Blatant Hype
    Prior to my career in commercial real estate, I worked for 12 years in the public relations field. In my experience, as both a public relations specialist and subsequently in my current endeavors, I have never read such a blatant piece of hype as "The Lords of Leasing" article (Aug. 1997) including a glowing profile (and picture) of each broker in the Irving Hughes office.,The only explanation that I can conceive of is that the Irving Hughes Group has an ownership position in your publication. Do they?
    By the way, could you tell us who handles PR for the Irving Hughes Group?

David G. Smith
BRE/New America Network

Popular edition
    Congratulations on your cover boy, Jason Hughes. Either it was a popular edition, or Jason has come in and stolen the entire stack. Please supply more if you can.

John Burnham
Mail Boxes Etc., Hillcrest

    I’ve been on the cover of the Union-Tribune 's Sunday real estate section, but I’ve never gotten as much response as I’m getting from your (Aug., "Lords of Leasing") story.

Craig Irving
The Irving Hughes Group, Inc.

In Defense Of Toll Roads
    In her July article (Legally Speaking), Pamela Lawton Wilson charged that "toll roads waste money, waste drivers' time and waste the environment." This is simply not true.
    Our community's productivity and quality of life depend upon an efficient transportation system. However, faced with growing traffic, aging infrastructure and rising construction costs, government can no longer provide all the funds necessary to meet our infrastructure needs.
    Therefore, instead of raising our already high gasoline taxes as Wilson suggests, we should look for more equitable, innovative means to generate new sources of revenue. One cost effective way to meet our infrastructure needs is the use of toll roads — particularly those that involve partnerships between private companies and state and local governmental agencies. These public/private partnership toll roads not only make sense economically, but they also ensure that those who use the toll roads will pay their fair share of highway costs, and that the road will not be a burden on local taxpayers or motorists who choose not to drive on them. It is a win-win situation, because even those who do not drive on the toll roads will benefit from reduced traffic on the existing "free" roadways.
    Moreover, motorists who choose to save time and use a tollway will find that the old notion that one must "slow down and pay at the toll booth" is no longer the case. New tollways are being constructed with state-of-the-art technology which allows for tolls to be collected from vehicles traveling at freeway speeds, by reading an electronic toll tag which can be either mounted on or carried in the vehicle. This technology will save travel time by permitting drivers to enjoy fewer traffic tie-ups and, as a result, decrease environmental damage and lost fuel associated with traffic congestion.
    The bottom line is that the selected use of public/private partnerships to construct, operate and maintain tollways as one alternative to help California meet its infrastructure needs makes sense. It saves taxpayer money; use of the toll road is optional and only those who choose to use it pay for it; and everyone who drives benefits by having less crowded "free" ways. Instead of railing against them, Wilson should carefully consider the many benefits of toll roads.

Kent Olsen
President, California
Transportation Ventures