Watkins bill would aid developers

Dear Editor,

In the recent election, Chesterfield voters spoke as one in favor of responsible attention to growth issues. No more, they declared, should large developers be permitted to run roughshod over the public welfare without, at minimum, paying some fair share of the costs they incur.

Into this breach leaps Republican State Senator John Watkins, trying his best to subvert the will of the people and sacrifice what's left of our county (and its remaining fiscal health) to his developer buddies, and of course, his own family's interests, e.g. Watkins Centre. The meager proffers which developers have been paying for the privilege of burdening our roads, schools and utilities are to be eliminated. Why charge developers? Better that taxpayers should pay for the endless costs caused by rampant, uncontrolled development! Not only should they suffer the effects of increased traffic congestion, overcrowded schools and oversubscribed utilities, they should pay higher taxes for the privilege.

Mr. Watkins is officially a member of the Virginia Senate, but in the future I think he should throw off such an archaic designation and declare instead for the office of Public Enemy #1.

Richard Lanier

Midlothian