Yonge St. vitality versus hypocrisy

Re Yonge’s historic character requires tax protection, Aug. 27 Councillor Wong-Tam is right in reminding us how important it is to treasure and protect the places that make our city interesting and distinct. But small businesses will be driven out and young people will leave to find housing in other cities unless something radical is done about the way cities are financed.

Most of the taxes Torontonians pay go to the provincial and federal governments and cities are forced to beg to get some back. The other governments make themselves look generous by doling out bits of money here and there — but until they agree to pay back a percentage of the income taxes they collect, with no need for begging or vote buying, we won’t have enough affordable housing to make all rents more reasonable and keep property taxes at a level that doesn’t drive out the things that make cities interesting and vital. Julie Beddoes, Toronto There is more than a hint of hypocrisy in Councillor Wong-Tam’s article regarding the effect of the highrise construction along the Bloor St.-Yonge St. corridor. While espousing to protect the smallbusiness owners, she is a forceful advocate for cramming as many highrises into her ward as is possible.

Now she is “championing” the small-business owners who have been affected by the mega projects?

If she did not see this coming, she does not deserve to be a city councillor, and certainly does not deserve re-election. She is paid to plan ahead and not run after events that impact her constituents Stephen W. Ayers, Toronto