Today, the letters in today’s Telegraph-Journal were terrific. I am posting them here again in the hopes that more people will read them! Be sure to click here to post your comments in support of these letters.
Smart decision on vehicles
Saint John Common Council made a smart decision, at their last meeting, to replace larger, more expensive, and environmental unfriendly service vehicles with four Smart Cars.
These Green Fleet Vehicles are environmentally friendly vehicles, and they represent a better way of doing business. They provide financial savings to taxpayers through both reduced fuel consumption and reduced purchase price, and they provide environmental savings though reduced CO2 emissions. Two thumbs up to Councillor Stephen Chase for his leadership on this better way of delivering environmentally friendly services to the citizens of Saint John. I know I can breathe easier knowing that city vehicles are producing less pollution and my taxes are being spent wisely.
Unions’ favours taint campaign
What are candidates thinking, accepting endorsements from the local firefighter’s union? We don’t want the firefighters controlling the politicians who are suppose to be controlling them.
This is not how our system is suppose to work. I expect elected councillors and our mayor to be politically neutral and sit around the horseshoe representing me, a Saint John taxpayer, with my best interests at heart. This cannot occur if you owe favours to a group.
I think this is inappropriate behaviour by both the firefighter’s union and the candidates that sold their impartiality. I think that Saint Johners are perfectly capable of choosing their own candidates themselves based on their own criteria without the help of others.
Candidates must deal with pension issue
On April 17th, a Telegraph-Journal write up tells of Ivan Court’s pleasure that the city’s inside workers’ union had endorsed his mayoralty bid.
Perhaps before the union takes this stand, they should take a look at Mr. Court’s comments on the city pension.
In my opinion, the city pension is the greatest issue the city taxpayers have to face. Mr. Court is quoted as saying “An independent expert suggested a month ago that the pension is not in bad shape.” Perhaps he should talk with the City Manager about this. Either he fails to understand the plan, or is painting a rosy picture to capture the unions’ favour.
The facts do not support his statement. The scary part is that Ivan Court may end up as our mayor and automatically become chairman of the pension board. In spite of Mr. Court’s comments, the securities markets are still very volatile and tougher times may be ahead.
Councillor Court says it will take “A major world disaster” to make us forget the pension woes. I would suggest that if the council elected on May 12th does nothing about the major flaws in this plan and its management, a major world disaster will not be necessary. The city will be spending more on propping up the pension plan than on any other item. The union and other employees of the city would be wise to become familiar with the facts in the pension debate and support the major changes that will soon become necessary.
