Malibu residents upset at Bob Dylan's outhouse

How sweet is life when you live next to a celebrity in Malibu? Outside Bob Dylan’s house, the answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.

That’s what some of the singer-songwriter’s neighbors are claiming in an increasingly onerous dispute over a porta-potty at his sprawling ocean-view estate on Point Dume.

Residents contend that the nighttime sea breeze sends a noxious odor from a portable toilet on Dylan’s property wafting into their homes. The stench has made members of one family physically ill and forced them to abandon their bedrooms on warm nights, they claim.

For more than six months, Dylan has ignored their complaints and their pleas to remove the outhouse, the downwind neighbors say.

“It’s a scandal -- 'Mr. Civil Rights’ is killing our civil rights,” said David Emminger, whose home is directly behind the porta-potty -- apparently intended for use by employees of the entertainer best known for his 1960s-era protest songs.

Emminger and his wife have installed five industrial-size fans in their front yard in an attempt to blow the odor back at Dylan. But they say the fans are no match for the ocean breeze that sweeps across the singer’s land.

Dylan, who has lived on a multi-lot compound next to Bluewater Road for more than two decades, did not respond to inquiries about the toilet. Neither did his New York-based attorney.

Malibu municipal officials said they are investigating the porta-potty complaint. But because of that, they are unable to discuss the issue, they said.

But Dylan’s neighbors, who contend their patience has run out, have plenty to say about the odor.

“It started in September. I’d go into the front yard and get nauseous,” said Cindy Emminger, 42. “I couldn’t figure out at first where the smell was coming from.”

But then her 8-year-old son, David Jr., was sickened by the stench. Then she became ill too.

“We both [have] allergies and are sensitive to chemicals,” Emminger said. “I finally noticed that they had moved the porta-potty directly in front of my front door. I figured out that the smell was coming from that.”

She called her husband, an international bond trader who at the time was on the East Coast addressing a group of city and county managers. He suggested she contact Malibu’s municipal officials.

By some accounts, the city’s response has been sluggish.

In January, one inspector reported that a city code enforcement officer was turned away by Dylan’s security staff and told that he was trespassing. “He said they were going to sue the city,” the inspector said.

Guards in security shack that is staffed around the clock near the edge of Dylan’s compound are among those who use the porta-potty, according to neighbors.

The guard house has been the source of controversy in the past. In 1989, when Dylan sought a permit to build it, Los Angeles County building and safety inspectors discovered it was not accessible by the handicapped. According to county records, the singer bypassed accessibility requirements by promising, in writing, that he “would not hire any handicapped persons” to work in it.

Cindy Emminger said material burned in an apparently recently installed stove inside the guard shack adds to the odor problem on chilly nights, when Dylan’s workers use the heater.

-- Bob Pool

Comments

[Steve Jordan]

The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind, the answer is blowin' in the wind.

[Anon]

HAHA, not surprised. First of all, the Emmingers are well-known whiners and hypochondriacs around Malibu. I have little faith in their assertions and calling sense of smell a civil right should show you how ridiculous these people are. They are autism fanatics (you know, the kind that tie it to immunizations with personal stories rather than science, because Jim Carrey told them to?) and I believe rallied against flouidization of the water (yes, apparently they're also board). Moreover, they just bought their home 4 years ago for $2.4 million, which tells you (a) they should have smelled it then, assuming it was around and (b) they're probably trying to milk a very golden cow (Dylan) to recover the huge loss they've probably seen in property value. I hope Dylan lawyers up and buries these whackjobs.

[Trojan Al]

the problems of the super-elite liberals!! God bless them.

Trojan Al

[Andy A.]

This is so rediculous. Get over it, and be happy you live in Malibu you complaining little weasels.
If they were my neighbors, I would get rid of the porta-potty and relieve myself directly on their lawn

[CS]

I don't know which is worst: Dylan disregarding his neighbors concern over the porta-potty or promising never to hire handicapped people to work on the property.

[Anonymous]

Good for Bob! As a resident of Malibu, I can tell you that the residents of Point Dume are (for the most part) elitist, arrogant and into controlling each other's business, children, property, and general appearance.

The only reason that the real estate in this area has climbed so fast and high, and retained its value in bleak economic times is because celebrities such as Dylan, Streisand, Julia Roberts, etc. live there. The Emmingers should sell their property and be happy that the value is so high because Mr. Dylan is their neighbor.

The rest of Pt. Dume should just take a vacation to middle-America somewhere and get into reality.

[what a joke]

Liberals are all the same. The only civil right they care about are their own. The only money they care to donate is NOT their own. WHAT A JOKE. Dylan is a perfect example of an OBAMA supporter. These are the ones we have been waiting for ?

[Bill]

Who cares about these rich people? Why is this even a story. Getting sick from poop stink? I think not. This is just nothing but a sense of entitlement from neighbors.

[Beth]

Wow. Bob certainly doesn't live up to his image of being a friend to the working man in his real life. He doesn't want people who work for him full-time to use the bathroom in his house? Or work in a properly heated work space? And what is up with Malibu for refusing to crack down on such obvious code violations? That heater may be a fire hazard, and it's certainly a health hazard, along with the portapotty (it's unhealthy for the neighbors and unsanitary for the workers forced to use it on a daily basis). I've lost considerable respect for Bob Dylan if this story is true.

[Melaine Samson]

Whiny rich people. Who cares?

[eric von schmidt]

Yo Bob, surely there's a way to provide a privy to your workers that doesn't stink up the neighborhood. Find it dude. And neighbors, don't pester the man with silly complaints. Hope the new album has some of the energy of the young Bob. Forever young.

[John Scheibe]

A side note to Bob Dylan's house. It was once owned by the late L.A. Times sports columnist Jim Murray, who sold it to Dylan over 30 years ago. Jim often mentioned in his columns the joy he got from watching the sun set from his front yard at Point Dume, and if Gerry Murray knew there was an outhouse on the property, there would be hell to pay.

[Adam Zero]

This is surreal. Gotta have a guard, guard gotta have a potty. But no handicapped guards because handicapped guards can't use the non-handicapped hut and can't use the porta-potty.

This is a typically complicated Dylanesque situation but he does have some options.

Dylan can:

1) Buy the neighbor's property. And tear down their house and build a giant porta-potty on the property.
2) Put two porta-potties on his own property. His and hers.
3) Sue the U.S. Gov't for discrimination of the un-handicapped via the American with Disabilities Act.
4) Hire a handicapped guard and pay him/her to use the bushes. Then make an unwatchable movie about it.
5) Write a song. No, make that a dozen songs. All in the key of E. Probably blues.
6) Put the porta-potty on wheels and offer to race the local kids on their scooters. Winner takes all (porta-potty?).
7) Hire guards willing to wear adult diapers.
8) Write a song about Ruben "Hurricane" Carter. (Nix that, been done).
9) Use his mumbling eccentric faux Nawlins cat-daddy accent to confuse the authorities and issues entirely.
10) Spraypaint "What?!?!" on the side of the porta-potty and have it declared a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

[zango]

Funniest story i have read in quite a while. The answer is blowin in the wind. But is smells like turd.

[JumboSaurus Rex]

Hippies stink even when they're loaded.

[Sal B]

The rich are no different than you or I; they just get to do whatever they want.

[tanaS]

How long must sewage smell b be allowed to be free? Everybody must smell it on the wind.

[Jake]

Wow - seems like his neighbors have been putting up for a short while what the music world has put up with forever - the stink and arrogance of Dylan !

[Nils]

This is a terrible story, from a reporting perspective. I read this as Dylan having one aggrieved neighbor -- the Emmingers -- and they've decided to use the Times to wage a public opinion war against Dylan. There may be more to this story, but you'd never know it from the way it's reported.

[Tini]

Where is A. J. Weberman when we need him now?

[K. Andersen]

Oh puhleeeze... I can't believe what people will complain about! A little bit of an odor from a porta-potty. Big deal. Tell these whiny neighbors to spend half an hour in East L.A. or Santa Ana and they'll get a whole new appreciation for what really obnoxious human smells are like.

Or worse yet, just get in a room full of Republicans.

[Lorenzo]

To other posts, who find a way to write about politics even in these circumstances... :
What are "liberals" (or "conservatives" for what matters) ? Who says that Dylan is an example of "liberals"? Who says that Obama is only a President for "liberals"? Who says that Dylan is an example of Obama supporter? From what we read in the article, Dylan is behaving very anti-socially, and the City of Malibu is not fulfilling its duties towards Dylan neighbohrs, who, elitist and snobby as you like, still have the right not to be bothered by the smell of an outhouse. Dylan is being very arrogant. And politics has nothing to do with it.

[Dose Of Reality]

The only stench I smell is coming from Cindy Emminger and her husband:

“I finally noticed that they had moved the porta-potty directly in front of my front door. I figured out that the smell was coming from that.”

Um....yeah.....right. How often do you use your front door?

Did you really think your industrial fans would counter the ocean breeze? Or are they just a prop? Get real.

Mr. and Mrs. Emminger sound like a couple of out-of-touch elitists with too much time on their hands.

[janet leigh]

If someone put a Portable Toilet, in front of my house,near my door and the fumes came in and stunk up my house, I would go to the Board of Health, call Osha,about the smoke.I would treat them as the inconsiderate SOBs that they are. If the town didn't do something about it, I would sue them and that neighbor too. What a nightmare.

[Ignatius Reilly]

Incredibly mean-spirited, nutjob comments. Suddenly Obama is to blame for a smelly toilet on Bob Dylan's property?

As for Dylan's sensitive neighbour, aren't these 'bond traders' the sorts of people hwo have caused the economic mess we are all currently wading through?

[Gerda Beuger]

In these case - I think there is a reason for such an action beyond our knowledge; we only know a part of the story. So we cannot judge!

[Brian Berry]

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Emminger,

I am sorry for your predicament.
Please sell me your house and move somewhere else. I would be happy to be Bob Dylan´s neighbour.

[Don Maclay]

We live next door to the Dylan property and have been here for move than 30 years, since before he built his "compound".

I am amused by the blogs that precede mine, comments about rich people whining, having no life, etc. because they are right on. But, to set the record straight, the Emmingers appear to be the only neighbors who talked to the Times. They live across the street and are slightly upwind of the prevailing N to NW breeze .. we live directly nest door and directly down- wind and have never even picked up a whiff of Porta-Potty odor. Neither have the other neighbors that we, unlike the LA Times, have talked with.

None of us wish the Emmingers harm, they have spent a lot of money on medical attention for their alleged allergies. But their allergies preceded their purchase of the house and frankly if they can't live in a normal environment, maybe they should find a different environment, a la Howard Hughes.

There is no discernable odor coming from the Dylan property and there never has been.

[Notime2exit]

Portta pottys don't have to stink. Dylan could get a flushing porta restroom trailer. I think they use RV toilets or something. They use the multi seat trailers at upscale events, but they also make throne, urinal and sink models for VIPs at job sites. I would post a link to what I'm talking about, but my comment would get bumped

[jsokol]

Not sure why Dylan doesn't build properly plumbed bathroom for his guards, not doubt he's got plenty of money. There isn't really an excuse for having a chronically smelly port-a-potty.

There is a lot more to this story than meets the eye. Perhaps the Emmingers burned through their good capital with him ages ago.

If everyone was able to discuss the problem openly this could be easily resolved. But, when you both sides armor themselves with lawyers and lawsuits, "that ain't gonna happen!"

[Missy]

Some of you are a trip! What would you do if this were you? Ooops, that may be the problem...haters. No one deserves to have to live with the funky smell of a port-a-potty. Dylan should move the potty to another part of his compund or build a private bathroom for his employees..he has the money to do it. Dylan is a jerk. In the Emmingers case, they have the right to complain. No, I don't live in Point Dume or wherever, but wherever I live I would expect to live stink free if possible. Put yourself in their shoes, you'd probably complain also.

[Gerda Beuger]

Most of the time there is a reason for this type of actions - I think - We don't know that. So we cannot judge!

[Feeling That]

Actually, the Emmingers are creating a massive public safety threat with the continued use of FIVE fans placed outdoors to attempt to thwart the odors from their vents. By doing so, they are actually diverting those supposed toxic smells to their other neighbors and causing them additional health threats?
Phone calls will now be hitting the Malibu City staff since those same fans are obviously not approved for outdoor use and you can see the extension cords placed every which way that create extreme fire hazards within a residential community very much in tune with prevention of fires.
Spotlight's on Emminger's for their continued whining and whining about every little thing from smells, plastic in baby bottles poisoning the lil chilren, flouride in water, autism caused by others and government conspiracies - you name it, they jump on the bandwagon and play for sympathy.
This type of person needs to isolate themselves, not insulate themselves within a community and cry about everyone adapting to their special needs. I note that Ms. Emminger doesn't seem too concerned about health hazards of people who utilize those port a pottys every day related to work enviroments! You'd think that if there was a definitive link to her claims, unions would have led this fight years ago and we wouldn't have a contractor over the age of 45 that wasn't in a nursing home.
Maybe the Emmingers would like to consider how many remodels are within close proximity to their home (more port a pottys) and how about those public restrooms down on Westward Beach wafting up smells and toxins? Not much publicity unless you attack a celebrity!
Only the Emmingers are affected, very telling. Thank you, Don Mclay, for your very enlightening comments on this thread. You sir are a man among men and I respect you immensely for all your efforts to preserve our community. Let's hope that the Emmingers don't come to the annual meeting with their issues, they might claim that the refreshments we serve make them ill!

[Tone Carlson]

Bob,
I am sorry you have to continually deal with idiots like your neighbor to continue your craft. Just ignore it all and keep up the good work you do.
Thanks.

[Rich]

Even if there was no stink coming from the outhouse. The fact that Mr. Dylan makes his hired help use an outhouse, instead of sanitary facilities, is reprehensible.

[Fremantlecat]

This seems to me to be some kind of spurious complaint.Assuming for argument there are 10 people using the dumper on a 24 hour period they must be spending some time there to create such a stink so strong that it is able to linger and not dissipate in the breeze.If not connected to mains sewage then surely the waste is held in a chemical tank?
I think this is all a storm in pan.

[bryan]

I would imagine that Dylan is largely unaware of the issue seeing as he is in Europe right now. It doesn't seem like a lot of trouble to move a port a potty to another locale. I have to take the Emminger's side on this one. Regardless of how they get along, you deserve to live your life in peace without unnecessary odors coming from the neighbor's yard. You would expect people of higher standards of living to not want to be known for lower air quality.

[Roger27]

"According to county records, the singer bypassed accessibility requirements by promising, in writing, that he “would not hire any handicapped persons” to work in it."

Is that right? Can you really do that? If I wanted to have sexual harrassment laws waived against my business, could I promise in writing to "not hire any women"? Or if I didn't want civil rights laws to apply, to "not hire any blacks"? Seems like it defeats the purpose of the law a bit.

[jbw]

"Don't go mistaking paradise for that home across the road"

[Amy]

Are the Emmingers the only neighbors complaining of an odor? The post by Don Maclay indicates this is the case, and the lack of any additional interviews seems to corroborate that (although, these days, that could just as easily be shoddy reporting). If they are hypersensitive to smells that would not bother a reasonable person, that's on them as far as any nuisance claim is concerned.

For me, however, the biggest issue is that Dylan's employees have to crap in an outhouse. Really? The guard shack can't be renovated to feature indoor plumbing? I don't have a staff at my home, but you can believe that if I did, they would not have to use a port-a-potty.

Actually, there's a tie for biggest issue, with the other contender being the fact that Dylan got around ADA requirements by pledging never to hire a disabled person.

I own a stack of Dylan albums, and will forever appreciate their lyrical genius. But I must say I will listen to them a little differently now.

[Ben Hemmens]

"Idiot wind, blowin' with those portacabin smells,
we're idiots, babe, it's a wonder we can even wipe ourselves"

[Your Mom]

I grew up near a farm. I smelled crap almost everyday. So I moved to the city. The city i lived in was permeated with a gross smell coming from a paper mill nearby. By the time I got used to it I moved to Los Angeles, where there is so much smog in the air, I can't smell anything anymore. SO, am I supposed to feel sorry for some millionaire who has an occasional wafting of a portapotty? Close your window! Go buy an air freshener, or MOVE OUT. That's what I had to do, since I don't have a million dollars to fight some ridiculous fight that I can't win. News flash - crap smells don't really make people sick. Anybody who says otherwise has an axe to grind.

[Robin Nemeth]

I don't know a lot about the portapotty situation, but I do know that they don't tie their child's autism to immunizations because Jim Carrey says that they should. More likely it's because a great many well credentialed and well respected scientists, including the former head of the National Institute of Health, have voiced concerns about this matter and have brought forth a great deal of evidence for a link between autism and other immune disorders.

You'd think he'd be able to afford plumbing for his guards facilities. In fact I would've thought that building codes in Malibu wouldn't allow a permanent outhouse on the property. But what do I know about neighborhoods like that?

Robin Nemeth
http://wideopenwest.com/~r_nemeth/vaccine_flyer.htm

[Larry Hushagen]

I have worked at construction sites for years where porta-potties are used. Unless thet are allowed to go uncleaned for weeks there is no smell that eminates from them, even standing right next to them. I find it EXTREMELY hard to believe that the neighbors could smell an odor coming from them a long distance away that would make them "physically ill". Five large fans could not displace the odor? Please..... As another neighbor has noted these people are trouble makers.

[Karen Moulton]

Neighbors can often have unique relationships - some closer than family, if the golden rule comes into play. We all learned that from Mr. Rogers - how special it is to be someone's neighbor. For over the 40 years of his public life, fan and press scrutinization of Bob Dylan, his family & his art has been relentless. He has to have a secured entrance as protection. And sorry, but someone who has a physical handicap is not going to make anyone a competent security guard. doh!

'Wonder if any of Bob's neighbors sent him a card when he had his serious heart condition? How 'bout a congrats card on winning a PULITZER PRIZE last year? Anybody ever bake him some bread or cake or soup? That's what happens in my neighborhood to just say "I'm glad you are my neighbor". Kindness is appreciated regardless of income.

To bring a problem like this to the press is not at all neighborly especially as a manner of introduction

What was it you wanted?

[mich]

I own a stack of albums? among some ofthe other incredibly stupid ones defending him because your either too much in love with him or like him fried yiur stupid a-- brains on acid like him. Yeh he was good but that has nothing to do with his porta potty. to the first commenter what exactly did you want a-- face

[mich]

it doesn't surprise me that my comment wasn't put in here because well L.A News paper and many o these comments are against the neighbors which probably means the moderators censored any one against dyla. I guess I get the satisfaction knowing I am right that those who whine about freedom of speech can't take someone elses if the commenter doesn't agree with the moderators and joy in knowing i pissed them off HAHAHAHAHA NUF SAID

[drlegend]

Although many have puppy-dogged Bob for decades now, he has made it a point from time to time - explaining that he never made a play for disciples or has he implied in his art any sort of coercive posture and in fact admonishes that sort of behavior.

It is true that on any wonderful day in the neighborhood, noxious fumes may indeed be within earshot of Bob's downwinded fellow Malibuans. They are in no way obliged to inhale them and without permision are free from any copyright restrictions.

[Tommy T. Blues]

Amy posted -Actually, there's a tie for biggest issue, with the other contender being the fact that Dylan got around ADA requirements by pledging never to hire a disabled person.

I own a stack of Dylan albums, and will forever appreciate their lyrical genius. But I must say I will listen to them a little differently now...

I have to say that Amy hit the nail on the head here, the real issue is not the smell or the lack of restrooms but how Zimmy decided to deal with the ADA issue...
I'm not saying he has to go and add these devices to the residence but he could have dealt with the situation alot better, IMO...

[Sindh]

If you look at this unemotionally, living by a porta potty sucks no matter where you live. Can't Dylan afford to give his workers a little comfort by building a heated guard house with indoor plumbing? I think he should have to live in the guard house and use the porta potty as punishment until he fixes this and have porta scent pumped into his direct environment. I love Jakes comment about Dylans stink and arrogance. Talent doesn't automatically entitle you to be inconsiderate.

[him2]

Celeb or not - porta-potties - by design, are for temporary uses - construction, special events, etc. If it is for other than temporary use, a proper facility must be implimented. Or maybe let the "non-handicap" guards, use the facilities in the main house? ...

[Sam Schoonhoven]

I lived in the area for 25 years. I am familiar with his compound. Malibu does not have a sewer system. They rely on cesspools and septic tanks. So turning to modern plumbing is a bigger issue. I also have worked construction for many years. Used the outhouse many times. I never smelled anything 20 feet away. Unless it was over used or it was being pumped. I might suggest an electric toilet. See if another chemical can be used or service it more often.
And then we have the fans!!! That's like peeing on a wildfire.
Or does she just want a face to face with Bob? I was not too impressed with her video. Did she reside in the snake pit in Topanga once? Just wondering..........................

[aaron Richard Green]

THE MAN IN THE MIRROR

LET'S FACE IT. ZIMMERMAN/DYLAN DOESN'T KNOW WHO HE IS. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LOVE HIS SONGS, THE NEW TOGETHER THROUGH LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. LEGEND? EVEN HE SAID NO, LEGEND COMES FROM...AND THAT WORD COMES FROM ...AND IT COMES FROM THE DEVIL. WELL IF THAT'S HONESTY, SO BE IT. WHEN ASKED WHY STILL TOUR "FOR THE MONEY AND CUZ IT'S MY HONOR." DYLAN REAMAINS THE MAN IN THE MIRROR WHO ADMITTEDLY HAS SAID I HAVE NO IDEA WHO I SEE IN THE MIRROR. ME, THE IDEA THE MEDIA MADE OR? HARDING CAME OUT AND THE 10 YEAR OLDER FOLKS SAID, "THE MAN, THE MAN, HE LOST IT." WHAT DID HE EVER HAVE? HE'S NO DIFFERENT THAN A BRICKLAYER, OR YOU AND ME. MEANWHILE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MAKE HUGE FORTUNES FROM A BOOK UNTIL IT HITS THE REMAINDER SHELF. AS MUCH AS I LOVE THE CRAFT OF A SONGWRITER, AND A GOOD ONE, I NEVER WILL UNDERSTAND WHY ALL THESE PEOPLE PUT A MAN NO GREATER THAN JOHN PRINE, CISCO HOUSTON AND GUTHRIE ON A PEDESTAL. MAYBE IF PEOPLE LET HIM BE, HE'LL STOP SINGING AND LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SWEEP THE STREETS LIKE THE REST OF US.

[Edward Kirby]

Idiot wind, blowing every time you take a pee...

[Paul Robertson]

Seems a pity, but Ms Emminger is actually contributing to Bobby's popularity. Now we all know that he's a live person with problems just like all other Americans. And, it seems also, like this is a hate crime. Is jealousy at the root? Most neighbors quietly discuss problems, whether big or small. I am on Bob's side; he got the required documents to allow the outbuilding. If anyone has a complaint about it, file a civil suit. That's what the courts are for. PoleKat

[Huge Dylan Fan]

i would pay money to be a downwind neighbor.

[schmendric]

I fail to understand why the Malibu residents are fussing over Dylan's porta-potty while their septic systems are contributing considerable effluence to the streams and coastal waters. The sooner all become shackled to a central sewer system the better for everybody concerned.