Stanford and Coastal Commission
Honor Save-The-Coast Pioneers

From left: Michael Fischer, formerly Executive Director of the California Coastal Commission (CCC); Paul Rogers, environmental reporter for the San Jose Mercury News and discussion facilitator; Ellen Stern Harris, Vice Chairman of the first term of the CCC; Joseph Bodovitz, first executive director of the CCC; and former state senator and discussion participant Alan Sieroty.

Stanford University's Institute of the Environment and the California Coastal Commission (CCC), on May 11, 2005, honored pioneers in the efforts to save the California coast. This included those who began the effort and worked for  legislation, ultimately succeeding with the passage of Proposition 20 enacted and its legislative successor.

Hosting was Meg Caldwell, chairwoman of the CCC and director of Stanford's Institute of the Environment. As part of this saga, some present served as legislators and commissioners, others as staff and still others as steadfast activists.

A panel discussion was facilitated by Paul Rogers., environment reporter for the San Jose Mercury News. Participants included Melvin Lane, chairman of the first CCC, Ellen Stern Harris, vice-chairwoman of the first CCC, former legislators Alan Sieroty and Jerry Smith, former CCC executive directors Joseph Bodovitz and Michael Fisher, and Peter Douglas, current executive director.

The two-hour discussion was videotaped and a DVD is expected to be made available. For further information contact shansch@coastal.ca.gov