UPDATE 10:00pm February 10 2016: The California Coastal Commission voted late on Wednesday February 10 2016 in a closed session to fire Executive Director Charles Lester. The vote was 7 to 5. The Commission offered no public explanation.
Hundreds of supporters gave public testimony in support of Director Lester.
The public testimony was from citizens that came from all walks of life from all of California.
One supporter surmised that with all of the Environmental Agencies that came to give their support, that over one million citizens were represented at the meeting.
Many supporters implored the Commission to debate and vote in public.
In public testimony it was pointed out to the Commissioners that they are public officials and that they represent the public, not private interests.
A retired journalist stated that in all of his years of covering governmental meetings, that this resembled a “Kangaroo Court”.
The California Coastal Commission never made it clear why they wanted to fire Lester.
The lack of transparency has made the public suspicious of the motives of the Commissioners that wanted Lester’s removal.
Critics have stated that they fear that developers will now have the upper hand with the California Coastal Commission.
At this point the public needs to know the details behind the firing of Executive Director Charles Lester.
Then the public would not have to imagine nefarious intentions of the Commission.
It was pointed out in the meeting that perhaps part of the issue with Executive Director Lester was in his and his staffs communication skills.
The public communicated today that they wanted Lester to remain to lead the California Coastal Commissions focus of a open coast to all.
The problem is that it appears that the Commissioners communications skills are lacking.
Part of communication is listening.
The results appear that they did not.
The California Coastal Commission Monthly Meeting is in Moro Bay Wednesday February 10 2016.
The main focus of this meeting is The Dismissal of Executive Director Charles Lester.
There has been a overwhelming public reaction to the possibility of Lester’s removal.
The New York Times is reporting that over 14,000 citizens have written to the California Coastal Commission requesting that Lester retain his position.
Critics have said that the request of his dismissal is political driven within the Commission.
It is alleged that California Coastal Development interests is behind Lester’s proposed removal.
California Coastal Commission Executive Director Charles Lester responded to the Commission in a February 4 2016 letter.
In part he stated, ” I was well familiar with the controversy that often surrounds the Commission’s work, but my hope was that I could help to depoliticize the position of the executive director and focus on an array of programmatic concerns that I saw as needing to be addressed to keep the coastal program moving forward.”
Wednesday February 10 2016 meeting begins at 9:00am.
The California Coastal Commission rotates their monthly meetings throughout the State of California.
The public is encouraged to attend.
Your voice can be heard at the California Coastal Commission Meeting.
If you have any concerns about California Beach issues you may address the Commission.
The City of Dana Point is working with the California Coastal Commission on removing the Gates at Strands Beach.
If you have concerns about this issue you can address the Coastal Commission at the February meeting in Morro Bay or the local March Meeting in Santa Monica.
The California Coastal Commission February 2016 Meeting Location
Wednesday February 10 2016:
Morro Bay Community Center Auditorium located at 1001 Kennedy Way.
Thursday February 11 2016 and Friday February 12 2016:
Inn at Morro Bay located at 60 State Park Road.
The mission of the California Coastal Commission is to protect, conserve, restore, and enhance environmental and human-based resources of the California coast and ocean for environmentally sustainable and prudent use by current and future generations.
The Commission holds monthly public meetings of three to five days in length in different locations throughout the state.
The Commission meetings provide an opportunity for the Coastal Commissioners to take public testimony and to make permit, planning, and other policy decisions.
Prior to each meeting, Commission staff collects and analyzes information pertinent to meeting agenda items and prepares written staff reports with recommendations for Commission action.
These staff reports are available for public review, by contacting the appropriateCommission office. S
elected staff reports are also available electronically by means of a link from the Commission’s
Meeting Notice.
The next California Coastal Commission meeting in Southern California will be in Santa Monica at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium March 9 thru March 11 2016.
For more information please link to California Coastal Commission Agenda.
