Big Sur at sunset. (Photo: S. Borisov, via Shutterstock)OPINION: As policymakers prepare to vote in June on the new state budget while facing a massive budget deficit, we want to highlight a source of solutions largely absent from the discussion which can help spur an equitable economic recovery for all Californians.
For the third time in five years, California lawmakers have rejected an attempt to give the California Coastal Commission, which has jurisdiction over 1,100 miles of coastline, authority to impose fines on those who violate coastal protection laws. Opponents of the plan were led by business, farm, petroleum and construction interests, and the measure failed after Assembly Democrats who backed it earlier withdrew their support.
Sen. Noreen Evans’ recent announcement that she would not run for re-election sent shock waves through the Capitol. In an era of term limits, where legislators’ time is limited in the state Capitol, it’s rare that a member decides to bow out early.
But representing the 2nd Senate District can be quite an arduous