Victoria鈥檚 police chief refused to grovel
Re: 鈥淎mid tense words, Victoria council likely to OK hiring of four unarmed constables,鈥� Jan. 15.
Heaven forbid a highly-paid professional and expert in his field such as the police chief should dispute the all-knowing councillors while running his department.
Council, like U.S. President Donald Trump, only want yes men to grovel and burnish their image. Maybe support a 55聽per cent pay hike for them which, of course, is within the bounds of inflation.
Patrick Murphy
Victoria
Council members need to walk around the city
What magical fairy tale version of Victoria do Ben Isitt and Jeremy Loveday live in where they think it鈥檚 a good idea to bully the police chief over reasonable budget increases? Have either of these councillors taken a walk downtown lately?
If I was a frail senior I鈥檇 be terrified. Less than desirable street folk have taken over and can be found smoking anything they can get their hands on in any location despite the laws in place.
It seems it鈥檚 ok to sleep or set up shop on any sidewalk or in any business doorway. There are beggars, some aggressive, three per block and at every traffic light on the edges of town. Pandora Avenue between Cook and Douglas has become a version of Vancouver鈥檚 East Hastings.
This city needs to spend more on police. It needs more boots on the ground to deter bad behaviour and protect those who pay the taxes and keep the place running.
Victoria has always been sa国际传媒鈥檚 go-to for people living on the fringe of society. It鈥檚 about time we focused less on handouts and more on maintaining a civilized society that鈥檚 safe for everyone.
C. Scott Stofer
Victoria
This arithmetic doesn鈥檛聽make sense
Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt says: 鈥淚鈥檓 personally not prepared to support these constant increases far beyond the rate of inflation,鈥� while he works on a budget that will increase one percentage point over inflation.
Am I missing something? In one breath he says he鈥檚 not prepared to support a budget increase greater than the rate of inflation and in the other, doing just that himself.
This is the same guy that wanted to increase his salary from the city by more than 50 per cent. Pretty sure that鈥檚 well over the rate of inflation.
Ron Sleen
Victoria
Priorities, priorities and聽clear bike lanes
For once our city council was right about the luxury bike lanes. Most were ploughed and clear, even before the main roads were ploughed.
The bike lanes were a safer alternative to most sidewalks downtown.
My question to our mayor: What are your priorities?
Marty vanLeuken
Victoria
At least pedestrians could聽use bike lanes
Someone did a very good job clearing the bike lanes in Victoria. Hopefully, some hardy riders took advantage of this.
On the other hand, the sidewalks were not cleared as evidenced by pictures of pedestrians using the bike lanes.
Sidewalks need to be cleared. It is unrealistic to rely on residents and business to clear sidewalks. There must be an inherent liability against the City of Victoria with regards to this also.
Injury due to walking or clearing. Would it not make sense to have the same people that cleared the bike lanes so well to then also do the sidewalks?
Good job clearing the bike lanes, whoever did it!
Rick Spencer
Victoria
Deep snow did not stop trusty carrier
I opened the front door very early on Wednesday morning 鈥� and piled up everywhere, snow was the only thing I could see. No bushes, no flower-tops, no lawn 鈥� just the white stuff! Except for one item, neatly-folded, tucked right to my door: The聽sa国际传媒.
Amazing. Congratulations to my carrier.
Peter Warren
Victoria
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鈥� Mail: Letters to the editor, sa国际传媒, 2621聽Douglas St., Victoria, sa国际传媒 V8T 4M2.
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