Letters to the Editor: December 14, 2024

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Homeless, hopeless

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I go to the forest and make shelters out of natural materials, trying to teach the homeless to coexist with nature.

Instead, they drag all of their belongings, including mattresses, pillows, blankets, clothing, electronics, propane tanks, barbecues, couches, couch cushions, fencing, skids, shopping carts, pots and pans, bags, tarps, tents, canned food, packaged food, aluminum foil, and the list goes on.

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Along comes all the stolen goods from the houses close by, such as porch decorations, plants, solar lights, riding lawnmowers and then, scrap metal and orange fencing stolen from the city or businesses nearby.

I’ve witnessed large groups of homeless people leave large dead zones in the forest with mountains of garbage taking hours for me to clean up. They will trash one area just to move next door and do the same thing.

I know what it is like to be homeless, as I was once in that position, but there is a difference between being homeless and trying to survive each day. When you have people who are homeless because nobody wants them living with or near them, because they lie, steal and don’t clean up after themselves, because they feel entitled to everything, we have a much bigger problem than housing.

When the city committee can’t figure out where millions of dollars donated to the homeless cause should be spent, I think we are most definitely in trouble.

Aid groups are too concerned about how many of them are going to get a piece of the pie instead of helping the real cause. The problem is city council, the government and the ignorant people who aren’t given any other alternatives or don’t know any other way.

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Lindsay Tomkins, London

Suspend roadwork

In light of the last week’s snowfall, I suggest the city order roadwork be wound up by Dec. 1 and restarted perhaps March 15.

The number of projects all over the city leaves hundreds of orange barrel pylons mostly buried in snowbanks. The partial work, as things thaw, become a mud hole and work areas are impaired by snowfall, plowed snow and slush residue. I suggest retaining a vital emergency crew; lay off all others till spring.

Then, with renewed gusto, push to get jobs done until the next Dec. 1 deadline.

The urgency of new street lights, and BRT, and bridge widenings really are artificial planning.

Making London a world-class city may be delayed, but safer and less congested during the unpredictable winter months.

R. Webb, London

Forgot commuters

Regarding the article What to know about transport master plan (Dec. 10) about the city’s plans for transportation during the next 25 years.

Nowhere did the report mention the existence of Ilderton, Thamesford, Dorchester, Belmont, St. Thomas, Komoka, Mt. Brydges, or Delaware.

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It looks like the planners for the city are totally disconnected from the surrounding villages, towns and rural areas. I count about 40 roads on the map that cross into the city. How do they plan to deal with the thousands of cars coming into and out of the city on a daily basis?

Ken Drudge, Komoka

Carriers appreciated

After more than 24 years of wonderful service delivering our London Free Press, Janet and Rob Fulton will be giving up their routes. Rest assured, their reward this Christmas will be even greater than usual.

Ionne and Joe Woodall, Lambeth

Time to act

The time is well overdue for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign. There must be some tuned-in Liberal members who can bring sufficient pressure on the “Governor of Canada,” U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s demeaning label to accomplish this feat. By not acting, the Liberal caucus put their own careers and reputation of Canada in jeopardy.

Johanne Nichols, London

Call me disgusted

I am so disgusted with all levels of government as well as the management of corporations and large companies.

Justin Trudeau and Doug Ford have done nothing for anyone but themselves.

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Pierre Poilievre sounds just like U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. Has he ever told the truth?

I wish we could load all of these people on a bus and take them into the middle of the bush way up north and let them make their way home. Or take half their salary and give it to the food banks or homeless shelters.

The management at Canada Post all should be laid off. They are doing nothing and getting paid. That is so disgusting.

Doris Watts, London

Team approach

Regarding the article Housing lag may cost London (Dec. 10).

It’s difficult to understand why city council would entertain an agreement with senior governments to meet specific housing targets when council has little control over whether the targets will be met.

London, Ontario and Canada should be on the same team in this venture. Why not come up with Ontario and federal funding on a per-housing-unit basis, thus eliminating the frenzied approach to which we are being subjected.

It feels like the senior governments are telling London to jump and London is asking “How high?” All for a pittance.

Walt Lonc, London

Kudos all around

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Regarding the photo, Lifesaver (Dec. 5).

Photographer Derek Ruttan: kudos for your picture.

London firefighter Zac Swainson: You are a hero for saving that cat’s life.

An inspiring story altogether on how the community in Hamilton Rd assisted with the survivors of the fire and the safety of the cats.

Kudos to all of you!

Sallie Hammond, London

Snobelen’s dead on

In his article Trump threats signal for Canada to grow up, (Dec. 11), John Snobelen hits the nail on the head. In view of the impending tariffs to be imposed by the U.S., the response from all our leaders has been insipid.

The notion of changing our industrial policies to create wealth, or changing our military posture to gain respect within NATO are evidently beyond discussion.

Canada seems to be entering a dangerous period that we have not seen for about a century. This is no time for self-serving platitudes from our governments.

David Nielsen, London

Heed past wisdom

John F. Kennedy wrote a quote that would seem to apply to the current U.S.-Canada relationship: “Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate”

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Henry Ford made a quote that might be applied to the two nations’ long-term relationship: “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success” which advocates for teamwork that makes us both stronger.

We can learn from our predecessors and the wisdom gained from their experience unless, like the current flock of egotists (on both sides), we choose to ignore!

Andy McGuigan, London

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