El Morro opinions pointed

Assemblyman Chuck Devore says his El Morro bills are about money and

hopes others will follow in his footsteps (“El Morro plan makes more

fiscal sense”). This makes me very afraid. Heaven forbid we find

other Assembly members with this kind of “innovative plan.” We can’t

afford it.

If a resident pays $1,000 per month for 30 years and we use a 6%

discount rate to find the present value, that resident is paying only

$167,000 in today’s dollars for 30 years of ocean living. That is a

pretty sweet deal for holdover renters, when you can’t find an

oceanfront teardown for less than $2.5 million. I’d take that deal

any day of the week.

These ridiculously low rents have caused prices of these mostly

worthless mobile homes to sell for $1 million. It is all land value

that Devore is willing to give away. It is plainly and simply a

transfer of the state’s wealth to a few lucky individuals.

I don’t understand why we can’t find the gumption to make these

people abide by their contracts. They have had a great deal for a

very long time at the expense of the community, but it is over.

I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I didn’t just fall off

the turnip truck either. If these people have so much political clout

that the rest of the state should lose out on this resource, at least

make an effort to make it look like you are charging something near

market. Market rent on these properties should be more like $5,000 to

$15,000 per month; leases should be for no more than three years, and

there should be increases each year. Anything past three years should

have real market adjustments and only short-term renewals. Gosh,

maybe we could even let this be decided by the people in an election.

Economic downturns do not last 30 years and today’s smart property

owners do not rent property for 30 years at a static rate.

Oh, and one other stupid question: Why is a 50-car parking lot

better for the community than a 200-car parking lot? I can’t do that

math either. I just don’t get it.

CINDY DILLION

Corona del Mar

Fair market value could be as high as $4,000 per month for

beachfront trailers and $3,000 for inland trailers.

There has been talk of renters paying a lot more than that for

subleases over the last few years. Since the “market value” of a

trailer in Crystal Cove with a guaranteed 30-year lease would be in

the multi-million dollar range, I think the state would be missing

out on a lot of unrealized revenue under the DeVore “sweetheart”

plans.

PHIL ROOT

Corona Del Mar

I read with great interest Assemblyman Chuck DeVore’s brilliant

analysis of the El Morro Village situation. Not only are his ideas

outstanding business ones, they incorporate all the benefits that the

public deserves. Continued and greater public access is assured, all

the while keeping a much needed revenue stream.

The incredibly poor plan put forth by the parks department is

shelved and the ludicrous proposal of putting a park adjacent to an

Elementary School baffles the mind and begs the disconcerting fact

that state parks is so gung-ho it is willing to place our most

precious assets -- our children -- at risk is beyond disappointing;

it is scandalous. The parks department leadership needs to be

reevaluated in light of so many poor judgment calls and a complete

lack of responsibility to the people of California.

DeVore is a courageous man, because he is thinking outside of the

box and not merely spending taxpayers money as though it is mom and

dad’s credit card, and they are paying the bill. DeVore is also

standing up to the leadership of many environmental organizations

that would rather spend limited money on shrubs rather than their

fellow humans.

Hooray for you! Thank the stars, Californians. With this type of

thinking, we may become the Golden State again.

This was type of thinking Arnold Schwarzenegger promised us when

he was running for governor. Where are you governor? It is time to

put our house back in order.

MICHAEL L. KAYLOR

Newport Beach