Plan to Buy Reagan Ranch

Re “Reagan Ranch May Have a Buyer--Us,” Capitol Journal, Sept. 15: Has it occurred to George Skelton, Gov. Pete Wilson or the Reagan family that the ranch property could be donated to the state of California? What a wonderful gesture that would be! How public-spirited!

Certainly there is plenty of precedent for such a noble and generous act, which would save the federal treasury $5 million, give a huge tax break to the Reagans and further enhance their image as truly patriotic people of the people.

How about a grass-roots appeal. George? Pete?

ELEANOR JACKSON

Palm Springs

Wilson’s interest in buying the Reagan ranch and turning it into a state park is ludicrous. The property is extremely inaccessible and would require jitney service from the small parking lot at Refugio State Beach to take people up a precipitous, winding dirt road to view a barren piece of land whose main asset is a view. The existing state parks and their campgrounds are in desperate need of repair and upgrading and the money (and probably a lot more) Wilson plans to spend would better serve that purpose, rather than taking an apparently unsalable piece of property off Nancy Reagan’s hands.

While we’re at it--the idea of giving any part of Crystal Cove State Park to a group of developers to turn it into a luxury resort hotel (at up to $400 per night) so that “more of the public can enjoy the park” is an insult to any thinking person

JACKIE SCHWARTZ

Tustin