78-09-B7
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Malibu[edit]
Transcript[edit]Several years ago the people of California voted for the creation of a commission to come up with a comprehensive plan for coastal development. In the interim (while a plan was being studied) the commission, aided by several regional commissions--would have zoning authority over the entire coast from waters edge to 3,000 feet inland. It was said this was needed to prevent the beaches of California from being so developed that the public would no longer have access to the ocean. California has 1,000 plus miles of coastline ranging from broad sandy beaches to mountains dropping steeply into the surf, and in the north redwood forests coming almost to the waters edge. What most Californians weren't aware of was that almost half--some 400 miles of ocean front--is already owned by government. Cities, counties and the state own and operate miles of bathing beaches. During my own administration the state added more miles, based on projections of population increase. So much was added that on any hot, sunny, summer weekend you could find long stretches of state beach with virtually no bathers at all. In spite of all this the Coastal commission, made up of appointees, and not elected representatives, almost from the very first assumed dictatorial powers and displayed what can only be described as hostility to any private ownership of ocean frontage. Owners of summer cabins and beautiful year 'round homes discovered they were greatly restricted as to what they could do on their own property once the commission came into being. One homeowner, for example, was denied the right to install a small whirlpool plunge in his yard. Others have been denied permission to add rooms, change driveways or even lay out patios. Last winter it was California's turn to have unusual weather. Roaring Pacific storms brought mountainous waves which at high tide tore out bulkheads, damaging and undermining beach homes. The level of sand on some beaches was lowered by as much as eight to ten feet. There were round-the-clock battles as homeowners and their friends attempted to sandbag and save the structures. Student volunteers from Pepperdine University worked heroically (sometimes throughout the night) to save the homes of people they didn't even know. Now those homeowners have started to repair the damage. But the Coastal commission says, not without its permission. The commission say s more--that permission will not be given unless the homeowners agree to give up a strip of their beach front for public use. That is blackmail. The Constitution is very clear in its guarantee that government cannot take private property without fairly compensating the owner. If there is a real need--and there is not--for public ownership of this additional beach frontage, government should buy it. It has no right to deny these homeowners permission to repair storm damage or remodel if they choose unless they submit to confiscation of some of their property. I repeat that is blackmail and like a blackmailer, if they get away with it they'll be back for more and every homeowner's rights, ocean front or inland, will be endangered. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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