Letter of the Day: Running on empty

Editor, Daily News:

Roads? Who needs roads?

The government must not think them needed. Astaldi Construction Co.? Nope, we are left wondering and laughing, in the case of Bonita Springs Mayor Jay Arend. While certain blame cannot be placed on one individual nor one organization, it can be blamed on one age-old problem — laziness and apathy.

It's symptomatic of a larger problem, an epidemic of bureaucratic "boondogglery," if I can coin a phrase. The inmates are running the asylum.

Astaldi is bonused to the tune of $1 million (Daily News, June 7) to finish "on schedule." Huh? Isn't that a requirement of contracts? Only does the public's money in the hands of the irresponsible spend so easily! And only $1 million — a pittance — after all, it is not the city's money, it is yours and mine!

Let's do the math: penalties start May 9 at $6,078 dollars per day, so they could go to nearly Dec. 1 before their $1 million bonus is eaten up. Where is their incentive? In the bilking of Bonita Springs, and our government's willingness to take one for the team — against our wishes!

I drove the forsaken road today and counted 13 large vehicles ... 12 sat idle. Nice job, Bonita, in exemplifying to my children on how not to perform in the world! And clever of the lofty neighbor, Collier County, in their due diligence discovering Astaldi's outstanding reputation. You take "outstanding" however you like, I know what I mean. Astaldi, be proud, you have taken it to the next level.

Brian Nelson , Naples