In a recent editorial, The Citizen spent some print criticizing the county paying Jerry Coleman, the outside counsel on work-force housing, so much money. To make their point they stated, with no qualification, "The County has not gained much ground since Coleman began advising on affordable housing two years ago."

This statement is patently untrue. In truth, the housing built, being built, and currently in the permit process demonstrates greater progress than at any time in the last 25 years, over 700 homes and apartments throughout the county.

While Mr. Coleman's duties for the county have encompassed other issues than work-force housing, and while Mr. Coleman's efforts alone cannot be credited with our progress on this pressing issue, I can state without reservation that without the funds spent by the county for having outside counsel focused on housing we would remain far removed from our current significant countywide progress and success.

While The Citizen's editorial [board] obviously does not like Mr. Coleman's fee rate, and perhaps his politics, I would request they not besmirch and discount the extent of our current progress on housing in an effort to make their point. When you demean our progress you discourage those who are trying to make a difference, and that discouragement can lead to more people believing we can't solve our problem. Others who read your editorial and might assume your assessment is true, they perhaps will give up on remaining in the Keys, believing nothing can be done or is being done to provide them an opportunity to find a decent home.

... The end you seek, having the County Commission fire Mr. Coleman, does not justify your saying, "The County has not gained much ground," when indeed we have.

Finally, during the past two years, the county has paid over $2 million each year to outside counsel to defend itself or get legal advice on many issues. It seems to me spending $200,000 a year on our most pressing and greatest crisis, housing for our work force, is an intelligent and prudent expenditure of funds.

*Edwin O. Swift III *

Key West