The proposal for a new regional strategic plan to set priorities for the area (" St. Louis regional plan will examine 'root causes' of population loss ," Aug. 30), especially focusing on the area's declining population, has an obvious problem: Those who are supposed to find solutions are the ones most to blame for the problems.

The East-West Gateway Council of Governments is to be the major coordinator of the effort. The organization has been around since 1965 to provide a forum for "cooperative problem-solving and the coordinated development of regional policy." Apparently, it has been operating with no road map.

East-West is best known in recent years for making a $1.26 million grant to keep the failed Loop Trolley running. The trolley had already cost $51.5 million, almost all tax d

See Full Page