Two bills to bring greater transparency to the California Coastal Commission failed in the state legislature after intense lobbying by business, labor, construction, real estate and agricultural groups. The sponsor of one of the bills, Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson of Santa Barbara, said public trust in the commission suffers without leveling the playing field for wealthy vested interests and the public. (The Los Angeles Times, September 1, 2016, by Dan Weikel)
The two bills were introduced soon after the commission fired Executive Director Charles Lester known for tough pro-environment stances. Jackson’s bill banned “any private oral, electronic or written communications that do not occur in a public meeting between the commissioners and someone with an interest in a decision going before the 12-member body.” And the other introduced by Assemblyman Mark Stone of Monterey required anyone lobbying the commission to register as a lobbyist. (the Log, August, 2016)