Peter Douglas, executive director of the California Coastal Commission, wins the lifetime achievement award for cheek. He not only wrote into the 1976 Coastal Act incredible power for the position he has held for 20 years. He has also long circumvented a part of the act rewritten to trim that power.
While California’s Coastal Act of 1976 ensures beach access, the rich and famous who want to keep the state’s dramatic coast exclusive have been posting bogus “no parking” and “private beach” signs. They’ve done it so effectively for so long in Malibu that unfortunate beachgoers occasionally get ticketed.
Leading coastal conservationist had hoped for a new and largely greater anti-development voice to take the post held by Monterey County Supervisor Dave Potter for the past seven years.
California Supreme Court rules unanimously that the California Coastal Commission is not an illegal agency.
James Burling, a principal attorney for the Pacific Legal Foundation, summarizes the case for reform of the California Coastal Commission.
Sierra Club favors Santa Cruz County Supervisor Mardi Wormhoudt over current Coastal Commissioner, Monterey County Supervisor Dave Potter. His term expires May 20, 2005.
Summary of the first day’s oral arguments in the case of the Marine Forest Society vs. the California Coastal Commission. At issue is the constitutionality of the Coastal Commission. The California Supreme Court will issue a ruling within 90 days.
Letter to the editor not on line
Sentinel opinion on the Coastal Commission