Incoming Assembly speaker seeks vast new power for Coastal Commission

Incoming Assembly speaker seeks vast new power for Coastal Commission

peter.douglasIf you had to come up with one state agency that has done the most damage to California’s economy with its regulatory sweep and overreach, you’ll never come close to topping the state Air Resources Board.

But it you wanted to pick the one state agency that most consistently advocates a radical view of government power, you’ll never top the California Coastal Commission. It was founded and run for a quarter-century by a green zealot named Peter Douglas — a guy who really and truly didn’t believe in private property rights and who pushed the commission to ridiculous extremes. I wrote about one of his crusades in an editorial in 2006:

“Consider the case of San Luis Obispo engineer Dennis Schneider, who hoped to build his dream home on a cliff above the ocean in a remote area north of Cayucos. Incredibly by normal cognitive standards, typically by Coastal Commission standards, the agency blocked his plans on the grounds that the home would be such an aesthetic affront to passing kayakers, boaters and surfers that it would violate their rights. We are not making this up.”

But the courts backed Schneider up, thankfully. So there was a way to deal with Douglas’ assault on conventional notions about property, individuals and government control of property and individuals.

Not just power to assess fines, but limited checks and balances

Now, the San Diego Democrat chosen to be the next speaker of the Assembly wants the commission to be given more powers with fewer checks and balances. CalWatchdog alum Steve Greenhut talks about Toni Atkins’ scary legislation in his latest U-T San Diego column.

“Last year, the Atkins bill (AB 976) was controversial enough even among some environmentally minded Democrats that it was rejected in the Assembly. But as Atkins ascends to the Assembly speakership, it’s likely that this legislative priority will rise again.

Is it needed? The vast majority of the commission’s complaints against homeowners already are resolved before going to court. If the commission still meets resistance, it petitions the state attorney general for legal action.

“If the Atkins bill passes, the commission can decide on its own to begin assessing daily fines. The property owners can attend a public hearing before commissioners, but it’s not a neutral proceeding with witnesses and due process. The burden of proof would shift from the agency to the individual property owner.

“Not many owners could risk the bank account by challenging the agency. Some critics say the bill would provide an incentive for the commission to target picayune issues because the more fines it imposes, the more money that fills up an environmental-restoration fund.”

Groan. This is not what California needs — further empowering the Peter Douglas disciples who still run the Coastal Commission two years after his death and who still think Douglas’ views about property rights are what matters — not that minor clause in federal law known as the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

11 comments

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  1. Queeg
    Queeg 2 March, 2014, 12:50

    Interesting how globalists line my regulators to bar entry of the proletariat to their tony coastal areas!

    Yep…convinced the minimum wage needs to to the moon to pay exploited service workers who will need to forever commute from hot, dusty and dreary inland hovels to lush/posh coastal nirvanas on Bulgarian-style commuter trains or belching Jugos.

    Reply this comment
  2. Ted Steele, CEO
    Ted Steele, CEO 2 March, 2014, 16:15

    Peter Douglas was a hero.

    He was correct about the importance our stewardship of our Mother Gaia– you can run but you can’t hide from the damage we continue to do to her. Almost every global fishery is in either free fall or at least serious decline.

    Corpulent, self loathing, ignorant humans will NEVER wake up till they have completely filled their cisterns with their own waste. It’s up to those of us who understand, like Peter did RIP, to agitate and push and some good will come—at least to slow down the damage and give future generations choices.

    CWD bunker dwellers discuss-

    Reply this comment
    • Donkey
      Donkey 2 March, 2014, 18:30

      “Mother Earth the same rights as humans”????
      —that would leave them with precious few rights.
      I think Mom Earth deserves better……
      The not-so-hidden Agenda here of course is to further
      strip humans of their rights FOR THE SAKE OF Mother Earth
      (or more specifically, for the ultimate power and authority of those who would devise and enforce those ‘rights’.
      It’s actually been going on full-force for quite some time.

      TCS is a statist LE RAGWUS member! 🙂

      Reply this comment
  3. Donkey
    Donkey 2 March, 2014, 17:04

    TCS is a member of the Gaia cult, not a surprise at all.

    UNITED NATIONS — Bolivia will this month table a draft United Nations treaty giving “Mother Earth” the same rights as humans — having just passed a domestic law that does the same for bugs, trees and all other natural things in the South American country.

    The bid aims to have the UN recognize the Earth as a living entity that humans have sought to “dominate and exploit” — to the point that the “well-being and existence of many beings” is now threatened.

    The wording may yet evolve, but the general structure is meant to mirror Bolivia’s Law of the Rights of Mother Earth, which Bolivian President Evo Morales enacted in January.

    That document speaks of the country’s natural resources as “blessings,” and grants the Earth a series of specific rights that include rights to life, water and clean air; the right to repair livelihoods affected by human activities; and the right to be free from pollution.

    It also establishes a Ministry of Mother Earth, and provides the planet with an ombudsman whose job is to hear nature’s complaints as voiced by activist and other groups, including the state.

    “If you want to have balance, and you think that the only (entities) who have rights are humans or companies, then how can you reach balance?” Pablo Salon, Bolivia’s ambassador to the UN, told Postmedia News. “But if you recognize that nature too has rights, and (if you provide) legal forms to protect and preserve those rights, then you can achieve balance.”

    Not far removed from killing their neighbors to bring forth a good harvest. Ever notice how the ones with the guns never have to sacrifice, only those without connections to power pay the free ride for the cultist RAGWUS feeders. 🙂

    Reply this comment
  4. Queeg
    Queeg 2 March, 2014, 20:36

    Donkey your so evasive lately.

    You worry about Ragwus while your globalist pals are cleaning you out with overpriced products and services made by slaves.

    And….globalists are ruining the enviro…..look at belching China….

    Not a peep out of you or doomers…..

    So sad!

    Reply this comment
    • Ted Steele, CEO
      Ted Steele, CEO 2 March, 2014, 20:41

      Queeg, as you know Duncey is a “useful idiot” of the globalists who will strip her of what little she probably has while she pretends to enjoy the hospitality.

      Reply this comment
    • Donkey
      Donkey 3 March, 2014, 10:07

      TCS, the only “globalist” pals I know that are overpriced are the RAGWUS feeders sucking the life out of California with their “overpriced products and services” paid by taxpaying slaves .

      If you are so concerned about the environment then where is your screeching for an embargo from all things made in China, India, or any other sweatshop nation? 🙂

      Reply this comment
  5. Ted Steele, Manager
    Ted Steele, Manager 3 March, 2014, 10:46

    Oh— We know that you don’t know any Globalists personally Duncey. I would expect that the only way a guy like you would ever even meet a Globalist is to offer to sell him a bag of oranges near a freeway onramp.

    Reply this comment
  6. Ulysses Uhaul
    Ulysses Uhaul 3 March, 2014, 13:18

    Whew….whack the Donkey!

    Have to say….I don’t have it in me to beat cruelly on Donkey….but…..admit he has it coming for being so sullen and cross lately..

    Now what is the thread topic….Donkey lives in big box stores and eats at corporate processed food chains….a sell out to globalists.

    Brings a tear!

    Reply this comment
  7. Bill Gore
    Bill Gore 3 March, 2014, 16:29

    Forget the Coastal Commission and the dead ponytail Douglas, what totally blows my mind is Tony Atkins is now the Speaker of the Assembly? OMG!

    I’ve been away too long, busy running my business, which is boooming since I vacated Kali.

    San Diego radicals are consistently the most career-oriented liberals in the state, unlike those wooly headed dreamers up in the bay area.

    You go Toni!

    Reply this comment
  8. Ted Steele, Manager
    Ted Steele, Manager 4 March, 2014, 13:51

    Peter Douglas was a California hero.

    Reply this comment

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