Letter to the Editor: CCT responds to story about Skyway Bridge support

To the Editor:

Good Morning - On Wednesday April 21st  Journal Staff Writer Alison Satake attended, at our invitation,  a Coastal Carolina Tomorrow membership meeting where recently appointed state transportation board member Michael Alford addressed those in the audience on a whole host of subjects, including gap funding initiatives for the Cape Fear Skyway project and the revisions that have been made to the makeup and authority granted to the board by the Governor's office.

Mr. Alford offered many exceptional statements that demonstrated clearly the breadth and depth of his commitment to the transportation needs of this area, and to see him quoted almost completely out of context by one of the more experienced writers employed by the Journal is disappointing to say the least. The statement which is highlighted below fails to note that during the course of the meeting it was made clear, that there is an at-large seat on the state board which is still vacant that was filled during the tenure of his predecessor, which enabled the two representatives that covered the area which includes, but is not limited to New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington to jointly support and represent the geographical area to which they were assigned. Reducing greatly the "time and energy" that would be required of one representative.

The article also fails to note, possibly because no effort was made to clarify just what was meant by the statement, that since his appointment Mr. Alford has accepted invitations and visited Wilmington on an almost weekly basis, no fewer than four (4) times, to speak with representatives from the business and/or regulated community, including the homebuilders' association and the chamber.

Highlighting a statement that only those in the audience, who actually heard it spoken, would recognize for what it was, an attempt to give recognition and place value on the many years of dedicated and time-consuming service performed by former board volunteer Lanny Wilson, could be viewed as a misguided and unnecessary effort to cast doubt on the commitment that this dedicated North Carolinian (who was selected by  Governor Perdue precisely because of his drive, determination and business acumen) has made to the monumental task of bettering the transportation infrastructure system throughout our entire state.

Melanie Cook

Executive Director, Coastal Carolina Tomorrow

To read the original story, please see:

http://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/industry_news_details.php?id=1375