City hall doesn’t listen to majority

Dear editor: Re: Cannabis regulation This letter is about Penticton city hall’s unwillingness to listen to or take into consideration the concerns of local residents. Their minds are made up rightly or wrongly. A case in point:

When city hall was asked about putting their decision to a referendum the answer was that this was not necessary because a local poll told our city leaders all they wanted to know and hear. The city’s website mentioned 878 people are in favour of having those shops in our city. Those 878 votes are enough evidence for city hall to go ahead.

Mayor, council and city officials want to ram their decisions down our throats by not giving residents the chance to voice an opinion city hall doesn’t want to hear.

At a public meeting with Trio Marine partners regarding Skaha Park, a few people were in favour but the majority were against. Did city hall listen? Ditto the construction on Kinney Avenue. A few in favour but the majority against. Did city hall listen?

The present problem with parking at the Casino could have been avoided if city hall had listened before going ahead with an illconceived idea.

Who can forget the lit canopy on Main Street at a mere $650,000? Thank goodness cooler heads prevailed at the last minute.

A panhandling resident refusing to obey a city bylaw is taken to court at a cost of $15,000 and counting with the city hiring a Victoria lawyer to present their case.

The city’s decisions have resulted in hundreds of thousands of tax dollars wasted on payouts, lawsuits and lawyers’ fees.

Cannabis shops will bring in tax revenues to help with this self-imposed loss and city hall will accommodate them whether residents like it or not.

A better way to recoup revenues would be eliminating 10-year tax holidays for developers as a start. Those tax dollars could go towards our aging infrastructure for example.

In October we have a chance to elect people who are willing and able to work for the good of the city and its residents. Be informed before you make your mark on the ballot. Joan Eschbach Penticton