October 25, 2005 > Letter to the editor

It is quite clear now that Highway 84 is nothing more than a "Money Tree" to the three city councils. The final indicator is the assembly bill by first year Assemblyman Alberto Torrico that requires all surplus funds from the Highway 84 project to remain in the Tri-City area.

If Highway 84 is built as originally planned along the Historic Route, there will be no "surplus funds." Option 2 is a jury-rigged attempt to free up money to be used on other projects, without calling for the approval of the voters by selling the already paid for right of way.

The local voters voted for the Historic Route long before the Mission Lakes neighborhood was constructed. The voters also voted for the funds to complete the Historic Route, and now our local elected officials have chosen to disregard the will of the people and play "Money Tree" with the dedicated public funds at the expense of this much needed project.

What will it take for our elected officials to understand that when we vote for a project, we expect them to complete that project as presented and voted for by the voters? These funds are taxpayer's dollars and not fruit from a "Money Tree" and must be used for the purpose for which they were authorized.

I do not know how it can be made clearer. The right of way and funds are there, the voters want it, we need it, so let's get started on the Historic Route now.

Harry S. Lewis
Newark