An important stretch of the California coast will pass into the hands of indigenous groups after a state commission backed by the communist governor Gavin Newsom approved the transfer of a public beach in Mendocino County.
The agreement establishes that a 136-acre property, which includes Blues Beach and the coastal cliffs located south of Westport, will be transferred to Kai Poma, a "non-profit organization" representing the Pomo Indians of Sherwood Valley, the Round Valley Indian Tribes, and the Coyote Valley Pomo Indians.
The final approval was granted on June 26 by the California Transportation Commission, marking the first time that land managed by the state Department of Transportation is handed over to indigenous tribes.
This point is central to the scope of the measure, as it sets a precedent for the management and eventual redistribution of public lands under state control.
According to a report from the California Coastal Commission, the State originally acquired these lands in the 1960s to accompany the expansion of Highway 1 and create a scenic overlook for motorists.
