Hello George,

I think that the city should only contract for services from firms that provide a living wage. One reason for this is that if any so-called "privatizing" of governmental services is to be considered, citizens should be assured that any private contractor that would displace a public agency or function is not gaining an advantage from wage disparities.

On another topic: I think the Progress editorial on the Parkway continues the misconception that if the road is not built the city will have to pay $1.5 million for its wisdom; it also propagates the belief that the park acreage will be replaced by parkland of similar value and functions. Wrong. Of course, they want the road, so any information that questions those "myths" is never mentioned in their editorials. The old joke used to be that the Wall St. Journal editorial writers never seemed to read the paper's news columns. Unfortunately we don't even have the opportunity with the Progress to even obtain news coverage that would allow us to judge their editorial policy.

I wonder what it would take to induce the Progress to write one, informed, article on the situation covering those two items. . I don't think it will happen and not just because they are county property owners with land on Rio Road.

Rich Collins (electronic mail, April 17, 2000).