Letters to The Sun: Tuesday, July 16, 2024

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Re: 150 km of Vancouver sewers are more than 100 years old

Like Kits pool, many of the city’s sewers are reaching the end of their expected lifespans. Where will the city get the $500 million a year that the chair of the mayor’s budget task force says is needed to repair aging infrastructure?

While the mayor may find a sponsor with deep pockets to fund the pool replacement for naming rights, what corporation would pay to have the sewer system bear its name? Drano maybe? Would Purex and Charmin battle it out for the rights? The alternative might be another hefty tax increase for beleaguered homeowners. There goes more of their hard-earned money down the drain.

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Richard Hoover, Delta

We urgently need to build inner-city pools

Re: Mount Pleasant needs a new pool

I agree with the sentiment expressed by Mary Sherlock that Vancouver needs to replace Mount Pleasant Pool, and quickly. Mount Pleasant does not have walkable beaches like Kitsilano does, as they were all filled in for industry and development years ago.

Replacing Kitsilano Pool is going to happen because we love it, and it would be a worldwide disgrace if we let it disappear. This may take many years to realize, given the astronomical cost, and possible relocation, which requires lengthy consultation.

In the meantime, we urgently need to build inner-city pools that are accessible to the majority of Vancouver residents who do not live on the waterfront or have backyard swimming pools. This can be done in Mount Pleasant for a fraction of the cost, and could be done without delay if the park board and city council would finally choose to do it.

Margery Duda, Vancouver

Home ownership takes long-term investment and patience

As a baby boomer and long-term Vancouver homeowner, I would like to add both facts and mathematics to the debate on how we have benefitted from the increase in local house prices.

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First the facts: We have owned a townhouse and then a house since the mid-1970s, with the downpayment being saved by working in remote mining towns. The interest rates we have paid on the mortgages ranged from a low of nine per cent, to a high of 22 per cent that was implemented successfully to cool inflation. It is possible that the much lower mortgage rates of the past 20 years have probably contributed to the housing demand and the escalation in prices.

Second, the mathematics: The house that we have owned for the last 45 years has increased in value by a factor of 28 in this time. This increase in value is equal to an annual appreciation of seven per cent. This annual appreciation is similar to many other long-term investments, and is certainly not exorbitant. House ownership requires long-term investment and patience.

Duncan Wyllie, North Vancouver

Tax bill for new sewage plant shouldn’t be one cost fits all

Re: Here’s how Metro Vancouver will pay for the $4-billion North Shore sewage plant

I would like a complete re-think of the apportioning of costs for this sewage plant disaster: Please pro-rate the costs on income, not one cost fits all. I am a senior on a fixed income, and $590 is a lot of money, whereas it is a drop in the bucket for the multimillionaires in West Vancouver.

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Hilary Clark, West Vancouver

Being on beaches as long as we like is part of summer

Re: Vancouver police criticized for enforcing liquor laws by clearing English Bay beach at sunset

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