Letters to the Editor: June 27, 2012

Dangerous intersection?

Why is it always easy to say the road or intersection is at fault [“Staff recommend further monitoring of busy corner,” June 6]? Roads, and all the associated signage, are there for drivers and pedestrians to use and obey. We make laws to ensure safety, people ignore these and then they blame it on the roads, et cetera. Using cellphones while driving, running stop signs, speeding, not giving pedestrians a chance to cross the road and generally breaking every rule in the book is all the fault of a sign or the road.

Sorry, I did not know that the roads, et cetera, were responsible for accidents. I never met Mr. Road that was driving the car that hit a tree.

People are responsible, not the roads. So learn to drive, obey the rules, and if you want to blame the road, you had better take a driver’s test and determine who is in control of a vehicle—people or blacktop.

People are responsible for the safe operation of a vehicle. Why do you think the road is, or a traffic light, or the coffee you were sipping on when you missed the turn?

Have a great day and drive responsibly.

Larry Law

Huntingdon Street

If, instead, we were to look at the carnival rides down at the old arena site as the issue instead of a new Powell River Public Library, some might argue that it detracts from the Willingdon Beach area atmosphere as opposed to enhances it [“Proposed library costs about $9.5 million,” May 30]. This might depend upon which ride you are on.

Traffic congestion is extraordinary at at all hours, particularly if you are pushing a wheelchair, and some might be vocal against this. There are those that might suggest its location be more central, say, in the Town Centre Mall parking lot, on the old Max Cameron Secondary School site, or by the old Brick building. But then there are those that might say it wouldn’t be the same, not in those locations.

Having just read bunches of letters to the editor in the Peak, from the last seven months’ issues, for and against a new library at the old arena site, and let’s be honest, traffic congestion is not really an issue since that’s the dreamed of goal of most businesses down there on Marine Avenue, cost has been a prevailing issue for those against, the most bang for the buck.

Richard Wright

Egmont Street

I have been following and participating in the Powell River Public Library debate now for the past six months [“Proposed library costs about $9.5 million,” May 30].

It is easy to conclude that lots of people want a new library. Some of the reasons are to provide modern resources, social interaction, enhanced community and tourism.

But many people are hesitant to start a project that will increase tax burdens.

My initial reaction against a library on the beach site occurred when a new facility was proposed alongside condominium units. The plan was that the condos would provide income for the City of Powell River—the library could pay for itself.

There was a huge uproar when the “C” word came out. The idea was quickly dismissed, but somehow the location was confirmed and a new library was still being planned for at the beach site.

Now here we are debating about whether we need a new library—meaning a new building, and where it should be located.

Plans are in place for a fabulous facility, but opposition is still strong. A referendum is threatened.

Can we stop and re-evaluate? A little mediation at this time could save some time and money. To make everyone happy, we would need a low-cost facility that provides upgraded resources—a place that people could meet for friendship, arts and culture, and other social exchanges. As a bonus, this proposal could include an income source—meeting room or catering facilities.

I think we had the right idea in the beginning…we need to make this a venture that pays for itself while meeting the needs of our city.

Melissa Leigh

Ontario Avenue

Some months ago I wrote and suggested that the city of Powell River change its name to Popo Rio [“What’s in a nickname?” November 30, 2011]. Admittedly I don’t know many people here, and the ones I do know respectfully declined to comment on my idea, all except one individual who actually admitted that she had read my letter and even enjoyed it. It’s okay; getting people to joke about serious stuff is never easy. And these are serious times, just ask anyone who works in a pulp mill or is on a fixed income.

The message behind the charming (though a bit frivolous) name suggestion was: let’s take a fresh look at what we have here. It’s a place that is still beautiful despite a century of industrial resource exploitation, a seaside city facing mainly south and west and with lovely rural areas, a city in the most desirable province in a wealthy peaceful country, a city close to yet remote from a very high priced metropolis that many people enjoy but can’t afford to reside in.

What else do we have? A population loaded with people skillful in all the arts, in caregiving, in education and in industrial and business know-how. Why don’t we have a more diverse economy? It actually is quite diverse but the mill has been dominant. Powell River, located as it is, seems like a natural place not only for retirees and people who are done with the polluted frenetic congestion of the Lower Mainland, but also as a weekend destination for folk who have heard about this interesting little place up the coast that had the courage to take a chance on new ways of seeing itself and made itself interesting to newcomers and visitors. It may not require a fabulous name like Popo Rio, maybe just a new attitude and a lot of moxie.

Ted Crossley

Hammond Street

As we all have the right to speak our mind, I would like to donate my two bits worth. First off, have we not voiced our opinion long and hard over this Powell River Public Library subject enough [“Councillors discuss library vote,” June 20]?

We, the residents of our City of Powell River, do not deny that a new and larger library is needed. The problem is that we do not want it or need it on a waterfront lot with a million dollar view. It is about time that the powers to be start to listen to us, the bill payers, and not because they think it is the right way to go; they are not always right.

Now for my suggestion. We the bill payers must have paid numerous dollars to have all those trees knocked over leaving a nice mess at Powell River Recreation Complex. But I would think that the birds have given up and moved on so we don’t have that problem to deal with. Let’s have a public vote to clean up the mess and build the library and two museums in that area. That would leave lots of room for tennis and badminton courts plus room for other things later as we could afford them.

When all this started, I believe they said the cost of the new library was around $2 or $3 million. Now they say around $10 million and I cannot recall any of their estimates coming in, on or under, as told to us.

We do not want anything built on that proposed piece of land. Let it stay as is. I also do not think the $10 million includes the price of goats to keep the proposed grass roof cut.

Over the years I have been proven wrong a few times, but by utilizing the property in the logged off area of the complex we can have a show place that we can all be proud of. The bus already goes there. There is lots of parking, there would be no changes in the traffic pattern, and there would be room for other games or who knows what. Let’s give this idea a good deal of thought; it just might be the answer.

S. Allman Sr.

Marine Avenue

Is this rubbing our noses in it or what? In the June 15 issue of the Weekend Shopper, page two, there was an article [“Inland Ferry”] on the new ferry being built for the Upper Arrow Lake route. This is a brand new 80-car, 250-passenger ferry to cross a body of water—which has a road around it.

Quoting from the article: “The new ferry will be drive-on, drive-off, open-decked and capable of transporting 80 cars and 250 passengers. It will have a larger vehicle and weight capacity and faster loading and unloading times, which eliminates the need for an auxiliary ferry during the peak travel season.” Colin Palmer, Powell River Regional District chair and leader of the Coastal Regional District Chairs, says it is so hard to get any information (promised about six to eight months ago) about the interior ferry system, and here they drop it right in our lap—amazing.

This is designed to cut the interior folks’ costs and driving time in half while on our routes they are raising the fares, downsizing some ferries and eliminating some routes. Is there something wrong with this picture?

Oh—if we had only voted for Wacky (W.A.C.) Bennett (premier of British Columbia 1952 to 1972) in the 1950s. Woe is us.

Jack Hildebrand

Hazelton Street

I’ve always been impressed with MP John Weston’s gracious rebuking of his letter-writing constituents, in the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding [“In defence of Bill C-38,” June 13].

If he has a true desire to sincerely impress his constituency then I have an idea. He should exhibit some moxie by standing up to his boss and make the following statement:

“I, John Weston, live in the most beautiful riding in all of Canada. It is a vast and varied region with an absolute abundance of natural wonders. I can no longer subscribe to an ideology of a fossil-fueled future. I believe you can have the environment without an economy. You cannot have an economy without the environment.”

I hope Weston enjoys the barbecue circuit this summer.

Steve Perkins

Blair Road, Texada Island