U2 guitarist won't get to build mansions on Malibu hillside

A plan by U2 guitarist The Edge to build a cluster of mansions on a ridgeline above Malibu appears to be dead after California's highest court declined to consider his last-ditch appeal.

The musician, whose real name is David Evans, staged a 14-year legal fight to build five large, eco-friendly homes dubbed Leaves in the Wind in an undeveloped section of the Santa Monica Mountains west of Los Angeles.

The state Supreme Court decided last week not to review a lower court ruling, which denied approval to build on the land after the Sierra Club sued to block construction.

File - In this April 8, 2009, file photo, is an ocean view seen from a hill area adjacent to the proposed Malibu development of U2 guitarist The Edge in Malibu, Calif. A plan by U2 guitarist The Edge to build a cluster of mansions on a ridgeline above Malibu appears dead, after California's highest court declined to consider his last-ditch appeal. The musician, whose real name is David Evans, staged a 14-year legal fight to build five eco-friendly homes dubbed Leaves in the Wind in an undeveloped section of the Santa Monica Mountains west of Los Angeles. The state Supreme Court decided last week not to review a lower court ruling that denied approval to build on the land after the Sierra Club sued to block construction. (AP PhotoDamian Dovarganes, File)

The lower court said the California Coastal Commission improperly granted Evans' 2015 permit.

The compound's green pitch didn't get very far with neighboring residents and environmental groups, which raised concerns about biological and visual effects in such sensitive habitat.

Sierra Club lawyer Dean Wallraff said Wednesday that the $100 million development would have been a "scar" on an untouched hillside.

FILE - In this April 8, 2009, file photo, is the site of a proposed development by U2 guitarist The Edge is seen in Malibu Calif. A plan by U2 guitarist The Edge to build a cluster of mansions on a ridgeline above Malibu appears dead, after California's highest court declined to consider his last-ditch appeal. The musician, whose real name is David Evans, staged a 14-year legal fight to build five eco-friendly homes dubbed Leaves in the Wind in an undeveloped section of the Santa Monica Mountains west of Los Angeles. The state Supreme Court decided last week not to review a lower court ruling that denied approval to build on the land after the Sierra Club sued to block construction. (AP PhotoDamian Dovarganes, File)

Evans' representatives didn't respond to requests for comment.

If Evans wants to pursue the building process again, he has to start at the beginning by reapplying to the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken removed Cuba Wednesday from the State Department's short list of countries that it deems less than fully cooperative against violent groups.

In a statement, the State Department said Blinken had found that Cuban and U.S. law enforcement were again working together on counterterrorism and other efforts.

The State Department had cited Cuba as a “not fully cooperating country” in 2022, saying that Cuba had refused to engage with Colombia in the extradition of members of the National Liberation Army group.

Colombia later dropped its arrest warrants for those members, however. “Moreover, the United States and Cuba resumed law enforcement cooperation in 2023, including on counterterrorism," Wednesday's statement said.

The State Department, in compliance with U.S. laws on arms exports, maintains a list of countries perceived as not cooperating fully on counterterrorism.

The U.S. kept North Korea, Syria, Iran and Venezuela on the list in Wednesday's rulings.

Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez acknowledged the decision, but he said that Washington could do more.

“The U.S. has just admitted what is known to everyone: that #Cuba fully collaborates with the efforts against terrorism,” Rodríguez said on X, formerly Twitter.

But he added that “all political manipulation of the issue should cease and our arbitrary and unjust inclusion on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism should end.”

Associated Press writer Andrea Rodríguez reported from Havana.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister following their talks in Kyiv on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Brendan Smialowski, Pool Photo via AP)