To the editor:

Does the Milken report surprise you? Lawrencians have been saying all along, that we cannot afford all this developmental spending. What “laurels” are we resting on, second from the last place? Is this a joke? Menards wanted to build here but the city planners did not want it. Local jobs and the income that it would bring to Lawrence were not their priority.

Next item in the paper was Brownback wants to take money from the early-childhood endowment fund to balance state budget. Those funds came from major tobacco companies to settle a multistate lawsuit and were designated for early-childhood programs. NOW he wants to raid the funds. That’s lying and stealing. I hope someone stops him. What terrible leaders! This impression we are making on others is priceless.