'Obstruction and obfuscation'

Voters need to know how candidates stand on whether to renovate or demolish our Orange County Government Center.

So far, most of them have been evasive or non-committal.

Few incumbents have considered the findings of a non-partisan, non-governmental volunteer panel of experts who after more than two years of exhaustive research demonstrated that renovation would cost a fraction of what it would cost to demolish and re-build.

These experts – Orange County residents— are nationally-respected architects, engineers, cost-estimators and building contractors. They are retired and have no personal financial interest in the issue.

Cumulatively, they represent decades of experience in their professions.

Their findings are supported by other experts from across America and overseas. All of them provided their services and advice without compensation. Over the last two years they have held informational public forums across the county.

Our county executive and legislators received invitations to the meetings but few responded.

In fact, these public-minded experts were met with obstruction and obfuscation.

Many legislators seem more content spending millions of dollars to seek advice from outsiders who stand to win lucrative contracts, especially if the complex is demolished.

Richard W. Hull
Warwick