Will Californians have to save the coast again, half a century later?

In 1972, thousands of Californians met in what was a decisive moment in the history of the state. They were united by fears that the spectacular coast was likely to become overdeveloped, highly industrialized, ecologically decreased and irreversibly privatized.

Rue Farch, a student from the State University of Sonoma, signed as a volunteer for proposal 20, who called for a commission to “preserve, protect, restore and improve the environment and ecology of the coastal area”.

“I was only one of the workers’ bees, and it was great to do something positive,” said Farch, whose role was “to collect signatures and to play signs and to stand for rallies”.

In Sacramento, a young legislative assistant named Sam Farr (which would later become a member of the American Congress), helped organize a coastal bicycle ride, led by the senator of the State Jim Mills, who galvanized the support of proposal 20 and attracted hordes of journalists while the cyclists pedaling from the end of the Land to San Francisco in Balboa Park in San Diego.

“The road patrol has designed the route,” said Farr, who recalled that the cyclists camped in the state parks along the way and dinner on the food given by the supporters of the call “except our coast” to arms.

In Los Angeles, teams of young environmentalists have sabotaged dozens of campaign display signs, hung on the opposition, which initially said: “The beach belongs to you – does not lock you up. Vote no on proposal n ° 20. “The activists painted the word” yes “on the word” no. “

So why do I tell you half a century later?

The columnist for Los Angeles Times, Steve Lopez, who traveled the Californian coast for several weeks in 2016, finally realizes that his childhood dream over coffee in Santa Cruz. The coastal tour marked the 40th anniversary of the Coast Act. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Because the voters were approved SustainOposition 20 Led to 1976 California Coastal Act And the creation of the coastal commission, which is now threatened like never before, targeted by the Trump administration, federal legislation and other criticisms.

During a January visit to Los Angeles after devastating forest fires, Trump said that the coastal commission was “considered the most difficult in the whole country” and said that when it comes to rebuilding: “We are not going to let them get away with their antics.”

If it seems personal, it is. Trump, who bought a Golf Ranch Palos Verdes golf course at a reduced price in 2002, after the 18th hole fell into the ocean, had disputes with the coastal commission on the cascades on the property and a 70 feet high erected mast without a license.

In February, the envoy of Trump Special Missions, Ric Grenell, painted a bullseye to the coastal commission, saying that helping fire relief could be maintained if California would not bow before the wishes of the administration. He called on the coastal commission “an unlearmed group of people who are crazy have woken up” and said that “putting ropes to get rid of the California coastal commission will improve California”.

The emblematic Bixby Creek bridge in Big sur. The California coastal commission is now threatened like never before, targeted by the Trump administration, federal legislation and other criticisms.

(Apollo (C) / Beketoff – Stock.adobe.com)

To be clear, the commissioners are selected by elected officials, which is often and the commissions work. And speaking of powerful unclean people, the name Elon Musk comes to mind, and Trump’s oval playmate has his own beef with the coastal commission. Musk’s SpaceX Company continued the committee last fall After the commissioners rejected the attempt to increase the number of rocket launches from the Vandenberg Space Force base of the US military near Lompoc.

Military officials said to support SpaceX that they would like to increase the number of launches from a handful to up to 100 per year. The Commission argued that most launches are intended for private interests rather than military purposes, and that sound booms and environmental impacts are a problem.

And it could be wise to keep increased launch after the explosion of Thursday of a space craft that torn After takeoff from Texas. A debris shower led to the grounding of flights in several airports in Florida, and it was the second spacex disaster of this type in seven weeks. At the very least, SpaceX employees – Like federal employees targeted by Musk – Should get memos to ask what they had done within seven days preceding each accident to justify keeping their job.

To be fair, the staff of the coastal commission and its commissioners are not beyond the reproach, and the commissioners have not always served as honor, therefore an examination and a decline should not be part of the process. Almost a decade ago, my Times colleagues and I examined the way in which the wealthy owners and promoters used lawyers, lobbyists and political ties to try to influence the decision of the Commission.

In the case of the recent SpaceX case, the commissioners made political comments on Musk to reject the offer for more launches, naively giving it feed.

And the Commission – which is made up of more than 100 staff members and 12 voting commissioners – has history of irritating owners and even governors with painfully long examinations of applications (caused, in part, by decades of sub -buying) for everything, from new coastal construction to improve goods of various types.

The dogs participated in the 14th annual competition of imperial beach surfing dogs in August 2019.

(Rick Nocon / For San Diego Union-Tribune)

Several recent bills of Democratic legislators have tried (successfully limited) to retire to the agency authority and pave the way for more accommodation, and Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a Commission for limiting the order Monitoring in the interest of accelerating reconstruction in the Palisades fire zone.

The Republicans, in the meantime, want to tear everything. On March 5, the American representative Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) stripped The commission of its power, claiming that the agency is “out of control and has turned from its objective of protecting the coast”.

Susan Jordan from California Coastal Protection Network for non -profit, quickly assessed what it would mean.

“It’s like the federal government putting a large panel for sale on the Californian coast,” she said. “This essentially removes the state’s ability to comment and provide comments on projects … It is like an invitation open to oil drilling, any commercial enterprise, to liquefied natural gas terminals.”

There is a reason that has not already occurredAnd that has a lot to do with this movement that started in 1972 (history was captured in a new documentary on people who were determined to save the coast).

A whimberl flies along the beach of the Estuary of Jalama Creek in Jalama State Beach.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

There is a reason why when you travel on the coast, you see all these beach access panels by the roadside.

There is a reason that when the owners of goods by the sea have set up illegal “private property” panels or try to drive out those who have the right to take advantage of the beach, they are cited and condemned to a fine.

There is a reason why the natural wonder of 1,100 miles which extends from the border of Oregon to the border of Mexico does not resemble, for the most part, with the ribs bordered and overdeveloped other states.

There is a reason why all development proposals are examined exhaustively, with the dangers of elevation from sea level to mind and in the interest of protecting marine habitats and banks.

The reason is the California Coastal Act of 1976, a framework inspired by people and approved by law which guides the governments of states and local on the use of land and water in the coastal area, and embodies the idea that this natural wonder does not belong to anyone, but by everyone, and that it must be treated – with a prudent and unshakable stewardage – as the Treasury.

The first director of the agency, the late and legendary Peter Douglas, recognized that there would always be threats to the Commission and the shore.

That’s why he said:

“The coast is what it is because many people worked very hard and sacrificed to protect it. And if we want it to be there for our children, we must continue to fight to protect him. In this way, the coast is never saved, it is always saved. »»

If it takes another bike ride, I’m ready to roll.

Steve.lopez@latimes.com