCPA process would restore local control to the issue.
John Mazza, who is a planning commissioner, said he helped bring about what is called the “compromise” at the commission table. “Very few people oppose the lights,” he said.
Ed Gillespie, who is the chair of the planning commission, said he was all for the lights. “This town needs to be more kid-friendly. The LCPA is a compromise,” he said.
Laura Rosenthal said her boys played football and Friday night lights are a tradition. “It is a community event,” she said.
Lou La Monte said he was supportive of the compromise. “I want Malibu High School to be a traditional high school,” he said.
Candidates were also asked about what the questioner thought was a lack of youth programs in the city.
Greene said he thought the city was moving forward on that score with Trancas Park under construction and the completion of Las Flores Park. He said funding was available for a nature center at Charmlee Park.
Kofi said he thought the way was to offer more classes such as hip hop classes, digital photo, surf camp, screenwriting and other classes that could teach valuable skills.
Sidley said he thought Malibu is family-friendly. “There are youth sports. We do have a shortage of public tennis courts and playing fields. We have excellent public schools. Support the [parcel] tax,” he said.
Katz said he would advise against putting a teen center near the city hall or other places where there are adults in authority. “There needs to be a teen center,” he said.
“We do need a teen center,” agreed La Monte. He said it is also important to communicate with teens to find out where they want to go.
Mazza said when he was a kid, it was the beach where he and his friends wanted to go. “Let’s find out what they want to do. It has taken twenty years to just build our first sports field. We have to have a plan,” he said.
Gillespie said he also believed that if the teen center was at city hall, the youngsters would not go there. He also agreed with La Monte that a watchful eye is needed to make sure the Crummer Field development agreement does not fall apart if the proposed fields are earmarked for open space.
Rosenthal said that two youth summits recently held had provided much of the information some of the candidates said they needed. “We heard from our teens. We need many more facilities,” she added.