Consider the children
This letter is in support of Lori Austin’s attempt to open a day care in the downtown residential area on Jarvis Street.
After spending 18 years in the child-care field, I left with great suspicion that people just really don’t like small children. How else can you explain the overwhelming support petitioner Dean Tower acquired in opposing a day care in his neighbourhood, calling it a ‘loss of vibrancy, attractiveness and sense of community”?
What’s more vibrant than children? What’s a community without children?
While the petitioners complain that an empty lot in the evening would increase the incidents of vandalism — think of the number of break-ins it could decrease, just having eyes around during the day when the majority of people are at work.
As for parking: There are two times during the weekday that parking will be a concern, drop-off and pick-up.
While I do not know Austin, I can give her credit for agreeing to lower the number of children from 32 to 20 to appease the city council and residence, which would bring the vehicle numbers to about 12 to 15.
Children in child care need to be moved from commercial zoning back into neighbourhoods, close to schools, parks and where they can access outdoor playspace by walking out the door — without having to cross a parking lot to get to the street.
Shame on all the people who signed this petition, shame on the city councillor who deemed Austin “lucky” to have made first reading on the zoning bylaw.
Children in child care deserve any breaks they can get. When someone tries to give them the sense of neighbourhood we adults were privy to back in our day, give her credit.
There’s a park less than a block away that the city of Whitehorse spent oodles of dollars on, with trails that, soon, will circulate the whole city.
To conclude, where were the petitioners when the house she bought was a “drug house”?
Funny whom we decide to pick on, isn’t it?
Michele Campbell
Whitehorse
Thugs frighten tourists
After having my RV repaired in downtown Whitehorse, my wife and I went for a walk for supplies.
As I was leaving the parking lot, I was approached by a group of six men and two women. One of them asked for $2.
When I said no, another man said, “Then you’d better give us $20.”
Well, I didn’t. I just walked faster.
Then on my way back to the vehicle, they approached again. Once again I ignored them, but I was concerned for my safety.
So instead of going out to dinner, we left for the safety of our RV park. We had talked about staying in Whitehorse for a few more days, but have chosen to continue our trip to Alaska instead.
Lloyd J. Olson Jr.
Backus, MN
Champion of Muslim women’s rights
A Canadian civilian has died in Afghanistan.
Big bad Israel didn’t kill him. Big bad America didn’t kill him; although you are so full of hatred, you may still try to blame them.
His crime was building a school that would educate both boys and girls. He didn’t brag about what he was doing. He didn’t go out and make big appeals.
He used his own money and got some help from his family.
The Taliban does not want women to be educated. The Taliban does not want women to be able to show their faces in public.
If I had any doubts about our military presence in Afghanistan, I don’t now.
I didn’t, but this shameless act just reinforces my beliefs. I can only come to the conclusion that you favour women being oppressed.
When I write my letters to the troops this weekend, I will do so proudly.
Dale Worsfold
Watson Lake
Good neighbour
Thought I would let you know how bad things got these days — because housing couldn’t find someone that could mow my lawn, my neighbour who also uses a motorized wheelchair mowed my lawn.
It took them a while but they did it.
Thank you neighbour.
Myself I can do a lot of things but mowing is not one of them.
It gets bad when people with disabilities help other people with disabilities because no one can accommodate our needs.
Thank you, neighbour.
Judi Johnny
Whitehorse
