Commentary: A coastal development exemption in Santa Monica? Shame on Gov. Newsom

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Set us as preferred My plan, just back from a trip to the East Coast, was to give California a well-deserved pat on the back for its unwavering commitment to coastal protection and public access.My travels had taken me to coastal areas in Connecticut and New York that are so privatized, you’d need a kayak or a parachute to make it onto a beach.One trick they use to keep you off the sand and out of the water is to limit parking to local residents, and typically, there is nowhere else to park within easy or safe walking distance.So here I was, eager to remind everyone that in 2026, Californians should all be lighting candles on the cake celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Coastal Act, which established guidelines regarding public access, conservation and development.But then Gov.

Gavin Newsom, while nobody was watching, gave a swift kick to the cake.I’d barely unpacked my bags when a gaggle of sources and news reports grabbed my attention on what Newsom was up to.I’d say the CalMatters headline and story neatly summed things up:“Newsom pushes environmental carve-out for campaign donor’s Santa Monica project.”The Trump administration, thirsty for offshore oil, has ordered a review of California’s coastal management.That’s right, folks.

As the legislative session comes to a close over the next few days, Newsom is in the kitchen, stirring a foul chowder that stinks along the state’s entire 1,200-mile coast.He’s pushing a bill that would exempt one particular project from normal regulatory review by the Coastal Commission.Speaking of review, let’s remind ourselves what we’re looking at here.Newsom is essentially saying the hell with the Coastal Act.He is doing it on the 50th birthday of an elegant declaration spawned by a citizen uprising aimed at preserving the state’s greatest treasure.And as CalMat...