Matthew Katz has lived in Malibu for the past 35 years and has grown to love the city since his first visit here in 1955 at the age of 25. He has loved strolling along the beaches of Malibu and sitting on the rocks enjoying the ocean and the natural beauty of the town.
His passion for Malibu is what sparked Katz’s interest in running for city council and he has some big ideas to bring to the table in terms of how the city is being run. The beginning of Katz’s story provides an understanding of all the things that have shaped him into a unique candidate for Malibu City Council. Born in Lynn Mass. Katz got his first job at the age of 9 working in a factory. At 16 Katz was production manager of the entire factory and on top of that he had a knack for mechanics and engineering. He could fix any machine in the entire factory. Katz knew from the beginning what it meant to take the initiative to do the work others missed and to be a leader. He also didn’t overlook the people around him who had something to offer even when he wouldn’t expect it. After his work in the factory Katz went on to receive a degree in engineering from Boston University and a degree in business. He has also studied history and Japanese at a university in Tokyo political science at Stanford and harmony and composition at UCLA. Katz has tried his hand at many different career paths. He taught ballet in Japan went on an expedition to uncover what truly happened to Amelia Earhart started a company that created shrink wrap and vacuum packaging and was the music producer of more than 30 different bands including such well-known groups as Jefferson Airplane Moby Grape and It’s A Beautiful Day. So why would all of this matter for Katz’s run for Malibu City Council?
Katz says all of these experiences have shaped him into the man he is today and will aid him in doing a better job as a city councilman. He says his experience with business finances and leadership will help him know how to handle issues that may arise in Malibu. He adds that his extensive background will help him in any occasion that might arise. His style he says is not to just give orders. But he is an outspoken bold and hands on person -– qualities he says that would be beneficial for city council. Katz is very “go green which affects his views on a lot of policies in Malibu. He is a vegetarian, and a dedicated orthodox Jew, which explains his absence at some of the political forums that have been held during the race. He reads from the torah on Saturday mornings when the forums are held and being a loyal and dedicated person he doesn’t cancel his prior commitments to his temple. Some of the main topics that Katz feels strongly about are finance, safety, water, ecology, clean air, clean ocean, clean water, organic growing, and the small business aspect of Malibu. Robin Hernandez, Katz’s personal assistant and an active supporter, said that Katz truly cares about each of these topics, and he wants to see the best for Malibu. Hernandez says that he has been here for so long, that he knows what we need in Malibu. Hernandez also says that she is sure Katz will be a great representative, and he has fantastic ideas that will bring back the free spirit that Malibu once had. According to Katz, the problem with the city council is they keep spending money, even though Malibu is already in trouble financially. The city needs to create a project that provides jobs and brings income, not spend money on what Katz deems real estate projects” such as the purchase of the city hall building. Katz didn’t find this a smart business decision — how is the city supposed to make money from this project he asks if all the previous businesses before it have failed. Katz is also concerned with public safety in Malibu and advocates more lighting on the streets and more safety precautions with bikers and joggers on Pacific Coast Highway. He is concerned about the state Coastal Commission making decisions for the city and is concerned with the concrete being poured on the coastline. Katz also wants to change the rules that prohibit people from riding horses on the beach. He also wants to keep our air ocean and water clean. A big part of Katz’s philosophy is the idea that the city council can prevent bad things from happening to the community. He references the fires that have destroyed homes in Malibu. He believes the city failed to hire rangers to patrol the canyon to prevent these types of disasters. Katz simply believes that some of the priorities of the city council are confused and he believes he would be a good person if elected to fix that.
