Careless parents cause chaos

The most telling sentence in Rich Maerov’s story about the end of Gecko’z is the very last, where he quotes storeowner Lee Randell: “Unfortunately, I think it starts with these folks’ parents.”

The creatures responsible for the venue’s shutdown are endemic to the stretch of Lewes between Teslin and Duke streets — an area best described as ‘the dumpster highway.’

They did not, however, appear out of thin air: Somebody brought them into this world, into this neighbourhood, and now seem oblivious to what they’ve put among us.

Who are these prize exemplars of parenthood? Let’s bring them into the public eye.

Where are they when their progeny are ogling little girls going into the dance studio next door, shooting up in the bushes between nearby schoolyards or wandering Lewes at 3 a.m.?

Meanwhile, the fact that Gecko’z is closing down might quiet down a small area for a short period of time, but I don’t think Sean Underhill, over at Titan’s, has much to worry about: His downtown gaming venue is not surrounded by bushes, dark areas and apartment blocks, which give cover to the types of subhuman that crowded out Gecko’z.

The dumpster highway is their home; they won’t have the guts to bother anyone in well-lit Main Street areas near RCMP headquarters.

As Lee Randell observed, the problem begins at home.

That is also where the solution lies.

Make parents liable for the actions of their offspring, since they are the very reason these latter exist at all.

Those who bring children into this world are responsible for what they have done.

Let them be held responsible … publicly, if that’s what it takes to stop them from imposing their ‘little angels’ on the rest of us.

Skall Walker

Whitehorse

Another success story

As the third Relay for Life for the Canadian Cancer Society winds down, we can be proud of the great accomplishment achieved.

Every year the donations have surpassed the previous years total as sponsors and contributors donate more and more.

Thank you to the volunteers, staff, and the Relay for Life teams who work tirelessly to make the relay a success.

I’m sure there is not one person who hasn’t been touched by cancer in some way.

Whether it’s immediate family, friends, neighbours, co-workers, or yourself, cancer is in our lives in some way or another.

Last year I asked, ‘Why walk all night?’ It’s to signify that cancer never sleeps!

Research is the key to beat cancer. I have family members who would not be with us if not for the research, and chemotherapy they have received.

This is the second year that I have been involved and I made it ‘my mission’ to get as many supporters as I possibly could.

Every dime contributed made the grand total this year the largest so far.

Thank you to everyone who supported the relay.

I was the surprised and proud recipient of the prize for the most funds received to support the Relay for Life this year.

Thank you, sponsors, for all your support and incentive prizes given to the teams this year.

I’ve ‘raised the bar,’ so, teams, start thinking about next year!

Pam Daffe

Whitehorse

Demands a hearing

Open letter to the assessment appeal board,

I received your “rubber stamp” decision on my appeal regarding the recent large land increases in the Crestview area of Whitehorse.

Some land increases were for as much as 50 per cent.

To let the public know my concern, my intervention was that the “old Crestwview” residents are now paying $1,000 per year for 15 years for local improvement charges (underground and surface improvements).

My submission was that this $15,000 should be taken off each assessment, as anyone with a conscience selling their property in this area would disclose that this burden has to be paid into the future by the purchaser.

This should, in all common sense, result in lowering of the price for the property by this amount.

Therefore your response that there is no market data suggesting the above concern should affect market value is bogus.

Roger Rondeau, Utilities Consumers’ Group

Whitehorse