Controversial Mexican Resort

In “Debate Builds Over Proposed Mexican Resort” (Jan. 5), a controversial proposal for massive development in San Quintin Bay, in Baja California, is described. San Quintin Bay is a one-of-a-kind treasure, a truly intact bay and salt marsh ecosystem. This oversized development--hotels, second homes, shopping centers, marina, golf courses, underground parking--would be incompatible with sustainable use of the bay’s fragile and pristine resources, such as aquaculture. Such a transformation would also preclude the local community from fashioning its own land use plan for the area.

DAN SILVER, Coordinator

Endangered Habitats League

Los Angeles

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Thirty years ago, a friend and I drove to San Quintin on Easter break. On the map, it just looked like a good place to go. We parked in the middle of chaparral next to a perfect little beach with a spit of chocolate-rust volcanic rock that was pushing up one fan palm, waist high. Perfectly formed small waves, in the purest ocean water, distorted the sand and pebbles of the bottom as they moved along the spit, toward the beach. On Easter morning, we caught a rattlesnake behind the car, killed it and decided to eat it for breakfast. We had to cut it into short pieces, because it writhed out of the pan when left whole. Just like people said, it tasted like chicken.

Go there, while you can.

JOHN BURNABY

Santa Barbara

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What a delight for the eye to see Annie Wells’ beautiful seascape photo of San Quintin on the front page.

HAL McCLURE

Laguna Hills