The Port of Kennewick presently has a 4,000-foot piece of road to the world -- Vista Airport. Port officials do not understand the significance and economic importance of this and are doing all they can to convince us that they should tear it up for "development."

The Port of Kennewick clearly does not understand that a port's duty, per state law, is "the purposes of acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation, development and regulation within the district of harbor improvements, rail or motor vehicle transfer and terminal facilities, water transfer and terminal facilities, air transfer and terminal facilities, or any combination of such transfer and terminal facilities, and other commercial transportation, transfer, handling, storage and terminal facilities, and industrial improvements."

There is nothing in this Revised Code of Washington involving urban or economic development. On its present path, the port is not in compliance. Let's get back to basics per the law!

MIKE WHITE, Kennewick