Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Another example of government over-reach and wasteful taxpayer spending was exhibited at the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission meeting conducted by Lewis Lawrence, executive director. I attended one of the three hearings on Oct. 8 which focused on agriculture, forestry and manufacturing. As Bill Nachman described in his Oct. 17 article, the Department of Housing and Community Development has issued a $40,000 grant for the project. The purpose of this grant is to develop partnerships with Virginia universities and the "suffering" Middle Peninsula.

In the MPPDC Public Meeting Notice, it states that "academic institutions present a unique opportunity to assist communities with developing new approaches to increase employment, build wealth, address blight, and raise the standard of living for low and moderate income persons." When questioned at the hearing, Mr. Lawrence could not provide a specific example on how this program can help people in th...