Anti-Mask And Vaccine Protesters Take On Malibu Candidate Forum

MALIBU, CA — Protesters on Sunday showed up at a Malibu candidate forum for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 3, expressing frustration with the forum's masking and vaccine requirement for entry.

The protesters stood at the entryway of the library as attendees checked in for a 30 tense minutes. Many attendees confronted the protesters, leading to strained conversations about the efficacy of masking and vaccines. The protest was organized by Free WeHo, a self-proclaimed space for "freedom-loving LGBTQ people and our allies."

Roughly seven deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Lost Hills Station responded to the protesters and ultimately let them stay so long as the protesters stayed out of the library lobby, which multiple had previously been in. The protesters left around 3:30 p.m.

Protesters could be heard inside the forum chanting things like: "Hertzberg and Horvath, lock them up," referring to candidates Lindsay Horvath and Bob Hertzberg, and "end medical segregation." Inside the forum, people moved spots and asked the candidates to speak louder because the protesters often made it difficult to hear.

Addressing Fire Safety

Inside the forum, candidates answered a number of questions from the Malibu Democratic Party, who hosted the event, and the audience. Questions focused on three key issues: fire, public safety and crime and homelessness.

As usual, the 2018 Woolsey Fire took center stage as candidates fielded questions about managing wildfire risk in Malibu. Moderators noted how well state Senator Henry Stern (D-Malibu) responded to the emergency. Stern lost in the primary for the District 3 seat taking third place to Horvath and Hertzberg.

Hertzberg expressed his opposition to overnight camping in Malibu, a controversial topic for its potential to increase for wildfire risk. He pointed to his own experience with fire growing up in the San Fernando Valley.

Horvath also said she would support an end to overnight camping in Malibu and would work with the community to create a lasting solution.

Candidates addressed concerns about local politicians paying more attention to the California Mountains and Recreation Authority than their constituents.

The issue is one of funding, Hertzberg said. Local authorities like the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy need more government funding to help pay for fire protection and day-to-day maintenance, he said.

Open space properties like the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy need improved management plans and oversight that involves Malibu residents, Horvath suggested. The National Park Service could be a solution to certain existing authorities' the lack of accountability, she said.

Crime, Law Enforcement

Both Hertzberg and Horvath said they do not support the recall of Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón.

Horvath addressed recent reports that she and the West Hollywood City Council voted to defund their local sheriff's station. This is not true, Horvath said.

The West Hollywood City Council voted in June to gradually reduce the number of deputies in the West Hollywood sheriff's station as the city adds 30 unarmed security ambassadors, the Los Angeles Times reported.

At the same time, the city voted to add one deputy to patrol nightlife and alcohol-related problems, meaning the net loss would ultimately only be one deputy by late September, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Hertzberg and Horvath also commented on the strained relationship between Sheriff Alex Villanueva and the Board of Supervisors. Horvath pointed to her experience working with the local sheriff's department despite Villanueva's skirmishes over issues like masking. The board of supervisors must have a working relationship with the sheriff, she said.

Hertzberg called the skirmishes "political blah blah," advocating for a less noisy and political approach.

"Our job is to fix stuff. Not to scream at each other within our departments, not to scream at the federal government, state government, county government, city government," Hertzberg said. "Tax payers are writing the check — figure it out, fix it, or get the heck out of the way."

Other Topics

The audience showed significant concern about Horvath's relationship with existing District 3 Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, who has become increasingly unpopular in the region for her policy choices on homelessness, overnight camping, wildfire and a controversial juvenile detention center.

"You'll notice Sheila Kuehl isn't in the room, I am not Sheila Kuehl," Horvath said. "I am running on my record, I am running on my experience, I am running on the things I've done in my community and throughout the region and I am running on the experience that I have had working with members of your community to understand and listen to your issues and to take action directly to make that change. If you have questions for the supervisor, I would direct them to her, I am not her."