Council Member’s Email Perceived as Threat

• ‘Intimidating’ Email Is Read at Monday Night Meeting

BY BILL KOENEKER

Activist Lynn Norton came to Malibu City Council chambers this week, she said, to not talk about Trancas Canyon Park, but to discuss political and administrative process.
Norton has repeatedly challenged Councilmember Sharon Barovsky’s statements about some of the outcomes of various meetings and workshops.
Norton has also challenged how decisions were made about the highly controversial park that has split the west Malibu neighborhood and left many wondering if the final version approved by the city council reflects the vast majority of residents who participated in the increasingly acrimonious debate.
At the same time, Barovsky has complained that Norton’s attitude has been to personally attack her.
Norton, who has been singled out by Barovsky at various meetings, said she wanted to read into the record an email she received from Barovsky.
“Lyn [sic], I’ve kept quiet about your statements until now. But your slander of my position had finally caused me to respond. I realize I’m a ‘public figure’ and you have some latitude in what making [sic] false statements. However, I have spoken to an attorney and am now putting you on notice that much of what you said is simply not true and unless you either prove your accusations, retract them, or defend them in court. Sharon Barovsky.”
“I object to that. You are trying to intimate people from speaking out,” said Norton from the podium.
Barovsky said Norton had come to her about setting up a meeting and out of that came another public workshop. “You got everything you wanted,” she said.
The council member said she has been on the council a long time and is accustomed to the “slings and arrows [but Norton] went over the line in [accusations] of abuse of power,” Barovsky insisted.
The council member went on to talk about how she is convinced the decisions arrived at by the council for Trancas Canyon Park were based on what people had weighed in on.