On Wednesday, Feb. 10th, in Morro Bay, CA, seven members of the California Coastal Commission ignored a huge showing of public support for Executive Director Charles Lester, and voted in private to fire him.
At no point was it ever clear what problems these Commissioners had, if any, with Dr. Lester. Five members of the 12-member Commission voted support for Lester.
More than 150 environmental organizations, including Earth Island’s International Marine Mammal Project, supported Dr. Lester. The Commission received more than 20,000 emails and letters; only 4 expressed opposition. Numerous public and elected officials expressed support for Dr. Lester, as did major newspapers in editorials. 150 staff members of the Coastal Commission signed a letter of support, along with a letter signed by 35 former Commission members. Around 600 people showed up to testify at the all-day hearing in Morro Bay. All for naught.
Repeatedly, the public speakers asked the Commission members to explain why they wanted to fire Dr. Lester. At the end of the hearing, several Commission members who voted for Lester’s ouster did not say anything, several praised Lester, and several made remarks that were vague, off the subject, critical of environmental organizations and the media, and in some cases just plain inane.
Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, who appoints four of the 12-member Commission, tweeted to the public: “Let me apologize to the public. I truly thought my appointees would be better stewards of the coast.”
Dr. Lester told the Los Angeles Times the day after his firing: “"This commission seems to be more interested in and receptive to the concerns of the development community as a general rule. There is less focus on how we can make decisions to implement the Coastal Act.”
The Los Angeles Times editorialized after Lester’s removal: “It’s too soon to say whether Lester’s dismissal will be a tragedy for the coast, but if commission critics are right and pro-development forces seeking to erode coastal protections orchestrated Lester’s ouster, then Californians have good reason to worry. And to be angry.”
In addition to several major development projects pending before the Commission, it remains unclear what the Commission might do with the issue of the captive orcas in SeaWorld. Last fall, the Commission itself amended SeaWorld’s proposed permit to expand their orca tanks to prevent any further breeding or transport of orcas from SeaWorld San Diego. The Commission voted in support of the amendment 11-1. SeaWorld has filed suit against the Commission, and it is expected that the Commission will consider the final text of that controversial amendment to the permit and specific Commission findings at their March meeting in Santa Monica, CA.
At the end of the day, Dr. Charles Lester gave a short statement of regret for leaving. All of us in the audience rose up in giving him a standing ovation.
What You Can Do:
The Executive Director serves at the pleasure of the California Coastal Commission. The twelve members of the Commission serve at the pleasure of those who appoint them: Four each are appointed by Governor Jerry Brown, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, and President Pro Tem of the state Senate Kevin de Leon.
The vote was as followed: Commissioners Olga Diaz (Alternate for Commissioner Cox), Erik Howell, Wendy Mitchell, Effie Turnbull-Sanders, Mark Vargas, Martha McClure and Roberto Uranga voted to fire Lester. Voting no were Carole Groom, Mary Shallenberger, Kinsey, vice chair Dayna Bochco and Mary Luevano.
All of Jerry Brown’s four appointees and two of Assembly Speaker Atkins’ appointees supported the move to oust Lester.
You can contact these leaders through their online email forms:
Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon
We will have more information shortly on what you can do to help put the California Coastal Commission back on track.