Rivas ousts Justin Cummings from Coastal Commission, appoints pro-development Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez

Santa Cruz County’s direct influence on the California Coastal Commission — arguably the nation’s single-most powerful land-use agency — is over for now.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas announced Friday that he is not reappointing Santa Cruz County Supervisor Justin Cummings, who currently chairs the commission, in favor of Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez, a pro-housing lawmaker representing much of the Salinas Valley. 

The Coastal Commission, a quasi-judicial state agency whose decision-making body is composed of 12 appointed commissioners, oversees all land-use activity along California’s coast.  

Lopez’s appointment to the four-year term marks a dramatic change in philosophy at a time when the Coastal Commission faces increasing pressure from the White House, Sacramento and throughout the state to soften its traditionally hard-lined and byzantine process, which critics say has made it difficult to build and rebuild within the coastal zone. 

Cummings, who was elected by his colleagues as chair in December, has spent the past six months as the public face of the commission as it has absorbed attacks from the Trump administration, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and several other state and federal lawmakers.  

On Friday, Cummings said he spent much of the day on the phone with media, as well as fellow commissioners and Coastal Commission staff who, he said, were disappointed in Rivas’s selection. He said he had caught early rumors that Lopez was the favorite.

“Not only do I think I am the most qualified, but I got the most support from the local [Central Coast] communities as well,” Cummings said.

Given Cummings’ background as a scientist — he holds a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology — as well as an elected official in a primarily coastal region, many believed him to be a perfect fit for the job. He was the only Coastal Commission nominee to receive support from all three Central Coast counties represented by the seat — Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Mateo — as well as earning endorsements from Rep. Jimmy Panetta, state Sen. John Laird and former congressman Sam Farr, as well as several environmental groups. 

However, Lopez’s appointment signals that Cummings might have represented a more vintage kind of commissioner, supportive of environmental conservation and wary of growth, at a time when state and federal power brokers have grown frustrated with the hurdles the commission presents to housing development. 

Cummings acknowledged that Lopez’s appointment represented a desired shift in direction for the Coastal Commission, but stopped short of presuming how that shift could play out.

“It signals a change for me, yes, but we’ll see what that change looks like,” Cummings said. “At the end of the day, [Lopez] is one of 12 commissioners. The commission is not going to be as solid as it has been in the past. But we really can’t judge a book until we’ve opened it up.”

In a statement, Rivas indicated that California’s coast has not been a place for all and that in the conversation about its future, Lopez brings a missing perspective — that of the inland California communities whose residents work and recreate along the coast but cannot afford to live there.

“California’s coast is a national treasure, and we must protect this iconic landscape thoughtfully for the future,” said Rivas, whose 29th District includes part of Santa Cruz County. “It belongs to all of us, and should be open to more of us as a place to live and work. Agricultural communities and farmworkers are the economy’s backbone all along our Central Coast, and their voices must be at the center of decisions about the coast’s stewardship.” 

On a land-use panel that has historically been ultra-environmentalist, Lopez brings a different tune. He has been criticized for previously accepting campaign donations from fossil fuel companies such as Chevron and the California Independent Petroleum Association, and has been characterized by some in Monterey County for taking an “all housing is good housing” philosophy.

In a statement, Lopez highlighted the urgent need for more workforce housing along the coast. “Our coast is a vital lifeline for communities, economies, and ecosystems, yet it faces pressing challenges — from climate change to equitable access and the urgent need for workforce housing,” Lopez said. He added that “drawing strongly upon my Latino heritage and experience, I’m ready to tackle these issues collaboratively, ensuring our coast remains resilient, inclusive, and a place where working families can thrive for generations to come.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.