Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, in response to the Trenton Water Works sale petition as "a reckless idea" (Trenton criticizes bid to halt water sale," Feb, 16), has only himself to blame for his "reckless" management of Trenton for the last 16 years. (The voters who re- elected him are guilty, as well.) This valuable asset is not his to sell. The citizens of Trenton should decide if TWW is to be sold.

If he had managed the city responsibly and not arrogantly, as indicated by the 20-plus images of hizzoner on the homepage of the city website, the city might not be in such terrible financial shape. If he had created an effective economic development program, perhaps more businesses would have located or relocated to Trenton. If he had focused on maintaining and strengthening neighborhoods (Chambersburg comes to mind) rather than on large-scale, publi cized projects that always seemed to fail (Matrix comes to mind), perhaps the city's neighborhoods would not be in a constant state of disrepair. How many rowhouses sporting wooden windows with painted pink curtains and black cats do the city residents own? Will he try to sel l these vacant buildings when he encounters another budget shortfall?

The mayor is attempting to scare the residents into selling its largest, most valuable asset when the choice should be ours. After 16 years in office and little progress to show for it, Palmer is working on his last straw: trying to sell what rightfully belongs to the residents. Let the people decide.