Who else but City council and a publicly funded entertainment committee would suggest the doubling of parking rates downtown? Not only would the rates go up 100 percent but we would then spend $2.2 million on electronic gizmos so that our civic staff could have yet another shiny toy.

Now add to that that we would probably have to hire some techs to set up and maintain and some fancy hand-held thingies to read this new miracle, oh yeah maybe a couple of extra bylaw officers (just to be sure) and let's not forget the forms and stuff to make it go.

But, according to some accounting wizard, in just a few short years we will show a profit, unless, of course, we don't. Isn't it about time that the City quit competing with retail for the last few dollars left in the consumer’s pocket?

His idea was supported some years ago by our now mayor when he was just a councillor from the North Shore, which, incidentally, still does not have parking meters. Perhaps something a little more creative like narrowing the sidewalks a little on Victoria Street and try angle parking? Just please quit reaching into my pocket to fund these unnecessary projects.

IAN MCCULLOCH

Kamloops

Editor’s note: Mayor Peter Milobar lives in Valleyview.