Malibu can be saved — but it needs vision and leadership, at every level

There’s no excuse for the slow pace of rebuilding on the Malibu coastline. And what’s needed more than anything is a vision for the future. 

Malibu isn’t just a playground for the rich. Its vast public beaches are beloved by all Angelenos. And the Malibu coast is a huge tourist draw for the region. 

Right now, what visitors see looks more like Pompeii than paradise, as The California Post noted this weekend.

Malibu’s own government is completely overwhelmed, issuing permits at a snail’s pace. Governor Gavin Newsom has lost interest. LA Mayor Karen Bass has no jurisdiction. 

Residents are fending for themselves. And as Jon Fleischman notes, some of them are not that wealthy — they just inherited family homes that had been built cheaply in the 1950s.

Only the ultra-rich are going to be able to afford the massive investment it will take to rebuild — if rebuilding is even possible.

In the meantime, the ruins are an eyesore. They are a reminder of the Palisades Fire, and every government failure that made that disaster worse.

When the world arrives in 2028 for the Summer Olympic Games, we are going to feel a deep sense of shame —unless we act now.

First, the Malibu coastline needs a new plan that makes sense for the geography of the area. Building on the coastline is always risky, because of tides, erosion, and even tsunamis.

Some stretches of coastline need a seawall — not just for the homes, but for the Pacific Coast Highway, a key coastal artery. And in places where no seawall is possible, the government should create parkland, and compensate the owners.

Funding should come from both the state and federal governments. Malibu is too important to California, and to the USA, to lose.

Second, the federal government should move in to expedite permitting.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January effectively giving the Small Business Administration (SBA) the power to take over local permitting in the Palisades and Eaton fire zones.

While that seems to have spurred progress in other areas, Malibu is still lagging. The feds need to get involved.

Third, the state and local government need to be vigilant about large land purchases by developers, especially foreign interests.

Billionaires shouldn’t dictate the fate of Malibu before residents have had a fair chance to rebuild.

With the right vision, who knows — Malibu could be even better than before.