KBUU NEWSWIRE Wed Sep 27 – Cardboard Arsonist Arrested At Escondido Cyn – Caltrans Leaves Malibu Hanging 1 Year On Simple Project, Commission Says – Sheriff Goes After Organized Retail Thieves

‘TRANSIENT’ BURNS CARDBOARD IN ESCONDIDO CANYON AREA

A transient person may have set his own cardboard shelter on fire earlier this month …. Near Escondido Beach.

A fire was reported in the early morning hours of September 16th … in the heavy brush near the Escondido Creek bridge … just east of Geoffrey’s restaurant. 

Sergeant Chris Soderlund picks up the narrative.

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“Witnesses there observed a transient starting a fire at the location. 

“The fire was in aa area of heavy vegetation next to a residence. 

“The deputies looked at the crime scene and they observed multiple pieces of burned cardboard and a charred patch of dirt where the fire had been set. 

“They were able to locate him (the suspect) walking westbound along the southern edge of Pacific Coast Highway, near where the fire had been set. 

“Upon contacting the suspect … that suspect gave off the heavy odor of smoke, and without any prompting, he told the deputies ‘I put the fire out..’ “

That will get you arrested.

The suspect was arrested for arson.

This is apparently the first cold weather fire of the year in Malibu … 

In a typical year … several fires like that break out … as people light fires to warm themselves or cook food or drugs.

 

CALTRANS LEAVES MALIBU HANGING, IGNORES CITY FOR 1 YEAR ON PUBLIC ART PROJECT

Caltrans officials have left Malibu hanging … once again.

This time .. it’s the state’s request for Malibu to come up with some sort of public art to put in an underpass that the state is going to build at the Solstice creek underpass.

Caltrans is required by state law to include public art on its new projects.

They went to the city asking for help.

The Malibu arts Commission held a competition … selected an artist … and submitted the contract as specified by the state.

For more than a year … Caltrans officials have refused to move on a contract that the city dutifully drew up to put a mural in the underpass.

Arts commission chair Fireball Kelly.

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“I am just concerned about getting into bed with a group of people who feel that’s OK to be willy-nilly about all the stuff that like, to delay delay delay with no guarantees of anything. 

“It’s taking a lot of time” 

Another commissioner … Lotte Chernin … said the artist has spent a lot of her money on the Caltrans project.

Now … they are about to walk away from the project.

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“I understand I think I think to continue down this path where they are not reliable or responsible a big mistake. I mean she’s put out. She spent a lot of time on her drawings of her images of the whole thing. 

“This is bullshit [BLEEPED].

“I’m sorry, but I mean I deal with a group that is so irresponsible.”

If the Caltrans delays at Solstice Creek sound familiar … they should.

At Trancas Creek … a two year project to replace a bridge is still grinding on into its fourth year.

The project is not yet halfway done.

Beach access remains blocked … bicyclists are still detoured into traffic … construction debris is all over the place.

We will reach out to Caltrans for comment.

 

CITY OF CULVER CITY BUYS GUN STORE IN CULVER CITY

One of the nearest gun stores to Malibu is getting a new owner … the City of Culver City.

The Martin B. Retting gun store … on Washington Boulevard east of the 405 … had operated in Culver City for 65 years. 

The big GUNS sign is prominently visible from the freeway … 

Culver City parents note that it is across the street from an elementary school and down the street from Culver City High.

Culver City has clamped down on firearms dealers near schools … but Retting’s guns is allowed to continue to operate.

It’s for sale … and now for 6 point 5 million dollars … the City of Culver City is buying it.

The LA Times reports that expensive … but parents and gun control advocates argue the high price is worth it to stop another gun store from taking its place.

There are very few gun stores left in LA County … but a whole bunch of them in Ventura County.

 

CITY COUNCILS STATEWIDE BESET BY IDIOTS PHONING IN, SOME CITIES END REMOTE COMMENTS

We’re not going to play tape … but several obnoxious callers made obscene, sexually explicit or antisemitic remarks at the last city council meeting.

One nut simply said the web address of a site of flat earthers .. who believe the Twin Towers were brought down by some sort of conspriacy.

It’s a nationwide problem,

One city is vowing to end telephone access to speak.

San Francisco.

The remote access was started during the coronavirus pandemic to allow people to make comments on public policy while remaining at home.

She people in Malibu say they really like that … including one woman who says she is scared to appear in City Hall because it is full of electronic radiation.

But  “Zoom-bombing” is spreading like a virus.

Right-wing groups … racists … and individuals spreading vitriol.

Local officials up and down the state are considering getting rid of remote comments to stop the antisemitic and racist attacks that have persisted since the start of summer.
That tracks with a general rise in antisemitism and racism in the U.S. 

The Anti-Defamation League identifies a sharp rise in attacks against Jewish officials and communities.

Last year, the organization recorded 518 reports of antisemitism in California last year, up 41% from 2021.

Malibu got hit with a string of garbage Monday night.

So far … no change to the policy on calling in for public comment … in Malibu.

 

LA SHERIFF GETS $15M GRANT TO SET UP 3 ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT  TASK FORCES

Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies are increasing efforts to stop organized retail theft.

A 15 million dollar state grant will fund three L A County strike teams … to scramble to respond to gangs of organized criminals who cluster swarm and steal.

Sheriff Robert Luna says he hopes to put the criminals behind bars … not exactly popular among some. 

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“I hope that the community hears this loud and clear.

“it would be awesome if we didn’t arrest anybody else for retail theft, because there was no more retail theft going on.

“but unfortunately, that doesn’t happen, and we’ve heard very loud, our community, very loud, from specifically our business community: they are fed up.”

The sheriff plans to create three strike teams … to work with local police.

Organized gangs have hit the Thousand Oaks area and Santa Monica.

Police there are setting up a high tech command post and putting extra cops on the ground.

Also … the city bus using overhead drones to fly around and look for suspicious vehicles or groups of people.

Beverly Hills has been doing that as well.