Gaviota Golf Courses

The passage of the Arco-owned Gaviota golf course proposal by the Coastal Commission (Nov. 17) was a cynical and irresponsible action that spells the beginning of the end for a most precious bit of coastal land that has long served as a distinct transition from the urban sprawl of Los Angeles to the beauty that can be California.

It is no secret that big oil has had a stranglehold on California for 100 years, but this crude bit of public garroting shows just how deep their influence has penetrated our so-called public officials. While their stunningly naive explanations for this sellout (it makes a nice piece of property) were, on the surface, merely embarrassingly idiotic, I suspect far more sophisticated and sinister motivations were at work when the vote was ultimately cast. Even in this state, commissioners, nobody is that stupid!

TERRY DeLAPP

Cambria