The Sierra Club doth protest too much.
Rebutting my contention that the Sierra Club and Coastal Commission staff belong to the same conspiratorial anti-Malibu axis, Marcia Hanscom last week cited Sierra Club disagreement with CCC staff’s approval of Forge Lodge as proof to the contrary. Never mind that the Commission still ended up voting in line with the Sierra Club.
On average, the Sierra Club rarely fails to get its way with the Commission or its staff. That much is indisputable. It’s especially laughable that Hanscom would deny it. During the infamous September 12, 2002 Coastal Commission hearing on Malibu’s LCP, I personally watched Marcia cozily conferencing in the corner with CCC Executive Director Peter Douglas. While technically permissible, such collusion is clearly unethical in view of the fact that Commissioners are required to report break-time lobbying by the public. Yet Douglas-whose three decades in an unelected position make him at least as powerful as any commissioner-is free to be openly and unaccountably lobbied by Hanscom during the hearing. No, Marcia! If you want people to believe that the Sierra Club and Douglas’ staff are not in cahoots, you need to start with your own public behavior.
Most telling about Hanscom’s letter was the assertion that she’s not “anti-Malibu” but “pro-Malibu” because she and her ilk “love the natural landscape and the beauty of Malibu.” Which begs the question, “What about the people of Malibu?” What about the homes, mansions, tennis courts and swimming pools? What about the homeowners you’re always suing, Marcia? Do you love them? They’re part of Malibu, too.
Hanscom’s disdain for Malibu’s homeowners places her in perfect alignment with Douglas’ staff and CCC puppets like Access for All president (and Hanscom ally) Steve Hoye who has publicly stated that Malibu’s beach homes “don’t belong here.” All of them share the same strategy: sue, condemn and confiscate. Anything to unjustly force people to donate their land in exchange for using it.
Maybe when renters like Hanscom finally own property of their own, they’ll appreciate where homeowners are coming from.
Wade Major