City tax plan still missing the point

Dear editor: If anyone in Penticton thinks they’re “out of the woods” when it comes to property taxation, think twice.

First, when it comes to a staff report recently it needs to be noted they’ve tried harder than any previous administration to right past wrongs.

To paraphrase the consultant that was hired, here are several principles that should be observed along with some questions to ask. For example:

1. Neutrality – imposing taxes should not influence decisions. Couldn’t agree more. But then, why is the current ratio of residential compared to business/other taxes being held constant instead of reverting to where it was when the current council took office? Council and staff know what I mean so no more double speak.

2. Accountability – people should have input. Yeah, right. Mssr. Weeber and Bauer won’t like it but it’s a failing grade on this one. Who exactly had input into the Business Competitive Analysis conducted for the economic development updates? So far, I can assure you it wasn’t Mr. and Mrs. Grundy, you or me. It was the chamber of commerce, a “select” 100 or so businesses, the industrial property group, the DPA, and who knows who else. Was it you and me? Nope.

3. Tax burden – maintains share of taxes. Works well when things are stable. Myself and a few others have been advocating for this and this council didn’t even ask if they made a mistake when they wanted to burden tax increases on residents more than Walmart, Superstore, etc. Is it arrogance? Council didn’t ask if the tax burden was fair? What criteria should tax burden be based on? One councillor asked what the down side was. Is that the best they could do after voting themselves benefits in 2014, collecting almost $1 million in stipends, etc.?

Secondly, was/is it all a joke? It doesn’t take much research to see that the saddest part is that current staff are saddled with a predicament and cleaning/mopping up a mess created by previous staff.

I’m of the belief that it needs to be an election issue and anyone running should be able to answer questions like the above. Wayne Llewellyn

Penticton

In the case of Starbucks, two black men walked in and sat down at a table, awaiting the arrival of a friend, and based on TV reporting, a white cat.

One decided to go to the bathroom, was stopped, and told he could not because he had not ordered anything. Give me a break please, I badly need it. Now, Mr. Miller, has something like this ever happened to you in Canada?

I could write a book, based on my personal experiences in Kelowna for over 40 years. Now, I want to make something clear. It is about our younger generations and I will illustrate with just one example that drew tears to my eyes in downtown Bernard Avenue about three years ago.

I came out of the Grateful Fed, (not handcuffed and dragged out by the police), and saw a bunch of school kids having fun.

There were about 10 white kids and a black girl laughing their head off having a ball: happiness in living colours. The response of the Philadelphia police, according to James Miller, was typical: an over-reaction. How often does one see over-reaction when it is a white cat? And, shooting black kids is a regular occurrence.

To make matter worse, cops get away scotch free. I hasten to point out the majority of cops are fantastic. I personally could not recall a single negative event either in Canada or the U.S. Those who may think I am overly sensitive, insecure or whatever, it is fine with me, and not my problem. And, it certainly would not come from our delightful younger generation. Mo Rajabally

Kelowna