City should look at cutting spending

Re: More pay parking eyed for city.

I do not disagree that the city needs more ways of getting revenue other than simply increasing taxes. But I think the city should first look at its own expenditures, in particular its capital program funded out of general operating revenue, to look at how it can defer some programs without impact on operations.

On the subject of pay parking, the estimate is that it will generate $325,000 in revenue, but that does not tell us what the offsetting costs such as installation of parking meters, operating and maintenance, and enforcement are. Is this going to affect businesses in the downtown core?

I think council needs to review closely the city’s budget and to set guidelines to deal with budget increases and decreases.

In times of constraint when we hear more and more workers are being laid off. It is time for council to put a hold on tax increases which could be achieved without any impact on the level of services to the community.

Most city budgets have built in miscellaneous and contingency amounts and the overall sum could add up to a substantial amount.

The perils of antifreeze

I was sorry to read about the death of yet more animals due to ethylene glycol-based antifreeze (“Cat deaths raise warning—and fears,” Richmond Review, p. 3, Jan. 13).

Just about anything alive that drinks, including human toddlers, are at risk from this substance.

I appreciate your printing some of the propylene glycol based brands in the article.

I use Evans brand in my motorbike, but for car use it requires water pump modifications etc. that are way over my budget. Next flush for the car I can go non-lethal.

For your information, even cars that appear in perfect working order to their owners can pump small puddles of coolant onto the ground from full overflow tanks due to overstressed cooling systems (for example, idling on a really hot day with the air conditioning on full, partially clogged radiator, bad radiator cap).

Given the tiny amount that you say will kill a cat, I’ve seen many a vehicle leave a stoplight with a puddle more than adequate to do in cats, crows, gulls, etc.

On the flip side, I strongly disagree with the idea of an outdoor cat. If a pet isn’t constrained humanely or on a leash, then it is a stray.

Maybe 20 years ago in Richmond it didn’t matter, but the human population is too high to allow for animals wandering on the whims of their natural instincts.

Unfortunately, the poor animals may have taken the heat for the habits of the owners in this case.

That aside, one sure does not have to resort to “pet rage” in order to solve the problem.

Even without the desire (guts?) to confront the pet owner, a complaint to the SPCA or even taking the cat to the local SPCA would be a lot more humane.

Heck, if my wife and I could take in a true lost/abandoned cat (yearling, too many ribs, non-feral) and find a good home for it, anyone can! Cost me about a bottle of ‘Tears II’ and many sprays of ‘Flonase’....as is apparent, I’m unfortunately allergic to the critters!

Council should get on with the job of managing

Re: referendum on renovating fire halls.

I cannot understand what all the fuss is about? Why call for a referendum when most of the citizens will say “Nay” to any more increase in property taxes ?

The mayor and his councillors are voted in to manage the city hall’s affairs. Why can’t they get on with the job and assume their responsibilities?

It’s too easy to tax people to raise money—even my tea lady can do that!

Create jobs—give incentives to new investors. This is creating wealth.

Get on with expanded gambling, which would pay up for the $41 million needed to renovate the fire halls instead of wasting money on bureaucratic jumbo-mumbo.

Put fire hall question to referendum

This community needs a major overhaul of its fire halls and public safety buildings.

There is no doubt that in case of any emergency, a reliable and efficient infrastructure is crucial to the well being of the community. Also, timing is very important. The sooner these facilities are replaced/upgraded, the better it will be both financially and strategically.

The cost of replacing our aging fire halls and other public safety buildings is reported to be $41 million. This is a huge amount, which is likely to result in a substantial addition to the current tax bill.

In view of the current economic environment in the province, a lot of taxpayers may not be too pleased about any additional taxes. Consequently, the city needs to handle this matter very carefully and diligently.

In view of the large amount involved, it is only appropriate to hold a referendum on this issue. This should give the citizens a say in a matter that affects the whole community. Participating in a public debate and then exercising his or her democratic right through a secret ballot will give every citizen a sense of involvement in the decision-making process.

Once city council has made up its mind on this subject, it should launch a comprehensive public information/education campaign leading to a referendum in November.

Let the citizens decide, as they are the ones who have to foot the bill eventually.

City should create parking passes

Re: More pay parking eyed for city.

With more and more free parking being gobbled up in Richmond it is becoming more and more difficult to park in the downtown core, not to say expensive also.

Some of these areas are purely recreational and for some of us who like to walk in Minoru Park a price is now put on this also. For most of us this is just another form of unwanted taxation, but for our senior citizens who are on a fixed income this is another expense they are forced to endure.

A car is for most of us a luxury, but for many of our seniors it is a necessity. Keep in mind many of these seniors helped to build these recreational areas in Richmond with their hard earned tax dollars and are now living in their twilight years and are being forced to pay again, hardly fair is it?

I have a suggestion which may help to alleviate this problem and add a little happiness to many well deserving people. In White Rock, a much smaller city than Richmond, residents can pay an annual fee to get a parking pass to park in town. The parking meters run daily in White Rock seven days a week, even on Sunday a supposed day of rest.

Think this could not happen in Richmond? Well it has and will only get worse.

I believe Richmond should adopt this program, if not for all at least for our well deserving senior citizens. Keep in mind we are all getting older and this may not affect most of us now but it would be nice to have such a plan in place when we get there.

Letter writer inspired passionate responses

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Macdonald for his two very though-provoking letters to the editor (“Teaching has its perks,” Richmond Review, Nov. 18; “Letter writer responds to avalanche of criticism,” Review Dec. 13) regarding teachers of late.

He’s almost single-handedly inspired some of the most sincere, passionate and heart-felt letters in response (Richmond Reviews passim), and provided fuel for some of the most thoughtful, unifying and much-needed dialogue about the crisis in education funding and teacher workload throughout this community and in every staffroom around this district.

Well done Mr. Macdonald!

I’m delighted he saw fit to respond to my original letter to the editor regarding the circumstances of my first year of teaching.

I’d also like to correct Mr. Macdonald’s misconstrued understanding of my first year teaching salary. In no way I suggest that custodians or any other employee working for hourly wage is over paid—only that new teachers in particular are strikingly underpaid.

In fact I used to be an active member of the custodian’s Canadian Union of Public Employees local, very much consider them my union brother and sisters, and stand in solidarity with their many struggles. For they, as well as teachers continue to bear the brunt of decades of persistent and drastic understanding of the public eduction system every day.

And finally, but sadly, I’ve become to conclusion that the like Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark, Mr. Macdonald too has much to learn about the conditions of teachers and education as a whole. And based on the sentiments of his latest letter he did not benefit from the wealth of information brought forward from those attempting to enlighten him.

I am confident, however, that the responses to his letters have assisted in the understanding of many Richmond residents about the ever increasing crisis in education funding and the need to provide teachers and support staff with the essential resources needed to perform the essential jobs we do in our communities.

Thank you again to Mr. Macdonald!