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
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