I often say that I love California the way only someone from New Jersey can love California—partly because I grew up spending summers at the Jersey shore. I forgive you if you’re smirking, but please forget the television show. Yes, much of the shore is heavily commercialized, but New Jersey has some very beautiful beaches, and like many Jerseyans, I fell in love with the ocean at a young age.
As you might imagine, as soon as I laid eyes on the pristine beaches of California, which happened along the stretch of Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz, I was smitten. And here’s the thing: When I was growing up, many of the most beautiful beaches in New Jersey were private and off-limits. That remained true until four years ago, when Gov. Phil Murphy, invoking the Public Trust Doctrine codified by the Roman Emperor Justinian around 500 CE, signed legislation ensuring that the public has access to New Jersey’s shorelines and tidal waters.
If as a Californian, the idea of a private beach appalls you, I want you to consider that the public beach did not happen by accident. The notion of a private beach is unfathomable here because in California, with enough effort, the government can often be made to work for the people. As you will see in Jon Vankin’s article below, it was citizen activism that created the California Coastal Commission, which has worked to ensure that all California beaches are open to the public—and that the California coast does not look like the Jersey shore.
And: What happens when a big clean-energy plan challenges our notions of a pristine coastline? We shall see.
• Crosswalk Comes to ‘Deadly’ East San Jose Street
One of San Jose’s most dangerous streets will be getting new safety features to protect children going to school.
(10/20/2023) → San Jose Spotlight
• As Cities Association Eyes Restructuring, Palo Alto Seeks More Oversight
Citing its growing stature and a legal conflict, the Cities Association of Santa Clara County is hoping to form a joint powers authority—but city officials in Palo Alto have some concerns.
(10/20/2023) → Palo Alto Online
• Milpitas Leaders Clash with Property Owner Over Proposed Home
Tempers flared when Milpitas nixed a property owner’s plans to build a multistory house on the city’s hillside.
(10/19/2023) → San Jose Spotlight
• San Jose Police Sergeant Enters District 8 Race
San Jose Police Department Sgt. Tam Truong, 41, is jumping into the District 8 race to represent the Evergreen area.
(10/19/2023) → San Jose Spotlight
• San Jose Greenlights Hotel Conversion for Student Housing
San Jose leaders have reluctantly agreed to a plan to convert hundreds of hotel rooms into student housing amid concerns it will harm tourism.
(10/18/2023) → San Jose Spotlight
• Santa Clara Might Change How It Chooses a Police Chief
Santa Clara residents may soon decide if the police chief should be appointed rather than elected. The Santa Clara Charter Review Committee voted unanimously to recommend putting ballot measures before voters to make the police chief and city clerk appointed positions.
(10/18/2023) → San Jose Spotlight
• BART Extension Price Increases
The rapidly rising cost of construction materials and labor prices, along with the impacts of inflation, have boosted the anticipated cost of the final phase of VTA’s BART to Silicon Valley completion from $9.3 billion to $12.2 billion.
(10/18/2023) → Silicon Valley Voice
• Rental Housing Committee Moves to Protect Rent-Controlled Apartments from Fluctuating Utility Fees
The committee settled on a plan to phase out a controversial billing system that relies on shared or master meters to charge tenants.
(10/17/2023) → Mountain View Voice
