Editing 78-09-B7 (section)

= Malibu =

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=== Transcript ===
Several years ago the people of California voted for the creation
of a commission to come up with a comprehensive plan for coastal
development. In the interim (while a plan was being studied) the
commission, aided by several regional commissions--would have zoning
authority over the entire coast from waters edge to 3,000 feet inland.

It was said this was needed to prevent the beaches of California
from being so developed that the public would no longer have access
to the ocean.

California has 1,000 plus miles of coastline ranging from broad
sandy beaches to mountains dropping steeply into the surf, and in the
north redwood forests coming almost to the waters edge.

What most Californians weren't aware of was that almost half--some
400 miles of ocean front--is already owned by government. Cities,
counties and the state own and operate miles of bathing beaches.

During my own administration the state added more miles, based on
projections of population increase. So much was added that on any
hot, sunny, summer weekend you could find long stretches of state beach
with virtually no bathers at all.

In spite of all this the Coastal commission, made up of appointees,
and not elected representatives, almost from the very first assumed
dictatorial powers and displayed what can only be described as hostility
to any private ownership of ocean frontage. Owners of summer cabins
and beautiful year 'round homes discovered they were greatly restricted
as to what they could do on their own property once the commission came
into being. One homeowner, for example, was denied the right to install
a small whirlpool plunge in his yard. Others have been denied permission
to add rooms, change driveways or even lay out patios.

Last winter it was California's turn to have unusual weather. Roaring
Pacific storms brought mountainous waves which at high tide tore
out bulkheads, damaging and undermining beach homes. The level of sand
on some beaches was lowered by as much as eight to ten feet. There
were round-the-clock battles as homeowners and their friends attempted
to sandbag and save the structures. Student volunteers from Pepperdine
University worked heroically (sometimes throughout the night) to save
the homes of people they didn't even know.

Now those homeowners have started to repair the damage. But the
Coastal commission says, not without its permission. The commission
say s more--that permission will not be given unless the homeowners
agree to give up a strip of their beach front for public use. That
is blackmail. The Constitution is very clear in its guarantee that
government cannot take private property without fairly compensating
the owner.

If there is a real need--and there is not--for public ownership of
this additional beach frontage, government should buy it. It has no
right to deny these homeowners permission to repair storm damage or
remodel if they choose unless they submit to confiscation of some of their
property. I repeat that is blackmail and like a blackmailer, if they
get away with it they'll be back for more and every homeowner's rights,
ocean front or inland, will be endangered. 

This is Ronald Reagan.

Thanks for listening.
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=== Details ===
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<TR><TD WIDTH="150">Batch Number</TD><TD WIDTH="150">{{PAGENAME}}</TD></TR>
<TD>Production Date</TD><TD>06/27/[[Radio1978|1978]]</TD></TR>
<TD>Book/Page</TD><TD>[[Radio_Commentary_Books#Reagan:_In_His_Own_Hand|RihoH-331]]</TD></TR>
<TD>Audio</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TD>Youtube?</TD><TD>No</TD></TR>
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===Added Notes===

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