Editor, Gazette-Journal:

I am writing to remark on the Mathews BOS proposal to abandon a 30’ right of way at Williams Wharf and the subsequent transfer of ownership of the entire property to the Mathews Land Conservancy (MLC). The two are so intertwined that they must be discussed in tandem. My first reaction was confusion and anger. Why turn over ownership to a valuable property with unconditional deeded access and which was acquired with taxpayer funds? Was this a sham transaction to turn a million taxpayer dollars over to a private not-for-profit entity for the benefit of a very exclusive group? What consideration was being given? Did this violate the spirit and intent of the federal ISTEA grant? Who were these elitists, prohibiting motorized vessels and restricting access to daylight hours? Finally, who was going to stand up for our less privileged citizens who depend on these areas to fish? What about their rights? Didn’t Mathews County just go to the Virginia Supr...