91Ô­´´

Let Victoria have a better main library

I’m sorry to add one more knock against downtown Victoria. I actually enjoy living only a five-minute walk from the Central Library.

What other city would have a plaza looking like this alongside an important public building?

Apparently it’s not the library that should be cleaning up this mess, as the provincial government owns the building and plaza.

It’s sad enough that after several decades housing the library in a converted office building nothing has been done to build a statement to the importance of a public library in the cultural life of a city.

Look at the central libraries in Seattle, 91Ô­´´, Halifax or Edmonton, to name just a few.

What a sorry city we’re becoming,

Chris Vardy

Victoria

Restore and revive Carnarvon Park

There seems to be a lot of “the sky is falling” and NIMBY regarding Oak Bay’s design for rental housing at Carnarvon Park.

To be clear, the design does not involve the removal of green space. The rental housing proposed is for a three-storey building to be built on top of an indoor, double-height pickleball court.

The proposal is very innovative. I think it could be lively community space.

I have lived near the park since 1992 and have watched it slowly decay. Nothing significant has been done in all the years I’ve lived here.

A survey was sent maybe about a decade ago but nothing came of it. The fields are used but the condition of the buildings is just plain sad.

The park greatly needs restoration and revival and this proposal for rental housing is a sound one.

I’ll add that the letter writer who suggested that a petition of 900 NIMBYs reflects that the community does not support the proposal is completely incorrect.

It reflects the attitudes against development of 900 people, not the community of 18,000.

This is the second survey sent by council and I’m hoping that this time, there will be results. It’s well past the time to restore and revive this neighbourhood park.

Jane van Hoorn

Oak Bay

What’s happened to democracy?

When did it become acceptable that government decisions impacting our daily lives could be made without public consultation?

How is it acceptable that public policy or legislative changes that impact our safety and living conditions can be made without any apparent thought to unforeseen consequences?

Both Victoria city council and the provincial government could give master classes in how not to implement public policy change.

Over the past few years, changes have been implemented in an attempt to deal with homelessness, drug addiction and mental health issues. Has there been any quantifiable improvement?

There have been plenty of unforeseen consequences. Just ask the residents of Pandora Avenue and the first responders who have to put their lives at risk.

How about the owners of units built as Airbnb rentals that are now sitting empty? What about condominium owners such as myself whose right to live in a non-rental building was just arbitrarily eliminated.

Even a good tenant creates additional work and more expense for a strata corporation.

There is no doubt that as a society we have an obligation to look after those less fortunate, but at what cost to others who work hard to make a living and just want a safe and secure environment for their families?

It’s past time for city council to put forward well-thought-out, well-researched proposals rather than spinning their wheels and worrying about how big a raise they can give themselves.

As for the provincial government, it’s time to provide empirical evidence on how effective these initiatives have been. Just throwing money at issues isn’t working.

And while you’re at it, sort out your areas of responsibility and try to work together cooperatively.

Pat Jackson

Victoria

Broken ankle, broken ICBC

We live in a province where our courts are able to hear injury claims arising from a fall on a 7-Eleven sidewalk and award more than $900,000 to the victim.

However, any lawsuit by an innocent individual involved in a motor vehicle incident, where injuries could have a life-long impact on family, mobility and income is blocked by ICBC’s no-fault insurance policy with compensation being doled out in pennies instead of dollars.

I’m sure every quadriplegic, every burn victim, everyone who has endured unimaginable pain and everyone who has had their life irreversibly damaged will scratch their heads at the absurdity and injustice being played out here … if they can move at all.

Dunc Malcolm

Colwood

Once-proud ferries need lots of fixes

I came to live in Victoria 20 years ago and I had never boarded a ferry before. I was in awe that those vessels were so gigantic and functional.

Over the years, as all people in the Island, I have kept this love-hate ­relationship with them and the corporation.

Over the past two or three years, however, the general condition of vessels and terminals have deteriorated notably. And no, I am not talking about the stuff that makes the news.

I am talking about going into a ferry where only one of the bathrooms was available because the others were out of service.

Or having only one of four hand towel dispensers work at any given time in most bathrooms in most vessels.

I am talking about having to pinch my nose in the arrivals bathroom of the Tsawwassen terminal because the stink of urine and human waste was unbearable. I am talking about sitting on a chair in the main area of one of the Spirit vessels just to almost break my back because the back part of the seat was broken.

I am talking about a lifted tile in one of the vessel hallways where a woman tripped and fell right in front of me.

Nothing is perfect, but when these issues become persistent and systematic (and I only travel once or twice a month) something is clearly wrong.

Let’s hope the “new” administration really looks after all issues and we can get back to being proud of our ferry service.

Daniel Sanchez

Victoria

A dreadful afternoon with a happy ending

There are still Good Samaritans in ­Victoria. I am a 75-year-old amputee who found herself in a precarious situation.

I was running a few errands when suddenly my scooter stopped right in the middle of a busy intersection at Hillside Avenue and Cedar Hill Road.

Thank goodness a kind man got out of his vehicle and pushed me back to the sidewalk. It was then I discovered that I had forgotten my cell.

The next thing I knew all three men from All Victoria Vacuums came out to help me. All three kind gentlemen pushed me into their business right up to a telephone, offered me coffee and made me feel welcome.

As always, my brother arrived to help me. He and these men lifted my scooter into his truck and we were on our way.

Thank you so much to all the men who assisted me. May your kindness be returned to you.

Madeleine Richards

Victoria

North Saanich working against new housing

Shortage of housing remains the most urgent issue in Greater Victoria. The provincial government has correctly established targets for new housing that municipalities must achieve in order to alleviate the crisis.

For North Saanich, the target is 419 new homes and Mayor Peter Jones said that this was a reasonable number.

That said, North Saanich council recently refused an application to allow the splitting of an almost half-acre property in the southeast quadrant, citing the ongoing Official Community Plan review.

Councillors ignore the reality that council threw out the huge amount of work already done on the new OCP and began the process from scratch at an additional cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars and a delay of many years.

North Saanich council continues to deliberately inhibit construction of urgently needed new housing.

Meanwhile workers in and near North Saanich at B.C. Ferries, Victoria International Airport, 91Ô­´´ Coast Guard, the Amazon ­facility and many other local businesses can’t find housing close to their work places, and many employers can’t get staff because of the lack of housing.

What a disgrace the North Saanich council has become.

Tom Gore

North Saanich

We all need to deal with climate change

Our human family needs to come to grips with global warming and climate change. The evidence is ever-expanding, including fire and heat across much of Canada and our neighbours around the world.

While some scientists speak to the issue on an ongoing basis, many seem to be silent on these important issues. It is time to raise one’s voice and be counted. Society needs to address climate change as a critical factor staring us right in the face.

Garry and Margaret Schaefer

Victoria

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