Supreme Court will hear Vinod Khosla |
The Supreme Court has hinted it will hear a case by Indian American entrepreneur Vinod Khosla, who has fought for more than five years to deny public access to Martins Beach, a picturesque spot on the Northern California coastline. Khosla owns a $38 million, 89-acre property above the beach, and – in 2010 – locked the gate to a small road which provides the only public access to the beach. The California Coastal Act mandates that all beaches in the state must offer access to the public up to the mean tide line, the highest point at which waves crash to the shore. In lower court decisions, Khosla has lost his battle to keep the beach private; the California Supreme Court declined to hear the case last year. Reports on social media indicate the beach has been sporadically open to the public.A ruling in Khosla`s favor could make it easier for wealthy coastal landowners in California and around the nation to block public access. A Khosla-favorable ruling could potentially dramatically impact the California Coast Act, which has been in place since 1977.
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