Bill bars Coastal Commission from blocking more Vandenberg launches for Elon Musk’s SpaceX
California Assemblymember Bill Essayli, R-Corona, is turning his war of words with the California Coastal Commission into legislation: This week, he unveiled a bill, AB 10, that would overturn the commission’s decision to bar billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX from making additional annual launches.
Essayli in October slammed the commission’s decision — which meant SpaceX would continue to be restricted to 36 launches a year from the Central Coast’s Vandenberg Space Force Base — accusing commissioners of playing politics.
“AB 10 will reverse the politically motivated decision by the California Coastal Commission to restrict SpaceX launches for the Space Force due to their hatred of Elon Musk. This dangerous and illegal decision threatens our national security and erodes the public trust we place in our officials to act in the best interest of the people — not politics,” Essayli said in a statement this week.
The commission did not respond to The Sacramento Bee’s request for comment by deadline.
During the commission’s October meeting, Commissioner Gretchen Newsom — no relation to the governor — pointed to SpaceX’s history of workplace injuries and allegations of a toxic workplace culture.
“This pattern of negligence should not be overlooked, and it reflects poorly on the stewardship of the company and its leadership,” she said.
Newsom also said that Musk, who reaps billions in state and federal subsidies for his several businesses, was “hopping about the country, spewing and tweeting political falsehoods” on behalf of then-former President Donald Trump.
Commission Chair Caryl Hart also criticized Musk, saying “we’re dealing with a company the head of which has aggressively injected himself into the presidential race, and made it clear what his point of view is, and he’s managed a company in a way that was just described by Commissioner Newsom that I find to be very disturbing.”
Musk responded to the commission’s decision by suing in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. That case is ongoing.
After the commission rejected SpaceX’s application, the other Newsom — Gov. Gavin Newsom — criticized the decision and said he was “with Elon” on this matter.
“Governor Newsom says he’s ‘with Elon’ on this — now is his chance to prove it. I urge Governor Newsom to make good on his word, support AB 10 in the Legislature, and sign it when it reaches his desk,” Essayli said in a statement.
Newsom’s office responded by saying the governor’s policy is typically not to comment on pending legislation, and referred The Bee to the governor’s previous comment on the subject.
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 10:58 AM with the headline "Bill bars Coastal Commission from blocking more Vandenberg launches for Elon Musk’s SpaceX."