Letters to the Editor, Sept. 25, 2022

SINKING FEELING

Your article on potholes prompts me to write (“Potholes top list of city service complaints,” Antonella Artuso, Sept. 18). Almost six months ago, I dutifully went through the City of Toronto 311 website to report two sunken sewer grates that are about 20 feet apart. I received an acknowledgement then, a few weeks later, an email notification from the city that the repair(s) had been made. They had not and I replied thus to the email. Needless to say, I heard nothing more, so a month or so later I submitted a repair request via the same channel. Same outcome, so I replied to the email with accompanying photos of the sites. That was two months ago. Winter is approaching. Should I try again?

Robert Laing
Toronto

(This is an abject failure by the city. Let us know if you any luck next time, we will make some calls)

GOD BLESS THE HONG FAMILY

My deepest condolences to the Hong family. I read the article “‘Best husband, father and son'” (Joe Warmington, Sept. 22) and it brought tears to my eyes. I cannot imagine what the family is going through right now. God bless all the police officers putting their lives in danger every day to keep the rest of us safe. May the Lord give the Hong family strength at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Const. Andrew Hong. Another brave man gone way too soon.

Robert Onyskiw
Etobicoke

(His death is a tragedy and we mourn with his family)

DISPROPORTIONATE

Three men went to work to feed their families, three men died senselessly by a deranged gunman in cold blood. Three broken families grieve. Two men’s occupations were auto service technicians (mechanics), one was a police officer. The funerals were all held, the mechanics were barely mentioned, and the police officer had TV coverage for the best part of a week with colleagues from around the country attending. Don’t get me wrong, I am pro-police, but the comparison of respect sent out to both occupations is almost laughable. They said when I took my apprenticeship, trades were a noble occupation — apparently not as valuable an occupation as one with a uniform on.

J. Williams
Georgetown

(Your point is well taken)

KARAOKE JUSTIN

Attention good people of Japan: Justin Trudeau is coming to your country for another state funeral, fresh from his singing engagement in a London hotel lobby before the Queen was laid to rest. Perhaps our leader will use a karaoke machine in Tokyo instead of just a piano as he builds his recording repertoire.

Dan Nyznik
Keene, Ont.

(Let’s see if he can manage one international trip without embarrassment)

MISINFORMED

There has been so much talk recently about disinformation and misinformation. I always thought that misinformation was info that we missed out on. Missing out on info is never good. We want to have all of the info we can get. How else can we discern the truth? The prime minister wants to control all of the information that goes out to the Canadian public. That would make it Just-info. Trudeau could have info that is true but we are not yet ready to hear. That would make it disinformation because he intends to tell us about it in the distant future. Trudeau can now cherry-pick the opinion pages and the open talk forums so he can censor. That’s why we need all the info and input. Many Canadians may have a theory or a hypothesis and they will be afraid to express it. Obviously, Justin does not want Canadians to think for themselves. Just a hunch.

George Rooney
Ancaster

(His goal is to silence voices who disagree with him. We should all be concerned)