3 ms·

Billionaire claims he has been harassed after blocking access to public beach

22 points by kafkaesq 10y ago

kafkaesq 10y ago
“It was routinely closed for private events and in the winter. They did not apply for a permit and were never told by any public official or entity that a permit was required,” said Khosla’s attorney, Dori Yob, in a statement. “However, when the subsequent owner continued these practices they were met with threats and harassment in an attempt to coerce them to forfeit their private property rights and allow public access to the property on terms of the County and Coastal Commission’s choosing,” she added. As if Khosla's permanent closure of the access road (and effective annexation of the beach proper) were in any way comparable to a "continuation" of the previous owner's practice of occasionally closing the road for private events.
cjensen 10y ago
California's coastal laws and how they are practiced are no secret: if you want to develop anything in proximity to the coast, you are going to open up public access. Opening access is a one-way door; once opened, there will be no closing or reducing access. Khosla's behavior in this matter is bizarre and entitled. He appears to me, a third-party observer, to act as if he believes money can buy the ability to do anything he wants by bullying others in court to obtain special privileges. Maybe he doesn't really think like that, but his behavior sends that message loud and clear. Worse, even a cursory examination of established Case Law should have shown him the utter futility of even trying. He appears not to have learned the lessons of King Canute: some things literally cannot be accomplished.
- tropo 10y ago
  Camp Pendleton is developed on the coast, and does not allow public beach access. There has been a reduction in access.
  - jungletek 10y ago
    Are you really surprised that a military base has an exception?
    - tropo 10y ago
      Of course not. That is the point: exceptions do exist.
  - cjensen 10y ago
    In the US, Federal Law supersedes State Law. So yes, the Feds can override these rules for their own purposes. You could also point out that the State can also override State Laws. State Parks don't follow these rules either. I'm not sure what your point is given that Khosla is not, in fact, part of the Federal or State Government. If your point is to say that exceptions exist, well yay you are technically correct (which is the best kind of correct). But so what? Those limited exceptions have zero effect on the conversation and discussion at hand.

22 points by kafkaesq 10y ago

“It was routinely closed for private events and in the winter. They did not apply for a permit and were never told by any public official or entity that a permit was required,” said Khosla’s attorney, Dori Yob, in a statement. “However, when the subsequent owner continued these practices they were met with threats and harassment in an attempt to coerce them to forfeit their private property rights and allow public access to the property on terms of the County and Coastal Commission’s choosing,” she added. As if Khosla's permanent closure of the access road (and effective annexation of the beach proper) were in any way comparable to a "continuation" of the previous owner's practice of occasionally closing the road for private events.

cjensen 10y ago

California's coastal laws and how they are practiced are no secret: if you want to develop anything in proximity to the coast, you are going to open up public access. Opening access is a one-way door; once opened, there will be no closing or reducing access. Khosla's behavior in this matter is bizarre and entitled. He appears to me, a third-party observer, to act as if he believes money can buy the ability to do anything he wants by bullying others in court to obtain special privileges. Maybe he doesn't really think like that, but his behavior sends that message loud and clear. Worse, even a cursory examination of established Case Law should have shown him the utter futility of even trying. He appears not to have learned the lessons of King Canute: some things literally cannot be accomplished.

tropo 10y ago
Camp Pendleton is developed on the coast, and does not allow public beach access. There has been a reduction in access.
- jungletek 10y ago
  Are you really surprised that a military base has an exception?
  - tropo 10y ago
    Of course not. That is the point: exceptions do exist.
- cjensen 10y ago
  In the US, Federal Law supersedes State Law. So yes, the Feds can override these rules for their own purposes. You could also point out that the State can also override State Laws. State Parks don't follow these rules either. I'm not sure what your point is given that Khosla is not, in fact, part of the Federal or State Government. If your point is to say that exceptions exist, well yay you are technically correct (which is the best kind of correct). But so what? Those limited exceptions have zero effect on the conversation and discussion at hand.