Governor Backs Down on Coastal Act Exemption | Orange County News

Governor Gavin Newsom nearly gutted California’s 50-year-old Coastal Act with a last-minute bill shielding a luxury Santa Monica development owned by top donor Jeff Worthe — sparking outrage from environmentalists who warned it could pave the way for future exemptions. The controversial trailer bill would’ve let the project skip critical reviews if the city missed a 2028 deadline, raising alarms about developer influence and erosion of coastal protections. Advocates like Susan Jordan slammed the move as undermining decades of public access and environmental safeguards. After fierce backlash from lawmakers and conservation groups, Newsom pulled the bill at the eleventh hour — but the episode underscored that protecting California’s coast remains an ongoing battle against commercial interests. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/fbd9e01e49a8997e