CONCLUSIONS

ThisWeekInMalibu issues this update: "Plans to Consider Malibu Fire Camp 8 in Las Flores Canyon as a Site for an Inmate Fire Camp Have Been Suspended".

In a statement issued late this afternoon, the Supervisor said, “In the Last two days I have spoken to L.A. County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman and asked him to reconsider this proposal. Late this morning, Chief Freeman advised me that he has directed Fire Department staff to cease their assessment of Camp 8 as a possible site for the Department of Corrections crews. The Fire Department will pursue other alternatives to the Camp 8 site”.

Yaroslavsky added,”While these fire crews perform an important public safety service, housing them in or adjacent to a residential neighborhood defies common sense.”

News of the possible relocation of up to 80 convicted felons to this quiet residential neighborhood resulted in a firestorm of protest this past weekend. Some information, which is now being refuted by County sources, indicated that the plan to move prisoners into this Malibu neighborhood was a ‘done deal’ and that dates for the transition had already been set. Rumors swirled throughout the MKL Day holiday weekend and on Monday night approximately 200 local homeowners packed a meeting at a local residence to begin organizing resistance to the proposal.

The Supervisor was appparently caught by surprise by the release of information saying, “…let me apologize on behalf of the County family for the manner in which this issue came to the attention of the community. A matter of this sensitivity and importance to any neighborhood should be vetted and discussed with residents and its elected representatives before getting to this point.” Yaroslavsky added, “In fact, I was not aware of this proposal until I received a call from a newspaper reporter yesterday (Monday) morning. To put it mildly, I was not a happy camper.”

In a letter sent this morning to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman confirmed his decision stating, “I have directed Fire Department staff to cease the assessment of Camp 8 as a possible site for these crews.

Freeman added his willingness to work direclty with neighborhood representatives to announce the decision and to “advise them of our willingness to meet with them to explain the background of this issue should they desire.”