PPCC Announces Citizen of the Year, Golden Sparkplug Honorees

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The Pacific Palisades Community Council has announced its 2021 Citizen of the Year and Golden Sparkplug Awards—which are designed to honor “individuals who have made voluntary contributions to Pacific Palisades that benefit the community at large.”

This year’s winners were selected by an Awards Committee, chaired by Kevin Niles, with members David Kaplan, Sharon Kilbride, Sue Kohl and Mary Mueller. The committee reviewed nominations submitted by the community, which were due in October 31.

The 2021 Citizen of the Year is PPCC Secretary Chris Spitz, an honor bestowed upon a community member whose contributions to the Palisades have been both “a recent effort resulting in a substantial benefit to the community,” as well as a “steady, reliable long-term history of service to the Palisades.”

“Chris is awarded Citizen of the Year for leading the charge to stop the city’s plan to install a homeless village at Will Rogers State Beach,” according to a statement shared by PPCC. “During this past year in the midst of the pandemic, she has been in full trial prep mode seven days a week.”

In addition to researching laws and facts surrounding the motion, Spitz penned more than 30 position letters that were sent to city, county and state officials, as well as drafted public record requests. The proposed motion was later deemed infeasible within the Palisades by the City Administrative Office.

The community council will dole out five Golden Sparkplug Awards this year to Ingrid Steinberg, Krishna Thangavelu, Matthew Rodman, Rick McGeagh and Scott Cullen. The awards honor “those who have an idea and effort resulting in an original contribution to Pacific Palisades that benefits the community.”

Steinberg is being honored for founding and leading environmental nonprofit Resilient Palisades as the organization’s current president. Resilient Palisades is the first locally based environmental organization dedicated to “educating, empowering and supporting local emissions reduction and the establishment of new community alliances and infrastructure to make the Palisades more resilient in the face of unprecedented challenges.”

Thangavelu, described as a “formidable and passionate grass roots organizer,” worked to bring together multiple entities and leaders—including from PPCC, Pacific Palisades Residents Association and Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness—after hearing Councilmember Mike Bonin’s proposal regarding temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness at the beach parking lot. She also formed the Facebook group Protecting Parks and Beaches, as well as nonprofit Beaches and Parks 4 All.

Having previously won a Golden Sparkplug in 2017, Rodman was named an honoree in 2021 for heading the Pacific Palisades Fourth of July celebrations for the past four years—including organizing events in 2020, with COVID-19 restrictions in place.

“He was instrumental in bringing back and orchestrating our Fourth of July Parade and fireworks in 2021,” PPCC shared.

McGeagh is being honored for cleaning up the Will Rogers neighborhood, where he resides, and “significantly decreasing its fire vulnerability.” PPCC explained that he spends hours each weekend, raking and hauling away dead leaves and trash, in addition to seeking support from the city of LA and State Parks to improve fire safety in the area.

Cullen, “a true community volunteer,” began a project two years ago in 2019 to improve the median space between Radcliffe Avenue and Temescal Canyon. Since the project’s inception, Cullen has provided plants, which he rescues from construction sites, and hand waters the area to maintain it.

During an upcoming virtual board meeting on November 18, the Awards Committee is slated to present a full report on the accomplishments of the honorees, with the awards being presented on December 9.

“We salute Chris, Ingrid, Krishna, Matt, Rick and Scott for their amazing contributions to the Palisades community,” PPCC wrote in an emailed statement.