California Proposition 20, Coastal Initiative Collection MS-0195

Special Collections & University Archives
12/18/2007
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego, CA 92182-8050
askscua@sdsu.edu


Contributing Institution: Special Collections & University Archives
Title: California Proposition 20, Coastal Initiative Collection
Creator: California Proposition 20
Identifier/Call Number: MS-0195
Physical Description: 0.63 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1972-1972
Date (bulk): 1972
Language of Material: English .

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of materials regarding the Proposition 20 campaign from 1972, most of which are from organizations which worked to defeat the measure.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine.  Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.

Related Materials

Frederick C. Whitney Papers

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, folder title, box number, California Proposition 20 Coastal Initiative Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, San Diego State University Library.

Historical Note

The voters of California, by an 800,000 vote margin (55%-45%), passed the Coastal Initiative, Proposition 20, in November 1972. The proposition created six regional commissions and one statewide commission to oversee the use and development of California's 1,000 mile coastline. Members of the regional and state commissions were to be locally appointed in some instances, with a percentage of the appointments filled by the Governor, state Senate Rules Committee, and the Speaker of the Assembly.
Proposition 20 was designed to address the state legislature's failure to produce an acceptable compromise measure regarding coastal ecology, protection, and preservation. Ecology groups and interested private citizens drew up the initiative and obtained the required number of voter signatures to qualify the proposition for the November 1972 ballot within two months of the Legislature's final defeat of the previous coastal bill.
Proposition 20 was, from the start, very controversial. Business and labor banded together in their opposition to the initiative; two of every three daily newspapers in California joined this odd coalition, as did numerous civic and service groups. Although an effective and vigorous campaign by the proposition's opponents was the result, the Proposition's supporters were ultimately successful.

Accruals

9999-046

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Personal Papers
Coastal ecology--California--History--20th century--Sources
Coastal zone management--California--Citizen participation--History--20th century--Sources
Referendum--California--History--20th century--Sources
Political participation--California--History--20th century--Sources
Coasts--California

box 1, folder 1

Newspaper Clippings: San Diego Union, San Diego Evening Tribune, San Diego Labor Leader Folder 1

box 1, folder 2

Post-Election Analysis of the Proposition 20 Campaign: by Whitaker & Baxter Advertising Firm (the PR agency of the opposition) Folder 2

box 1, folder 3

News Releases: "San Diegans Against Proposition 20" Folder 3 September-October 1972

box 1, folder 4

Various Campaign Materials: "Citizens Against the Coastal Initiative" (a state-wide organization) Folder 4

box 1, folder 5

Copy of San Diego Ballot Folder 5 November 1972

box 1, folder 6

Contribution List: Check log for "Citizens Against" campaign Folder 6

box 1, folder 7

Copy of Proposition 20 Folder 7

box 1, folder 8

Municipal/Legal Opposition to Proposition 20 Folder 8

box 1, folder 9

Opposition Correspondence: Specific and form letters Folder 9

box 1, folder 10

New Releases: "Citizens Against the Coastal Initiative" Folder 10

box 1, folder 11

Operation Expenses: "Citizens Against the Coastal Initiative" Folder 11

box 1, folder 12

List of Organizations Opposing Proposition 20 Folder 12

box 1, folder 13

Proponents of Proposition 20 Folder 13

box 1, folder 14

Information requests regarding Proposition 20: mostly to opponents Folder 14

box 2, folder 1

"What's Wrong With Proposition 20: " An Opposition form speech. Folder 1

box 2, folder 2

San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau Memo regarding Proposition 20 Folder 2

box 2, folder 3

TV Schedules, Paid Advertising Spots: "Citizens Against" Folder 3

box 2, folder 4

XEROX Billing to Whitaker & Baxter Advertising Agency Folder 4

box 2, folder 5

Whitaker & Baxter San Diego Office Lease and Termination Notice Folder 5

box 2, folder 6

Statewide Collection of Editorials/Columns on Proposition 20: mostly anti-20 Folder 6