Caltrans Clarifies: It May Be Up To 34 Weeks To Reopen Topanga, As Malibu Traffic Gets Shorter Green And Topanga Detour Gets Longer Green In The Morning

Caltrans officials say they have reduced the amount of time for PCH traffic to have a green light at the brand new traffic light at Tuna Canyon.

And Caltrans has further explained that it may be a vague 21 to 34 weeks before the Topanga Canyon landslide will be cleared.

Not by fall … but in the fall.  Side note … Fall lasts until December 21st … 

The landslide was six weeks ago … the first limited earthmoving was yesterday … the earliest reopening is 21 to 34 weeks from now. 

Yesterday … tree trimmers hacked their way to the top of the cliff that is collapsing onto Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

Geologists from Caltrans have placed survey markers … flags … on the top of the landslide.

And yesterday … construction began on a berm to prevent rocks from rolling off the highway and into Topanga Creek. 

Caltrans officials say they are protecting the creek at the request of California State Parks.

And a front end loader began to make room for other heavy equipment to … as Caltrans puts it … begin clearing the slide at an undetermined time. 

The state says … quote … “clearing some of the roadway will make room for bulldozers and excavators to begin clearing the slide at an undetermined time.” 

It also makes room for the Geotechnical Services Branch from Caltrans to begin mapping the slide… to begin refining recommendations, and making initial calculations.

Last weekend … the state Secretary of transportation came down to get an update  at the landslide ….and get his pictures taken expressing concern.

Aseemblywoman Jacqui Irwin stood next to him :

72063 TC CLOSE

“We are very aware of the impact that this has had on the community, the long commute that residents have, the businesses that are impacted. And we are working very closely with our supervisor, our state senator. 

“But we are truly happy to see that the Secretary (of Transportation) came all the way down to Southern California. We think that Caltrans really appreciates the urgency of this issue.”

A Caltrans electrical team has discovered why the temporary traffic light on Pacific Coast Highway at Tuna Canyon was flashing red so much.

The signal has been converted from radio activated to hardwire. 

Also… it had been programmed on Eastern Standard time… which is four hours off of Pacific Daylight time.

The Tuna Canyon traffic light has now been programmed to give Malibu traffic on PCH a roughly two minute green interval .. and traffic coming down from Topanga a one minute green interval. 

 

Drunk Asshat Clocks 117 MPH At Carbon Canyon

The police crackdown on Pacific Coast Highway continues.

The number of LA County sheriff’s deputies patrolling the road has been increased … and CHP officers have been brought in to augment the deputies. 

In the first 3-1/2 months of the year … sheriff’s deputies have arrested 16 people for reckless driving … in Malibu. 

And 24 have been arrested for drunken driving …. including this kook … a jerk from the Valley … as described by sheriff’s sergeant Chris Soderlund.

72061 APR19 ARREST 

“A 29-year-old male resident of Sherman Oaks was arrested for reckless driving and DUI near PCH at Carbon Canyon Road. The car was impounded for 30 days. 

“He was clocked at 117 mph in a 45 mile an hour zone.”

Sderlubd told the city council Monday night that local students will be targeted with a week’s worth of information abrupt drunk driving and acting like jerks … starting Monday.

72062 DRIVING MHS 

“We are going to be at Malibu High School every day next week, and we’re going to be hosting different activities each day, educating the students and families about safe driving.

“One of the highlights is next Wednesday on May First — at 6:30 to 8:30 — there is going to be a screening of ’21 Miles In Malibu’.” 

That documentary … produced by Michel Shane … is open to the public next Wednesday at 7 at Malibu High School.

 

$85 Million City Budget Meeting Tonight at 6

Malibu city council will go over the next year’s budget act a special meeting tonight at 6. 

Te city’s budget is balanced. …

The Proposed Budget totals roughly $85 million in revenue … and $94million in expenses .

The expenses are a little high because the city has several construction projects planned for next year … and has been saving up to pay for them with cash. 

Also … there are about $2 million for Disaster related capital. 

Right now … the city has $59 million in the piggy bank.

The meeting is tonight at six at Malibu City Hall and on the zoom platform:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82950510487

City manager Steve McClary says his staff is working on implementing a new budget system and intend on building out a modern online budget. 

The goal is that the new structure will be clearer and more transparent. 

Unfortunately, due to staffing turnover in the Finance Division, the project has been delayed. 

Superleague Triathlon Floats Trial Balloon About Returning To Replace Zuma Beach Triathlon

The Malibu Triathlon is casting shade at the Zuma Beach Triathlon over this fall’s event.

Malibu Triathlon is now owned by SuperLeague Triathlons … a company that runs a worldwide series of ride/ride/swim competitions,.

Malibu Triathlon lost out … and doesn’t have permits in Malibu … after the city council decided to award the franchise to a local operator … Michael Epstein. 

Epstein plans to run the race … now called the Zuma Beach Triathlon … this fall.

But the SuperLeague MALIBU triathlon people are not going away in defeat. 

Brennan Lindner… at Monday night’s city council meeting ,…with the old Malibu Triathlon.

72064 TRIATHLON LINDNER

“We have that Zuma beach triathlon has yet to open up registration, which both as an athlete, and as a race producer is somewhat concerning as the proposed event is just five months away.

“I’m not sure with the circumstances regarding opening registration, but we do want to reiterate, our commitment to Malibu Triathlon and raising money for both Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Malibu nonprofits.

“We have heard from the Malibu community that there may be issues with Zuma Beach Triathlon perhaps not having an operations team… a lack of funding… or the lack of the CHL a corporate challenge.”

CHLA is the Children’s Hospital Corporate Challenge. 

Lindner says SuperLeague is ready to step back in for the fall race in Malibu.

He offered to cut his Triathlon down to one day … and to keep it off of PCH … avoiding road closures.

Epstein … from the Zuma Beach Triathlon … is not available to respond. 

His automatic email says he is on vacation. 

 

James Perse Shutters It Expansions In Lumberyards, New Stores Now Vacant

Complaints from some residents that the James Perse store had taken over Malibu’s municipal shopper center have used a city crackdown … resulting in empty storefronts.

A victory .. it would seem … for people in Malibu who are opposed to chain stores in the city.

James Perse is a Malibu designer … he grew up here … and he started his retail empire with one store in the Malibu Lumberyard shopping center.

It has grown into a chain …. And the Malibu outlet grew to take over much of the mall … 

But the Lumberyard is owned by the city of Malibu.

And it was intended to be a venue for local shops. 

City planning director Richard Mollica says … it had grown into a violation of the city’s rules.

Mollica told the city council Monday night he met with the mall’s operator … an investment firm … and changes were made … as proved by a recent inspection trip.

72060 PERSE MOLLICA  

“I met with James Perse himself … and we explained the issues with his establishment. 

“And they proposed some changes and ultimately closed the shop. It’s not been open to the public. 

“We’ve gone by to look to see if it’s open to the public and our code enforcement staff is found that it is not open to the public. 

“And a number of the tenant spaces were vacant.”

So .. the city loses out on sales tax … several shop employees lose out on their jobs … and a Malibu native who has had success nationwide gets his wings clipped in his home town. 

Score one for the people against chain stores.  But Malibu’s small-town character rules prevail.

 

Malibu High Way Ahead Of Samohi And Other Public Schools In USNews Rankings

Malibu High School ranks among the best public high schools in the country, according to a new ranking released Tuesday from U.S. News & World Report.

Malibu High School ranks 26th among all Los Angeles and Orange County high schools, 77th in California and 573rd nationally.

U.S. News used to be a magazine … now it’s a web site pretty much famous for taking surveys like this.

It determines its rankings based on student performance on math, reading and science assessments; graduation rates; and AP exam participation.

Malibu ranks 77th in California … ahead of Santa Monica High … which in years past has been ahead.

Here are some rankings (California/National) for nearby schools:

Malibu High School: 77 in California / 573 nationally.

Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach): 94 / 714

Santa Monica High: 120 / 850

Culver City: 164 / 1216

Beverly Hills: 344 / 2488

Calabasas: 457 / 3347.

 

Patrick’s Roadhouse In Financial Trouble, LA Eater Reports

Patrick’s Roadhouse has closed.
The iconic green roadside diner is behind on its lease payments. 

Eater LA reports that the restaurant’s current owner, Anthony Fischler, is trying to renegotiate a long-term lease with the building’s landlord but needs $250,000 to cover back rent and building maintenance, which he hopes to raise on GoFundMe.

Patrick’s Roadhouse has operated profitably for nearly its entire history but struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It opened in 1973 along Pacific Coast Highway at Entrada.

The quirky daytime spot served such stars as Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Goldie Hawn for over half a century … according to Eater L-A.