MLB Owner Accused of Stealing Sand from Malibu Beach
A second state agency has accused Mark Attanasio, the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, of taking sand from a Malibu beach without permission.
Notice of Violation and Unauthorized Work
Last month, the California Coastal Commission sent Attanasio a notice of violation related to the taking of sand from Broad Beach, and a second letter from the California State Lands Commission has accused his construction crew of unauthorized work on state-owned tidelands.
Theft of State Resources and Damaged Property
The letter alleges that the construction work amounts to a theft of state resources and damaged state property. The activities may have damaged rocky reef habitat or other important public trust resources and impaired public access to public property, according to the letter.
Denial of Allegations by Attanasio’s Attorney
Attanasio’s attorney, Kenneth Ehrlich, disputed that any sand was improperly taken and said the construction crew, 2XMD Partners, will respond to both state agency letters by the end of the day Monday.
Neighbor’s Lawsuit and Support from Coastal Commission
A neighbor, James Kohlbert, initially filed a lawsuit against Attanasio over the sand issue, and his attorney, Tim McGinity, welcomed the Coastal Commission’s involvement. “We’re happy that the Coastal Commission is sort of echoing what we are also trying to do, and we’re encouraged with the actions that they’ve taken thus far,” he said last month.
Conclusion
The allegations against Mark Attanasio and his construction crew have sparked controversy, with one neighbor’s lawsuit and two state agencies stepping in to investigate. While Attanasio’s attorney disputes the allegations, it remains to be seen what actions will be taken as a result of the accusations.
FAQs
Q: Who is Mark Attanasio?
A: Mark Attanasio is the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, a professional baseball team.
Q: What is the alleged sand theft?
A: Attanasio’s construction crew is accused of taking sand from a public beach in Malibu without permission, allegedly damaging rocky reef habitat and impairing public access to public property.
Q: What have the state agencies done in response?
A: The California Coastal Commission and the California State Lands Commission have sent notice of violation and letters alleging unauthorized work on state-owned tidelands, respectively.
Q: What is the status of the lawsuit?
A: A neighbor, James Kohlbert, initially filed a lawsuit against Attanasio over the sand issue, and the case is ongoing. Attanasio’s attorney has disputed the allegations and said the construction crew will respond to the state agency letters by the end of the day Monday.
