Keeping the bridge and restoring it are the only sane options, from an economic standpoint and historical and engineering standpoints. Victoria cannot afford to replace the bridge, period.

The way Fortin proceeded to force his choice upon us is shameful. Based upon this and other actions he’s taken as mayor so far, it’s clear nothing will be done to help our homeless people, low income people, and turn Victoria into a shining example of sustainable living with a small carbon footprint.

It’s also clear Victoria’s citizens are way ahead of the politicians when it comes to every important issue, such as helping our Aboriginal People, cleaning up our environment, investing in clean energy, encouraging home gardening and food sharing, etc., etc.

Fortin is just another politician who hasn’t the charisma or positive energy to unite Victorians for good causes. Instead, all of the nonprofit groups and the people who contribute to their causes continue to be fragmented. All of us who wish to do good and promote forward-thinking ideas and movements are doing so without the local government’s participation, bogged down as they are in their little power trips of meetings and agendas and ridiculous rules and regulations. Until egos can be removed from politics, the onus is on the people to move forward and try to solve our ills. We must keep making our voices heard loud and clear as it’s the onyl way to get the mayor and city council’s attention — gee, maybe next time they won’t be re-elected!

So let’s keep the bridge and give her the makeover she deserves.

Cheers,
Helene Harrison
Victoria, BC

This obsession with potential earthquakes and seismic upgrading is leading successive city councils down the garden path to overspending and destruction of the city’s architectural heritage.

During the arena debate,committee members received the same kind of propaganda to the effect that the old arena could not be saved without huge expenditures—many of them caused by the need for seismic upgrading. Result: we lost Memorial Arena. We could have lost Crystal Garden on the same grounds.

This earthquake obsession is probably more destructive than the actual earthquake will be, if it ever arrives in anybody’s lifetime.

We are living in Parksville now but were residents of Vic West for fourteen years and I was born and raised in Victoria and know the Johnson Street Bridge well. Paint it green, black and gold, put the crests of the city and the province on the concrete blocks and put it to work for another hundred years.

I wholeheartedly agree with the content, and I hope that our Mayor and Council will open their minds and hearts, and reconsider saving the Johnson Street Bridge!!

Miriam Nelson