Once again I read with amazement the audacity of the current council in their decision making on spending tax payers’ dollars on something as trivial as stringing so many lights above Main Street.
First we hear that our firefighters finally were getting their much deserved wage settlement and then next we hear that the city cannot afford to pay them their back wages even though these dollars have been put aside for the past five years.
If that is so, then why spend $398,000 plus another $125,000 for coloured lights?
To quote some of our councillors’ reasons to do this, “we need a wow factor for our city.”
I have always found that the beautiful natural setting that Penticton is located in is more than enough wow, and is evident by the many visitors that keep coming to spend time here.
We do not need a garish display of lighting to enhance our city and if our counsellors want to see such a display, they should go to Las Vegas.
We wish to support our firefighters and suggest that the city get on with paying them their due, and get on with negotiating fairly with them on annual basis.
Dorothy & Lex Haagen
Penticton