It was a busy week for the campaign to recall District Attorney George Gascon.
Everyone from Hollywood heavy hitters to high-profile political candidates came out publicly to support the first steps in removing the pro-criminal-Soros-backed DA who has single-handedly become responsible for the astronomical rise in crime in L.A. County.
LA city Mayor candidates Craig Greiwe and Joe Buscaino both released statements on February 1st.
L.A. City Mayor candidate Craig Greiwe announced his support this week for the recall of DA Gascon.
“Gascón was a failure in San Francisco, and he is a failure in Los Angeles. His policies make Angelenos more unsafe by the day. Most importantly, he is refusing to perform his constitutional duty to prosecute crimes against the people of this city. When an elected official refuses to do his or her job, they should be removed from that job. This is not about policy; this is an abandonment of duty to all Angelenos,” said Greiwe.
Greiwe also explains that rather than focusing on smart policies that allow for case-by-case evaluations, Gascón has issued blanket pronouncements that hurt all Angelenos. He has removed prosecutorial discretion and victim input when it comes to trying juveniles as adults, parole, and other critical issues. Gascón’s leadership Greiwe believes is the most divisive failure in LA, as he pins people against each other instead of working to unite them, which has ultimately led his staff to sue him for his failed policies. If elected as Mayor of LA, Greiwe pledges that he will do everything in his power to restore public safety. By promoting sound and meaningful criminal justice reform and counteracting Gascón’s radical agenda, Greiwe asserts that he will create positive change for LA.
Additionally, former LA Council man and former LAPD Joe Buscaino said in his public statement released on Twitter Gascón’s policies have “emboldened criminals, shunned victims’ rights and have made our communities more dangerous for everyone.”
“I believe in criminal justice reform. I believe in providing additional services and rehabilitation. But what George Gascón is doing is not that,” Buscaino said in the video. “He’s letting criminals out of prison early and offering lenient sentences. He’s not doing the one job he was elected to do by the people of Los Angeles — prosecute crime.” Buscaino said.
L.A. County Sheriff’s candidate Matt Rodriguez has been openly critical of DA Gascon’s policies and also officially came out in support of the recall this week.
“When I first started my campaign I wanted to stay out of the recall business. But now that people are being murdered in their homes, at work, and in the streets all across LA County, I can no longer stand idle. George Gascon isn’t reforming the justice system, he’s destroying it. There is no justice in his policies. Neither he, nor the current Sheriff, are doing anything about the violent crime in the streets, so I will. I support the recall of George Gascon and will soon be signing the recall petition”.
Matt Rodriguez is the only opposing L.A. County Sheriff’s candidate to support and sign the recall petition for District Attorney George Gascon.
Rodriguez signed the petition in person in Whittier Saturday.
No other opposing Sheriff’s candidate other than Rodriguez, who has an impressive 32 year history in law enforcement as a Captain with LA County Sheriff’s Department and as Police Chief of Santa Paula, has stepped up to support the recall.
This is the second attempt to oust Gascón from office. The first attempt halted in September 2021 due to underfunding, at which time, organizers re-structured and raised significantly more money with the backing of an impressive list of high-profile donors and the filing of a new petition. Throughout the time of the first recall attempt starting with the February 28th, 2021 recall kick-off event in front of the Hall of Justice, 31 cities have voted “No Confidence” in DA Gascon’s policies.
The DA Gascon recall petition was approved January 27th and needs about 560,000 signatures by July 6th, 2021.
LA District Attorney George Gascon’s abuse of power has hit yet another milestone.
The newly elected pro-criminal District Attorney filed a brief in Appellate Court in support of … wait for it…The DEFENDANT.
That is not a typo.
Gascon, clearly confused as to what his true role is as District Attorney of Los Angeles, who swore to protect the rights of the citizens, particularly those who are victims of violent crimes, filed a response, in support of an appeal filed by the defendant after the judge refused to dismiss firearms enhancements and allegations.
You can’t make this stuff up people!
D.A. Gascon ordered the prosecutor assigned to the case against Rehan Nazir, a former Torrance Police officer, to dismiss all the firearm allegations and enhancements. After reviewing the evidence, the judge refused the prosecutor’s request. Gascon then ordered the prosecutor to file an amended complaint with all the firearm allegations and enhancements removed, attempting to end around the judges order. The judge refused to accept the amended complaint because it wasn’t based on evidence and facts and there was no reasonable justification to allow the dismissal of all the firearm allegations.
Defendant Nazir appealed that decision to the court of appeals. And, in what is probably one of the most head-spinning moves we have seen yet by the pro-criminal D.A., Gascon joined the defendant and filed a motion to side with the defendant stating the firearms enhancements should be dismissed.
“…elected prosecutors cannot effectively carry out their constitutional responsibilities if they are forced to charge enhancements and seek penalties, that, in the elected prosecutor’s judgment, do not advance public safety or serve the interests of justice.” D.A. Gascon in his brief.
The District Attorney of Los Angeles, elected by the people and expected to prosecute criminals to the highest extent of the law in the name of public safety, takes serious issue with being “forced” to charge enhancements and seek penalties – and skyrocketing gun violence isn’t enough to get this embarrassment to the office of the District Attorney, to change his mind.
Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami has been a champion for victims rights openly opposing his boss D.A. Gascon’s dangerous pro-criminal directives. Twitter: @jonathanhatami
Gascon’s damaging directives and very public pro-criminal platform has inspired pro-victims rights and pro-law-enforcement groups to join forces launching a recall against D.A. Gascon. Additionally, city officials from eight cities around L.A. County have voted “NO CONFIDENCE” in Gascon further fueling recall efforts. Official petitions are expected to be circulated in the next couple of weeks.
The Nazir case is due to be heard on May 12th, 2021
You know it’s officially campaign season when the first candidate out of the gate in the 2022 Sheriff’s election delivers not one, but two “holy sh*t, this is what we get to look forward to?” moments just days after announcing his candidacy.
On May 1st, in our Sunday Evening Edition of The Current Report, we reported (after doing just a few minutes of homework), that Candidate Vera has an interesting collection of uh-oh-factor civil suits playing both sides of the fence, defendant and plaintiff.
HOW MUCH CLOSET SPACE YOU GOT?
When one considers running for political office, especially a position steeped in controversy with the Defund the Police movement and Black Lives Matter breathing down your neck, one might think twice about 1.) running against your current boss, and 2.) skeletons in your closet.
As we uncovered in civil suit #1, Vera has maxed out at least one closet and might want to consider a bigger house at this point – or perhaps, a different career path.
In 2015, Candidate Vera was named as a defendant, along with his former, no-shortage-of-scandals boss, Sheriff Jim McDonnell, whom we hear is also gearing up to join the 2022 race for Sheriff (FYI – there are skeletons for days with that guy, requiring at minimum, a mansion with lots of walk-in-closet space ).
The allegations were nothing short of what you expect, corruption on the highest level, you know, the usual for this type of environment, yet most certainly not ideal for someone you want running the largest Sheriff’s Department in the country.
Shortly after civil suit #1, chock full of troubling allegations with Candidate Vera as the defendant, in a sort of switcheroo, he filed a civil suit. This time as the plaintiff claiming “political retaliation”. That suit has been mulling around for a minute in the court system.
Then, in perfectly timed election-fodder (or perhaps a twist of fate), Vera and his attorney, due in court just days after Vera was on the news announcing he was running in the 2022 Sheriff’s race, were a no-show at the hearing for their own civil suit.
On Monday, May 3rd, 2021 when 8 a.m. rolled around at the Alhambra Court house, the silence was deafening. In quite possibly one of the most unprofessional first moves you can make as a candidate, Vera and his lawyer just simply… skipped the proceeding.
That’s like being a bride, planning your wedding and forgetting to show up!
Who does that?!
Did someone hand Vera a bag of ice suggesting some pre-planned cold feet?
While the judge was none too pleased, L.A. County Council Jennifer Mira Hashmall and Emily A. R. Sanchirico, who are compensated by the taxpayers of L.A. County, were front and center attending the proceedings.
Judge Maureen Duff-Lewis promptly ordered Candidate Vera to show up at the next hearing and attend mediation.
It should be troubling to taxpayers that a candidate for L.A. County Sheriff, who is fresh off of making that stunning announcement he is running against his boss for the top spot at LASD, that he not only filed a frivolous lawsuit after being the defendant (with some pretty impressive allegations) in a previous lawsuit, but he didn’t have the integrity to show up to a hearing for his own civil law suit against the people who sign his paycheck?
Minute Order LASD Chief Eli Vera – Plaintiff
May 3 2021 Minute Order Plaintiff Eli Vera
PUT A BOW ON IT
So, to wrap this up, LASD Sheriff Candidate Vera announced he was running for Sheriff of the largest county in California (the size and population of some states mind you), his advisors said “don’t worry about the skeletons on your closet, no one will notice” (hoping the Gascon recall drama would suck up that energy) and followed that up by not showing up in court to his own civil lawsuit for “political retaliation” while he is running for an political office.
Head spinning.
You can’t make this stuff up. Not even during election season.
The question remains, what’s behind his litigation strategy? Is Candidate Vera just looking for an easy payday, or is his involvement in Racketeering and Extortion what truly prevented Vera’s career advancement?
THE APPLE AND THE TREE
So far, if you’re comparing apples to apples, Vera is an orange – and definitely not the ripe and juicy kind.
What L.A. County residents (and the large majority of people worldwide) experienced in 2020, few leaders can claim they lived through, let alone stepped up to lead.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva navigated a global health crisis, civil uprising during a highly charged political atmosphere, destroyed economy and a jaw-dropping spike in crime.
No other Sheriff before him has had to lead the people during combined chaos of this kind and survived to tell about it when the smoke cleared.
Not to mention, Villanueva transitioned seamlessly from the pandemic to a high profile advocate for victims when District Attorney George Gascon flipped the script on voters, promising reform and instead, delivered directives meant to dismantle the justice system supporting criminals rights over the rights of victims and their families.
Villanueva came out swinging in December 2020, along with another super hero, Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami, the first DDA to speak up against his boss, DA Gascon. With the recall looming against the newly elected DA and the popularity of Hatami with victims and voters who feel duped by Gascon, Villanueva and Hatami stand to be the future Dynamic Duo to work hand in hand leading – and re-structuring – public safety in L.A. County.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami at a celebration for child abuse victim Gabriel Fernandez. DDA Hatami and the Sheriff have been working together supporting victims rights and fighting for justice as DA Gascon has been simultaneously dismantling our legal system in favor of criminals, putting our public safety in great jeopardy.
The relationship between the DA and the Sheriff’s Department in the past has been either strained or corrupt – or both – depending on which era, but now, with this high profile batman-and-robin-style political partnership, it looks the Villanueva-Hatami combo could be the best thing that has happened to LA County in a long time.
In the 2018 race, Villanueva was a relative unknown, with virtually no funding, pulling off the biggest upset in department history beating incumbent Jim McDonnell – who dug a huge hole for himself not even his political war chest could buy him out of.
While Villanueva may not be perfect in the eyes of some (after all, who is?), he is the best Sheriff this county has ever seen, with a history of leading during a time no other candidate will see in our lifetime.
Shortly after the Letter of Intent to Recall was served upon City Council members Skylar Peak and Rick Mullen, recall organizers became aware of serious illegal conduct by City Officials.
Representatives of the recall initiative collected supporting evidence, and subsequently filed criminal complaints with multiple law enforcement agencies including the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office where they were directed to D.A. Alan Yochelson, the head of the Public Integrity Divison.
From the on-set, the communication between recall representatives and D.A. Yochelson produced unsettling, and biased reactions. Signs of partisan behavior which was almost as troubling as the criminal complaints recall representatives were filing.
Yochelson’s demeanor with organizers showed he wasn’t especially interested in any transgressions committed by city officials, as if they were somehow immune to prosecution (he was however interested in the extortion of a burn victim by a City inspector).
Already aware of the recall efforts in Malibu, Yochelson went to unusual lengths to deter recall representatives from filing a formal complaint, without knowing the evidence representatives were in possession of, boldly statedthe
complaints “won’t help you get a leg up on the recall”. Complaints were filed in good faith, and Yochelson’s biased and inapproriate comments lead to contacting Lacey directly.
As if it wasn’t disturbing enough to discover how city officials corrupted the recall process, D.A. Yochelson also added salt to the proverbial political wound by adding an anecdote regarding how another city also went through the recall process, and that he felt it was a “good thing” the efforts were not successful. The recall he spoke of was brought in bad faith and unlike the recall of council members Peak and Mullen, which was filed due to negligent conduct and abuse of power.
The statements made by Yochelson were unsolicited and the exact opposite reaction expected from the Public Integrit Division given D.A. Laceyis currently campaigning for re-election in 2020.
In the cover letter to D.A. Lacey sent by representatives of the recall, Lacey was informed of the bias displayed by Yochelson and reminded of the high profile raids on Mayor Jefferson Wagner’s homes and business last year, just days after voting against the renewal of City Manager Reva Feldman’s contract for a second time.
The raids were a complete waste of resources, and executed only to politically harass Wagner. The actions of the D.A.’s officehave been traced back to City Manager Reva Feldman, who has close ties to Antonio Villaraigosa.
Villaraigoasa, as we have learned, also has close ties to DA Lacey and supported her last campaign.
Wagner was the sole vote against the renewal of Feldman’s contract in 2017,despite the personal efforts made byAntonio Villaraigosa to keep his “niece” employed at City Hall.
Villaraigosa personally reached out to each newly elected council members (Peak, Mullen and Wagner) after the 2016 election.
In the D.A. complaint against Wagner last year, filed “anonymously”, claims were made regarding Wagener’s “residency”.
Wagner owned a home 400 ft outside of the City limits where he serves on City Council, as well as a family property in the Civic Center, which qualified him to run for City Council in 2016.
Wagner, a Malibu icon, has also owned a business inside the City limits for over 4 decades and served a previous term on Council without issue.
It wasn’t until Wagner was re-elected and the uncovering of inconsistencies and corruption involving Feldman that he became the target of political harassment.
More than 13 monthslater, there is still no resolution to the “anonymous” complaint filed against Wagner, and the political harassment continues with the D.A. dangling the complaint over Wagner’s head. This isin spite of a new law that went into effect last year regarding residence requirements when running for office, and incidentally the residence in question, Wagner’s home in Latigo Canyon, was destroyed in the Woolsey Fire.
The recent communication with the D.A.’s office is demonstrating the allegations to have standing, and Malibu voters expect D.A. Lacey’s office to bring justice to the community.
Recall organizers will continue to collect additional evidence supporting the complaints filed with mutliple law enforcement agencies, including the attorney general, who oversees the D.A.’s office, as well as seek legal remedies against the City of Malibu for the corruption of the recall and voters right to due process.
*Any information to add to this complaint or want to include a statement, please contact recall organizers at
By Cece Woods, Editor in Chief, co-authored by Dr. Amora Rachelle, J.D., Ph.D., M.D.R., ONE Peace and Restorative Justice Center
This is the second installment of a multi-part series where The Local Malibu exposes the corruption at City Hall that interfered with voters’ rights to recall two City Council members.
Voters must now seek legal remedies against the City to reinstate the voters’ right to due process. Formal complaints have been filed with multiple law enforcement and government agencies.
There is no question the lack of leadership by City officials during the Woolsey Fire was instrumental in the initiation of recall efforts by community activists to unseat City council members Skylar Peak and Rick Mullen.
The complete disregard for the safety of residents, put in jeopardy multiple times during the disaster, including a failed evacuation plan and refusal to provide critical disaster relief, were among the monumental failures by City leaders before, during, and after the Woolsey Fire.
On November 9th, the poorly executed evacuation resulted in a traffic jam on PCH, with cars crawling at a snail’s pace, put many lives at risk as the Woolsey Fire barreled toward the coast. The fire at approximately 14 miles long, with wind gusts that hit up to 70 plus miles per hour, raged over the canyons toward PCH.
A member of LACOFD (stationed at Bluffs Park during the mandatory evacuations) was flabbergasted by the sequence of events that led to the 5 1/2 hour gridlock as panicked residents fled the fire zone. With complete amazement, he said “we’re lucky we didn’t have another Paradise on our hands”.
While residents were in a state of shock and desperate for information, there was absolutely no communication from the City.
Complete silence.
No information was dispersed by officials to guide residents during this critical time.
Once community members realized they were abandoned by the City, our publication who was boots on the ground reporting during the fire, along with residents, strategized and organized vital, up to the minute updates, and facilitated disaster assistance (as members of the press free to cross barricades with our press passes) to those in need, in the days and weeks in the aftermath of the fire.
The Local Malibu was the main source of information during the fire which resulted in over a million hit across all platforms.
Meanwhile, City leaders continued to deny emergency relief, including food, water medicine, and basic survival necessities. There was a complete breakdown in leadership control, resulting inCity Hall closing for 3 weeks.
Skylar Peak “having a moment” at the Evacuee meeting after the Woolsey Fire with City Manager Feldman looking on. Photo: Daily News.
Furthermore, city officials abused their power by using resources for their own advantage, refusing to give help to residents, and interfering with disaster relief.
Council member Peak went on local news stations to caution residents not to access Malibu by boats with disaster supplies, at which time the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department stopped relief boats in the ocean just off shore at multiple locations.
The new Sheriff of L.A. County, Alex Villanueva, who was sworn in after the fire spoke at a recent Town Hall on May 22nd. When the Sheriff was asked by a resident about the incidents in the water involving LASD if the same protocol would be in place during the next disaster, the Sheriff answered:
“That should have never happened, and it won’t happen again”.
Sheriff Villanueva at the May 22nd Town Hall at Duke’s Malibu.
Even more egregious, a city commissioner reported that City Manager Feldman “refused resources by land and water including first aid, food, and gas, because she said she did not want to put FEMA funding in jeopardy.” When in fact, FEMA funding was never in question when providing aid during a disaster.
Mitigation is critical to avoid the disastrous effects of any state emergency, and Feldman is guilty for not doing so.
Shortly after the Woolsey Fire, a petition was created by residents demanding the removal of the City Manager Reva Feldman and Public Safety Manager Susan Duenas. The petition, signed by more than 4000 residents and supporters was presented to City officials, along with public comment at multiple council meetings. Additionally, Council was inundated with emails from enraged community members supporting the dismissal of City Manager Feldman.
Council members Peak and Mullen ignored the appeals made by residents to replace Feldman, who runs City Hall dictator-style, doing whatever she wants, with absolutely no oversight from City Council.
With no options left and no resolution in sight, voters initiated the recall process as the deteriorated relationship between the community and the City, hit its peak after the disaster.
Voter Intimidation and Harassment by City officials… including a family member!
On February 11th, 2019 council members Skylar Peak and Rick Mullen were served with the Letter of Intent to Recall.
Unwilling to accept the will of the voters who signed the Letter of Intent to Recall, council member Rick Mullen, immediately after being served, personally took it upon himself to make unsolicited visits to the proponents’ residences, some as late as 10 p.m. Mullen questioned most proponents in an intimidating manner, regarding why they signed the Letter of Intent to Recall.
Additionally, Mullen’s wife, a dental hygienist, used the patient database at her employer’s dental office, violating HIPPA laws and breaking patient confidentiality. Mullen’s wife contacted proponents she did not know personally, in order to question and intimidate them.
One of the proponents reported these actions to recall organizers and quoted Mullen’s wife as saying: “Do you have any idea what you signed?”
Mullen and his wife, displayed such disturbing, inappropriate, and aggressive behavior demanding to know why proponents were recalling Council member Mullen, that it pushed some victims to take additional precautions against future interaction in the future.
A portion of the declaration submitted to authorities regarding voter intimidation by Rick Mullen toward one of the proponents of the recall.
Council member Peak also displayed similar conduct when he approached a resident who was vocal online regarding the firefighters lack of reponse during the Woolsey Fire. Peak approached him at a well known Malibu venue and said “Firefighters are really mad and I better watch out.”
This behavior from a public official is absolutely unacceptable, and it isn’t the first time we have heard reports of intimidation and inappropriate behavior from Peak.
These acts of voter intimidation are illegal and caused fear, uneasiness. and in some cases, panic in the proponents of the recall efforts.
State elections codes states the following:
“Every person who makes use of or threatens to make use of any force, violence, or tactic of coercion or intimidation, to induce or compel any other person to vote or refrain from voting at any election …is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment pursuant to Section 1170(h) of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years. (§ 18540(a)”
Many burn-out victims of the Woolsey Fire expressed desire to sign the recall petition, however, were afraid of their permits being denied, and/or their businesses being impacted, as well as other possible revenge by the city council members and specifically city manager Feldman.
As if Woolsey burn-out victims aren’t suffering enough, those who expressed their frustration and spoke out on social media were subject of intimidation from City Manager Feldman. The City heavily monitored chatter on all platforms post Woolsey, noting residents who were critical of the City and their performance during the disaster.
One resident reported to recall organizers City Manager Feldman told him directly, “If you go against us, we will make it harder for you.”
A whistle blower inside the City also reported “Feldman manipulates the order, and the granting of permit applications subjectively, based on who she likes and dislikes.” and residents are aware of and intimidated by this process, all of which interfered with recall efforts.
Declarations from the victims who experienced this intimidation, and who were brave enough to speak up, are now in the hands of law enforcement agencies.
By Cece Woods, Editor in Chief, co-authored by Dr. Amora Rachelle, J.D., Ph.D, ONE Peace and Restorative Justice Center
In the first of a multi-part series, The Local Malibu exposes the corruption at City Hall that interfered with voters rights to recall two City Council members. Voters must now seek legal remedies against the City to reinstate the voter’s right to due process and complaints have been filed with multiple law enforcement and government agencies.
Complaints of alleged bribery allegations involving City Manager Reva Feldman and council member Skylar Peak are now in the hands of government officials after emails were received by our publication shortly after the Letter of Intent to Recall was served on council members Skylar Peak and Rick Mullen at a February City Council meeting.
The alleged bribe(s), along with other alleged illegal activities by City officials, severely compromised voters rights to the recall process and violated California State elections codes.
On February 11, 2019, at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting, the Letter of Intent to Recall Council members Skylar Peak and Rick Mullen was served upon each of them, individually, for refusing to follow through on campaign promises to clean house at City Hall and conduct themselves in a legal and ethical manner as a council member.
The lack of leadership by the City to provide a comprehensive evacuation plan during the Woolsey Fire was criminal, as was the act of denying critical emergency relief to residents who stayed behind. Additionally, city hall was abandoned for 3 weeks and leaving residents without vital emergency information during the fire.
City officials continued to abuse their power by using resources for their own advantage, while refusing the same resources to residents, and was documented in the L.A. Times article regarding L.A. City Fire’s after action report.
Voters were left with no option other than to initiate the recall process as the deteriorated relationship between the community and the City hit its peak after the disaster. There were no options left, and no resolution in sight.
The final recall petitions were approved by the city on March 22, and March 25th, 2019, after the City was threatened with a lawsuit for obstructing justice for their delay tactics.
ALLEGED BRIBERY/PAYMENT FOR VOTING ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL
On February 16th, as one of the organizers, I received an email from a proponent who signed the Letter of Intent asking to remove his name from the recall after “long talks with Skylar and Reva”, who in turn promised to officially support the proponent’s project (they previously rejected before the recall process began), in exchange for withdrawing his name and support from the recall.
Below are the first emails obtained by The Local Malibu only days after serving Council members Peak and Mullen.
On March 26th, over a month later, I communicated with the proponent to see if progress was made with his project.
The proponent’s answer to my March 26th inquiry.
The project, costing $2.2 million dollars in public and private funding, was immediately calendared on the City agenda after the agreement was made by both parties, and has moved forward with support of the City, at the request of council member Skylar Peak.
And now the alleged potential misappropriation of funds of tax payer dollars could impact much needed city improvements, and/or even emergency resources needed in a future disaster.
Shortly after the first 5-0 vote supporting the project went on record, council member Rick Mullen enlisted his personal resources to assist in furthering the project. In other words, the two council members currently being recalled, and the City Manager, were all three allegedly actively engaged in pushing forward a bribe directly with the intention of undermining with the recall election.
The Local Malibu is awaiting comment from law enforcement agencies regarding an update on the complaints filed by the proponents as well as a comment from the City Attorney regarding the bribery allegations.
FIRST THE BULLSHIT: The California City Management Foundation, a self aggrandizing bureaucratic boondoggle of which Malibu City Manager, Reva Feldman is an officer, has named her “City Manager of the Year”.
BAD TIMING ONCE AGAIN: This comes fresh upon Feldman’s return from a two week vacation in Paris while Malibu struggled to launch rebuild, and is a reminder that when the fire was at its peak she closed down the city’s Emergency Operations Center for 16 hours.
SIT DOWN TO READ THIS: As did the phony foundation’s members at an expense tab dinner paid to hear Reva talk about how city managers have been dealing with the unfair criticism sparked by the fires across the state.
TRY NOT TO LAUGH: Especially the thousands of Malibu residents whose homes were ravaged by the Woolsey Fire, that was aggravated by the myriad failures of an inept City Hall and a blundering Reva: the lack of preparedness, the collapse of communications, a confused mandatory evacuation, and no aid for those who stayed behind.And for this she congratulated herself and staff on the great job they did.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? Obviously, pathetically, Reva is feeling the heat of the petition demanding her ouster from her sinecure $300,000 plus job a year, and is calling in the favors, rallying the suck ups, churning out the press releases, and who knows what other questionable acts come to mind?
PERHAPS ASK SKYLAR PEAK:The often out-of-town, and out-of-step councilperson, who has been banging the drum for Reva for who knows why? That she signs his travel expense accounts? And probably signs her own to go pick up a phony award, and for who knows what else?
ENOUGH ALREADY. SIGN THE PETITION. BE SMART MALIBU.
Council members Skylar Peak and Rick Mullen were served with the Notice of Intent to Circulate a Recall Petition at the City Council Meeting on Monday, February 11th, 2019.
Let there be no mistake about a recall for my ailing Malibu. It would be wrenching, for a city already fractured by a dwindling citizenry displaced by a disastrous fire, persevering disconcerted residents, thankful their homes were spared though many were scarred, and a disconnected second home population.
Though without reluctance I signed the recall petition, as I willingly did the immediate and frankly more pressing petition demanding the resignations or firing of City Manager Reva Feldman and Emergency Service Manager Susan Duenas.
Personally I hope the vote could be avoided, and Rick Mullen and Skylar Peak serve out their remaining terms of less two years; no doubt Rick running up his outrageous overtime to pad his pension as a fire captain, and a smiling Skylar enjoying his very early retirement in his scattered, surfside domiciles.
That of course could happen, as has been stated repeatedly by the Malibu strong, determined petition bearers. All it would take to avoid the probable pain of the recall is if the Council would ask for Reva’s resignation. Maybe also throw in an exiting gift, even a letter of recommendation, as a bean counter personified, while showing her the door. She could always blame her departure to a maladroit Malibu other cities are wont to hear.
Certainly you think it would be preferable to the ignominy of being summarily fired, with a public recitation of her dereliction of duties as well as her vanities. That would make great grist for the popular and professional media, at least from my perspective as someone who has plowed those rocky but fertilized fields.
But then there has to be the reluctance by Reva to give up her $300,000 plus salary and benefits that has made her one of the highest paid city managers in the nation, and not incidentally also for one of the smallest cities. It really is impressive how with limited academic credentials and less senior supervisory experience beyond bean counting, she had wrangled such a coveted managerial position.
But maybe you don’t want to know how, but I suspect it is nothing more nefarious than being employed in a city with a succession of neophyte councils that have preferred to spend money on self-aggrandizing vanities rather than needed administrative oversight.
No one needs the distraction and aggravation of a looming vote, let alone the ugly signage and floods of mail reminding us of how our City Hall embarrassed and failed us in the Woolsey firestorm and after. Then there is the managerial adage of “A people hire A people, while B people hire C people.” Malibu sadly is adrift in a sea of “Cs.”
Whether they ever admit it and apologize or not, Malibu’s City Hall and a woeful fire department perhaps might be forgiven by the more kindly of us. But for most residents who lived through the fires their failures surely will never be forgotten.
And we don’t need what I’m sure will be b.s. bureaucratic investigations or reviews to tell us they did fail, “yes, but.” To be sure, a very pronounced “but.” Though the reports might make for coveted souvenirs, and for a few I’m sure will be cathartic.
But expect no one responsible to be cited, no civil servant or serpent named and resignation requested. Perhaps a “lessons learned” would be helpful, with specific mandates and budget allocations. Maybe the budget funds the fire department personnel, such as our former mayor Mullen, have been scamming, albeit legally, can be diverted.
Also personally we really don’t need more of our evening or weekends usurped for open meetings with the usual suspects looking nonplussed at the head table, mouthing excuses and their sycophants nodding like bobble head dolls, scowling at those candidly venting.
Yes, all this can be avoided and we can get on with and the arduous task of rebuilding Malibu and aiding however we can the burnt out victims of the fire.
Reva of course can do the right thing, and resign, for which she would be thanked. No more booing, please.
But if not, the Council could fire her, by a 3 to 2 vote, by councilpersons I hope would not need to be reminded that they were elected to office, not anointed with divine rights, and have constituencies that want Reva gone, the sooner the better. The petition should be read to all who would listen.
It’s time for that moment of truth, difficult as it is. Time for each councilperson to be held accountable, yes, Rick and Skylar, too, as well Jefferson, Mikke and Karen: a divisive, diverting recall, or a simple, if sad, request for a resignation?
