Today's letters: Wellington Street's fate — remember the past

Thursday, Feb. 2: Readers argue the pros and cons of reopening Wellington to vehicular traffic. You can write to us too, at letters@ottawacitizen.com

Wellington Street: Those who forget the past …

Re:  We have a once-in-a-generation chance to reimagine Wellington Street, Jan. 27.

Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi waxes poetic with his statement, “Let’s not miss this once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a nationally significant space for people to enjoy. Let’s act to reimagine Wellington Street for the better.”

Given that the House of Commons committee has taken a year to determine that there is a potential security threat, I wonder if he is familiar with the following two words and one date: LeBreton Flats, 1962.

Keith Laughton, Ottawa

Don’t just opt for the status quo

Re: Let’s make Wellington Street a place for people, Jan. 25.

Ariel Troster makes a plea for creating a welcoming space out of Wellington Street. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make the street more than a busy thoroughfare.

Other world capitals have very large open spaces in the area around their government buildings. London, Washington and Paris come to mind. We have Parliament Hill where crowds have gathered on July 1, but Troster makes some excellent suggestions for innovations that would make the place more inviting year-round.

A little imagination and not too much of an investment could make the area something of which we can all be proud. Let us not be too hasty in being satisfied with the status quo.

Robert F. Nelson, Ottawa

Why not return to status quo ante?

We see a lot of ado about keeping Wellington Street closed or open to vehicular traffic. My question is: Once the truckers were evicted from their illegal occupation, why was it ever closed?

Please don’t give me a knee-jerk answer. It was open before “the truckers.” Why should it not be open after?

Leif Schonberg, Osgoode

A work-from-home snow job, perhaps?

Are the folks whose job it is to remove six-foot-high snow banks from city roads now working from home?

Phil Ford, Ottawa

Thanks to those who clear the streets

I think it’s about time someone told our city’s snow removers that they’ve done an amazing job of clearing the almost-record breaking snow from our streets in January. Sure, all streets weren’t plowed at 8 a.m. How could they be? But all the main ones get done in time.

Very impressed. And I don’t think people appreciate how hard they work — like all night, for example? Some people appreciate your work.

Erin Scullion, Ottawa

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet …

I would like to add my commendation to those thanking their newspaper delivery persons for excellent service this snow season. Our driver, James, and his family, have not missed one delivery this winter. Thank you; it is greatly appreciated.

Dianne Lee, Kanata

You can’t ‘unspend’ money you don’t have

Re: $38B unspent on pledged programs, Jan. 31.

Please. When a government runs a deficit ($90.2B in the last fiscal year), it doesn’t have the money it’s spending. Spending money you don’t have (in effect, borrowing money) causes a deficit. When you don’t spend the money you don’t have, it generates a nonsense number. Not only was $38 billion unspent, so too was $50 billion, $100 billion, or any amount.

Me: I didn’t eat a fast-food burger last night so saved around $7. That’s real money.

Herschell Sax, Ottawa

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