No More-o El Morro

Assemblyman DeVore, an avid OC Blog reader has made a wise decision and pulled two controversial pieces of legislation from consideration.  It's an issue we've written about in this forum many times.  Following is a brief excerpt from today's OC Register:

Two bills that propose a 30-year lease extension and rent increase for tenants of the El Morro mobile-home park were dropped Monday, the day before an Assembly committee hearing.

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine, is considering other options, said DeVore spokesman Brian O'Neel.

DeVore proposed that the state drop a $13 million public-park and campground project at the Laguna Beach site. Instead, he said, the increased rents could be used to reduce the state's budget deficit.

While we have our own thoughts, I hope DeVore might consider posting a reply and giving us his insights.  At the end of the day, while his intention of seeking additional revenue for the state is laudable, this probably wasn't the best place to begin work. Now, that being said, his Tourism Board stuff is a great start.

Comments

[Chuck DeVore]

I'm holding a press conference today asking for an audit into the Parks department's Crystal Cove Historic Cottages restoration. I'm asking how far behind schedule and over budget they are for Phase I? What is the total cost to completion? And how much debris and mud flowed into Los Trancos Creek in direct violation of promises made in the project's EIR?

These questions are very relevant as then Assemblyman Campbell proposed legislation in 2002 that would have used the rental income from El Morro to pay for the restoration of the cottages. He pulled his legislation when he was assured by Parks that Prop. 40 bond money could pay for the whole project.

Today, hours before my press conference, I have seen an April 22 letter from the Department of Finance admitting to a major cost overrun at Crystal Cove.

What a shock!

[Critic]

What? Following up to see if an EIR and its mitigation measures are being followed? Now you're talking just plain crazy. If we start reading our own reports and holding people accountable for them, anything could happen.

I was never fond of your bills, but I think you should carry on, especially on the issue of the cottages that won't be available to the public, but instead will go to public employees and politicians.

[Publius]

Assemblyman - good to hear your insights, while the whole issue appears to be a can of worms, I was pleased to read of you action and your update. Keep us posted.

great work Chuck, you go hassle those Parks people, that-a-boy. what a bitter little baby you sound like!

meanwhile, while you're wasting time trying to save pennies at a tiny cottage reconstruction project, how many hundreds of millions of dollars are being wasted every year by the State of California providing welfare, free health care and free education to millions of illegal aliens?

think big picture Chuck, it's not beach parks that are draining our States coffers, it's the millions of freeloading non-citizens sucking our social programs dry!

[Rio]

I've waited 25 years to camp at the long over-due state park (where the El Morro Village trailer park is now)...why are all those trailers still blighting this land. Chuck Devore must have loss his mind trying to stall the will of the good people of California who bought this land and demand to use it for camping and day use. Rio

[Rio]

These are my thoughts about the future of the Crystal Cove hisoric collages, that are being used to house employees (this is public knowledge), and possibly to be reconstructed (to current building codes), so then to be used as cottage rentals within the park system. I would endorse a plan to remove all the old (falling apart and very expensive to fix up) cottages and restore the land to it's natural state (plus parking, restrooms, day use picnic areas and a bunch of trees to hide the parking areas....recapturing the vision of what was the Doheny Beach Park at Dana Point, circa 1954 (personal memories). It's almost impossible to see a beach in it's natural condition, that's not blighted with houses. If you have thoughts on this issue, please post them. Please think of the beach and not the money it might generate for the State. Rio

[Rio]

The State Of California, in the very wise decision, purchased the land beach front property and the canyon land in north Laguna Beach, so to provide a recreation park for all Californians and the tourists who vacation here. Assemblyman Chuck Devore should join the rest of people to promote the completion of this park. There is no substitute for the use of this rare and beautiful beach land that is needed. I think the public should send Assemblyman Chuck DeVore a loud and clear message to stop obstructing the progress of the park or we will vote your ass out of public office. Rio

[Rio]

It would be interesting to heard from the individuals, who live in the El Morro Village. Many of them have publically voiced their hopes that the rest of the public should wait to use the park land for camping, so that they may continue to keep their trailers on the park land. Living day to day, at a very low cost, in the middle of a beach park land must be wonderful. Did they think that it would go on forever. Do they really think that the rest of us don't care? Please post your thoughts on this blog...I would enjoy hearing your views. After all, you can always come back the visit the park. Rio

[Michelle]

You aer very bitter and unfulfilled, Rio. Get a life.

[rio]

This is a response to Michelle, thank you for posting your thoughts in this blog. I'm fascinated by the drama that is unfolding in the El Morro Village. I believe that we are all individuals, but yet we are all each connected to a very large extended family that must coexit in harmony. I am curious into WHY some individuals refuse to honor their agreements with that larger family, for purely selfish reasons, and there by harm that larger family. My personal philosophy would not permit me to act in this manner. Being curious is seeking enlightenment...being curious and provoking conversation about the human condition is not being unfulfilled nor is it bitter. Michelle, these are your words... to a stranger, unless of course, I'm not a stranger. Rio PS I assure you that I love and I am loved....thank you for the simulating dialog.

[Chuck DeVore]

Well, Rio, I appreciate your posts. Just saw them today as this is an aging story and I hadn't noticed.

Your main concern appears to deal with some of my financial supporters, some of whom are "guilty" of the crime of living at El Morro.

They supported me because I am a small government Republican who does not believe that the Parks plan to destroy El Morro Village is fiscally sound -- especially so in light of the $900 million Parks department deferred maintenance shortfall that only increases every year as we keep buying parkland that we cannot afford to maintain.

As to my bills, I amended one of my bills several to provide for full and open bidding for both the management company and the available lease spaces. Open bidding is fair – it also forces my critics to focus on the merits of the plan and not on trying to win points through personal attacks. With open bidding, however, we need to accept that the state may get less money (or more) than was the case with the original plan which was based on an appraisal of the lease value of the land (this idea was a follow-on to a plan developed by my predecessor, Sen. John Campbell).

Just for your information, rents paid by the people who live at El Morro are $2.2 million today, not $1.2 million. The state realizes a cash profit of $1.2 million with another $1 million going to maintain the 32-acre village – maintenance the state cannot now afford as the statewide parks maintenance backlog is $900 million and climbing.

When the Department of Parks and Recreation developed their plan for Crystal Cove and El Morro 23 years ago, Jerry Brown was Governor, we had 43 fewer parks with 300,000 fewer acres of parkland, and our maintenance backlog was only $10.8 million. The simple fact is there are park assets today that the public cannot enjoy for lack of maintenance money. So why are we seeking at this time to add park capacity that we cannot now afford to maintain?

As to the point of voting my "a** out of public office" -- the Sierra Club endorsed my Democrat opponent in the last election (he would have fought to toss the El Morro residents out -- so, IF he had gotten elected, I guess you would have been compelled to criticize him in the same way you did me for voting in agreement with his supporters). No doubt the Sierra Club will endorse my Democrat opponent in 2006 (as they are, effectively, a partisan Democrat group). So, give it a shot. I welcome the competition of ideas!

[Rio]

This is to Chuck DeVore, thank you for the timely response to my blogs. I too support the open exchange of ideas. The people of California have repeatedly voted bonds for the expansion of our parklands for recreataional use. The amount of money that was spent to buy the Crystal Cove land from the Irvine Company and also the cost of improving the park as planned is money well spent. This is a state wide issue. It affects all of us. It is not a local issue, except that the El Morro trailer renters have broken their word to depart. Your attempts to delay the completion of the park will fail. The public wants that park completed. The issue is not money...it is parkland recreation for the entire state and tourists to use. The finished park will generate funds, but I personally don't care about making a profit from beach parkland. As I have written in the blogs, if the State Of California were an independent country, it's ecomony would be the 5th or 6th largest economy in the world. We can afford to provide recreation lands for our people. Your micro view of this drama has sadly given hope to the folks in El Morro who have openly broken their agreement with the state and are defying the rule of law. I am a registered republican, I believe in carefully spending public money, but the fact is that we need recreational land at the beach. It is a tragedy that the park conversion did not procede at the close of the 20 year agreement...5 years ago. You were voted into office by some of the wealthiest voters in this geat state. Those voters are also concerned with providing parklands. It is easy for a politician to attack spending programs. You should not received so much campaign money from the El Morro Village people and then introduced bills to help them politically. Frankly, it stinks. Thanks again for the response. Rio

[Chuck DeVore]

So, I suppose by your logic, I cannot vote for any tax cuts as everyone who donated to my campaign is also a taxpayer.

As I said before, the Sierra Club worked for my opponent. If he backed the Parks plan to spend another $14 million to destroy El Morro Village and build a 250 car parking lot, spend $2 million of General Fund money on the overrun for Phase I at the Crystal Cove historic cottage restoration, and another $16 million or so of unidentified, probably General Fund money to complete Phase II of Crystal Cove, then you, by your own argument, would have to say that "it stinks".

Or, do stenches only come from political actions you do not like?

[Rio]

To Chuck DeVore, I believe in fiscal responsibility in government spending. I personally believe that all the cottages should be removed and the Crystal Cove land returned to it's native state... with added landscaping (trees) to hide the necessary parking and bathrooms. The projected costs (as of today) to restore the cottages (to pass building codes) are an unnecessary burden to the budgeted bond money approved by the voters for the parks and I think it would be prudent the scrap that idea. In truth, I have always viewed the cottages as urban blight. I also do not support the housing of park employees in those cottages. The employees can obtain housing and compute to work...just like the rest of us do. As to the design specifications for the conversion of the trailer park site to camping and day use...
it looks great on paper. Your term of a 250 car parking lot is a grossly misleading characterization of the design that has been available for the public to view via the web site. I advocate that individuals donate money to help elect public officials, but I would limit the amounts of those donations, so people like the those who own the managing company (who get about one half of trailer park rental fees in El Morro), could not buy legislation. It is the your taking that kind of donation that stinks. Chuck, I don't think you would have introduced 2 bills to extend the leases and also the management companys future profits from the trailer parks fees, if they had not donated so much money to your campaign. I am not alone in this thought. You, as a newly elected assemblyman, have cast a dark shadow (your movites) onto your office. I hope that you ask for the financial support of the people, but not to show bias to a few, that gave you a big check. You have spoken about the Sierra Club's support for the Democratic Party's candidate... I am no fan of the Sierra Club...30 or 40 years ago they killed a wonderful plan by the Disney Company to develop the Mineral King skiing and recreational area. The State Of California has been robbed of another park, so that a few hikers could wonder off into the untouched wilderness. Anyway, Sierra Club spend lots of money and have too muchpower. Once again, the State Of California is the envey of the world. We can and we must buy land and (with common sense) develop that land for the recreatational use of all Californians and all the tourists who come here. Think about all the families that live inland, where it's hot. They vacation in the beach parks. I'm about to retire and I joy in the memories of being a child with my family at the Doheny Beach Park of the late 1940's and early 1950's....As a father and husband, I shared similiar experiences with my children. All of my kids, now well educated and married speak often of those fun times of skiing, camping and fishing in this state's wonderful parks. Those memories are the primal force that moved me to write these blogs. Chuck, I provoked you to respond in this blog...so I could communicate my thoughts to you. Remember these words, and the words of other bloggers, when you are in Sacramento Rio

[Chuck DeVore]

Who can argue with the force, the "primal force" that is...

Rio, thanks for your "primal" post, advocating that we return Crystal Cove to its "primal" state.

BTW, you're right, the term 250 car parking lot is misleading. The Parks plan calls for a 250 car parking lot AND a 60 space camp ground site at El Morro, of which 30 spaces will be for huge, fuel-guzzling RVs. And this in addition to the 1,000+ parking spaces already at Crystal Cove State Park.

All the best,

Chuck

[Rio]

To Chuck DeVore, please note that the 1,000+ parking spacing (are you sure about this number? I have not actually counted them...),are located away from the beach and are up on the bluff near the Pacific Coast Hwy. (there is also parking in the canyon near the ranger office). These parking areas are located so far from the actual beach water that families can not easily walk to the water with small children and the elderly. Remember, Chuck, these family also carry their beach chairs, umbrellas, ice chest, etc. The conversion of trailer park land will provide these families an appropiate area to park and they can use the tunnel below the coast highway to access the beach. Chuck, you should be looking at the big picture....families with kids and the old folks.
The area for those big RV vehicles is necessary for the families (who live far inland, where it the climate is hot). They commute to the beach and cooler places during the summer (have you ever been in Barstow in July). Class A motor homes get about 5 or 6 miles per gallon (about 10 to 12 miles per gallon for the diesels). These vehicles don't really affect the state's fuel comsumption much. RVs are normally driven just a few thousand miles each year(or less). They are designed to provide portable housing and are not for touring. If you want to learn more about the RV experience, I suggest that you visit Travel Land (multiple rv dealerships)in Irvine. I share your apparent attitude towards gas guzzling monster cars...that ponder along our highways. I have usually driven a sports car that got surprisingly good fuel consumption, except of course a highly modified 911 Porsche that I drove many years ago...it just sucked gas..but that car was super fun and I still curse the day I sold it. Anyway, Chuck, I'm happy that the park planners provided some RV parking in the new park. I am pleasantly surprised that you have responsed to my blogs...all individuals are a force of nature...you have chosen to enter the political arena...your actions will studied... if you make too many mistakes, you will be replaced by someone else.
Be wise. Rio aka THE PRIM FORCE

[Rio]

This is again for Assembleman Chuck DeVore. After challenging you to debate the merits of your motives introducing the bills to extending the leases in the El Morro Village trailer park, I publically thanked you for the your timely response in this blog...you told me to "bring in on"...and I did. I voiced my views and you voiced your views...truely a dual of ideas and knowledge...(It was not a fair battle, I am older and wiser than you)... Thomas Jefferson would be proud. The public will decide if you have steered the people's legislative boat towards the proper future.
Thanks again for this forum and I hope that many people read our words and think about the issues involved. I wish that those who still cling to the hope of remaining in the trailer park will use this blog to publically state their thoughts. RIO PS...Michelle, do you still think that I'm bitter and unfulfilled for voicing my hopes that the renters so some class and vanish.

[Rio]

It appears that Assemblyman, Chuck DeVore is trying (again) to extend the occupation of the El Morro Village trailers by offering the vacant trailers as housing for the folks those homes were destroyed by the recent landslide in Laguna. Everyone has compassion for those families, but the vacant trailers can not be used to house them. The trailers are going to be dismantled, so the State Beach Park can be completed. The management company, that runs the park wants to continue to collect $1,000,000.00 per year from the renters (management fee). Chuck, please return that big check (campaign contribution) you received from the people who own the management company and tell them you have failed to extend the trailer leases. It's time for you to represent the best interests of the "people" and not the interests of the management company. Rio

Rio: it was the Mayor of Laguna Beach's idea; Devore just went along with her suggestion. Seems like he is just responding to his constituents.

Published June 7, 2005

Consultant hired to help slide victims

Assemblyman Chuck Devore, meanwhile, will lobby to get temporary housing at El Morro Village.

By Alicia Robinson, Daily Pilot

Meanwhile, state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore is seeking state permission for now homeless residents to stay in vacant homes at the El Morro Village mobile home park.

The 22 families whose homes were deemed unsafe to inhabit have been staying wherever they can -- in some cases other residents have taken them in -- but they need somewhere to live for up to the next three years, Pearson-Schneider said.

"People are saying these are millionaires. Well, they're not millionaires anymore because most of their assets were in their homes and they don't have a home anymore, and some of them don't even have the land that the home was on," she said.

She pitched the idea of putting residents in homes at El Morro, where about 26 trailers are vacant after some residents agreed to stop fighting eviction by the state and leave. The state owns the El Morro property and plans to turn it into public parkland but is still battling in court to get residents out.

"You've got about two dozen people with a desperate need and two dozen homes that have already been evacuated," DeVore said. "It just seems like a natural fit."

DeVore was waiting to hear from California Resources Agency Secretary Mike Chrisman about whether Laguna residents can settle in at El Morro. The Assemblyman became popular with El Morro residents in February when he introduced two bills to extend their leases, but he pulled the plug on the bills in April, saying he couldn't get enough votes to pass them.

[Rio]

I applaude the community spirit of helping the families who are facing the temporary or permanent need of replacement housing, due to the Bluebird Canyon landslides. Each of those families were aware of the risks of living in the Bluebird Canyon area, where past landslides have devastated home owners. Each of them chose to live there and enjoy the unique natural beauty of that area. After record rainfall, the hills have slide again, some of those people must live elsewhere. The trailers at the old El Morro Village trailer park is not the place. The trailers are being removed so the Crystal Cove Beach Park can be completed. I voice these thoughts, to stop the rather wierd idea of adding people to an area where the State Of California is trying to evict the squatters. Rio

[Rio]

The drama in the old El Morro Village continues. The State (wisely) has refused to allow the housing of the laguna landslide victims in the vacant trailers and also the empty RV sites. The legal battle between the State and the remaining squatters appears to be nearing it's conclusion. With each passing week, the squatters are realizing that they must leave the park. I hope the Crystal Cove Beach Park can be quickly completed. I look forward to the day that all the families of this great state (tourists too) can use this beach park. I urge all the parties involved to voice their thoughts in this blog. Rio

[Silence Dogood]

Rio-

While I hate to butt-in to the conversation you seem to be having with yourself, I have to take issue with some of the things you have written.

You say you are a Republican, but I don't see how your affinity for government takeover of private land represents that political philosophy. Public parkland is one more scourge of big government. How can you not see that, if you describe yourself as "older and wiser" than DeVore? Your naturopathic way of looking at an overbudget, overextended, bloated bureaucratic venture that is the State Parks plan is a little delusional. I think it would behoove you to re-examine your registration.

If you enjoy beachfront land so much, why don't you save up and purchase some of it? Don't make me foot the bill for your pursuit of pleasure.

[Rio]

To Silence Dogood, thanks for the blog. It's true...I am a Rupublican. I have also owned a home at the beach. I sold it because it was to big for me after the kids finished college and now live far away. As a student of the human condition, I have learned had our society can only survive and flourish, if all of it's people can access a little vacation time to relax and recharge their batteries. If all the beautiful land areas in the United States were owned by private individuals, and only the rich could enjoy that beauty, the rest of the population would revolt agaist the rich and anarchy would result. If you question this, please study history (the poor rising up and destroying the wealthy). Our republic balances the differences between the rich and poor in many ways. Creating National and State Park is part of that balance. I personally enjoy the drive along Pacific Coast Highway and seeing the open spaces and not continuous man made structures. Long ago, I spent many years in college, studying land-use planning. I was instructed by very knowledgable professors (old and wise), who told me, that by the year 2000, the only open space between Santa Barbara and the Mexican border would be government owned (and protected) park lands, government owned military bases, (like Camp Pendleton) and privately owned cemeteries. This mega-urban area is now an emerging reality. Your comment about..."footing the bill for my pleasure" is silly. The rich folks can only remain rich if the poor folks don't eliminate you, like in the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution and the Chinese Revolution. Please think of our publically owned parks as insurance against a new world order. Thanks again for responding in this blog. I enjoy the dual of ideas. "THE OLDER AND WISER...RIO

[RIO]

To Silence Dogood, hi there fellow Republican. I had hoped that you might rely to my reply. What fun it is to "duel" the "dual" of Republican view points. One of my boys lives in the Big Apple... New York City is a fun place for a young man and his wife to begin an adventure... but without "Central Park", it just would not be same (fun) voyage of discovery. This is just one more example of public spending that improves the quality that city's life. Has old Rio stimulated your thoughts about public taxes spent for parks? RIO

[sven]

This whole issue makes me insane. First the state takes Crystal Cove to "renivate" the cottages, now the historic cottages are falling down and they clearly don't have the money to fix them, and even if they do the general public will never get to use them. Now they are trying to evict the tenants at El Morro Village crying "public land". Guess what it already is public land. I go there all the time and have received nothing but warm greetings from the residents. There is already plenty of parking a quarter of mile down the road.

The worst is the supposed enviro groups like "The Friends of Newport Coast". Environmental please, Newport Coast raped the untouched hillsides to put up thousands more million dollar homes and those people just don't want to see trailers when they drive from their palaces to go out to their $500 dinners in Laguna. Laguna Beach used to be one the last of the true beach communities. Now its turning into the Beverly Hills of Orange County with a million residents whose only reason for living their is prestige. Most of the residents of Newport Coast wouldn't lower themselves to getting their feet dirty by stepping foot on a beach.

Thanks Chuck Devore for trying to be the voice of reason and stand up to bullshit. I only wish you would have seen it through. I hope you continue your good work. Enough pandering to the poor rich crybabies that are taking over Orange County. It's sad that the people that grew up in the Orange County beach communities can't afford to even live in the County anymore.