OUT THERE

Deanne Stillman’s “Out There” (Dec. 8) contained inaccuracies about the Morongo Basin and left a biased impression about the desert area and its inhabitants.

There are 88,000 people living in the Morongo Basin, not 60,000, and the cactus in your picture is native to the Arizona desert, not California.

We have two incorporated areas in the Morongo Basin, a modern hospital, many schools, businesses, churches, civic organizations, sports, local newspapers, five radio stations, a theatrical playhouse, a national monument, the world’s largest Marine Corps base, art galleries, museums and all the other amenities.

The article also left out a few things. Like the fact that more than a million people annually come to the Joshua Tree National Monument to enjoy the clean air (which is showing traces of smog, thanks to Los Angeles). There’s also abundant wildlife (occasionally poached by visitors from Los Angeles) and a low crime rate (increased by criminals sent here from Los Angeles).

KAREN VANDENHOUT

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Twentynine Palms