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REPORT: CA COASTAL COMMISSION ‘EXCLUDES CALIFORNIA FROM THE COAST AND MAKES SEGREGATION WORSE’
Via Jenavieve Hatch…
A Southern California-based think tank, Circulate San Diegopublished a report this Thursday morning that emphasizes the need for reforms California Coastal Commission.
The commission was established by the state in the 1970s Coastal Act to protect California’s coast from overdevelopment and environmental damage, and to keep the Golden State’s 800 miles of coastline accessible to the public.
But the report, “A Better Coastal Commission,” claims that the commission’s recent opposition to affordable housing projects has “made the coast the least accessible part of California” and, contrary to progressive rhetoric, has contributed to exclusivity and racial segregation at the coast. California coastline.
The report cites instances where the Coastal Commission has resisted housing reform efforts, such as its waiver for the Housing Density Bonuses Actallowing certain housing projects to avoid certain development requirements if a certain percentage of housing is reserved for moderate, low and very low income households.
The Coastal Commission has made efforts to prevent the Coastal Zone from complying with the density law. A new bill written by Assemblyman David AlvarezD-San Diego, would eliminate that exemption.
“The Coastal Commission is supposed to protect the environment and coastal access for all Californians,” the report’s lead author said. Will Moorepolicy advisor at Circulate San Diego.
“But their actions have excluded Californians from the coast and worsened segregation and climate change. We need the Coastal Commission to deliver on its mission and rhetoric. We hope this report will encourage them to do better.”
In the 27-page report, authors point to several examples in which the California Coastal Commission articulates progressive beliefs – such as the 2022 report on the “Historic Roots of Housing Inequality and the Impact on Demographic Patterns in Coastal Regions,” which details the discriminatory, and now illegal practice of redlining – while not promoting progressive housing measures themselves.
Redlining usually involved lenders drawing “red lines” around certain areas, usually with racial or ethnic majorities, and making it difficult for them to get help buying a home.
“The Coastal Commission’s actions fall short of its stated values when confronted with an actual proposal to build affordable housing,” the authors wrote, citing a series of recently proposed affordable housing projects in Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, Encinitas and Oceanside . that were obstructed by the committee.
The report fans the flames in the already contentious YIMBY v. NIMBY, which features debates between lawmakers and the committee; Alvarez supported the report, and co-authors of his bill, AB2560have also called for reform of the Coastal Commission.
“The Legislature should be skeptical of any demands from the Coastal Commission for greater authority over any form of housing,” the report said.
“The Commission has a proven track record of using its authority to impose additional burdens that prevent and delay affordable housing.”
VOTE INITIATIVE A ‘DEATH KILL’ FOR HOLLYWOOD?
California elected officials and labor representatives are warning that a business-backed ballot initiative to require voter approval for all state and local taxes and tax increases could be the downfall of the Golden State’s storied film industry.
Critics argued that the Taxpayer Protection and Government Liability Act – currently the subject of a legal battle – has a retroactive clause that can be overturned SB 132the 2023 law that extends the film and television tax credit for another five years and changes how the existing credit can be used to offset productions’ tax liabilities.
The tax credit is credited with generating billions of dollars in domestic spending.
Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bassreferred to the initiative in a statement as the “Taxpayer Deception Act,” calling it a Republican ploy to “undermine vital city services.”
“If passed in November, manufacturing opportunities and hundreds of thousands of good-paying entertainment jobs could leave the state. It will be a devastating blow that our city, working Angelenos and their loved ones cannot afford,” Bass said
Thom Davischairman of the California International Alliance of Internship Workers (IATSE), said in a statement that the tax credit “has repeatedly saved our members, casts and crews from destruction when the film and television industry faces turbulent times.”
“We will not allow a handful of wealthy developers and landlords to jeopardize the program that is essential to keep film and television workers employed with good jobs and good benefits,” he said.
Hector Barajas, spokesperson for the ballot initiative campaign, told The Bee that “these are more false statements and misinformation from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the union bosses. They are desperate and are doing everything they can to prevent voters from deciding on their own taxes and how they are spent.”
He pointed out that when the initiative was litigated before the Supreme Court of California recently, SB 132 was not mentioned among the laws that would be affected.
He added that the initiative only focuses on tax increases, and not tax cuts such as the film tax credit.
“They try to throw as much at the wall as they can,” he said.
CALPERS WILL VOTE AGAINST ELON MUSK’S MULTI-BILLION DOLLARS PAYMENT PACKAGE
An angry tweet comes in.
CalPERS wants to block the billionaire Tesla boss Elon Musk of collecting a $46 billion pay package at the company’s shareholder meeting Thursday.
CalPERS owns millions of Tesla shares.
“This exorbitant compensation package is at odds with CalPERS’ long-standing views on executive compensation,” the CalPERS CEO said. Marcie Forest in a statement. “The compensation is excessive compared to executives at comparable companies, is highly dilutive to shareholders and is not tied to Tesla’s long-term profitability.”
Frost conceded that the divisive billionaire is entitled to be “well compensated for his work,” but added that that pay should be commensurate with the company’s performance and subject to reasonable salary caps.
The $46 billion payday would be larger than the last four years of Tesla’s total net income for the last four years (just under $34 billion), and CalPERS pointed out that Tesla’s value has fallen by more than half since the peak in 2021.
“We don’t think a payout based on near-term market exuberance is justified without sustainable performance,” said CalPERS Global Equities Investment Director. Drew Hambly in a statement. “Additionally, this deal concentrates power in the hands of one shareholder and was negotiated by board members whose independence from Tesla’s CEO is questionable.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“As a former teacher, I say: ‘Housing, housing for everyone! All sizes: ADU’S, multi-family, small, micro, built on: school land, church land, state, county land, urban, coastal, here, everywhere!!!’”
-Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, D-Fullerton, via X.
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