Mysterious petition
In his letter to the editor on March 21, Sean Dees of Breakwater Books and Coffee states that in a “petition” it says it will “ruin the view from Breakwater Books” and “will be bad for business for Breakwater and other Marine/Alberni corner businesses.”
Exactly what petition is Dees talking about? Perhaps we might have a look at it. In fact we insist on seeing it and letting the readers of the Peak and residents of Powell River see it. If it cannot be produced we expect an apology and a retraction from the Peak.
There is, in fact, only one petition with 4,000-plus signatures [“Opponents protest library site,” February 22]. There is nothing on it about views or being bad for business.
The real petition says: “We, the undersigned, do not want the new library on the Willingdon Beach site. Willingdon Beach site referring to South Willingdon (old arena site). We would also like a referendum on the new library decision.”
Dees goes on to say he was “flattered,” but also disappointed that no one had contacted him before putting his business name on a petition. I’m sure it was because it never happened.
The only thing more disturbing than his rant about our petition is the Peak not even checking into the bogus petition he talks about before publishing the so obviously misleading letter against the Save Willingdon Beach proponents.
A number of our supporters have expressed the desire for a new library, just not at that contentious site. Library advocates harm their own cause with constant attacks and slurs against our group who simply wants this site, which has a covenant on it, to be left alone, as a park, as was intended. In fact, we even offered to fundraise for a new library if the chief librarian left the Willingdon Beach site alone. He declined our offer.
Willingdon Beach was left to the people of Powell River, not six City of Powell River councillors, the mayor and the chief librarian.
Let the people vote in a binding referendum, now.
Cleve Hamilton
Stittle Road
Legal help
Our community’s poverty law advocate provides greatly needed assistance to people in Powell River, and the Community Resource Centre (CRC) refers many people to her office for legal help [“One-person office helps many people,” March 21]. I would like to let people know that the CRC offers two other resources that help to fill in the gaps in service mentioned in the article.
We provide information on behalf of the Legal Services Society and can help people apply for legal aid or talk to a legal aid worker on the phone. We also offer legal services through Access Pro Bono, which provides a free half-hour consultation with a local lawyer who volunteers time.
Anybody wishing to obtain more information on both programs is welcome to call the CRC at 604.485.0992 or drop by at 4752 Joyce Avenue.
Elizabeth Lane
Manager, Community Resource Centre
Cartoon raises offence
An editorial cartoon in the March 21 edition of the Peak is derisive and offensive.
Throughout our province, seniors are facing difficult issues regarding driver’s licence renewals. These concerns are well-founded.
Rather than mockery, now is the time for compassion and support.
Vivian Thickett
Field Street
Managing the bottom line
Was our team in city hall aware of the world bankruptcy in 2008? I recorded the events, such as three of our Canadian banks losing $32 billion in the United States’ housing market. They couldn’t afford to pay it, so our federal government gave them nine years to pay the debt, which will be due in 2017. They helped the banks by dropping the Canadian bank interest rate from three per cent to 0.25 per cent for three years then to one per cent.
Our priority in Powell River should have been our sewer system [“Asset management planning leads to sustainability,” March 21]. It was ignored while we ran a water line from Haslam Lake to Wildwood and built two boat harbours.
These jobs are fine if we can afford them. We spent $36 million last year. Six years ago the City of Powell River debt was $5 million. Today, it is over $10 million with the costs for the harbours and water system upgrades.
When we paid our taxes last year, 578 citizens did not pay. Of this number, taxes for 151 were deferred.
Now city hall has its sights on a new public library and new fire hall. The future does not look good.
Jack Dice
Butedale Street
Online resources
Recently I heard a comment from a student working on her public relations degree at Mount Royal University in Calgary. She said, “In the three years that I have been attending university, I haven’t stepped foot in the library. I get all my resources online.”
If students don’t need a library building, then who does [“Opponents protest library site,” February 22]?
Melissa Leigh
Ontario Avenue
Rebuild more affordable
Though I have not resided in Powell River for many years, reader opinions on the proposed new Powell River Public Library have fascinated me lately. Setting aside the site controversy, I have to wonder why City of Powell River council is taking the high-priced route, given local economic conditions and widespread concern about onerous property taxes [“Library design concept goes to public,” March 14].
I live in Cranbrook, BC, and we had our share of controversy over the proposal to replace an old, inadequate library. Our first referendum failed, but the second one was successful. Cranbrook decided it couldn’t afford a new, standalone architectural masterpiece, but the solution was found in renovating an existing building.
The health unit was downsizing and relocating, leaving vacant the lower floor of a two-storey brick building downtown. The city made the right decision, and the net result was that a spacious, modern and all together delightful new library was opened in January 2007.
I’m unsure of the final cost, but the second referendum approved the borrowing of $3 million to finance the building purchase and renovation, and the library portion of costs was said to be approximately $2 million. The affordability of this solution made it an easy sell, with referendum approval from 60 per cent of Area C residents and 88 per cent of Cranbrook residents. The city receives a revenue stream from commercial rental space on the second floor of the building.
Most municipalities in BC with a population of under 20,000 will have many of the same problems you have…excessive property taxes, roads in disrepair, crumbling sidewalks, sewer and water infrastructure needing replacement, et cetera.
Powell River has a lot going for it. You can start digging yourselves out of this malaise with some renewed community pride, or you can wring your hands and watch things get worse.
The quality of a city’s public library is one measure of how visitors judge the community. I used the old “basement book room” in city hall back in the 1970s and I’m surprised it wasn’t upgraded years ago.
Steve Williams
Cranbrook, BC
