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