The District Weekly is reporting that Santa Monica City Councilman Richard Bloom will be appointed to an open seat on the state Coastal Commission over two Long Beach councilmembers; Gerrie Schipske and Suja Lowenthal (who is currently an alternate to the commission).
Both Schipske and Lowenthal had been named candidates for the position by the California Senate Rules Comittee, although Schipske received recommendations from a group of environmentalists and Lowenthal did not.
In related news, the District also reported yesterday that Lowenthal may have been active in her role as an alternate Coastal Commissioner to benefit a possible hotel development in Long Beach, while using those efforts to leverage herself into a more prominent role on the commission. Lowenthal responded to questions from District reporter Dave Wielenga, which are added to the bottom of the article, and denied the accusations.