Renaming Bids Trigger Debate over Community History

• Critics Say City Council Is Ignoring Malibu’s Past in Favor of Trendiness and Big Bucks

BY BILL KOENEKER

DeButts Terrace residents are going to try again to seek a name change for their street after having been initially rebuffed by a majority of the Malibu City Council last week when they wanted to rename the hillside street Paradise View Way.

Residents, who will approach the council at its meeting next week, agreed to erect a monument to the colorful family who lived in the area for many years, saying the memorial for the DeButts family would be placed in a conspicuous location.

According to a staff report, homeowners have conducted research and determined that The Overview was a prior name used for the road now known as DeButts Terrace.

Homeowners seeking the name change had previously told council members they found the current street name derogatory in nature.

“It has been hijacked to vernacular slang and it is devastating to our teenage children,” said Allison Thomsen, who said 19 other property owners on the street signed a petition.

“The name is inappropriate,” agreed another resident, Charles Schette, who said his four-year-old child does not know the name of his street because he doesn’t want him repeating the word.

Councilmember Jeff Jennings and Mayor Ken Kearsley said they would not support the request and gave a brief history course on the colorful family that lived on DeButts Terrace before all of the others.

Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich pointed out that city guidelines call for historic names to be used whenever applicable.

Councilmember Andy Stern said he appreciated the history, but was more concerned about the people on the street who have to endure the taunts. “People face it on a daily basis,” he said, and agreed to support their request. Councilmember Sharon Barovsky apparently agreed. “I support it,” she said.

BLUFFS PARK NAME SALE

In another renaming agenda item, Conley Ulich’s request last week to consider renaming the Bluffs Park which the city took over formally three weeks ago, met some of the same resistance from other council members.

Conley Ulich said she thought the city could make some money on allowing folks to name the park, the ball fields, tot lot or picnic tables after themselves or others if they wanted to pay. She said she also wanted to see a new sign that displayed ownership of the park by the municipality.

Barovsky said she thought if someone wanted to pony up a million dollars, they should have the right to rename the park. She said the matter should be sent to the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission for consideration. “I’m against sending it anywhere. It is the Bluffs Park,” said Stern.

Jennings said he would like an updated sign, but preferred the name Bluffs Park. “Those fields were already named Heroes Fields, remember?” he asked. “I think there are better ways to raise money for the ball fields.”