Beach Access

A Superior Court judge has tossed out a lawsuit brought by homeowners at Malibu's Broad Beach who claimed the California Coastal Commission had devised an illegal scheme to require public access to their oceanfront lots without payment. The commission is pushing for public access to the beach, removal of "Private Property" signs and a halt to motorized security patrols. Judge James C.

Re "The Sand and the Fury in Malibu," July 10: The fight in Malibu over public beach access at Broad Beach is the classic class struggle: the haves against the have-nots. The people of California own this land and not the moneyed few. I personally hope our new governor does not give in to the political pressure from his rich Hollywood cronies and fight against keeping our beach free to public access. Charles Beck Diamond Bar So, once again, the good burghers of Malibu are raising a fuss about sharing the beaches in front of their homes with the rest of us. Enough already, let them declare their independence and keep us off their beaches.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday took the first step toward removing the Western snowy plover from the list of endangered species, a move that could end more than a decade of beach restrictions and other government efforts to keep the shorebird from going extinct.

THE thought of renting a villa may fill you with visions of Tuscan sunsets and sprawling gardens -- or with fears of being left a pauper after paying the bill. But with more affordable choices available, there's rarely been a better time to rent. And let's face it, villas are fun. Whether it's a Caribbean beach house or a vineyard manor in France, renting a villa enables you to explore at your own pace.

Re "A Malibu Civics Lesson: Beach Is Open," Aug. 25: I congratulate The Times for being involved in educating the public about its public access rights. I also congratulate Sara Wan of the California Coastal Commission for her bravery and tenacity when confronted by the ignorant security guards and sheriffs who patrol Broad Beach and regularly deny beachgoers access to which they are legally entitled. The manipulative and selfish activities of the homeowners on Broad Beach are particularly illuminated by resident and attorney Marshall Grossman's accusation that Wan was merely "seeking a publicity stunt."

Malibu residents lack the right to a popular vote on a state-imposed land-use program, a Los Angeles County Superior Court ruled Tuesday. Under state law, local governments must devise a plan to manage coastal areas that balances the public's right to beach access with protection of the environment and private property. But after more than a decade, Malibu still had no plan. So the Legislature ordered the Coastal Commission to develop one for the city, which it did.

This county's highest elected body took the unusual step Tuesday of endorsing a deal to preserve the Hearst Ranch, even though the deal isn't done yet. The Board of Supervisors voted 5 to 0 to support the framework of an agreement between the Hearst Corp. and the American Land Conservancy that would save the 82,000-acre ranch from development and keep much of it in agriculture.

The Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for California coastal officials to open more than 1,200 pathways to the beach, as the justices rejected claims that the public walkways violate private property rights. The court's action represents a victory for officials in Santa Barbara County and other coastal communities who have moved recently to take advantage of past offers by property owners to allow public pathways across their land. "This is very significant.

California's 1,100-mile coastline is a public treasure, by law and by custom. The rich have no more right to the sand, at least below the high-tide mark, than the poor. This shouldn't need restating but it does, because wealthy landowners are struggling on every front to keep the beaches to themselves. Their campaign is not always direct. For instance, not a single individual or group is on the record as opposing state Sen.

The cards and letters in support of Sand Aid, the concert to free the beaches of Malibu, keep rolling in, and today I'd like to bring everyone up to date on the latest developments. As you may recall, the concert will be a fund-raiser for the legal defense of Access for All, which has been sued by beach-dwelling mogul David Geffen. Geffen promised to allow public beach access in return for the right to enlarge his compound, but then Mr. Bigshot changed his mind and sued to keep the gate closed.