Oral history interview with Michael L. Fischer, executive director, California Coastal Commission, 1978-1985 ...
By: by Ann Lage, Regional Oral History Office, University of California, Berkeley.
Contributors: Lage, Ann.; Bancroft Library. Regional Oral History Office.; State Government Oral History Program (Calif.)
Published: 1992
Subjects: Fischer, Michael L. 1940-; Brown, Jerry, 1938-; Brown, Willie L.; Deukmejian, George.; Feinstein, Dianne, 1933-; Christo, 1935-; California Coastal Commission.; California Coastal Zone Conservation Commission.; California. Legislature.; California. Office of Planning and Research.; Environmental law -- California.; Land use planning -- California.; Coastal zone management -- California.; California -- Politics and government -- 1951-
Description: Michael L. Fischer discusses his personal and educational background; his leadership of the North Central Region, Coastal Zone Conservation Commission, including relations with the commissioners and the statewide commission. The region's coastal development, including controversies over Bodega Harbor, Sea Ranch, and Christo's fence. His position in the Office of Planning and Research gives him insights into the Jerry Brown administration; his comments of the statewide land-use planning process and the controversy over the proposed Dow Chemical plant in Solano County (1997). He discusses his role as executive director of the California Coastal Commission, 1978-1985, including the declining quality of commission members; budget cuts under Governor George Deukmejian; increasing political pressures from Democratic legislators, offshore oil issues, and federal-state relations.