LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Cars for top cops should be chopped Re: “Councillors open to police request for $14.3M boost,” Nov. 20.
The Calgary police commission and Chief Roger Chaffin want a $14-million boost to the police budget.
Chaffin says the money is desperately needed — this while he spends over $1 million providing vehicles to all his senior officers and deputy chiefs. Roughly 50 senior officers have city-supplied vehicles (full size and SUVs) that they have unlimited use of 24/7. They are essentially their personal vehicles to use as they wish; to take on holidays, take their kids to soccer, grocery shopping, etc., and the taxpayers pay for all their gas, maintenance, tires, etc.
At conservatively, $20,000 a vehicle, that is $1 million just for the vehicles; add the operating and maintenance costs and it easily exceeds $1 million. Taxpayers could save over $1 million if publicsupplied vehicles were taken away and senior officers were paid mileage, according to Canada Revenue Agency guidelines when they were required to use their own vehicle for business purposes, which would be seldom.
Chaffin says he has done his fair share of belt-tightening, while his senior officers live the rich life and constables are worried about layoffs. Really, chief. City council, do your job before spending more of our money. Lynne Marsh, Calgary
City not same place it was in 1988 Re: “Money simply isn’t there for Olympics,” Letter, Nov. 24.
To fall back on 1988 Olympic successes, and think that what happened then can happen again, is unrealistic.
Our world, country, province and city have dramatically changed. To try and recapture yesterday never works. For starters, the number of people, and the amount of money, that would have to be spent to provide required security would be over the top.
For the city to think that by 2026, we’ll have recovered from our current nightmare is unlikely. Consider that recognized service groups have been fighting hard for a number of years to grow their organizations because community-minded volunteers are hard to come by.
The city must recognize that people won’t be falling over each other to volunteer their cash, time or energy, because many people simply don’t have it to give.
Calgarians won’t volunteer as they did 30 years ago, when our global community was safer; there was an abundance of decent-paying jobs; we were flush with cash, optimism and youth; we basked in the glow of heavyhitting corporate sponsors; and where we were living abundant lifestyles.
When economists advise that it doesn’t make financial sense to even entertain hosting these games, why wouldn’t city officials accept that information at face value and team that knowledge with Alberta’s realities? We are on the financial ground and we are going to be here for quite some time.
It’s time for the city to stop wasting our tax dollars, their time, and resources and focus instead on how to overcome our current challenges. June A. Donaldson, Calgary
Creosote cleanup trumps Games bid
Spending more dollars regarding feasibility of another Olympics, or deal with a very real health issue: creosote spill.
The spill has been migrating under the Bow River to residential communities for years now.
There is proven technology/product that will completely remove the creosote (nothing to do with me personally). This information has been ignored by wellpaid city consultants, one of whom resides in Southern California and City Hall.
Justifying spending millions on art? Come on, city hall, start doing something needed for the citizens that pays your salaries. Gábor Illes, Calgary
Fans pay to hear Garth Brooks sing Re: “Alive And Kicking!; Multiplatinum singer Garth Brooks on new anthology, lip-synching at CMAs,” Nov. 21.
Garth Brooks lip-synching at the Country Music Awards — you should be ashamed of being so dishonest.
Sing at the concert; that is what the public pay for. Anne van den Hoogen, Calgary
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