Beachside Living at El Morro and Crystal Cove

Re “Save Crystal Cove’s Great Cultural Resource,” letters, Nov. 11:

Val Carson’s letter refers to Crystal Cove’s great resource (its cottages). Wrong. It’s our beaches. The cottages are nothing more than vermin- and insect-infested dumps.

Worse, they are responsible for decades of ocean pollution. They should immediately be demolished. Instead, the state in its wisdom will spend hundreds of thousands in tax money to restore the cottages so a few privileged can enjoy our beaches, because they can afford it. Wrong again.

What should happen is restrooms, parking and picnic areas provided for the public. That means all Californians, not just the cove’s neighbors who find them quaint and “private.” So much of our coastline has been closed off or made difficult to reach by development. When will we get it?

Yes, development is a sensitive issue, but the coast is public land. We must not give up any more of our most precious resource, our beaches. They are all that is left for California citizens to truly enjoy for free.

Robert Smith

Costa Mesa

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Re “Give El Morro Back to the Taxpayers,” letters, Nov. 4:

I am a 14-year member of the El Morro Village community and have enjoyed a wonderful and affordable living experience on the California coast. Most of the trailer owners at El Morro do not lease out their property, but enjoy it themselves.

Because of the longevity of our community, multiple generations of families have enjoyed this simple and unique beach-side experience. Our community dates to the 1930s and was originally owned by the Irvine Co. When the property was sold to the state, as part of Crystal Cove State Park, we were part of that transaction. Our original lease with the state expired at the end of 1999. We successfully negotiated another five years. Our future is in question.

We have an active community association. We plan social events, fund-raising events and community events. Our goal is to maintain our wonderful living experience at El Morro Village. Tenants take pride in their community and their property, maintaining their property and working side by side with their neighbors. Because we have such a large full-time community, residents volunteer at the El Morro school and in numerous community programs in the area. Our community is composed of many long-time senior residents, young families, artists and weekend residents. We know our neighbors!

El Morro Village is a stable community and has proved to be a good neighbor to the El Morro Elementary School.

Linda Keagle

Laguna Beach