Why are they being built anyway? Mortgage banks and insurance companies have the means to stop this from happening. Also construction companies can refuse to build in certain dangerous locations. This craziness has to stop.

They think it will shield them from everything unpleasant. Maybe some of the people with vacation palaces that fall into the Pacific will be shielded, there will be enough left of their lot to rebuild so they can stare at all that water from a cliff top.

CA needs to do what MA did. If a beachfront house is taken by storms or erosion, it is illegal to rebuild on that lot. People can collect their insurance money but they'll have to build someplace safer, since everything homeowners did in the way of seawalls, jetties, and even dredging to broaden the beaches only made erosion worse.

The Sunken City (as it is known now) was a housing development built in the 1920's. By 1929, several of the homes that were built on the weak hills overlooking the ocean, fell into the sea when the cliffs collapsed. Everyone had to move. Now all that's left there are a few sidewalks, some pipes, curbs, etc.

It's been closed-off to the public, but people slip under a hole in the fence, and hang out in the area. It's said to be stable now, though.

And 2 miles north of The Sunken City, is an area known as White Point. There was a major road that went from White Point through a neighborhood and to Point Fermin Lighthouse Park (where Sunken City is). About 10 years ago, a huge chunk of that road also fell into the ocean—the road was never reopened.

I wouldn't want to own property there. I think a lot of the cliffs are some kind of sandstone. Very unstable. And White Point at one time was a natural hot spring that people used to visit. An earthquake hit, and shut off the springs. So there's a lot going on in that area.

The cliffs were always going to collapse. But digging basements, laying underground pipes, or heavy bulldozing have to be making things worse for Mother Nature.

wants to try it again.

I have a neighborhood in my neck of the woods that floods twice a year. Instead of bulldozing it and putting in a swamp, the Feds just cut six figure checks to the homeowners.

... a mess to be cleaned up.

That's a problem that's sure to drag on for many years.

dollar estates, that I just cry. I hope FEMA is arranging well stocked with liquor limos to evacuate them and providing emergency gowns, tuxes and jewelry so they can look their best. It's good that they finally get something for all the taxes they never paid with the help of their lawyers and accountants.

county for not doing enough.
Seriously? What do they want magicians?

The City approved the subdivision at some point - relying on analysis from Civil and Geotechnical Engineers.

If you look at that area on an Aerial view, you'll see it's sparsely developed compared to the area to the NE. I think the landslide risk was well known.

the hills are saturated with water, and that is what is causing them to move.
Some of the home owners are saying not enough was done to remove the water, or that it was done too late.

https://rpvca.gov/1031/Portuguese-Bend-Landslide

Or there was a belief that it could be mitigated.

Hope the homeowner have insurance - those homes are F'd.