A new strategy is needed to fix Pandora problems

Re: “Life on Pandora,” July 26.

Thank you for another well-written, thoughtful piece by Jody Paterson describing the reality of people living homeless on Victoria’s streets.

Although I now live in Qualicum Beach, I lived in Victoria for many years. I was also a member of the initial Victoria homelessness committee and have an ongoing interest in the issue of homelessness and how we attempt to respond to the many challenges that it presents.

I was struck in Jody’s piece by the frequent comments from homeless people themselves about bylaw and police officers confiscating their possessions, their “stuff.”

What is the rationale for continually doing this? People affected by this will get more “stuff” somehow. Do authorities behind this strategy think that people who struggle with homelessness will “throw in the towel” and say, “OK, I guess I’ll just get a job, rent an apartment and stop using stimulants”?

This all reminds me of the famous quote that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.

Clearly, we need a different strategy. How about sustained political and financial commitment? Can we do that?

Andrew Lane Qualicum Beach

Tuition grants are an investment

Re: “Be thankful for the help, it’s time for self-reliance,” letter July 28.

I am uncertain what the letter writer’s experience is with obtaining an education in today’s world, but tuition grants for nursing students should be looked upon as an investment, not a handout.

Nursing students will become self-reliant once they are trained nurses in the workforce, and they will pay us back with interest when we are no longer self-reliant and are thankful for their help.

Dogs running off leash, but nothing is being done

We like to walk the sea wall along Dallas Road to the tip of Clover Point and back. The only off-leash dog area is the grassy circle at Clover Point, yet we always observe many dogs off-leash and running freely on our walks.

Chasing birds. Fighting one another. Bikers swerving to avoid them.

I called animal control to ask about this and was advised that they regularly patrol this area — odd because we’ve never, ever seen a patrol person.

They suggested next time I take pictures of the owner(s) and animals, call the incident in and wait for an officer to arrive and show the pictures or point out the people........

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