Ainsworth pick helps to restore trust
The California Coastal Commission took a welcome step toward restoring its reputation last week by naming Jack Ainsworth as executive director.
Ainsworth has worked for the commission for 30 years and served as interim director since its popular longtime leader, Charles Lester, was fired one year ago. He is widely respected for his judgment and the calming approach he brings to the job.
He’ll need both. Developers constantly try to push the envelope, hoping to line California’s coastal cliffs and beaches with resorts and homes. And now the Trump administration is expected to push for offshore drilling, a battle every agency and individual concerned about the coast will need to join.
The commission’s credibility took a major hit when it fired Lester last year, despite the vehement objections of practically every environmental advocate in the state. Lester had been the hand-picked successor to Peter Douglas, who helped write the Coastal Act and ran the commission for 26 years. His fierce defense of California’s 1,100 miles of coast had continued under Lester’s tenure.
Commissioners insisted the problem with Lester wasn’t his opposition to development. They said he was insular, bureaucratic and hard to work with.
Appointing Ainsworth was reassuring. So was the decision last week confirming their reasons for rejecting a controversial development proposal for a 400-acre site along Newport Beach.
The commissioners reportedly tried to work with the developers on the plan for a hotel and nearly 900 homes, which did not adequately address environmental laws protecting the area. But no compromise was reached, so the plan was turned down.
The commission could take another big step toward regaining the public’s trust by reiterating its support of legislation to make its workings more transparent — or by setting its own policies for transparency.
The Coastal Commission and the Public Utilities Commission are the only agencies in the state allowed to have private conversations with interested parties. Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson introduced a bill last year that would have prohibited commissioners from having private, off-the-record talks with lobbyists or anyone else with a direct interest in decisions.
The Coastal Commission voted to support the legislation by 6-5. But the Legislature caved to lobbyists whose bread and butter is the private deal. Commissioners could win a lot more faith and support if they just ended the practice themselves.
California voters have for decades zealously supported coastal preservation for future generations. That’s why Lester’s firing became a cause celebre.
Maybe it wouldn’t have been as traumatic if people believed the commissioners themselves were on their side, and not just the crusader in the director’s role. Transparency is the way to earn that trust.