DeVore should resign, be hailed
Republican Chuck DeVore, the freshman assemblyman from Irvine, has
introduced two bills to allow residents whose original leases expired
25 years ago to stay on public park land, ostensively because it
would help the state budget deficit.
The bills were only introduced after campaign donations to Chuck
DeVore by those residents of El Morro, the leaseholder, and some of
their employees and friends, according to published accounts.
Talk about special interests! To me, it was apparent from the
beginning that these proposed bills were special-interest originated.
I also believe that all the letters to the Daily Pilot supporting the
proposed bills are from these special interests and their cronies.
Assemblyman Chuck DeVore cloaked his reasons for introducing these
bills as a savior and a solution to the state budget deficit.
It is obvious that Chuck DeVore’s only motivation was the fiscal
benefits to his political campaign and any regard or concern for the
public was misleading and vulgar.
PAUL JAMES BALDWIN
Newport Beach
How should county residents feel about Assemblyman DeVore and his
position on El Morro? I think anyone who has read the stories would
feel absolutely angered that once again we have another “bought-out”
politician.
Although there is apparently no legal wrongdoing on the
assemblyman’s behalf, I believe his actions here are unethical.
Although it’s common now for politicians to be working in the
interests of their campaign contributors rather than the public at
large, I feel we shouldn’t excuse Assemblyman DeVore simply for
failing to disclose his “moneyed” ties to the tenants of El Morro.
On the matter of El Morro, it’s clear that the land belongs to the
public now.
The state did a service by allowing the tenants to stay there as
long they have, but now it’s time for the public to have their park
-- something that the tenants knew would happen eventually when they
signed their 20 year leases.
As for Assemblyman Devore, I think he should resign.
We, as responsible county citizens, can ignore this mishap as
another example of sleazy politics, or we can ask the freshman
assemblyman to resign as a sign of our disgust with his actions. I
suggest the latter: It’s time we stop excusing the inexcusable.
KENNY TRAN
Irvine
Is it such a sweet deal to give away a unique and most valuable
part of Crystal Cove State Park for a paltry $462 per month per
trailer for 30 years?
I think not. Yet that’s what the promised $50 million amounts to,
and that’s all, according to one of Assemblyman DeVore’s bill, AB
328. No other monthly rent. For that paltry sum, DeVore’s bill
deprives thousands of California taxpayers who purchased the park,
the right to spend the night camping at El Morro.
Though the trailer park tenants have recently taken down the signs
that said “Gate Guard on Duty” and have removed the people in the
guard houses, they were there for the last 25 years (I have pictures
of them) and would undoubtedly go up again if they are allowed to
stay.
Those 75 unsightly trailers on the beach also take up much of the
beach that could be used by us, all the Californians who want to go
to the beach.
When El Morro is opened to the public it will be the only place in
the park where handicapped people can readily get to the beach.
Environmental enhancements will include El Morro creek restoration,
more open space, coastal-to-canyon trail linkage and native plant
restoration, just to mention a few of the many improvements that will
take place.
FERN PIRKLE
Corona del Mar
I think who contributed, and how much money was contributed, to
Mr. DeVore’s campaign misses the real point of contention in the El
Morro Village matter. Why is the Department of Parks and Recreation
squandering valuable resources?
With either of DeVore’s bills, the issues of public access are
satisfied, the concerns of endangered species are rectified and $50
million is injected into a patient, the state of California, which is
bleeding out on the table. This is a no brainer.
Who is responsible for slinging this mud against Mr. DeVore?
Could it be the leadership in the state parks department in an
attempt to divert attention from its continued ineptitude? Let’s
review the facts:
Nothing illegal or immoral was done by DeVore. In fact people who
really think they can contribute funds to politicians in order to
influence their views are wasting their time and money. Most of the
time these individuals already have an agenda set prior to taking
office.
The state parks department now has an enormous maintenance backlog
-- this horrendous overrun of funds is needed to merely keep the
lights on, the rolls of toilet paper filled and the drinking
fountains running. It is an outrage that within a month, their
anticipated costs rose over $600 million during fiscally feeble times
in our state.
State parks has its hands full trying to complete the landlord
enterprise at Crystal Cove. The cottages sit unfinished and
unprotected from what is turning out to be a 100-year storm. The
cottages remain exposed the elements and work appears halted. I have
driven by numerous times to a construction debacle. The cottages
represent approximately 10% of the vast work required to convert El
Morro Village.
Let’s not be taken in by those ad hominem arguments. I know many
attorneys who use poor defense of attacking your detractors
personally rather than sticking to the facts. Do not be duped by
baseless slanderous mud slinging.
MICHAEL L. KAYLOR
Newport Beach
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