London Free Press

Reader pushes Free Press to follow graffiti suspects through courts

You reported on the front page of the July 12 and July 15 issues that London's major graffiti artists were arrested -- four in all.

I certainly hope the London Free Press will follow these people through the court system and report the outcomes. The police did a great job charging them, but I suspect the courts will let the police down by giving them a slap on the wrist.

I look forward to having The Free Press complete its reporting of this item, print the punishments on the front pages, and have the public decide if the punishment was enough.

Having them clean up all their graffiti seems to be the only appropriate punishment for these people.

William McGrath

London

If you want to be an artist, buy canvas

Regarding the article, Cops tag 'em! (July 12). Congratulations to the London police for a job well done.

While some may consider destroying your community as "art," there are those of us in the London arts community that are highly insulted that these vandals claim legitimacy as artists.

Having spent 30 years as a practising visual artist, I would welcome a debate with these "artists" about the history of western art and culture -- which for these bozos, must have something to do with monster trucks. I remember London in the 1970s as a clean, well-run city and the only graffiti I encountered was in the worst of American slums. Sadly, parts of London now resemble those very slums.

I am so impressed with London's police for treating this as the serious crime that it is. I don't want to live in an ugly city and people do not need their neighbourhoods and property values destroyed by stupidity pretending to be art.

My advice to those who feel their artistic freedom is compromised is to do what artists have done for hundreds of years, buy a canvas.

Chris Olszewski

London

Ban on graffiti artist wrong approach

What a shame our graffiti artist was banished from the city. His skills could have been used to

beautify the city with some commissioned wall art.

Why discourage when we have it in our power to encourage.

Peter Boot

London

Firefighters, police deserve the best we can afford

London firefighters deserve pay parity with our police. Their job risk is arguably equal or greater because of the unpredictable conditions and hazardous materials to which they are exposed.

Our fire and police services are critical to community safety and these people are well deserving of the compensation for the risks they take on our behalf. Raise our taxes if you must, but let the city fathers seek other ways to get the money. Perhaps they could cull the number of city managers, or better yet, cut the salaries of those who are the highest paid compared to other Ontario cities.

I find it sad that we pay athletes and movie stars millions of dollars to play games and entertain us. Yet we quibble about pay scales for true heroes who put their lives on the line daily to protect us.

James Anderson

London

No, we can't afford 'best'

There are so many disturbing issues concerning the recent 'revelation' that the city of London has now 74 managers that are paid at least $100,000, it's difficult to know where to begin.

Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best is mistaken when she defends the current method of determining managerial pay scales as the only way to keep "talent."

The private sector is awash with educated, experienced and hard working managers who can be hired for less than $100,000. Regardless, taxpayers cannot afford "the best". There is a limit to what taxpayers can pay and London city council shouldn't compete with the endless resources of the private sector.

The larger issue is why the mayor and city council refuse to seriously attempt to reduce all labour costs.

It is no coincidence that the number of people moving out of London to smaller communities that are properly managed and, with correspondingly lower property taxes, is steadily increasing. Incidentally, London taxpayers should be entitled to know which of the 74 managers making $100,000 do not live inside the city limits. Surely that should be a requirement of the position, just so they can enjoy the fruits of their "talent" like the rest of us, every time a tax payment is due.

F.W. Davis

London

Bruises in auto industry hurt everyone eventually

Regarding the headline CAMI hasn't stalled yet (July 16).

To make you and your readers aware, CAMI might not be stalled but we certainly are not booming. In fact, CAW Local 88 has 69 members on layoff since December 2007 and another 446 on layoff since April 2008 for a total of 515. This number represents more than 20 per cent of our membership. The group that was laid off in December will soon run out of benefits and the group from April will run out of benefits by the end of the year. This does not sound like a positive story to me.

Then we hear that our brothers and sisters at CAW Local 1001 (Sterling Truck) will experience a further layoff of 720 members on top of the 600 members on layoff from the start of the year bringing their total to more than 1,300 members. This is sad and devastating news. The manufacturing sector, including and especially the auto industry, is not in good shape and there does not seem to be any good news in the future.

With the weakening global economy, high gas prices, the mortgage crisis in the U.S., slumping auto sales, high Canadian dollar and the lack of intervention by the federal government to adapt policies and strategies that will stimulate the manufacturing industry and save well-paying Canadian jobs, the immediate future does not look good.

Politicians need to wake up because if we keep losing well paying Canadian jobs at the present speed, the entire economy will be in trouble.

Dan Borthwick

CAW Local 88

Chairperson, Manufacturing Matters

Committee

Londoners need to grow up and take responsibility

It would be a real act of civility if more Londoners abandoned the personal choice argument when defending their right to use drive-throughs or to buy water bottles on city sites. In the majority of cases, this "right" is not a necessity on their part, but a frivolous convenience.

Guess what? The Me generation is over. Global warming is too important an issue. If we can't start by kicking these silly old habits, I don't see any step that we will be able to take on in the fight to reduce emissions. Walk to get your coffee and bring your own water in reusable bottles to parks.

It's a personal choice to remain ignorant, but please stop using this expression as if it were a matter of life and death.

Valerie Prat

London

Of all Morgentaler letters, Greenspan's had it right

Finally, someone has written something eminently sensible about the ongoing Order of Canada and Henry Morgentaler foofaraw.

Edward Greenspan in Returning medals truly out of Order (July 14) argues sensibly and logically that "To return an Order of Canada is an ugly act, and is inconsistent with making Canada a better country. Anyone who returns their medal clearly did not deserve it in the first place."

This Greenspan column should be required reading for anyone thinking about authoring a letter to the editor of the London Free Press concerning the awarding of the Order of Canada, especially those vituperative religious zealots who seem to be the most vociferous of the pro-life forces.

If you haven't yet read the Greenspan column, and you're at all concerned about the issue -- either as a supporter of pro-life or pro-choice -- you really should read the wise words of this noted Toronto criminal lawyer.

Dawson Winchester

St. Thomas

Critics can -- and should -- speak up on Morgentaler

If I understand Bernie Koenig's implications in his letter Intolerance not our way (July 11), then we, as tolerant Canadians should accept and uphold each and every person and their ideals no matter what that may be.

So for child abusers, we should tolerate what they do.

For serial killers, ditto.

For all those who do things that the majority of people would find offensive behaviour, turn your eyes away, keep your mouth shut and accept what they do lest you be branded intolerant.

Sorry Mr. Koenig, but if it was okay for Henry Morgentaler to do unlawful abortions until he got the laws changed, then why isn't it okay for those of us who don't agree with his thinking to be able to peacefully and lawfully express our disagreement?

Ron Berman

London

Tax dollars shouldn't be spent on Omar Khadr

The Khadr family has links with al-Qaida and comments supporting the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks border on treasonous. Yet there are politicians in Canada who want taxpayers' money to be spent on bringing Omar Khadr home.

Khadr faces allegations of killing an American soldier. Given the history of his family, he knew what he was doing despite his age and he should face the consequences of his actions. I do not want my tax dollars spent supporting someone whose ideologies are focused on destroying the country that I love, Canada.

On July 3, the Do Prado family was deported back to their native Brazil because they didn't fit the letter of the immigration law. Yet by many accounts, they could be considered the model of what immigrants to Canada should be like.

Let's summarize. Bring a member of a family linked to al-Qaida back to Canada at the taxpayers' expense, but deport a model, tax-paying, law-abiding, productive immigrant family out of Canada.

Is it just me or is there something wrong with this picture?

Andrew Stokman

London

City hall, here's an idea that will save you $5,000

Here we go again. We're spending $30,000 on an adviser whose sole purpose is to determine who is to blame for the break in Springbank Dam. I have a deal for the City of London. For $25,000, I'll be your adviser.

It isn't hard to figure out. It was the contractor's job to build the dam properly. Obviously, if operating the dam causes it to break, it wasn't built properly.

Even the most basic equipment in most factories have fail-safe measures so that equipment can't be destroyed if it is being used improperly.

If perhaps the bolts were faulty, that's no problem. It is still the contractor's job to use materials that are capable of doing the specified job. If the bolts were faulty, it is the contractor's job to go after his supplier for giving him faulty material.

Face it, this is a dam. If it isn't designed with proper materials, then how safe would you feel about it holding back water?

So, where's my $25,000?

Bill Granger

London

Me? I'll just take $30,000

Give me the $30,000.

I believe myself and most of the population can advise on this one.

First, let's check what kind of bolts the engineering company specified.

Second, let's check the bolts that were used and see if they are correct.

Third, presto. If they are the bolts the engineers ordered, the problem is their baby. If they are the wrong bolts, then the problem is the builder's baby.

There you go problem solved. Now, give me the money.

B.D. Tucker

London

Pooch needs an expert

I read with great interest about the problem that Coun. Paul Hubert is having with his dog (Postie-loving pooch now has to fetch mail, July 17).

I was concerned because I like the councillor, so I spent all day trying to help him and I found a solution.

Hire a consultant.

Ivan Kasiurak

London


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