LETTER: Don't Let Your Voice be Quiet, Malibu Needs You

Dear Residents,

Our beloved neighbor’s businesses are increasingly threatened as more and more corporate powerhouse chains are deliberately leased in Malibu’s retail centers, replacing the small, independent businesses that we need and that have always made Malibu unique, historic and one-of-a-kind in the world. 

A couple of developers, who are radically changing the face of our beloved city, are fighting hard to prevent your City from enacting sane and fair safeguards at our main retail centers. Safeguards that (don't evict any current chains) help protect: Malibu’s historic character for all visitors, residents critical shopping needs, and the longevity of our small independent businesses like Diesel Books and Lily's Restaurant.

Are these Malibu friends worth two minutes of your time? 

• Lavon at European Shoe Repair
• John at Diesel Bookstore
• Gene at The Vitamin Barn
• Joe at Malibu Lifestyles
• Debbi at Trancas Nursery
• Seda at The Chocolate Box
• Lily at Lily’s Restaurant 
• Caytlyn at Sea Lily Florist 
• Michael at PC Greens 
• Dee at The Godmother
• Tina at Malibu Colony
• Dave at Anawalt Lumber  
• Liz at Room At The Beach 
• Sherman at Sherman's Place 
• Julian at Malibu Mutt  
• Craig at Drill 
• And all the wonderful rest

Will you send a quick email to our City today and say so?

Don't let your voice be quiet, Malibu needs you.

Developers are meeting with your Council and sending letters to your City Planning office hoping to stop Malibu from protecting itself.

Will you send a note?

If you care about Malibu, please take a few moments and jot off an email to our Planning Department NOW.

Please send a note today (Wednesday) to: Senior Planner, Joseph Smith at: jsmith@MalibuCity.org

Speak out, speak up and ask that a Business Formula Ordinance be immediately enacted that:

• Preserves Malibu’s unique, welcoming and historic character for all.
• Protects residents retail need.
• Safeguards our independent business from predatory chains. Our small businesses that both tourists and citizens love.
• Is strong, effective, loophole-free and enacted quickly by our city.

Malibu will finally be joining other protected, successfully unique neighboring cities such as Coronado, Sonoma, Ojai, San Francisco, Sausalito and others, by enacting a Formula Business Ordinance.  

Finally, the countdown is here. Only together, as neighbors, can we preserve Malibu.

Preserve Malibu

Patch accepts and publishes letters to the editor and commentary regarding any relevant local issue. The views expressed in the above commentary do not reflect the opinion of the publication, its editor and/or its writers. Emails may be edited for length and clarity. Have an opinion? Write to the editor of your Patch site at malibu@patch.com.

Stay connected with Malibu Patch throughout the day on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to our free daily newsletter for email updates and breaking news alerts.