Daniel Marsh: State builds only our hopes, not a new courthouse
Re “No ‘Queen for a Day’ amid pleas for courthouse bucks” (Page 1B, Aug. 14): Our county and 16 others need new, modern courthouses, but the state says there is no funding for it. This makes for public frustration and anguish based on public promises left unfulfilled. Here in Modesto, a part of our downtown has been condemned to make way for the promised courthouse. This section will most likely empty, creating urban blight, for some time to come.
There is an ongoing problem at the state level of wishing and planning for much-needed projects, building up hopes in local communities, then giving them the big letdown. Many are saying it is the burden of the state legislature to come up with a final scheme to build these new courthouses. But that’s wishful thinking. All we have now is a wish and a prayer offered to the taxpaying public. All we can do is sit and wait some more. But we must make do with what we have. Will it work? It must.
Daniel Marsh, Modesto
This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 1:23 PM with the headline "Daniel Marsh: State builds only our hopes, not a new courthouse."