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You see on the news and read about homeless people and families living in cars. A few years back now you could afford a rental property and pay for the running of a motor vehicle. Those days are long gone. Okay if you have a new car with a 5 year warranty, but running costs of a secondhand vehicle are huge, plus if you have got the vehicle on hire-purchase, there are extra costs. Sadly, people are going to have to choose between running a car or having a roof over their family’s heads. I know if I had young children which I would choose. ways! Bringing in more refugees won’t help that problem and if it’s true that only around 50 per cent ever get work when they have been here for a while, that is a worry in itself. That is one way to end up with some form of radicalisation. I have noted that Iain Lees-galloway has not commented on Labour policy to bring back our troops if the Government happens to change next year, Funny that! Is it because Palmerston North has a strong association with the military at Linton and Ohakea? Is the policy an embarrassment to him? have been a very miserable stay enjoyable. At times I know you do a thankless job and for that I say thank you. I enjoyed Janine Rankin’s (Manawatu Standard, June 13) opinion piece concerning the city councilors’ relationship with the public library and would like to add to it. City council transparency is a major issue that needs be resolved and being inclusive of public meetings would be a great step forward. The redesigned library building has always leaked and anyone, including city councilors, visiting the place during a rain storm would have noticed this. Their reaction to the library repair is strange. Whether the structural faults lie with the architect or the builder is a mystery that could be easily resolved. Transparency would also reveal the hidden funding the public is unaware of such as Tony Lewis’, the former general manager of the library, 2014 farewell tour of the Northern European museums and libraries signed off by the city manager, Paddy Clifford. How much did this expedition cost the public? I am sure the cost could have easily paid for the broken furniture instead of a golden handshake. Other questions are when and over what period were 3500 feedback comments obtained? Plus, the library having 2000 daily visitors needs be verified. Every year our rates increase, though we are solemnly promised they won’t. Transparency and inclusion in PNCC decisions could change these negative attitudes to these. Some time ago I wrote a letter commenting on the voter response in the USA. Briefly my comment was that politicians should beware because the electorate are awakening to [a] the meaning of People laughed when bottled water came along especially when we can just turn a tap and get it instead of paying for it! But now an even weirder one - bottled air? Yes the chinese are buying nz bottled air for $28 a can. It sounds a bit like the story of the emperors new clothes...you can’t see it but it’s there!!
What’s PNCC doing about the homeless camp site (Main Street City Bus Terminal, PN) semi preventing some passengers waiting from using the seating? It is being left with unsanitary waste etc. Urgent immediate action warranted by PNCC & Horizons Transport unit
As a teacher I agree with rules for safety. Bracelet can b one. Covering up with wristband great solution. Some rules are good, some extreme, and some plain stupid.
Agree with you Jonathon that in order for the city to grow we need to spend money. However respectfully suggest spending some on a second bridge would have a much more economic benefit for the wider region than extra huge amounts spent on beautification of the square. P.L