Half Of the Deputies At Malibu/Lost Hills Are On Temporary Duty At Trump’s Crackdown

The civil unrest in Los Angeles is drawing enormous numbers of sheriff’s deputies from the Los Angels County sheriff’s department … doing crowd control.

And that means fewer deputies are patrolling Malibu.

The extra deputies who had been patrolling Malibu’s fire area … the extra deputies who had been doing traffic enforcement on Pacific Coast Highway .. have been largely redeployed downtown.

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“We are losing 50 percent of the coverage daily to mobile field forces being deployed.”

Sergeant Chris Soderlund at last night’s city council meeting.

He read an official statement from the sheriff’s office … explaining why the department is aiding the Trump administration’s activation of federal forces.

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“The sheriffs department is not involved in any federal law-enforcement operations.

“When federal law-enforcement authorities come under attack and request assistance, we will support them and provide aid. 

“However, this does not mean that we are assisting them in any immigration actions.

“Rather, this is to protect them from any violent attacks.” 

Sheriff’s deputies from the Malibu Lost Hills office are among those pulling guard duty at the federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles and just off the 405 freeway … in Westwood. 

In Los Angeles … it was largely quiet last night at the federal buildings. 

But criminals used the confusion and social outrage as a cover to loot some businesses.

Mayor Karen Bass last night placed blame for the predictable reaction to ICE raids squarely on the president.

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“We need to stop the raids.

“This should not be happening in our city.

“It is not warranted. 

“The only thing it does … is to contribute to chaos. 

“This wass chaos that was started in Washington DC.

“On Thursday was peaceful.

“On Friday it was not, because of the intervention of the federal government.”

700 U S Marines have been sent into Malibu from Camp Pendleton.

They join 4 thousand troops from the California National Guard … who have been federalized … taken away from the governor’s control … by the president. 

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing to enforce a longstanding federal law that prohibits Trump from using federal troops as civilian police. 

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“Unfortunately, I think he wants conflict. 

“He wants something to erupt, so that that that provides the basis for him to try to grasp and seize additional power.

“His through line and his modus operandi is to seek more power.

“That’s why he calls everything that is not an emergency, an emergency, and things that are not an invasion, an invasion.

“And he uses that language very specifically, because those are the triggers to give him more authority.

“But he can’t change the facts on the ground just by lying.”

In greater Los Angeles … there is fear and terror.  

Families are wondering whether to send their kids to high school graduation ceremonies. 

Video was posted of federal ICE paramilitaries arresting car wash workers in Culver City. 

The Department of Homeland Security says 118 immigrants were arrested this week … and  alleged criminal violations. 

The Wall Street Journal reports that last week … because deportations fell short of President Trump’s campaign promises ….federal agents summoned to a meeting in Washington were told to ‘just go out there and arrest illegal aliens

And the administration’s border czar, Tom Homan, also admitted that the agency was arresting people without criminal records.

Rumors swirled at Santa Monica High School yesterday that federal agents were about to raid the campus to arrest students.

Superintendent Antoniojn Shelton sent out a letter to parents … where he confirmed that the student body was alarmed that ICE was reportedly conducting an operation at Santa Monica High School prompted District officials to respond.

Wrote Shelton: ”As of 2:30 p.m. today, these sightings have not been confirmed, and we can assure you that ICE officials are not currently present in or at our schools.

“Our schools are safe spaces that cannot be accessed by ICE without a proper warrant.”

Shelton says administrators and office staff to ensure everyone understands these critical guidelines.

LA Mayor Karen Bass says terror is spreading … parents do not know if they will see their kids after they send them off to school each morning. 

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“I can’t emphasize enough the level of fear and terror in angelenos right now.

“It might be their home.

“It might be their workplace.”

L.A. school police will patrol and guard campus entrances when immigration agents are spotted. 

And LAUSD says graduation events will become makeshift sanctuaries for families until immigration agents leave the area.

City Councilman Questions School Fundraiser About District Discipline

The lack of communications from the Santa Monica school district to far-away Malibu was on full display last night at the city council meeting. 

The city was getting an update on how a parents group .. the Malibu Education Foundation … is progressing with the 315 thousand dollar grant that the city of Malibu gave them last year

Rather than talking about the middle school athrtletics and other programs that the grants has funded … Councilman Steve Uhring cut to the chase.

He demanded answers about the vandalism from Karin al-Hardin … a Malibu parent fundraiser who … we should point out .. does not work for the school district.

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UHRING:  “Are we gonna get any update in terms of …. I know what happens to school …. we’re gonna get any update on that tonight???”

FUNDRAISER KARIN AL-HARDIN: “Oh the situation at the school?” 

UHRING: “Just how are we resolving tat? I mean I am getting questions and I don’t have any idea.”

FUNDRAISER “From my understanding … there are tapes.

“And it was a few students in a larger group … who were there for a senior prank … a lighthearted senior prank night …. which is what has occurred for the last 10 years. 

“It hasn’t been vandalism like this.

“And it was a few that went the wrong direction and the school district and the school site are following up on those.

UHRNG: “How much damage was done?”

Karin al-Hardin is not a district official.  And she did not have details. 

Of course … there is never anyone from the Santa Monica school district in attendance at Malibu city council meetings.

And the amount of damage done to the high school is a valid community concern .. after the city council voted to set up a volunteer parent group with 315 thousand dollars in startup funds. 

There has been no follow up issued by the Santa Monica school district … about the vandalism spree. 

Or how much it actually cost the Santa. Monica Malibu school district. 

Nior was there any response to the parent volunteer’s statistics …. That 93 percent of the graduating class was going to college.

That 63% of the Malibu grads will be staying in Caliofnria. 

Or that the number one university chosen by the grads was UC Berkeley … with 5 Malibu kids getting into one of the hardest to get into schools in the country.

Crime Drops 40.9% In Malibu, Sheriff Says 

The sheriff’s office reports crime was down … way down … in May.

But so was traffic … as PCH was closed and criminals had a harder time getting here. 

Sgt Chris Soderlund had the statistics at last night;’s city council meeting. 

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“For the month of May, there were 22 Part One crimes. 

“This brings our total for the year to 94.

“This compares to 159 from last year … so it’s a 40.9% decrease here year over year.  

“So we are still going down … which is nice to see.”

These statistics are from the month of May … before the road was reopened and traffic again began to flow unfettered into Malibu.

And it is important to note that California National Guard troops were blocking access up residential streets in the Malibu burn area.

Those roadblocks are gone now … and Malibu has hired a private security firm to patrol the eastern part of the city. 

Yolanda Bundy Adds Planning To Her Portfolio, Is Promoted To Community Services Job

Malibu’s has a new Community Service Director … Yolanda Bundy.

It’s a promotion for Bundy … who had been running the city’s Building Safety Department. 

She is now in charge of a combined department … as she now also is in charge of the Planning Department. 

The two city government offices are closely related … but for some bureaucratic reason had been split apart by a city council more than a decade ago.

Yolanda Bundy was recruited to work for Malibu six years ago after the Woolsey Fire destroyed 480 houses.

She had previously worked in the city of Ventura … where she was responsible for helping people rebuild after the Thomas Fire of 2017.

It is fair to say that Bundy is widely regarded in Malibu …

Her appointment was announced last night by the new acting… Temporary city manager… Candace Bond.

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“I am very excited this evening to announce that after a long process miss Yolanda Bundy has been selected as a community development Director for the city of Malibu.

“We’d like to extend her our congratulations. “

This was the first major personnel move by the new acting city manager. 

Emphasis on acting.

The city is still actively searching for a permanent city manager hire … to replace the revolving door in the leadership at the local government. 

Caltrans Concedes: City Council Will Have Veto Power Over Major PCH Changes – But No Vote On Bike Lanes

Malibu is asserting limited control over Caltrans and its plans to change parking rules and make other major changes along Pacific Coast Highway. 

But bike lanes will be outside the city’s control. 

Finally … after 18 months of public hearings .. Caltrans made it clear just how decisions will be made about how PCH will be rearranged. 

The bottom line … repaving the road will happen next year … and when that happens … bike lanes will be striped.

But when it comes to making changes in parking …or installing roundabouts … that moves into an area that would require city council approval.

Yesterday … Caltrans said for the first time in public it will seek Coastal Development Permits from the city council for major PCH changes. 

We’ve been asking Caltrans that direct question for 17 months … and have not gotten that answer. 

As for the master plan and several redesign elements … the city council last night was generally happy with the proposals. 

Generally. 

Mayor Marianne Riggins. 

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“I’m gonna be the wet blanket on everything.

“First I am going to say thank you.

“I know you guys have done a ton of outreach I really appreciate the amount of time that Caltrans has spent on this. Unfortunately … Malibu is supposed to be a rural community.

“And we’ve got things that are being mandated that seem to be pushing more for an urban environment. 

“Sidewalks, the bike lanes all these other accoutrements that are not really conducive with the rural area that are community is supposed to be, and that we were founded on being.”

Riggins is quoting from the 2002 Malibu Mission statement … a noble and heartfelt city zoning statement that has run head-long into a new state law.  

Caltrans has made it clear that a 2024 state law takes precedence … 

The California Legislature has made it the law that bike lanes and pedestrian walking areas must be installed on every project … even repaving. 

Even in rural areas.

Riggins also criticized the Caltrans PCH Master Plan for not concentrating on speed limit reductions. 

And Councilman Bruce Silverstein said there state was hiding behind the state’s anti-speed trap law … in refusing to lower the speed limit. 

He was criticizing the Caltrans interpretation of the so-called 85th percentile rule … 

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“The statute does not say that the 85 percentile is your sole basis for making a decision.

“There is additional wiggle words in there, and I I believe that if, if the state’s lawyers or the county’s lawyers or Caltrans’ lawyers wanted to find a way to lower the speed limit, they’d find the ability to interpret those words to give them the flexibility based on the death rate … the fatality rate and the injuries that occurred here.”

And there was a major new concession from Caltrans last night. 

For the first time … they said that any major construction changes on PCH will have to be done with city council permission … in the form of a Coastal Development Permit. 

But the pending pavement project … including the bike lanes and sidewalks … is not considered by Caltrans to be major.

The repaving project … with the installation of bike lanes wherever the road is wide enough … is coming … probably next year.

Cash-Strapped Santa Monica May Consider Giant Billboards Near 3rd Street 

Santa Monica’s city government is out of money … and the city is desperate for revenue. 

Billboards may be the answer. 

The Santa Monica city council tomorrow night will discuss renting space to a billboard company at several sites near the Third Street Promenade. 

24/7 lit and animated billboards would also possibly be installed at the nearly-vacant Santa Monica Place Mall … possibly visible from the 10 freeway.

Cash-strapped Santa Monica would get a half million dollars in the first year … and the deal would last 55 years. 

Santa Monica’s police department has caused the city enormous financial grief.

One employee sexually abused more than 200 little boys at a Police Athletic League gym over years … and the city did nothing to stop it. 

Santa Monica is on the hook for nearly 230 million dollars … 

This amount makes it likely the largest single-perpetrator sexual abuse settlement in the nation’s history for a municipality. 

Santa Monica is hoping to lure partiers to the Third Street area … by opening the streets up as an alcohol fueled entertainment zone.

Starting Friday … the entertainment zone will allow customers to buy alcoholic beverages from licensed businesses and consume them on public sidewalks along the promenade … between Wilshire Boulevard and Broadway. 

The booze zone hours will be 11 a-m to 10 p-m Fridays through Sundays.