Addressing noise pollution
Powell River has a pollution problem. While this town may boast the cleanest air on the planet and superior water quality, the noise level on our streets has dramatically increased [“Viewpoint: Decibel levels require common courtesy,” August 10].
This trend, however, is not due to new arrivals, as most are urbanites with more refined preferences in the vehicles they operate, in contrast to the traditional local preference for power and size.
The increase in noise pollution is a phenomenon of a different kind, caused by the greater pervasiveness and manipulative efficiency of our mass cultural institutions.
Small town North America has traditionally been the home of noisy junkers, driven about by the cognitively less endowed, whose cultural horizons are largely molded by Hollywood trash. Powerful engines set on big wheels provide potent tools for social recognition among the bottom half of society.
Squealing tires and revving engines seem to be more gratifying and socially lucrative than engaging in meaningful, cultural activities. Let us speculate on the intellectual capacity of someone who derives pleasure and confidence from the length of rubber trail he or she lays on a road surface.
We may console ourselves saying that every town has its idiots, yet the prolific visual and acoustical evidence suggests this kind of nuisance constitutes one of the most popular local activities. So, what is the conclusion?
Psychologically, the volume of noise these individuals generate is a measure of their need for attention, and as such, functions as a perverse source of pride. By mechanically altering exhaust systems on their trucks, cars or motorbikes, they manage to maximize noise output and make heads turn.
Who in this town has not been woken up by these road vandals performing their competitions at night or rudely disturbed while trying to relax after a tiresome day at work?
We should also consider the tarnishing impact on Powell River’s image as a health-promoting, laid-back tourist destination.
While this phenomenon belongs to the realm of social psychopathology, its consequences turn out to be a hazard and severe public disturbance and have to be addressed as such.
Noise pollution, along with air and water contamination, should be subject to enforceable legislation. On a municipal level, that would demand a system of bylaws rendering the intentional creation of motor-vehicle-related noise punishable. Such a system would ban tire squealing and purposely magnified engine noise.
From conversations with numerous members of our community, I am confident to call upon the relevant authorities (mayor and council) to give this issue appropriate attention.
Wilfried Kuipery
Powell River
Blame game
After reading a balanced article in last week’s Peak giving both sides’ explanations for the delays in construction on the new library [“Library to miss opening date” August 24], it was really disappointing to see the editorial [“Get on same page”] put all the blame on city staff for the delays and saying they should adopt a more business-friendly attitude to their work.
The article quoted City of Powell River’s director of planning as saying the contractor’s architect had missed key aspects of the building code and the building inspector had found the architect’s plan “wholly lacking in a number of areas” that related to safety.
Yet the Peak editorial accuses staff of not having a sense of urgency about the project without providing any evidence that staff were wrong to raise concerns about non-conformity with the building code or that they have dragged their feet in reviewing the contractor’s plans.
It is city staff’s job to safeguard the public interest and not look the other way on critical issues like compliance with the provincial building code, regardless of how good a deal a contractor may claim to be offering. The contractor, after all, did receive a fair price for space that had sat empty for several years.
If staff had rushed through approvals of the original plans and taxpayers had subsequently been stuck with paying for expensive upgrades to bring the building up to code, would we then have seen an editorial in the Peak expressing outrage about incompetence at city hall?
Ellen Gould
Michigan Avenue
