Villanueva Issues 3rd Different Statement In 3 Days On Malibu Beach Closures

Will he or won’t he???
Alex Villanueva is now issuing a third plan on how his deputies will handle beach closures ordered by the Board of Supervisors for this holiday weekend.

First … his office said the order woukld be enforced in Malibu.

Then … the sheriff himself said he would not enforce it … because he was not consulted in drafting it.

Then yesterday …  the sheriff walked back his stated intention to ignore enforcement of beach closures this holiday weekend.

Sheriff Villanueva’s office yesterday said … yes … beaches will be closed starting Friday.

Here’s the sheriff’s new operative plan … announced in a Tweet …  voiced by a KBUU reporter.

NEWSCUT 75697 VILLANVA CONFIRMS

“LA Sheriffs Department headquarters advises the beaches are closed Friday, July Third thru Monday July 6th.

“Enforcement efforts will be focused on vehicle and penal code violations, beach parking lot closures, and street parking restrictions. 

“Beach patrol will be patrolling the county beaches to ensure public safety.”

That statement came one day after the sheriff was quoted by an L-A TV station saying he would not enforce the beach closure.

NEWSCART 75697 SHERIFF CLOSURE

“We were not consulted on the beach closure, and will only assist our beach cities in closing parking lots and traffic enforcement on PCH. In regards to enforcing the beach closure, we will not be enforcing it because we are ‘Care First, Jail Last.’ ”

The sheriff has not responded to our requests for clarification on that statement.

Reaction in Malibu has been generally positive to the beach closure … at least on social media.

One person at Malibu city hall … said it appears the sheriff may have just been playing brinksmanship tactics with his enemies at the Board of Supervisors … with Malibu in the middle.