Letters: Saskatoon’s budgets need to account for big snowfalls

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We are astonished that the city has chosen not to clear residential streets after two very significant snowfalls.

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As I read in the StarPhoenix newspaper (that, incidentally, could not be delivered for a couple of days due to the snow accumulation) the city says it doesn’t have enough money because too much was spent on last year’s dig-out. But winter is not going anywhere!

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We need to have budgets in place that account for winter — realistic budgets, not dreamy ones where we imagine that there will not be snow and heavy snow at that. People need to get out of their streets. If you don’t clear the streets, people can’t manage. The city says it doesn’t have the money.

I say raise the taxes with a specific realistic amount for a winter city. People will end up spending this money anyway on bigger cars so they can navigate the roads. And they do — look around you in a parking lot. Bigger cars mean more damage to the environment.

We have a small car and it has already been repaired once because of the damage the deep crusty snow caused to the underside of the car.

The City of Warman announced it is clearing residential streets recently. What is wrong with Saskatoon? It is winter. It comes every year. Please budget for it. And please clear the residential streets soon in Saskatoon.

I grew up in Ottawa, where residential street clearing in winter was routine. OK, Saskatoon, you can do it, too.

Jane Bickis, Saskatoon

Winter poses danger for too many

At this time of the year, we are reminded to think of others who are less fortunate and less privileged than the rest in our community. Winter is here, and too many among us are in danger of not surviving this cold weather. Sadly, this number is growing every year.

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What does it say about our community to have so many people homeless, hungry, desperately alone, frightened and totally on the fringes of Saskatoon? Saskatoon may well be a nice city to live in, but this is not the case for growing numbers of our citizens.

In my experience, many do not want to hear this stark reality. There was a time in my life I thought I would live long enough to see everyone enjoying a good quality of life here, but it is difficult to be positive in this regard.

I really hope we can find it in our hearts to care equally about everyone’s well-being in our midst — children, youth and adults. Not just in words, but in our actions as a whole community and province.

I hope these thoughts over the Christmas season bring the whole community, and all levels of governments, to meaningful action in a co-ordinated manner beginning in January of next year!
“Love and only love can build a bridge.”

Bob Pringle, Saskatoon

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