AT ISSUE: Should the state scale back plans for El Morro?

I’m going to let you in on a little secret that I’ve known about for

a long time -- El Morro is open to the public right now. I live in

Tustin, but I go down there all the time. The parking is inexpensive

and easy. It’s a very easy walk to the beach. It’s much easier than

the long, dangerous walk along the treacherous cliffs to Crystal

Cove.

Since the state took over the cottages at Crystal Cove, I haven’t

been able to go there once. It’s all blocked off and not open at all

to the public. I’d rather keep El Morro just the way it is. I’d hate

to see the state take over one more beach that I can’t go to.

DANNY BROOKS

Tustin

The emotions and egos involved in the El Morro argument -- on both

sides of the debate and at all levels within the California Parks

Department -- have driven, and continue to drive, the El Morro

campground project down a very unnecessary and unfortunate path.

The state has apparently decided to scale back the El Morro

project because of budget constraints, finally a sound (albeit

obvious) financial decision by the parks department. Since the

department obviously recognizes the need to change the El Morro plan,

all sides involved should consider a real change that could satisfy

all. The most sensible, fiscally sound decision that, quoting parks

spokesman Roy Stearns, “gets the public what they’ve been waiting

for, which is access and a new public campground,” is not that hard

to identify: Modify the parks department’s current plan by adding the

parking (public access) and the public campground around the existing

trailers at El Morro Village. The state continues to receive

guaranteed income from the current residents. The state could demand

that the costs associated with construction of the parking lot and

campground sites be assumed by the El Morro Village residents. The

parks department would then have accomplished its goal of providing

public access and a public campground -- albeit on a smaller scale

than originally planed -- at no cost to the state taxpayers, and it

could maintain the steady income stream generated by the residents at

El Morro Village.

Why is the parks department ignoring or rejecting this concept?

Why can’t both sides come together to discuss a solution at least

similar to this? Emotions and egos, that’s why. It’s going to cost

state taxpayers tens of millions of dollars to get what they could

potentially have for free.

Should the state scale back its El Morro plans? Absolutely. In

fact, the state should take the next sensible step and consider

drawing up a new plan altogether.

TODD DAVIS

Newport Coast

Right now, I am saving up to buy a car. I’m not going to buy one

until I have the money. If the state of California was fiscally

responsible, like I am, it would save up until it has the money to

develop El Morro.

Since the state takes in about $1 million per year in rental

income from the trailers, this should take about 5 years, based on

their disclosed shortfall of $3 million to $5.4 million. They say

that the costs of construction have gone up? What construction? We’re

talking about 60 dirt campsites and a couple of restrooms.

Apparently, they’ve eliminated just about everything that was to be

built -- an interpretive center, a lifeguard headquarters, two

restrooms and the creek restoration.

The state should not evict 300 families from their homes when it

has no capability of delivering the project it promised to the

public.

CAMILLE HOWARTH

Newport Beach

I believe the state should leave El Morro alone until it has

proper funding to execute the plan. It is ridiculous what the state

did to ruin Crystal Cove, and it will most certainly botch the El

Morro project as well without better planning and resources.

At this point, the state is receiving rent from the residents of

El Morro. These residents, I believe, have offered to raise their

rent payments notably in the coming years if allowed to stay. Our

state’s budget is in dire straights. Raise the rent at El Morro and

walk away, Arnold.

ERICH MARX

Irvine

I do think the state should stop with all the tearing things down.

They haven’t even done anything with the Crystal Cove situation,

which is a mess, and it’s an embarrassment to our county that they

are handling the funds, which they say we don’t have any of, in this

manner.

BEV HICKS

Fountain Valley

I am disgusted with the misuse of tax dollars by our state. Every

time I drive down Coast Highway and see the Crystal Cove bungalows

falling into the ground on one side of the highway and the

encroachment of Newport Coast on the other I want to cry. What

happened to the days when one could drive down the highway with your

windows open, look at the view and smell the ocean? The view was

lovely and the bungalows reminded one of simpler days.

Now, the state has kicked those taxpayers out, and their homes are

rotting, leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill? Don’t let the state

do the same thing to El Morro.

I am not willing to see my tax dollars go to a dirt lot that sits

there because the state doesn’t have enough money to do things right,

and it isn’t safe for the public. At least now I can park and enjoy

the beach along with everyone else. The state needs to let those

people stay and pay their rent. At least by allowing the taxpaying

residents to stay, the rest of the public can enjoy the beach too.

JILL KUDLA

Rancho Santa Margarita

I’m disgusted with the state’s handling of my tax dollars. The

state receives about $1 million a year from the residents of El Morro

Village and the beach remains public as it always has been. The state

wants to evict all the residents, and now wants to scale back the

proposed “improvements.” Hasn’t the state already shown its hand at

the debacle known as Crystal Cove?

SCOTT MCIVER

Santa Barbara