Regional Planning Council could do better

Regarding "Group unveils plan for LI" [News, Dec. 8], I have some questions: Why did the Long Island Regional Planning Council insist on contracting out the planning work to "consultants" at Arup & Partners? There are many capable planning resources available at the village, town and county level.

My bigger concern however, is the large cost of the planning council's 2035 plan. $750,000 spent on a plan that is weak at best should be looked into more thoroughly. I am all for planning on any governmental level, but to spend such resources on such basic recommendations as "nurture job growth" is just ridiculous. Having seen the plan, I am sad to say that it is disappointing at best.

Rich Murdocco

Setauket

Editor's note: The writer has a master's in public policy from Stony Brook University.