Streisand-Backed Measure to Block Malibu Whole Foods Approved

Bloomberg reports:

Residents of Malibu, California, approved a measure to require a vote of the people for many new retail projects, prompted by a plan to build a Whole Foods market in the beach getaway for billionaires and celebrities.

The ballot item, Measure R, spearheaded by actor, director and producer Rob Reiner and backed by entertainment-industry figures including Barbra Streisand, Tom Hanks and David Geffen, passed with 59 percent of the vote, according to election results released today.

The measure’s passage “is a major victory for the residents of Malibu, all of whom now have a stronger voice over the future of our community,” Reiner, a Malibu homeowner for 21 years whose directing credits include “This Is Spinal Tap” and “When Harry Met Sally,” said in a statement today. “Measure R will help preserve the unique character of Malibu and combat increased traffic and the destruction of open spaces.”

Development restrictions have been popular in California beach cities such as Malibu, 28 miles (45 kilometers) west of downtown Los Angeles, where well-heeled homeowners are able to use their wealth and influence to limit growth. The median price for a home in the 27-mile-long coastal city was $2.35 million in September, according to CoreLogic DataQuick, and the median household income is about $136,000.

The snobs vote to limit growth in their backyard.