Grisanti"s Flaws Exposed at Malibu Forum

The most important reveal at the first forum of the five candidates vying for three Malibu City Council seats in the upcoming local election was the necessity to defeat Paul Grisanti.

Despite the glut of his signage and convoluted campaign pieces, Grisanti came off, in the forum held high above eastern Malibu in the Fire Department’s Camp 8, as defensive and discursive.

As well as he should be, for in his four years on Council Grisanti has consistently agitated for questionable development projects, championed their facilitators, and actively opposed pro-active legislation, if proposed by “reformer,” Bruce Silverstein and Steve Uhring.

And then when as Mayor representing Malibu, he used the opportunity to promote a realtor lobbyist group, much to the embarrassment to the city and damage to its credibility. Residents then wonder why the city seems to be so much at odds with the Coast Commission and Mountains Conservancy.

To be sure, incumbent Grisanti gave pat if Trumped up answers to a panel of moderators questions concerning PCH safety, development, fire prevention, code enforcement, problems with the Planning Department.

Sticking sharp pins into Grisanti’s self-aggrandizing and prejudiced recalls of his Council actions, was incumbent candidate Bruce Silverstein, ever the adroit lawyer. Obviously piqued was Paul, who sat like a stone, trying to hide his scowls.

In contrast, the other candidates present, incumbent Steve Uhring, and newcomers Haylynn Conrad and Dr. C Channing Frykman, actually seemed at times to be enjoying themselves; the women smiling when agreeing with one another, and Uhring laughing. This to the obvious approval of a polite audience of about 80 and the three moderators, Terry Davis, Scott Dittrich and Kraig Hill.