In a surprising turn of events, Malibu City Councilman Paul Grisanti has publicly claimed responsibility for halting a dangerous car club gathering in the Malibu mountains, suggesting that Trevor Neilson, a local resident, should “thank him” for his efforts. A rather contradictory claim on many levels especially given Grisanti is a confirmed car club supporter, even appointing Malibu Local Tim Lawrence, known for his You Tube “Car Culture” series, as Arts commissioner.
But those on the ground, including Neilson, tell a very different story — one that raises serious concerns about the authenticity of Grisanti’s role and the involvement of a key real estate ally.
Grisanti’s assertion came after a chaotic scene unfolded, where 50 to 60 high-performance cars gathered in the area for an impromptu, dangerous racing event. Neilson, who was present, described the situation as “total chaos,” with no law enforcement in sight despite the obvious safety hazards. “I called Lost Hills three times before any law enforcement showed up,” Neilson recounted. “Something is seriously off here.”
Grisanti, however, claims he was instrumental in “crushing” the event, but it seems his involvement may be more smoke and mirrors than concrete action. Local real estate agent Josh Spiegel, a known Grisanti ally and political appointee to the Public Safety Commission, privately messaged The Local Malibu Instagram page 6 days before asking not to bring public attention to the event. Spiegel further claimed that he coordinated law enforcement efforts, boasting of forwarding a single email to the city council.
For the record, although The Local Malibu is known for primarily reporting on public safety issues over the last decade, this was the first communication ever received from Speigel in the last decade the social media page has been in existence.
After confirming with council member Steve Uhring that he was made aware of this event, and given my respect for and knowledge of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s and their procedures, ask to not to prepare the public for potential dangers on PCH was respected reluctantly.
However, many are questioning whether Spiegel’s and Grisanti’s involvement was more staged than substantive. According to Neilson and other residents, no real action seemed to take place until after multiple calls to Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station, leaving a gap between Spiegel’s supposed coordination and the actual law enforcement response.
The timing and political motivations are also being questioned, with Grisanti’s claims arriving just as Malibu’s city council elections draw near. Some suspect that Grisanti, who has faced growing criticism for his ties to real estate developers, is using the incident to score political points and burnish his record on public safety.
“Something doesn’t add up,” Neilson said. “I was there, and it was clear nothing was being done until I repeatedly called for help. If Grisanti and Spiegel really had this under control, why was the situation so dangerous for so long?”
As questions mount, this latest incident leaves Malibu residents wondering: Was this a genuine effort to protect the community from dangerous car clubs, or just another political stunt designed to sway voters ahead of the election?
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