Don鈥檛 forget the bus lanes network
Re: 鈥�Ferry just one way to ease traffic crunch,鈥� editorial, July 11.
The Victoria Region Bus Lanes Project is not just some mayor鈥檚 back-of-napkin idea, it is the top priority of the transit commission and significant sections of bus lane on Douglas Street and the Trans-Canada Highway are under construction today.
But inexplicably, these partially completed transit lanes, which are intended to reach from the legislature to Langford, were not mentioned in this editorial on the proposed Colwood-Victoria ferry.
Transit lanes on other congested routes are also high regional priorities. The City of Victoria recently proposed that the transit commission and provincial government act on the Capital Regional District鈥檚 climate emergency declaration by rapidly building an 鈥渆xtensive network of bus lanes鈥� combined with transit signal priority, bus fleet expansion and electrification.
The innovative transit idea we really need to consider is already approved in our regional transportation plans. We just need to build, and paint in, transit lanes the way we take the climate emergency seriously.
Eric Doherty
Victoria
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Hey, Grumpies, find a better name
First thing that needs to happen is for the 鈥淕rumpy Taxpayer$鈥� to change its name if it wants to be taken seriously as a voice for reform.
Norman Spector
Victoria
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Our climate is not Mediterranean
Re: 鈥�A few words to brighten your day,鈥� letter, July 7.
The list of Victoria鈥檚 blessings includes our Mediterranean climate.
In the 1950s, I lived on the on the North African Mediterranean coast, and in later years, spent many pleasant summers on its northern shores in the south of France.
Where did this illusion that Victoria has a Mediterranean climate come from? From comparing our mid- winter temperatures with Manitoba and Saskatchewan?
That is not to diminish the wonderful view of mountains, oceans and eagles from my home.
Shirley Daventry French
Metchosin
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12 storeys is too high for Esquimalt
Having recently joined neighbours at a 鈥渟tanding room only鈥� public hearing in Esquimalt to provide input on a contentious proposal to build a structure six storeys higher than our Official Community Plan allows, I am aghast at how the result 鈥� after hearing more than three hours of predominantly anti-12-storey sentiment 鈥� was merely a 鈥渟tay of execution鈥� by mayor and council.
I was especially insulted by the closing remarks of two of Esquimalt鈥檚 voted officials that they like tall buildings. Is not the job of mayor and council at a public hearing to listen to the input, values, neighbourhood needs, opinions of their constituents, as opposed to voicing their own personal opinions? This clearly smacks of bias.
Another member of council suggested that one need only look to Manhattan for proof that a liveable quality of life and a strong sense of community are easily attainable while living amongst monolith structures.
Seriously?
My neighbours and I do not choose to live in a Manhattan-like environment. If these individuals like tall buildings and the level of community offered in New York City, I question how they will be able keep their personal biases at bay.
This proposed 12-storey structure has been deemed a 鈥渟ignature building.鈥�
For whom is this over-sized architectural concept a sense of pride? Not for the residents of the West Bay and nearby neighbourhoods.
I would suggest that that it is the pride of some local politicians hoping to leave a legacy, a legacy that has the precedent-making potential to change the face of Esquimalt forever.
Wendy Stevenson
Esquimalt
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Finally, we see respect for the elderly
I would like to applaud the NDP government鈥檚 move to change the old system of not giving the elderly a choice of what care home to go into.
My aunt was no longer able to live in her own home even with care workers coming in four times a day.
I was amazed at how much help we were able to get her, thanks to a couple of kind people in social services. But eventually, it was not enough. She had to have 24-hour care.
She was given no choice, not allowed to wait for a space in a care home near her that she knew and only 48 hours鈥� notice that she would get to take a few possessions.
It was brutal.
Now elderly patients in need of care will hopefully be allowed to go visit the care homes of their choice and come to terms with it instead of be yanked out of their homes and lives.
Now I hope there will be a little humanity in the system.
Gregory Middleton
Salt Spring Island
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Catch and release? More like luring prey
I think the catch-and-release program should not be allowed.
I measured a small hook and it is about half an inch into the fish鈥檚 gums. Why don鈥檛 the people who say it won鈥檛 hurt the fish stick it into their own gums and say the same thing?
A fish with bleeding gums is sure to attract dog fish and seals to them, also killer whales.
Maybe we should have a catch-and- release killer whale program. Half-inch hooks won鈥檛 hurt them.
Alex Marjanovich
North Saanich
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He drank on a ferry. What happened next?
Re: 鈥�Wine, beer sales on B.C. Ferries in moderation,鈥� editorial, July 7.
I had a beer on the Coho. The sky did not fall.
Martin Hill
Sooke
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