Peter Douglas is resigning

August 10, 2011 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

Author:  Damien M. Schiff

Breaking news, ladies and gentlemen:  we have just been informed that Peter Douglas will be retiring from the California Coastal Commission in November.  Mr. Douglas has been the Executive Director of the Commission for decades, and has, in many respects, been the driving force behind the Commission's aggressive, and frequently unconstitutional, land-use regulation along California's coastal zone.  It appears that Charles Lester, Senior Deputy Director and a long-time Commission staffer and Douglas protégé, will assume the reins on Mr. Douglas's departure.  At this point, it's probably too early to speculate how the change in leadership will affect the Commission's work or its tone.  But it's fair to say that no one could replace Douglas's political savvy, connections, or reputation among California environmentalists and the political left generally.