Public access to the beach is so deeply tied to who we are as Californians that it’s hard to imagine a time when it wasn’t guaranteed. When developers once tried to fence off parts of the coast, Californians pushed back and built the strongest coastal protections in the nation.Proposition 20—the “People’s Initiative” of 1972, which created the California Coastal Commission—was a defining moment in shaping how we protect our coastline. It cemented California’s identity as a state that values open beaches, thriving wildlife and responsible development. Keeping our coast accessible to everyone while balancing preservation and progress remains one of our greatest challenges.Before my appointment to the Coastal Commission, I had no idea how much work went into defending those protections every single day. As a city official in a beach town, I often heard people grumble about the commission. But after seeing the work up close, I have realized that most frustrations come from not fully understanding what the agency actually does.LOCAL CONTROL MATTERSThe Coastal Commission is not a faraway bureaucracy calling all the shots. About 80% of coastal development permits are handled locally by cities and counties that know their communities best. The process can feel slow (we’re always looking for efficiencies), but that is what ensures decisions are fair, transparent and consistent up and down the coast.PUBLIC ACCESS IS EVERYTHINGHaving grown up in Florida, I have seen how quickly beaches can become off-limits once private interests move in. In California, the commission’s enforcement team works tirelessly to keep our beaches open to all. It investigates complaints, takes legal action when needed and protects everyone’s right to enjoy the ocean, especially people from inland communities who might otherwise be left out.
COASTAL EROSION IS REAL
Anyone who spends time on the coast can see it: Our beaches are shrinking. Through sand replenishment, dune restoration and other nature-based projects, the commission helps local governments slow erosion and plan ahead. Millions of dollars in grants support research on where shoreline armoring makes sense and where retreat might allow beaches to move inland as sea levels rise.
These efforts are not just about policy; they are about protecting what makes California, California. Our ocean-based economy brings in more than $40 billion a year, and that success did not happen by accident. It is the result of generations who believed our coastline should remain public and protected.
Serving on the Coastal Commission has given me a new appreciation for that legacy. Protecting our coast is not just environmental policy; it is a promise to future generations. In California, the beach belongs to everyone. Keeping it that way will always be worth the effort.
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