Lauren Vane
As evictions loom at El Morro Village in Crystal Cove State Park,
residents of the scenic mobile home park have been thrown a last
minute life-preserver -- if they can catch it in time .
Last week, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore proposed two similar bills
that could allow the El Morro residents to remain in their homes for
30 years.
If approved by the legislature, the bills would require that the
residents pay a total of $50 million to the state to extend their
leases -- funds that would either help reduce the state budget
deficit or work off a backlog in parks department maintenance costs.
DeVore says the mobile home tenants could help fill the
$8.6-billion gap in the state's budget deficit by paying increased
rents, and that the state would also save $12 million by not
developing the site with a 60-unit campground, a 200-space parking
lot and nature trails, restrooms and a lifeguard tower.
"If we in Sacramento are serious about getting a handle on our
runaway deficit, then we have to take concrete steps to improve the
state's financial situation," DeVore said.
Fern Pirkle, who spearheaded efforts that led to the creation of
Crystal Cove State Park, opposes the bills.
"Definitely it's against the best interests of the people of
California and against the best interests of most of Mr. DeVore's
constituents, who I'm sure would like to be able to go to the beach
there and would like to be able to spend the night camping there,"
Pirkle said.
DeVore does not want to give residents false hope that their homes
may be saved, but he does hope one of the bills will pass before the
evictions take place -- or that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will act
to halt the evictions.
"I'm hoping that by putting forward my bill, the governor's office
will put forward a stay because this is a valuable resource they're
going to lose pretty soon," DeVore said.
False hope or not, the El Morro residents are hanging on to the
possibility that DeVore's proposal could save them from having to
uproot their homes -- and their lives.
"We're gratified that someone else is interested in our plight and
that we have an assemblyman who has some fiscal responsibility," said
Jeanette Miller, Chairperson of the El Morro Community Assn.
"Its all dollars and cents to me and I just think it's fiscally
irresponsible," DeVore said.
As the bills propose, the tenants will pay a minimum of $50
million to the state. The money will either help fill the state
deficit hole or go toward the backlog of parks department maintenance
