As if the L.A. County fires didn’t cause enough devastation, a top official representing the Trump administration is threatening further harm to the coast that most Californians hold dear. In an address to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C., presidential special envoy Richard Grenell stated that conditions on federal relief aid will likely include dismantling the California Coastal Commission.
The Commission has long been a favorite target of private property owners and developers who resent being beholden to the rights conferred on the public through the California Coastal Act: Guaranteed access to the coast for all people, regardless of income, background or identity, and protection of those coastal lands owned by the public. In practice, this means anyone living in or visiting California can go to any beach, spread out a towel, build a sandcastle, jump in the ocean, paddle out for some waves or otherwise make the most of our state’s incredible coastline.
Without the Coastal Act, and the Coastal Commission to enforce it, many of California’s beaches would become essentially privatized. People escaping inland heat waves would have no recourse when confronted with gates and other blockades, developers would build without obligation to ensure access and safety. Defunding and dismantling the Coastal Commission would eliminate rights enshrined in California’s constitution. Those who’ve lost homes in the recent fires have lost too much already – neither they nor any of us should have our rights to the coast stolen, too.