Will Kelowna go down same path as Estevan?

I have been following the coverage by your newspaper of the “Tax Freeze Gang” running for office in the upcoming Kelowna civic election and am quite puzzled by the quick and somewhat supportive endorsement by your editorial staff for this so-called party.

We moved to beautiful Kelowna one year ago from Estevan, Sask., and absolutely love it here. It is a great place to live, and we appreciate many things Kelowna has to offer, even though like anywhere on Earth, there are detractors and complainers.

We can agree that is normal, as we all want our communities to reach for higher standards to improve our quality of life. That, I would think, is normal as well.

We were in business for almost 30 years in Estevan, still have business interests there and can honestly say as business people that we hate tax increases.

What I hate more are disingenuous politicians are pandering for votes with a no-tax-increase-for-fouryears platform, promising there is so much more we can be and do with efficiencies of our tax dollars.

That is a big load of horse manure – easy to say, hard to do. It really means we can do less and less for you, the taxpayer, each and every year for the next four years with no tax increase. Big deal! Estevan had a stream of councils and mayors who ran on “no-tax-increase” platforms and were successful in getting elected. What we got in return was a city in financial ruin, with infrastructure going to hell, streets that are like a Third World country, municipal projects on hold or not completed over a course of years, and the list goes on. Thanks a lot to the “no tax increase” gang. There is no magic to managing a community. Don’t be fooled by these guys.

If you think I am exaggerating, check out the City of Estevan’s web page with the “Report a Pothole” icon complete with picture. If this new party gets elected, all Kelowna will get will be the hangover. Been there, done that.

We need strong, progressive and forward-looking leaders for Kelowna – not the other choices. Patrick Boyle, Kelowna