We see repeated, well-constructed television commercials referencing the big, bright New York "open for business." Yet, "High-bid win colors driver's license debate," Nov. 16, reports that the state Department of Motor Vehicles is contracting with the highest bidder to produce our licenses in a move that outsources the work to a foreign country.
Imagine if the $88.5 million contract is repeated with a couple dozen other states. What a huge boost those hundreds of millions would be to our economy. The contracts could even yield a drop in our unemployment.
I find it hard to believe that no one in New York has the know-how or technology to do the same job. I would be willing to bet competitive, bright students from Rochester Institute of Technology or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or the University at Albany could come up with a product just as good or better.
We have the resources (the most modern computers and technicians) to get the job done right here in New York.
Perhaps we also should take another long look at the reasoning behind this contract. It seems every move we make to combat terrorism already is being countered.
A friendly competition between some of our brightest students would stir up some of the sharpest minds and might come up with the technological ideas we could never imagine.
JOSEPH N. BASILE
Albany