Mayor Silverstein wants crackdown on Farmers Market, other 'scofflaws' Play

Malibu Mayor Bruce Silverstein wants city zoning officials to crack down on the Malibu Farmers Market and other organizations that are apparently operating illegally in the city.

At Monday night's city council meeting, Silverstein referred to the Farmers Market, which has city permits to operate in the parking lot at the library. The market has moved across Civic Center Way into Legacy Park and the city street next to the park.

That's against city codes. It's also against the promise that the city made to the seller when it bought Legacy Park — a promise that no commercial activity would occur on the park property. Allowing commercial activity there could jeopardize the city's ownership, causing a potential $25 million forfeiture.

Silverstein says the Farmers Market is one of several entities flouting the law in Malibu.

"On the Fourth of July, we had a laser and a lot of people were very happy with that and liked it. But it also was unlawful and the people that did it knew it was unlawful. They knew it was not permitted and they went ahead and did it anyway. Just like Nobu went ahead and did its party a year ago without authority.

"The Farmers Market has been operating in a location that it knows it is not allowed to operate. It does not have a permit to operate there.

"Surf Canyon is operating a business in a building that has no permit to even possess in the first place, much less operate businesses in them. And there are many contractors in Malibu, including some who may be on the city commissions of the city, who have done unpermitted work in those unpermitted buildings."

That appears to be referring to Silverstein's frequent political enemy, Skylar Peak, an electrical contractor who serves on the Malibu Planning Commission.

The mayor said he is asking the city zoning inspectors to crack down.