Letters to the Editor: December 19, 2024

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Scrutiny expected

Regarding the article Dock rookie councillor’s pay for ‘bullying’ bureaucrat: watchdog (Dec. 14).

A city councillor posts an interview with a city manager on social media and now faces a penalty because she stands behind her constituents? Why bother voting if she can’t ask the questions constituents pester her with daily?

Someone at city hall receives a little flack and now our tax money is being wasted on this investigation?

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If you work for any office in city hall, you should expect some scrutiny.

It would be different if Coun. Susan Stevenson posted the entire city staff list, along with addresses and phone numbers. I doubt Stevenson’s post caused Kevin Dickins to be targeted; he was quoted on television.

People have seen the school boards and the hospitals carelessly wasting money, so don’t think city hall isn’t on the radar.

Mike Cassino, London

Plastic wasted

I need to use distilled water for certain things. I buy four-litre jugs, but I can’t find anyone in London who will refill these jugs, so I must discard them.

What a monumental waste.

Dianne Waite, London

Full disclosure

Regarding the article Salvation Army sounds Yule alarm over lack of local donations, volunteers (Dec. 14).

The article fails to mention the Salvation Army is a religious organization with a mission to convert people to Christianity, which is a significant aspect of its operations. This omission may lead readers to misunderstand the organization’s motivations and activities.

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Including this context would provide a more comprehensive view of the Salvation Army’s work and allow readers to make informed decisions about their support, not to mention it is one of the basics of journalism.

Sean Soufivand, London

Teacher a heroine

Regarding the article Students join in fight against RC board’s N-word policy (Dec. 13).

There is a heroine in this story. That is Heather Hamilton, the courageous teacher who dared speak up to highlight this school board’s ridiculous fear of the N-word. Heaven forbid if some student’s sensibilities are bruised because they were encouraged to confront the real world.

Instead, they would deny history, deny reality and deny truth. This woman stood up for her students’ right to a meaningful education. Then, she was denied her wish to be a teacher; she was put on paid leave pending a school board investigation.

I, however, would be proud to have Ms. Hamilton teach my children.

Raymond Harper, London

Address, please

We had the same Free Press carrier for years, and every year he put a Christmas card in the paper, which included his name and address. We always mailed him a tip.

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We’ve had a new carrier for the past few years who also leaves a Christmas card, but no name and address. We refuse to put cash in the mailbox overnight when porch pirates are always looking for opportunities, especially this time of year when they know tips will be left.

Unfortunately, carriers who don’t provide their names and addresses won’t receive tips from people aware of possible theft. Those who do leave cash assume the carrier got it, and the carrier whose tip is stolen assumes he wasn’t given a tip.

Jennifer Mills, London

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