Find park fundingLetter to the editor of the Daily PressApril 14, 2007
To the editor of the Daily Press:
The recent editorial suggesting Fort Monroe should not be a national park, using Skyline Drive funding issues as a model, makes little sense ("More on Monroe," March 21). (more)
Let me offer an alternative analogy. In today's environment of overly full classrooms, would the possible addition of more students be justification for refusing to take them or, for that matter, for not asking for the funds to support them? I cannot believe the Daily Press would editorialize in favor of such an approach.
What is the mission of the Department of the Interior if not to manage assets as significant to the country as Fort Monroe? If funds are scarce, that is a budgeting issue for the Department of the Interior, not a reason to refuse to accept other legitimate missions.
To be fair, federal authorities have not been given a chance to evaluate Fort Monroe as a candidate for national park status. The issue has not been given diligent study. The compromise "reconnaissance study" in current legislation appears as an unlikely effort to give the matter its due attention. Who will make the decision on the results of such a study, the Federal Area Development Authority or Hampton?
If protecting Fort Monroe from unfettered commercial development isn't a federal mission, we are indeed a poor country.
Richard I. Edwards
Hartfield