History is replete with people like the...

History is replete with people like the El Morro tenants, whose greed

and selfishness moves them to hold on to their privileges at the

expense of the public who paid for the land they refuse to give up,

despite the law and their contractual obligations.

What is incredulous however, is that in a democracy, we have

elected two representatives like Assemblymen Chuck Devore and Kevin

McCarthy, who ignore the rights of the vast numbers who elected them,

and who show no regard for the trust the public has placed in them

nor the public interest. But this is not a feudal society, so let’s

see if democracy works, and throw the bums out.

IRYNE BLACK

Newport Beach

California taxpayers would not be well-served by Assemblyman Chuck

DeVore’s eleventh-hour bill to extend the El Morro leases at our

public beach for yet another 30-year term. If this proposal is

justified to somehow help balance the California budget, then the

moral authority for oil drilling at Crystal Cove can’t be far behind.

I was an enthusiastic DeVore supporter when the assemblyman was

elected, but I stand squarely with the Sierra Club, CoastKeeper,

Friends of the Newport Coast and Surfrider Foundation on this one.

The fine folks at Crystal Cove have had the good life on our

public beaches for too long. It’s our turn now.

PHILIP BETTENCOURT

Newport Coast

Hooray for Chuck DeVore -- the seemingly only fiscally responsible

public figure, who actually comprehends the truth about El Morro. El

Morro is, and always has been, open to the public. When residents

tried to erect a sign stating this fact, California officials arrived

within hours demanding its removal. The cry for public access is a

smoke screen created by bureaucrats in the state parks department.

The truth is that El Morro comprises only 1% of the land purchased

in 1979 for Crystal Cove State Park. This means that 300 residents

can remain in their homes, provide the state with $50 million

dollars, and still leave 99% of the state park open for all the

desires of the parks department -- parking, hiking, public access,

camping. What the state really desires is increased bureaucracy and

job security for its employees -- some of whom are currently living

rent free in the Crystal Cove Cottages up the road -- the same

cottages whose residents were evicted several years ago.

The state currently has a $466 million backlog of park maintenance

work, and wants to spend $12 million to convert El Morro into 60

recreational vehicle campsites. Does this make sense to you?

CAMILLE HOWARTH

Newport Beach

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore’s proposals for El Morro are wrong. In

order for Newport Coast to be developed, El Morro was supposed to be

turned into a park. That was in 1979. Newport Coast is now developed,

and now it’s time, after enough lengthy delay, for the trailers to be

removed. In a congested and overdeveloped county, this wonderful

beach area should now revert to all the peoples of Orange County.

PAUL JAMES BALDWIN

Newport Beach

From the state of Utah, a big thanks goes out to Chuck DeVore for

his proposal with the El Morro trailer park. Finally someone has

enough guts to say it like it is.

I have had the pleasure of enjoying my family’s trailer there

since 1969. During this time, I have seen the love and care that the

residents here have for their homes. Everyone takes pride in the

property and it shows. Tearing down this quiet community and turning

it into a “tent city” doesn’t make any points with me. Do the state

of California a favor and leave what works alone.

CHRIS JUSTICE

Orem, Utah

It is absolutely ridiculous to make El Morro into another public

beach when it is never crowded right next door at Scotchman’s Cove.

Much more money can be generated by raising the rents of the

homeowners at El Morro and having the property maintained by them.

The state does not need yet another expenditure. It’s the have nots

wanting what the haves have. I totally support Assemblyman Chuck

DeVore’s proposal for El Morro.

JANE HERRINGTON

Corona del Mar

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore’s legislation is spot on. My family lived

at El Morro Village until 1999. This community is a model of what a

community should be. Diverse, mutually supportive and down to earth.

They have always been open to the public and are willing to

accommodate further suggestions in that regard. They have been

willing to pay market rates for their rents, the infrastructure

should be upgraded to a decent standard and they should be left alone

to continue providing not only financial support for the state, but

also an enduring model of a caring and integrated community.

ROBERTO BRUTOCAO

Irvine

The whole idea behind state parks is that there are certain areas

that we to set aside for the enjoyment of all our residents -- not

just a fortunate few who can raise the money to try to thwart this

purpose.

The trailer people have raised one spurious argument after another

to justify their continuing presence. They have lost in the courts,

and now they are using their funds to try a political dodge.

Eventually, all of California will have the opportunity to enjoy the

Crystal Cove Historical District (where we heard the same arguments

from the then-residents), and we have the right to the same access at

El Morro.

The city of Newport Beach passed a resolution supporting the

state’s plan for the park. Hopefully, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore will

heed that resolution and realize that his proposals are misguided and

not in the interest of his constituency at large.

NANCY GARDNER

Chair

Surfrider Foundation,

Newport Beach Chapter

I support Chuck DeVore’s proposed legislation. It makes sense. At

a time when the state of California can least afford it, we should

not even be considering throwing away this money-making enterprise.

We can’t even afford to maintain or develop the parks and lands we

have now. Case in point: Crystal Cove.

DEIDRA HILL

San Clemente

Assemblymen Chuck DeVore and Kevin McCarthy have it right on El

Morro.

Those of us who live some distance away (San Juan Capistrano) but

have visited El Morro through the years, and have enjoyed the beach,

the setting and the unique, warm community there can attest to the

fact that this is a coastal region that does not need major

reconfiguration.

We have never had any difficulty accessing the beach, and in fact,

take advantage of the free shuttle to get a relatively private place

on the sand in a magnificent setting. The state has more on its plate

than it can handle with the other state parks and beaches, all of

which could be much better maintained. El Morro is working, for both

its community and its visitors.

With the minor modifications in DeVore’s bill, it becomes more of

a profit center for the state, while serving the region well and

preserving the environment much better than the state’s plan.

The existing alternative is to drain cash, over-develop the area,

subject a locally managed area to remote, bureaucratic state

mismanagement and to cost taxpayers much more than we gain.

RUDOLF L. BRUTOCO

San Juan Capistrano

I am very much against Chuck DeVore’s proposals for El Morro. The

residents should be grateful that they got to do what most people

never get a chance to do -- live inside a state park for 25 years.

They had a good thing going and I’m sure many good memories, too, but

it is over. Now it is time they move on quietly and give the public

the opportunity to enjoy the land we purchased so long ago.

FRANK COLVER

Newport Beach