Protect the Coastal Protectors

The problem with victories for conservation is that, once won, they rarely stay won. Even in the best of worlds the gains need to be protected through constant vigilance. More often the battles need to be re-fought to maintain some semblance of rational control over development.

Such is the case now with the California Coastal Commission, which faces two potential crises during the coming week.

First there are mysterious and disturbing reports out of Sacramento that Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) is bent on replacing commission Chairman Melvin L. Nutter with another appointee when Nutter’s current term expires Monday. The reasons are vague and various, but seem to have little to do with the central question: Is Nutter doing a good job?

One complaint is that Nutter has been “unbending” in enforcement of the Coastal Act. So? Laws are written to be enforced, and this law originated with an initiative of the people.

Brown certainly can replace Nutter if he likes. But, if he does, it is important that Nutter’s successor share his belief in the Coastal Act. Otherwise the balance of power is likely to shift away from the people and back to the developers.

The other threat to the commission’s future comes from Gov. George Deukmejian, who does not want any commission at all and is attacking it through its budget. Commission aides planned to appeal to Deukmejian today to restore his cuts of 16 staff members and $1.6 million from current levels.

The best that one can ask is that the governor keep an open mind. His major complaints are that the commission has stifled economic growth on the coast and has been laggard in approving local coastal plans. Look at the development approved by the commission just in the past year, and it will be evident that the first charge is phony.

As for the local plans, Los Angeles County for one sat on its hands for a full year after the commission rejected the county’s proposal for the Malibu strip, leaving it to the commission staff to develop an alternative. Even commission critics had to admit that the commission’s version was an improvement.

Pressure to develop the coastline has not abated since the people approved Proposition 20 in 1972, nor is it likely to. Not everyone can own a piece of the shoreline. All Californians can, however, share in enjoyment of a dramatic and varied coastline spared of uncontrolled development. For it to remain that way, both the spirit and the letter of the Coastal Act must be upheld by a strong California Coastal Commission.