Is Hypocrisy at Work Here?

* Everyone who attended the recent California Coastal Commission kangaroo court on Bolsa Chica knew that the people wearing the “support the staff” buttons were simply not telling the truth. Everyone except the several reporters covering the event.

“Support the staff” was the mantra of the day for people who oppose the landowners doing anything with their property near Bolsa Chica--anything except keeping the area as a doggie-walk for many of the people holding the signs supporting the staff. But Coastal Commission staff had said they wanted the property owners to reduce the size of their project by half, and then build 1,200 condos there--and there is the rub. People who supposedly supported the staff, including the commissioners, knew that just wasn’t going to happen, for a variety of reasons--not the least of which is that lawsuit abuse is simply preventing most California home builders from building multifamily housing.

Also, the staff proposal would place a high-density multifamily project right next to a single-family neighborhood--right next to where all the sign-wavers live. This means that if the landowners want to build their project, they will have to start from scratch with new drawings, new hearings and new kangaroo courts. A 10-year process.

These sign-wavers, despite their disingenuous protestations, never wanted anything on this private property. And never will. They may be entitled to that opinion, but we are entitled to see it reported in the paper when they are not brave enough to stand up for it. Or say they will, when they won’t. As was the case here.

MARYANN MALONEY

Executive Director

Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse

Santa Ana