25306 MALIBU ROAD
MALIBU, CALIFORNIA 90265
Tel: (310) 456-9133 Fax: (310) 456-6146
isthelaw@charter.net - iscookie@charter.net
June 4, 2003
George W. Bush, President
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
On behalf of ourselves and our son, Joshua N. Birenbaum, who enlisted
in the army in 2000, was endorsed by his commanding officers to attend
the United States Military Academy, and who is now a cadet who has completed
his second year at West Point, we are asking for your assistance to save
our family’s home of twenty-five years, where he was born and raised, here
in Malibu, California.
Local officials are discriminating against us by selective enforcement
of the building codes, despite our having “complied with all applicable
legal requirements” in 1986 (see enclosed copy of court’s finding dismissing
prior action). Malibu is a small beach community in Southern California
where most of the structures are non-conforming to current codes because
they were in existence years before Malibu became incorporated as a city.
We believe our particular prosecution was prompted due to our public criticism
of the City
over development plans, and the local council’s alignment with land
developers.
In this time of war and terrorist threats against our country, when local officials choose to prosecute the parents of a member of the armed services to cause eviction and demolition of his home of more than twenty (20) years, we believe it disrespects the sacrifice he is making on behalf of his country and it is an unnecessary and unwarranted harsh action that undermines the principles for which he, and so many others, are serving.
We suffered a great loss
in 1983 when a portion of our home
was washed away to sea by “El Nino” ocean storm. Please do not allow
a
United States West Point Cadet lose the remaining part of
the home where he grew up all of his life.
June 4, 2003
George W. Bush, President
Page two
We have exhausted our local appellate procedures and only executive
intervention with the City
of Malibu, and its officials, will save our family home. Please help
our family now before it is too late. Please help this soldier and a future
leader in our armed service who has known no other home during his life.
Sincerely,
Sam and Nidia Birenbaum
