A crystal-clear steal -- uh, deal...

A crystal-clear steal -- uh, deal for vacationers

So the state of California is going to rent out oceanfront

restored historic Crystal Cove cottages for $100 a night? Let’s see.

That’s $12 million, for the “initial phase,” divided by 30 cottages.

That’s $400,000 per cottage, not counting the cost of the land.

Figure you’re getting a million-dollar beach house for $100 a night.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is the best deal for vacationers

since free duck dinners on the Grand Canal. The only part that

bothers me is ... didn’t I read somewhere that the state was in some

sort of financial crisis? No dollars for schools, the poor, mental

health, electricity? So can anyone tell me why the taxpayers are

subsidizing the lucky few who will actually get to stay at Crystal

Cove? Oh well. There are many mysteries in this world. In the

meantime, how do I get a reservation?

MIKE BUETTELL

Balboa Island

School endorsements are two-thirds correct

I couldn’t agree more with endorsing Trustees Judy Franco and

Serene Stokes (Editorial, “Return the school board incumbents,” Oct.

17). I think they’ve done a great job, but to endorse Wendy Leece,

who has done nothing but waste school board time with her obstinate

support of issues that are not part of the majority, waste times and

get too much press time. She needs to go back, with her little group

of people, and not waste all the time on the school board when they

can be doing things to help the children, and I’m sick and tired of

her. I’m sick and tired of reading about her. I’m sick and tired of

hearing about her, and if she were not on the school board then we

wouldn’t have to endure her idiocy. Please, please, Tom Egan, Judy

Franco and Serene Stokes.

SHARON BOUDREAU

Costa Mesa

UCI chair and his work deserve recognition

The naming of Michael Prather to the Fred Kavli Chair in Earth

System Science at UC Irvine (“Briefly in the news,” Oct. 19)

recognizes not only the professor for his progressive work in

atmospheric sciences, but also the prevalence and necessity for

research in the area of global warming. With noxious fumes and

pollution constantly being released into the atmosphere, the global,

national, and local communities need to look into ways to minimize

and prevent atmospheric damage. Such ways might include participating

in international commitments like the Kyoto Protocol, finding

alternate energy sources like solar power, and advocating “green”

building development. Recognizing the work of individuals like

Prather and the causes of global warming are only the first steps to

solving the issue at hand. People need to come together as a whole in

order to become part of the solution to global warming, not part of

the problem.

ELIZABETH THORLEY

Newport Harbor High alumni

Los Angeles

School board incumbents have served enough time

School Board Trustee Judy Franco’s been on there for 20 years, and

I believe Trustee Serene Stokes has at least two terms. You keep

saying let’s have some new leadership, let’s have a moratorium on the

number of terms and then you re-endorse them. It’s almost

unbelievable to me. What have they done for Costa Mesa’s side? What

have they done to improve our scores on this side? Estancia is in the

dumps. They are the lowest-scoring high school in the entire area,

including Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Irvine, etc., etc. And

what have we done? Nothing. They won’t do anything new. It’s just

follow the old brick road.

MARTHA O’MEARA

Costa Mesa