LOS ANGELES _ Coastal officials in California knew decades ago it would take money to open Hollister Ranch to the public.
So they entrusted Santa Barbara County with $1 million to someday be spent on land acquisition, trails and bike paths while they duked it out with powerful property owners over access to some of California's most coveted surf breaks and beaches.
After more than 30 years of stops and stalls, officials are now gearing up for what might be the most aggressive fight yet over the 8.5-mile stretch of pristine coastline.
But the money was spent long ago on other projects.
"That $1 million would go a heck of a long way," said California Coastal Commissioner Mark Vargas, when told by a reporter that the county had used the funds.
For so long, Hollister was considered such an imposing force that access to the beach came to be seen as an impossible feat _ an attitude that has kept the public locked out all these years.
"'We can't beat Hollister, their lawyers are too strong for us, so let's just give up,' is unfortunately the frame of mind," Vargas said, "that infested everybody and every agency leading up to ... where we are today."
