Douglas bus stop is no safer
I was quite amazed to read that B.C. Transit is considering taking the buses away from Pandora Avenue and telling riders to go to Douglas Street.
I go to work every Saturday morning at the bus stop in front of Shoppers Drug Mart. I watch people in the bus shelters using drugs and blowing smoke everywhere.
I watch old people who have to stand because there’s nowhere to sit, shaking as they’re old and fragile.
Police should be walking in that area as well. Back in the ’90s beat cops were everywhere on Douglas and through downtown.
Why are we only focusing on Pandora? I feel safer on the Pandora stop than I would at the Douglas stop most times.
Nicole Moerenhout
Victoria
Saving the sequoia at Centennial Square
Victoria’s mayor and council are pursuing the redevelopment of Centennial Square. Much concern has already been expressed about the plan to dismantle the sculptured fountain for the installation of a splash park for children.
The cutting down of the splendid sequoia tree that graces the front end of the square has also been proposed, with city officials saying that “it is the wrong tree in the wrong place.”
Nothing could be further from the truth. Sequoia trees have remarkable drought- and disease-resistant capabilities and incredible carbon sequestration potential.
Climate projections warn us of an ever-warming environment in southern British Columbia and Vancouver Island. Witness the recent heat dome, current extended drought and mass die-off of the iconic western red cedar.
Sequoias are the “right tree for the right time” for Victoria.
I suggest that the real reason for the planned destruction of this treasured tree is convenience. The evidence is everywhere.
All over the city, mature trees fall in the face of development. It is certainly within our technical expertise to integrate the existing urban forest into many of our new development projects.
Yes, there may be additional upfront costs associated with this approach, but the downstream environmental and sustainability benefits will vastly exceed them.
If the square is to be redeveloped, the city has the ability to incorporate this giant sequoia into the plan.
The mayor and council should consider it (and other urban trees) as vital partners that we share the planet with, as opposed to obstacles in the way of progress.
As we head into the coming “age of fire,” what will the children of the future think when they learn of the decision to destroy this gift?
Roberta Pyx Sutherland
James Bay
Massive housing is out of place
I strongly object to the proposed 70-plus unit development at the corner of Gordon Head and Feltham Roads.
This small field is suitable for four new family homes at most, if they are allowed to have small areas of greenspace around them such as a backyard.
There is no way that 70-plus housing units will be appropriate or fit in that area.
I am sick of seeing ugly modern box houses ruining what was once beautiful Greater Victoria.
Saanich council members are remiss in approving all this building without taking into account that it’s already one big traffic jam, the real issue is the lack of affordable housing, not housing numbers, and we still have no doctors or walk-in clinics.
The field in Gordon Head is small. It is only suitable for four small family homes to fit into the architectural landscape of Gordon Head and give them much needed greenspace around their homes.
We already have a massive housing unit at University Heights, which is around the corner. There is another highrise across the street from University Heights.
Stop all this madness. We don’t have the services, and there are no jobs either.
Diane Wolf
Gordon Head
Lots of gasoline just to move a vehicle
Look into the space and energy needed to use your vehicle.
Firstly, calculate how much of your gas is used to transport you or the contents of the vehicle vs. how much gas is used just to move the vehicle — it’s a simple calculation: take your weight, and divide by the combined weight of you and your car.
You are probably using 85% or more of your gasoline costs just to move your car.
Your car is incredibly inefficient and wasteful — you’re basically paying an 85% fuel charge just to move your car around.
Secondly, look in your vehicles and others’ vehicles while they’re driving. Notice how many passengers you have? Your car is taking up a lot of space on the roads out there, which a bike doesn’t. You aren’t sitting in traffic, you are the traffic.
Thirdly, why does our public space have to be allocated to park your car? The road is not yours, it’s ours.
If my taxes can go towards significantly reducing traffic, I am all for it.
I like to drive, but I’ll be damned if I become traffic, and if there are more bike lanes, that means one fewer car for each cyclist and therefore less traffic for those who are required, for whatever reason, to use a vehicle.
Chris Tooley
Saanich
Saanich expenditures need to be reined in
Re: “Saanich faces sticker shock in early budget,” Aug. 18.
I am increasingly concerned with the rapidly escalating residential property taxes in Saanich driven by Saanich council’s vision and the level of Saanich council’s expenditures.
The property tax on my home has gone up by 49% in the last four years. In 2023 and 2024 Saanich increased my property taxes by 14.1% and 11.8% respectively, which is way above inflation and certainly hurts on the affordability front of life in Saanich.
Saanich council needs to manage their work processes, expenditures and taxes more in line with the budgetary realities faced by the residents of Saanich.
Doug Wilson
Saanich
Community thanks to Del Manak
The City of Victoria has been blessed with one of the finest police chiefs, Del Manak, since 2017.
It has been comforting knowing we have had the solid leadership in these unsettling times, and someone who is not shy about sharing what the real issues are.
When putting out his public statements, he would always combine it with solutions for the city.
Manak told me once that he got his inspiration of joining the police by attending courses by a former and well-respected police chief of Saanich.
We can only hope that Manak takes on some sort of teaching or mentorship role when his term is over. You would not have a better role model and teacher for our future officers.
On behalf of the entire community, thank you Chief Manak for your outstanding service and leadership.
David R. Schneider
Saanich
Victoria police chief will be missed
Chief Del Manak has been and continues to be an excellent police chief serving in a very challenging job. He seems to be well respected by VicPD members and the public.
Heading a department that deals with many of the region’s policing problems (crime, mental illness, homelessness, street drug abuse, etc.) with next to no support from the surrounding communities (except Esquimalt) and dealing with a unique (and seemingly impossible) role — policing two quite different municipalities with one budget, reporting to one police board but responsible to “sell” an annual operating budget to two municipal councils; having to go the province, together with the Police Board, when one or the other (usually Esquimalt) doesn’t want to pay their agreed-upon share and continuing to retain a good working relationship with Esquimalt, even as that municipality is investigating other options.
It may prove difficult to find a competent replacement, who can check all the boxes that Manak has so capably filled. I predict he will be missed.
Colin Nielsen
Victoria
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