The Benefits of Sprawl - NYTimes.com "The American Dream: Phase II," by Allison Arieff (Opinionator, nytimes.com, June 18), simply repeats President Obama's February 2009 talking points on sprawl. So it's no surprise that she is offended by the job creation and economic diversification initiatives of L. Brooks Patterson, the county executive of Oakland County, Mich. When Mr. Patterson wrote 10 years ago - in a guest opinion for a newspaper that is posted on the county's Web site - that he loves sprawl, he clearly stated that he embraces economic development and diversification. In the decade hence, Oakland County has seen more than $4.4 billion invested by the private sector, creating 66,000 knowledge-economy jobs, and retaining more than 18,000. Mr. Patterson stands for economic freedom brought about by hard work, the American spirit and individualism. BILL MULLAN Waterford, Mich., June 20, 2012 The writer is the media and communications officer for Mr. Patterson.