When opportunism prevails, once highly-held principles melt away. In last week’s Malibu Times, Bob Sulnick, co-founder of a respected environmental organization and now consultant to developers, spouts rhetoric resulting in public deception about coastal protection efforts.
Before moving to Malibu in 1995, I lived in Huntington Beach adjacent to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. In 1993 Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt’s assistant met with community leaders at my home to discuss our collaboration to encourage the emergence of a willing land seller.
Bolsa Chica Land Trust, Sierra Club and Surfrider Foundation successfully led efforts to obtain the wetlands’ public purchase. We considered the purchase to be down payment for the entire 1,700 acre Bolsa Chica ecosystem.
Bob Sulnick and American Oceans Campaign (AOC) were not present, contrary to the false claim that they struck the acquisition deal for 880 acres of wetlands. The only AOC Bolsa Chica involvement was their filing a lawsuit similar to one filed by Bolsa Chica Land Trust, Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, Huntington Beach Tomorrow and the Shoshone Gabrielino Nation.
Mr. Sulnick misstates the timeline and the facts. Our lawsuits were filed concurrently, and AOC settled prior to trial. Fortunately, others didn’t settle. After winning the litigation, the State Supreme Court upheld publishing of our decision, clarifying that the California Coastal Act protects wetlands and environmentally sensitive habitat areas from coastal zone development.
Why is Mr. Sulnick commenting in Malibu about a Huntington Beach issue? Perhaps because Coastal Commission Chair Sara Wan resides in Malibu. She presides this week over a hearing in which Commission staff recommend denial of developer plans. Staff favors an alternative providing landowners development opportunities while still upholding the law — an alternative Sulnick’s clients do not like.
Mr. Sulnick works for Bolsa Chica and Ballona Wetlands (Playa Vista) developers. He worked unsuccessfully in Sacramento this year to help the Building Industry Association pass legislation that would essentially gut the Coastal Act. What we do not yet know is if his client list includes the Malibu Bay Company, whose interests meld nicely with those of Mr. Sulnick’s other clients. We must watch closely.
Marcia Hanscom
Sierra Club California Coast & Ocean Committee
Co-Chair & Executive Director, Wetlands Action Network