In praise of the Langley Street loo
Re: “Local businesses bear brunt of social problems,” comment, June 4.
On Sunday, my wife and I took an early morning stroll about Old Town to look at the artwork on the hoarding of the Plaza Hotel and the anti-racism signage around the Centennial Square fountain.
Nothing was open this early. My wife needed a washroom. Market Square was closed, including the gated public washrooms, and she indicated the urgency of the situation. It was a relief when I remembered the public loo on Langley Street that is open 24/7.
With joy and a sense of satisfaction, my wife praised the facility. I only wish there were more of these public washrooms about the downtown core for the public’s use should an emergency arise, whether or not a pandemic has closed private businesses and their accessible washrooms.
Rafe Sunshine
Victoria
Despite big-crowd ban, a big protest
People need to quit jumping to inconclusive conclusions, untested by impartial investigation and substantiated by evidence. Having spent the last few months adhering to well researched and evidence-based COVID-19 medical findings, our society collectively agreed to endure unimaginable human isolation, the collapse of our economy, and a complete change in our day to day lifestyles.
Canadians chose to do this because they believed in the advice of our medical heath authorities and our politicians. Just this past week our collective goal in B.C. to stop or flatten the curve of a deadly pandemic appeared to be a reality.
It now seems inconceivable that these same medical experts and politicians we have come to rely on and trust have decided that not all large gatherings of people are equally dangerous and should not be treated in the same manner.
If, for example, 2,000 people were to gather on a small beach one hot summer day they would be encouraged to disperse. However, the same is apparently not the case when it comes to protest gatherings.
The risks of spreading COVID-19 at either gathering are exactly the same and yet one is more politically palatable than the other. So much for following the science.
Bruce Cline
Victoria
Grumpy Taxpayer$ miss lessons of pandemic
Re: “How will councils deal with the cash crunch?” comment, June 5.
A “grumpy taxpayer” is once again calling for lower taxes, this time in the face of economic issues brought about by COVID-19. “Increasing taxes is not an option,” he claims.
And, on the face of it, who might object? Yet, on second thought, lower taxes mostly benefit those at the top of the income pile.
While many at the top have been doing well, Canadians lower down have experienced stagnant or only slowly increasing incomes. What Canadians want, or at least some Canadians, is not necessarily lower taxes but fairer taxes. That is, taxes adjusted more closely than at present to the ability to pay.
The Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria have apparently not absorbed the lessons of COVID-19.
Major issues arose, and unnecessary illnesses and deaths occurred because we had inadequate taxes before the pandemic. In many institutions, services had been cut to the bone in the name of efficiency. For example, COVID-19 revealed glaring deficiencies in care of the elderly. I believe many Canadians want to, and are willing to, care for one another, even if through taxation — but fair taxation.
The cry for lower taxes for all serves some political interests more than others. Taxpayers groups often represent the conservative side of Canadian politics, one where everything comes down to dollars spent.
Isn’t it true though, as someone once claimed, that taxes are the stipend we pay to live in a civilized society?
David Coburn
Victoria
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