Letters to the Editor: September 19, 2024

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Costs keep rising

Regarding the article Jays jaunt cost $38K (Sept. 13)

I am appalled by the lavish $38,500 field trip for top brass at Thames Valley District school board as classroom teachers and support staff struggle with the fallout of a $7.6-million deficit.

The paid leave for director of education Mark Fisher is even more galling. With an annual income of $326,000, Fisher will be costing TVDSB more than $27,000 a month to stay home. The cost doubles when one includes the salary paid to bring in retired director Bill Tucker to replace him.

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Perhaps the school board should take a page from the London Health Sciences Centre playbook and axe their top-heavy, highly paid managerial group.

The money saved could be re-invested in the classroom, providing educational assistants and other front-line supports for the students in our system who need it most.

Colleen Canon, London

Resource wasted

I couldn’t agree more with John Eberhard’s letter Take back river (Sept. 14).

The river should be a focal point for the city, not the smelly creek it is in summer.

Refurbish the dam to raise water level so canoeists can use it all summer.

Build attractions at the fork of the Thames and watch the tourists flock to the core. We are wasting a very valuable resource.

Dennis Lee, Komoka

Stuck with bill

Regarding the article London lags in race to housing targets but officials optimistic (Sept. 6).

The federal government gave London $74 million, which won’t cover all the needed infrastructure expansions. Londoners are going to be stuck paying for this hyper activity in our property taxes for a long time.

Why would anyone increase immigration numbers without having everything in place?

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Walt Lonc, London

May’s reality check

Prior to Parliament commencing its fall term, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May issued a matter of fact reality check to the wannabe prime minister.

Pierre “Poilievre doesn’t get an election just because he has a slogan that rhymes.”

Michael Luce, London

Not the only waste

Regarding the article Big bucks to sell big cop budget (Sept. 17)

The $105,000 for a PR firm is a drop in the bucket compared to the $672-million budget approved for the police force.

They can afford to send more than 30 cruisers to 241 Simcoe St., on June 3 for the apprehension of a young man.

To this day, I have not received any justifiable account after three inquiries sent to Mayor Josh Morgan. He’s quick to get his picture taken with celebrities, but tends to ignore replies to his constituents.

James Wallace, London

Control your kids

Regarding the article Ancient jar accidentally smashed by ‘curious’ boy has been put back together (Sept. 12)

Children should be supervised and restrained when visiting any museum or store. They should not be allowed to treat those locations as playgrounds.

Parents may think their child’s behaviour is cute, but it’s not. Ask the people who have to clean up after them.

Control your children.

Thomas Allen, London

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