Numbers Racket

Re “California to Number Exits on Freeways,” Jan. 16: Am I the only one who noticed in the article that the freeway signs are going to be replaced over a three-year period as part of the normal sign-replacement maintenance cycle at an additional cost of $30 million? If the signs are going to be replaced anyway, why the $30-million cost?

I suspect there isn’t much more than a few thousand dollars worth of paint in graffiti covering nearly every exit sign and overpass on the freeway system. Maybe we should have those caught painting graffiti do the work, since they seem to be better cost managers.

Patrick Haynes

Manhattan Beach