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M A LIB U ’S AWA RD W INN IN G N E WSPA P E R S I N CE 1 94 6 VOL. LXXIX • NO. XXXIX
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2025
malibutimes.com • $.50 • WEEKLY
The Reel Inn hopes to rebuild
Flames from the Palisades Fire can be seen Jan. 7 behind The Reel Inn seafood restaurant in Malibu. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMT
Beloved restaurant’s first priority is taking care of its employees By JUDY ABEL Special to The Malibu Times
Anyone who’s ever driven into Malibu from Topanga or Santa Monica knows The Reel Inn. It’s been a landmark restaurant welcoming visitors and locals to Malibu for nearly four decades and has been giving drivers a chuckle with its iconic billboard featuring daily puns. Have you ever seen the same one twice? Probably not. The Reel Inn is now another iconic landmark along the Malibu coastline that’s become a casualty of the Palisades Fire, but the funky, rustic seafood establishment that’s been a favorite of tourists and locals due to its laid-back beach-town vibe is hoping to avoid fading into
history. Its owners would like to rebuild and serve the community that’s made The Reel Inn a cultural marker for Malibu and go-to family destination restaurant. Teddy Leonard is an owner of The Reel Inn, along with her husband Andy. “He’s had it 36 years. I’ve only had him for 20,” she quipped. In the time the Topanga couple has owned the iconic seafood establishment, they’ve become part of the fabric of both the Malibu and Pacific Palisades communities who’ve been their regulars. According to Teddy Leonard, locals “have stepped up in a way that has overwhelmed us. The comments and the photographs and the memories that people have shared of family celebrations …” her voice trailed as she mentioned one family, “It was their son’s Make a Wish to CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
An LA County firefighter hoses down debris from a building burned down by the Palisades Fire on Pacific Coast Highway on Jan. 11. Photo by Benjamin Hanson/TMT
Residents prepare for debris removal and rainfall risks Governor’s executive orders expedite hazardous materials cleanup as property owners brace for flooding, mudslides, and erosion control By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times
Malibuites and their Palisades neighbors impacted by the Palisades Fire and those affected by the Franklin Fire in early December need to remove debris from their property
caused by the disasters. Further, to the extent possible, many landowners hope to act proactively to protect both their charred hillsides and landscapes and structures from suffering landslides and mudslides. Building on his Jan. 12 executive order to direct fast action to clear debris from the affected areas to mitigate any damages that could be caused by mudslides and flooding when rains come, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 15 signed an executive order authorizing the Environmental Protection Agency to begin Phase
1 of hazardous waste removal. By the next day, EPA officials were on the ground assessing properties and starting the staging work to begin hazardous household waste removal. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has allocated $100 million to the EPA to begin this work. The executive order allows highly specialized hazmat teams to remove explosive and highly toxic materials immediately after receiving a safety clearance from emergency officials. Specifically, debris removal teams will clean up pesticides, propane
tanks, and batteries in both conventional and electric vehicles. This is the first and most complex phase of debris removal. After that task is accomplished, remaining structural debris removal can be addressed. Speaking at a news conference on Jan. 14, Mark Pestrella, director of
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INSIDE
this week
Palisades Fire continues devastating impact on Malibu Firefighting progress continues as death toll rises, structures lost, air quality worsens, and recovery starts By HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher, Editor In Chief
Donald Trump sworn in as 47th president on Jan. 20. Photo courtesy of the White House
The Palisades Fire continues to have a devastating impact on Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and nearby regions in Los Angeles County. Firefighters have made significant progress, with the blaze now 63% contained. As of Tuesday at 4 p.m., the fire had burned 23,713 acres, and the death toll has tragically reached at least 10 people. The destruction of homes and businesses is expected to grow as firefighting efforts persist in the affected areas. Local air quality is rapidly deteriorating due to windblown dust and ash from the fire, prompting an air quality advisory, which was in effect until 10 p.m.
on Tuesday. Residents are urged to stay vigilant, follow evacuation orders, and avoid entering impacted areas, as many roads remain closed to allow firefighters and utility teams to carry out their work. Utility companies are collaborating closely with firefighting crews to repair damaged infrastructure, including downed power lines and fallen trees. These efforts are critical to restoring power and clearing roads for the safe return of displaced residents. In many cases, the damage caused by the fire is still being assessed, with many infrastructure challenges yet to be addressed. One notable advancement in firefighting is the use of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) to detect and track the fire’s spread. UAS teams are vital in gathering intelligence on areas of concern, helping firefighting crews make better-informed decisions. However, officials have warned that flying drones near
CONTINUED ON PAGE A7 Trump sworn in as 47th president; Biden departs reflecting on his legacy California cracks down on price gouging during emergencies
Attorney general warns Amid frigid temperatures, by Vice President JD Vance, Trump took the oath of office landlords and businesses: Trump returns to the during a scaled-down ceremony Violating price cap White House alongside inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda could lead to hefty Vice President JD Vance due to freezing weather in fines or jail time Washington, D.C. The day’s By HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher, Editor In Chief
events underscored a peaceful transition of power and set the Amid a historic backdrop, stage for the next chapter of Donald Trump was officially American leadership. sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, A ceremonial farewell for Jan. 20, marking his return to Biden President Joe Biden departed the White House for a second, nonconsecutive term. Joined CONTINUED ON PAGE A6
By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times
D ur ing emergencies in California, price gouging is prohibited by law per Penal Code Section 396. The California Office of Emergency Services website, cafoes.ca.gov/office-of-the-
director/policy-administration/ legal-affairs/price-gouging, lists all price gouging restrictions currently in effect due to a proclamation by Gov. Gavin Newsom. One central tenet is that increasing the price of goods or services by more than 10 percent may be illegal price gouging. Californians who believe they have been the victim of price gouging should report any incidents to either the attorney general’s website or to local authorities. Given the volume of displaced persons, housing is one of the primary arenas in which fire
victims are experiencing price gouging. Stories abound regarding enterprising property owners steering clear of increasing leasing prices beyond 10 percent to comply with that standard, yet also imposing new, onerous restrictions. Those include asking prospective lessees to pay for an entire year’s rent in addition to asking for the usual safety deposits. “Be aware. After a disaster, price increases can occur at grocery stores, gas stations, with housing, emergency and medical supply CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
Surfing community in Malibu, Palisades, and beyond rallies to support fire victims |B1
News Briefs . . . . . . . . . A3 • Developer Steve Soboroff named chief recovery officer of Los Angeles Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 • Restaurant Guide: Eateries that are open in Malibu News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 • Couple arrested for impersonating firefighters during devastating wildfires Local News . . . . . . . . . A6 • Santa Ana Winds trigger air quality concerns: Advisory warns of toxic dust and ash Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . A8 Malibu Life . . . . . . . . . B1 • Malibu Brewing Company joins forces with World Central Kitchen to aid wildfire relief People . . . . . . . . . . . . . B2 • Ben Marcus: Malibu Seen: BU Back Better Legals . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4 Business & Directory . . . B6 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . B6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B8 • Men’s volleyball kicks off season with sweeping victories