Supreme Court Foils Tech Billionaire's Restriction of Martins Beach
In a win for public access to the California coast, the U.S. Supreme Court today refused to hear a tech billionaire’s appeal to control access to Martins Beach near Half Moon Bay.
Silicon Valley venture capitalist Vinod Khosla has fought since 2010 to restrict usage of the only road to the San Mateo County beach, arguing that he allowed to as the property owner. Lower courts previously ruled that without a permit from the California Coastal Commission, he must keep the beach open.
Khosla appealed to the Supreme Court, which offered no comment in its denial to hear his case. The Surfrider Foundation, which sued Khosla to open the beach’s access, billed the case as one that could reshape access to public areas nationwide should the Supreme Court rule in Khosla’s favor.
“The most conservative and divided Supreme Court in my lifetime confirmed that even a billionaire, who refuses to acknowledge that the law applies to him, and retains the most expensive attorneys he can find, cannot create a private beach,” said Joseph Cotchett, attorney for Surfrider Foundation. Beaches are public in California, and the immensely wealthy must comply with the Coastal Act just like everyone else.”
Read more: http://www.sfweekly.com/news/supreme-court-foils-tech-billionaires-restriction-of-martins-beach/
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