California Loses A Major Environmental Advocate

I want to thank Patch for inviting me to start this blog and welcome all the Patch readers to my first post.

In these occassional postings, I plan to offer my thoughts on legislation, policy and other events in the state Capitol. I wanted to start with some thoughts about the environment and the passing of a friend.

Defending the environment can at times be a lonely position in government. It rattles the gates of powerful and moneyed interests. It makes enemies. It generates denigrating and simplistic labels that can overshadow an entire government career or tenure in elected office.

Defending the environment also requires stamina. Not just physical stamina, but political stamina. Because for every minute a public servant spends trying to defend the environment, there are special interests that are going to spend five...or ten...or fifteen trying to stop you. In the end, however, you fight this often uphill battle, because defending the environment is simply the right thing to do.

You do it with the knowledge that leaving our state and nation better off than we found it is in the best interest of everyone. You do it with the hope that your voice can speak for the millions of Californian's that aren't protected by the moneyed special interests, but still want the simple pleasure of breathing clean air, or swimming at a clean beach, or simply accessing the shoreline that belongs to all of us. 

Earlier this month, California lost one of those fighting voices. Peter Douglas, the father of the California Coastal Act and the longtime executive director of the California Coastal Commission passed away on April 1 at age 69. Peter was a dear friend and a man who dedicated the last 40 years of his life to protecting the California coast and assuring the public's right to access it. And yes, Peter rattled some powerful gates. He made some powerful enemies. And, he was labeled every horrible name under the sun. But he had the stamina to stay the course. He fought back against those who want to build mansions and high-rises along our coast. He fought against those who want to swap or sell our coast piecemeal. He fought those who think they can own our coast and do with it as they please.

Peter's accomplishments on protecting the environment are simply too long to list. His legacy, though, is all around us. A visit to the restored wetlands at Bolsa Chica are just a small local example of his leadership on the Coastal Commission. And for those of us in public service that still want to rattle those gates and make those enemies, Peter remains a source of inspiration. It is with great respect to his life and legacy that I can in some small way continue that fight on behalf of all our residents and our beautiful state.