Hearst Land Proposal Stirs Up Skepticism

Re “Hearst Land Plan Gains Support,” July 16: As someone who works within the environmental movement, loves San Luis Obispo and takes every opportunity to vacation on California’s Central Coast, I felt duty-bound to make the drive up to Cayucos for the Hearst Ranch Public Workshop.

The deal presented to the people would grant the Hearst Corp. $95 million of taxpayers’ money and, in return, the state would purchase only about 1,100 acres. The other 81,000 acres would remain in the hands of the corporation and have either diminished or no public access. What a “win/win” situation for the Hearst Corp. It gets $95 million from us but retains ownership and gets to limit access to this property. We need state negotiators to step in and save this deal.

Protecting Hearst Ranch is worthwhile and possible, but this deal is bad for Californians and bad for future generations.

Elizabeth Lambe

Long Beach

It is not surprising that the Hearst Corp. was able to draw local support from ranchers hoping for a similar one-sided deal and local residents who mistakenly believe they have no public access rights to lose.

However, this deal for the corporation to get $95 million of public money and continue to own the Hearst Ranch looks very different from across the state.

The most troubling aspect is that the corporation proposes not to release details of how it would protect the land until a year after the state has signed off.

California has very limited conservation money, so we need to be sure it is used to provide the maximum benefit to the majority of Californians.

Jaci Luzuriaga

Anaheim