Packard Aids Builders, Trashes Parks

Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad) performed a tremendous disservice to South Orange County last week when he rammed through the measure to circumvent existing federal law written to protect parklands from highways (“Toll Roads for O.C. Gain Some Ground in House,” July 24).

Section 4-F of the 1966 law that created the U.S. Department of Transportation bans the use of federal funds to build highways through or near public parklands. For 25 years this law has served the nation well by making it far less likely that parks and highways were built in proximity.

Now, to help the developers rape what little virgin land is left, Rep. Packard finagled this measure into being. He has made the developers very happy. I hope the voters remember this come next election.

LARRY CULBERTSON, San Juan Capistrano