All Rowing Together : Coastal panel retreats after resisting cities’ beach curfews

The state Coastal Commission wisely has revised its suggestion that it would not support locally imposed beach curfews it had said might violate the state Coastal Act by denying public access.

The change was disclosed last week in a meeting at Huntington Beach. Peter Douglas, the commission’s executive director, told representatives of six Orange County cities that the state would not challenge the curfews the cities imposed recently in an effort to curb late-night crime.

In its earlier position the commission, however well-intentioned, did not calculate the full depth of local feeling. Many cities complain, understandably, that they can no longer afford the extra police patrols that longer beach hours require.

One of the most compelling arguments for the cities has come from an official who wears two hats, that of a mayor and a commission member. Linda Moulton-Patterson of Huntington Beach said: “I am unwilling to turn over our beaches to gangs and violence. The decision is best left to the communities that are affected.”

The disagreement started as a battle for turf on the anti-crime front, a dispute nobody wanted. The commission should stick to overseeing development along California’s coastline to protect public interests.

The commission now suggests, more sensibly, that it draft guidelines to help enact curfews in a way that will not violate the law. We’re glad to see people working together instead of fighting each other.