Yes, local councils are listening to the public
Re: “No, the messenger is not to blame for the housing crisis,” column, Sept. 14.
Dave Obee asks: “Why are elected officials so opposed to listening to the people they are supposed to represent?”
But his column misses a basic answer to the question: They are listening. They’re just listening to a wider range of voices than those writing to the Times Colonist.
Of course, this paper gets more letters from people who are upset — it’s rare for people who are happy to reach out.
I’ve attended Saanich council meetings where I’ve heard people in the middle of speaking to council say: “You’re not listening.”
But just because council doesn’t do what you want doesn’t mean they aren’t listening. It just means they’re listening to a wider audience, including those who cannot attend public hearings — like people who go from work to school or to their second job as a parent.
Studies show that public hearings skew older, male and homeowner-heavy.
Even if all of us who do engage say the same thing, council might still make a decision that doesn’t align with that because, you know what, most people’s participation begins and ends with voting, and council has a duty to represent those people, too.
Although I support most of the housing decisions Saanich council has made, they’ve also made decisions where I’ve expressed disagreement (mostly where the changes didn’t go far enough in my opinion).
Do I still feel listened to? Yes.
Christine Astle
Victoria
Saanich road changes start without notice
On Friday, Sept. 13, the 75 residents of Mann Avenue and several hundred other residents on its six side streets received a notification from the Saanich Engineering Department that construction of protected bike lanes along Mann was about to begin.
The notice advised that all on-street parking on Mann would be removed permanently.
Construction began on Monday, Sept. 16. There was no prior notification of this project, and no opportunity to provide input or engage in any dialogue in advance. Searches of Saanich’s website have found no reference to this project being “in the works.”
Neighbours have been contacting Saanich Engineering and Saanich mayor and council all week, and a petition has been circulating.
Concerns include how the diminished roadway (35%!) will affect the safety of school buses that drop off and pick up on Mann; how municipal and private services including emergency vehicles will access our homes; about the resulting increased parking on our quiet residential side streets; along with the everyday vehicle traffic that uses Mann as a connector between Glanford and Wilkinson roads being forcibly funnelled into a much narrower corridor.
We want to be clear that we are not “anti-bike.” There are cyclists every day on Mann who seem able to safely navigate the road in its present state. There are also multiple and excellent trails connecting the area, which cyclists already use.
We have so many questions, including about the cost of the project and how long it has been planned without public notification.
What we are asking for is that — at the very least — Saanich put a “pause” on this project in order to give hundreds of local residents the opportunity to engage in dialogue.
We as taxpayers feel we deserve this much respect, instead of being blindsided by a project that many of us feel is unnecessary and questionable at best.
Patricia Cassels
Saanich
Airport CT scanners could help in health
It seems a bit ironic that CT scanners are to be installed at airports to save passengers from the onerous task of removing their electronics from carry-on luggage while patients suffering from significant, continuous joint pain have to wait for a diagnostic scan.
Perhaps patients can have a quick run through the airport security line when it’s not too busy.
Alan Newell
Chemainus
Shipyards can’t compete with overseas yards
Re: “Build those ferries here in B.C.,” letter, Sept. 19.
I disagree. I am sure that the writer always obtains the lowest price when purchasing items that affect his bank account.
The same applies with B.C. Ferries obtaining the best cost for construction of new ferries.
Washington state has a government law that states all new ferries must be built in Washington state. The last new ferry built in Washington state cost $175 million Canadian.
B.C. Ferries had three new large ferries built overseas. Total cost was $200 million Canadian.
Chuck Ko of Allied Shipyards in North Vancouver said that his company cannot compete with overseas shipyards cost wise, thus it’s a major waste of time to make a bid on new B.C. ferry construction.
In the latest bidding for new B.C. ferries, there was not one bid from a Canadian shipyard.
Canadian shipyards have outrageous labour costs in comparison to oversea labour costs.
If Canadian shipyards want to build new ships in Canada, they must lower their labour costs.
There are no federal government charges to B.C. Ferries for having ferries built overseas.
Joe Sawchuk
Duncan
We don’t know how to build ferries here
Re: “Build those ferries here in B.C.,” letter, Sept. 19.
Every place around the world located on saltwater seems to think that they should be in the large-vessel shipbuilding business. Several hundred years ago they would have had to.
Remember that we tried that in the 1990s with the disastrous B.C.-built Fast Cat ferries; we wasted half a billion dollars proving that we didn’t know what we were doing.
I don’t hear a huge public outcry that we should be building automobiles, trains, large jet aircraft, bicycles, buses, rockets, cruise ships, large military ships, etc.
B.C. seems to have found a niche as a very good place for ship repair facilities and smaller vessel refurbishment. Let’s just stick with what we do well and know how to do.
Chris Foord
Oak Bay
Last-minute turns could kill someone
I love Victoria’s walkability. It’s one of the primary reasons I have decided to make it my home.
I’m extremely lucky to work at the university and be able to walk home on nice days. However, my luck seems to be limited when it comes to crossing Lansdowne on either Richmond or Foul Bay.
Every day that I push the walk light, and the light comes on, someone tries to make a last-minute right turn.
Usually when I’ve already stepped into the crosswalk that is indicated for me. Every single day. And when I gesture with fear and frustration, the drivers seem shocked.
Please don’t kill me, or anyone else for that matter! Huge thanks!
Katie Nordgren
Saanich
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