sion was back in the news. Gov. Gavin Newsom was appalled that the panel circumvented his January executive order suspending permitting require- ments for vic- tims of the Los Angeles wild- fi res. He charged that its “legally erroneous guid- ance threatened to create confu- sion and delay in rebuilding eff orts.” Weeks before
the Los Angeles fi res, the iconic 110-year-old wharf in the city of Santa Cruz collapsed into the ocean. The reason: The Coastal Commission had delayed repairs so that they wouldn’t coincide with seagulls’ mating season. The commission noted that the
birds were “sensitive during their repro- ductive life history phases” and repairs might “disturb nesting seabirds.” Is it any wonder that California is considered the most hostile environ-
ment for business of any state? Musk at least has the resources to
CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION DISTRICT OFFICES
confront the CCC’s brazen behavior. But many of its victims lack the clout or cash to fi ght back. In North-
ern California, the Coastal Commission is involved in try- ing to shut down the Skunk Train, part of the Men- docino Railway. For 100 years
it has carried locals, tour- ists, and freight through 40 miles of redwood groves connect- ing the blue-col- lar communities
of Fort Bragg and Willits. The railroad is the fi rst in the coun-
try to use zero-emission hydrogen loco- motives. But local environmentalists want
to turn a nearby rail corridor into a 300-mile elite hiking trail. The Great Redwood Trail Agency has teamed up with the Coastal Commission to run
Musk’s Rockets Grounded T
he U.S. Air Force submitted a plan last year to allow
Elon Musk’s SpaceX company to increase the number of its rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, which is federal property. But a coalition of
environmental groups opposed the launch expansion, claiming it was “likely to adversely aff ect” the Western snowy plover bird, the California least tern, the southwestern pond turtle, and the California red-legged frog. Although the birds provided
a fig leaf, the California
political falsehoods.” Another
Coastal Commission’s denial in October of the Air Force’s request was almost entirely political. They hated Musk, who that month was barnstorming the country on behalf of Donald Trump. “We’re dealing with a
company, the head of which has aggressively injected himself into the presidential race,” Chairwoman Caryl Hart griped. Commissioner Gretchen
Newsom, a former union of icial who is no relation to the governor, railed against Musk for “spewing and tweeting
commissioner cited Musk’s anti- “woke” rhetoric on transgender rights. None of this had anything to do with the Air Force’s national security request that Musk be allowed to launch more flights. The commission’s rejection
was aimed at SpaceX, a company that has revitalized California’s aerospace industry, is valued at $210 billion, and employs 13,000 people in the state. Even the governor, who
the Skunk Train off the rails in court and cut Mendocino County off from the national railroad network. Caryl Hart, the same commission chairwoman who bludgeoned Musk, is also on the trail agency’s board. How convenient that she has two platforms from which to bully the Skunk Train. There are signs that the commis-
sion may soon be reined in. In January, Trump accused it of playing games with Los Angeles’ rebuilding eff orts. “I’m not going to let them get away with their antics,” he promised residents. He recalled his long history with the
panel as it has tried to thwart his build- ing projects, including placing a 70-foot fl agpole with a giant American fl ag at his golf club in Rancho Palos Verdes. “I’ve dealt with the Coastal Com-
mission for a long time, and they are considered the most diffi cult in the entire country,” Trump said. Even some Democrats in the Cali-
fornia Legislature have introduced bills to curb the commission’s excesses. They say some of its powers should be returned to local coastal planners. Many of those planners are in quiet
revolt against the commission. A survey found that 97% felt their communities would be best served by having coastal plans developed closer to the people.
has frequently tangled with Musk, was appalled. “I’m with Elon,” Newsom told reporters. “I didn’t like that.” Musk has since sued the
California Coastal Commission in federal court, charging the state agency violated his First Amendment rights to free political speech. — J.F.
JUNE 2025 | NEWSMAX 13
SPACE X/FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
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