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They are how we protect our special coastal places

05 • 07 • 2012

Defeated Bad Coastal Act Legislation in CA

In February, Surfrider learned about a piece of legislation that was written to gut the Coastal Act. The poorly written legislation (AB 2211, Jones) would have fundamentally altered the law so that new coastal development would be approved that would otherwise not be allowed under the Coastal Act’s existing provisions. For us “coast-huggers” the Coastal Act is like our bible—the law of the land. No other state in the Nation has such a protective law on the books that ensures responsible development, protects scenic landscapes, secures recreational opportunities, and preserves critical habitats and species. When Surfrider learned about the bill, we hit the ground running and partnered with diverse organizations to stop the bill. We created resources explaining the impacts of the bill and began reaching out to Committee members in Sacramento that would ultimately determine the fate of the bill. After weeks of lobbying and hard work, on May 7, Surfrider testified at a Committee hearing in Sacramento where we successfully garnered all the votes needed to kill the bill (final vote was: 6 to 3). This was a huge victory for Surfrider! Thanks to all of our partners who worked tirelessly with us.