Joint fire hall ‘west of bridges’ a good idea
Re: “It doesn’t make sense to build fire hall at new Esquimalt Town Square,” commentary, Jan. 30.
Tom Woods’ excellent suggestions for amalgamating Esquimalt and Victoria fire services and establishing one major protective services hall for both communities “west of the bridges” is timely and intelligent.
We should seek both the efficiencies and the improvements that sharing fire services would provide.
As a resident of Victoria living in Vic West, I’d like to suggest that Esquimalt and Victoria really should work together on providing enough (rather than too little or too much) fire protection for our sister communities in a shared hall, somewhere at the old dividing line — which, by the way, is not random, but quite close to the ancient interface between the traditional territories of two family groups of the Lekwungen peoples.
Andrew Gow, vice-president
Vic West Community Association
See a pothole? Tell the city about it
This week is a big one for residents complaining about potholes and city workers on this page. What few people seem to realize is that potholes need to be reported before they can be fixed. Go to Victoria.ca, click “I want to … ” “Report … ” “Pothole.”
My friends and I have done this three times and each pothole was marked and repaired within days.
As much as it is a fun image, it’s naïve to think there are roving bands of city workers whose job is to scout for bad roads.
If there were, there would be complaints about them in the Times Colonist.
Laura Martin
Victoria
City council debated pipeline declaration
Re: “Councillor defends Victoria’s pipeline motion,” Jan. 30.
It is disappointing that this newspaper uncritically adopts the inaccurate spin of fossil-fuel lobbyists in suggesting that Victoria city council took “about 20 seconds” to deliberate on whether to adopt the Declaration of Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en People.
City council members debated the declaration for 15 minutes at the committee of the whole meeting of Jan. 23.
This can be verified by anyone who chooses to view the webcast of the meeting on the city website, from two hours and 33 minutes into the meeting until two hours and 48 minutes.
Following this debate and vote, the decision was confirmed at the council meeting that evening without further debate.
A videoclip from the second meeting is being propagated by fossil-fuel lobbyists as supposed evidence of a lack of debate on the issue.
While I would not expect higher standards from lobbyists for big petroleum, it would be valuable if the Times Colonist undertook independent research to verify the veracity of the fossil-fuel industry’s claims before repeating these claims in this newspaper.
Ben Isitt
Victoria city councillor
Councils should take environmental action
Is anyone else bothered by the fact that an organization called the Canadian Plastic Bag Association can win a court case against an elected city council on the grounds that city councils are not allowed to take environmental measures?
Vince Nealis
Victoria
Another reason to oppose amalgamation
Re: “Victoria councillors press for free transit for region’s youth,” Jan. 29.
There are abstract arguments for and against amalgamation. The decisions of Victoria councillors provide clear, practical evidence against joining them.
Janet Bavelas
Saanich
Those bus passes have to be paid for
Victoria city council, not satisfied with running its own affairs, is suggesting that we give free transit passes to all the youth in the entire region because an inequity has been created. Youth residing in other municipalities don’t get free passes.
Bus passes aren’t free. Nothing is free. They cost money.
They’re political giveaways paid for by someone else.
Whether you agree or disagree with the principle is another thing, but please don’t call them free bus passes.
If the councillors of Victoria are so concerned with the inequity that they’ve created, why don’t they pay for transit passes for all the youth of the entire region?
It might encourage more people to come into their declining downtown.
Bob Broughton
Saanich
Council brings business to its knees
Re: “A prediction for who will win Victoria’s byelection, and why,” commentary, Jan. 18.
Stephen Hammond is right, and the Loopyville title is taking hold.
For more than 20 years, I have lived, worked, played and conducted nearly all of my business in downtown Victoria, which has given me the opportunity to listen to the opinions of a lot of people.
I have never heard so many of them comment that this city has gone crazy. We can lay the blame squarely on our city council.
There’s a byelection on April 4. What’s at stake?
Ben Isitt, with his sensitive ideologies, is attempting to lull voters into complacency by electing another Together Victoria member to council.
The goal is to give Together Victoria the majority and Isitt the de facto mayor’s position.
This group is doing its best to bring the business community and homeowners to their knees with their pay increases, parking passes and free lunches.
Meanwhile, they neglect the day-to-day operations of running the city. It seems that the frustrations caused by issues such as the very expensive and little-used bike lanes, or more importantly the lack of safety and security for people living and working downtown, are not topics that they care to deal with.
It’s no wonder people think we live in Loopyville.
Janice Matthews
Victoria
Obvious solution to the daylight question
Looking out my kitchen window this morning at the dreary January daylight caused me to reflect on the discussion that is circulating regarding the elimination of seasonal time change.
Some say we should have permanent standard time to add a daylight hour to the morning.
Others feel the extra hour of sunshine in the evening would be better.
Finding it hard to decide which side to support, I had an inspiration that can satisfy both positions.
How about if we have standard time until noon, providing an extra hour of sunshine in the morning, then daylight time after lunch, adding the extra hour of sunshine to the evening?
With apologies to King Solomon.
Rick Kallstrom
Victoria
No point in rehashing cougar story
Re: “When a cougar crashed through her window, she found refuge in a closet,” Jack Knox, Jan. 29.
With all the controversy about the killing of wild animals in the past, it appears that people are finally taking a second look at these useless killings and are trying to work out a solution for homeowners and wildlife, especially the black bear.
Things are progressing, but unfortunately the Times Colonist and Jack Knox have to make a big deal about the killing of a cougar — with photos and all — that occurred a few decades ago.
It seems that despite the work these conservation groups are doing to save wildlife from unnecessary death, there are still those who relish celebrating the death even years later.
Very disappointed in that old rehashed story.
William Jesse
Victoria
From bubble gum to opioids
Whatever happened to those iconic bubble-gum dispensers?
As a kid, I always got my bubble gum from vending machines.
It was never free, but I would save some of my allowance for those wonderful chewable delights.
According to recent reports, these iconic dispensers are being replaced with machines that will supply free opioids and free contraceptives.
Just imagine, safe drugs and safe sex, all in one machine!
A very tempting choice, but I think I’ll keep searching for one of those old bubble-gum dispensers.
David Mansell
Courtenay
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