One only has to look at the state of the crosswalk directly outside the parking lot on Cranmore Road to see the value that this council puts on its children’s lives.
The condition of many of our sidewalks is so bad, they too are so cracked and uneven, that they too are posing a high risk of personal injury from falls to all Oak Bay citizens, not just our frail elderly. For example, the northern sidewalk along the Starbucks’ block provides just one example of many. Byron Street illustrates just one of the many roads in Oak Bay with a poor, uneven road surface. This represents a litany of many roads in Oak Bay that require work, not to mention the need for the upgrading/refreshing of road and safety/driving signage.
While I appreciate that all these repairs and new construction require funds, I suggest that priority in funding spending needs to be reassessed by this council.
Taxation is always unpopular; therefore, it is incumbent on our council to spend our taxes wisely. From giving themselves pay raises, to choosing contractors, and prioritizing tasks.
If there are not sufficient funds in the coffers to afford the amount of work needed to be done, to renew/replace infrastructure, and make people safe on roads and in public spaces, I believe that it is time for some serious changes to be made.
It would seem to me that we are left with the following options:
We foolishly maintain the status quo, placing residents at risk of head injuries, broken bones, road traffic accidents, or deaths, not to mention the resulting class-action law suits. We increase taxes to cover the deficit. Or we apply to the City of Victoria to join them, as a means of joining a bigger money pot.
Frances Flynn
Oak Bay