Funny that local and state governments are more concerned with spending money on anti-gang units instead of addressing the root problem. Seems to me that money would have been much better off if it had been used to create new inner-city programs and enhance existing programs for troubled teens.

Charlie Burnett

Raleigh

Can't drill our way out

This reader was not surprised upon reading the quote (Overheard, Aug. 14) from Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory espousing the national Republican mantra that offshore drilling along our national coast will somehow be a panacea for the exorbitant price of gas.

Any area along the coast of North Carolina (or any coastal area) is leased by the Department of Interior to the highest bidder, mostly multinational oil conglomerates. Does candidate McCrory believe that the Chevrons, the BP's, and the ConocoPhillipses of the world are going to discount the price of oil that may be discovered off the coast of North Carolina simply because of its proximity to the citizens of our great state.

The simple fact is the price of oil is dictated by international open markets regardless of where it is discovered.

Marc Finchum

Fuquay-Varina

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