a,.. WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1984, PAGE 5 Merchants' backing needed to improve downto wn A major face-lift to Whitby's downtown core won't get off the ground if businessmen in the area don't agree to an increase in their speciai levy. According to Ed Buf- fet, president of the board of management of the Downtown Im- provement Area Board (D.I.A.B.) a special meeting has been called Dear Sir: We take exception to the article written on page three of your sup- plement "Progress Edition" dated March 14, 1984. A quote from publisher Michael Burgess that "The Free Press is the only newspaper serving Whitby residents that is actually located in the town and paying local taxes", is erroneous. He also stated, "None of our competitors can make that claim." Wrong again. Unless our worthy op- ponent is privy to in- formation beyond our knowledge, Brooklin is part of Whitby. I seem to recall a chastising in a recent editorial because someone referred to our village as "north of Whitby." At that time, the Free Press was quite adament in its views that Whitby stretched beyond Taunton Road to the boundary Uine and ail citizens in that area were, in fact residents of Whitby. What a short memory. for 8 p.m. on April 10 to make local business people aware of the board's plans and to discuss the increase in the levy. Buffet says that the average downtown business pays a special levy of $33.04 in addition to their property and business taxes to fund the activity of the board. Report from Queen's Park By The Hon. George Ashe, MPP (PC-Durham West) F_____ This year, Community Justice Week in Ontario issues a humanitarian challenge to everyone con- cerned with the pursuit of justice to express more concern towards victims of crime and to recognize their rights and needs. Justice Week will be coor- dinated by the Justice Secretariat, and will enhance public awareness about justice rights, respon- sibilities and services, and should increase volun- teer participation within the justice system. The end result - a stronger, more effective, justice system in the Province of Ontario. The pursuit of justice, the prevention of crime, and the safety of our neighbourhoods, are concerns and responsibilities not only of governments, but of each and every resident of Ontario. There is much that can be done to reduce the, risk and pain of vic- timization, and personal and community in- volvement is essential. According to thie Provincial Secretary for Justice, Gordon Walker; "Historically the offender has been the centre of attention in our justice system. The resources of the police, courts, legal profession, correctional system, and the law itself, al focus on the offender's needs. The offender's rights are well articulated and protected...and they should be. But what about the victim?" Today there is a growing public concern for the needs and the rights of victims of crime, and many citizen action groups are pressing for change in public attitudes, law enforcement, and legal remedies. Others are calling for greater senstitivity To properly verse you, it might possibly be a good start to remind you that a weekly newspaper by name of Brooklin Profile has been publishing since October of 1983. Serving an area which encompasses Brooklin, Ashburn, Myrtle, Myr- tle Station, Raglan, Columbus, Greenwood, Whitby, Port Perry and rural areas of Oshawa, the Profile owns the building from which it operates at 45 Baldwin Street in Brooklin. As owners and operators of a business we pay both business and property taxes, con- trary to your statements that you are the only newspaper to do so. There can be allowan- ces made for incorrect reporting but certainly not when it pertains to your own business. Please tell it as it is and not as you'dlikeit to be. Yours truly, Henry Janssen Publisher and Roxanne Reveler Editor. EDITOR'S NOTE: For The president wants to see this doubled to an average of $66.08 this year. However, he was quick to point out that the levy can be as low as $3.06 for some merchan- ts and as high as $350 for others. The increased levy - if approved - will be used not only to market and the error that we appear to have made, this newspaper would like to apologise. However, we were not aware that the Profile's claimed circulation of 4,000 copies a week could possibly serve Whitby in its entirity, let alone the other villages and hamlets they claim to serve. The Free Press circulates over 1,500 copies a week through the mail to Brooklin, Ashburn, Myrtle and Myrtle Station alone. Assuming the Profile is also properly covering their home base, that would leave them only 2,500 copies to service ALL the other areas that they make claim to. Housing counts show quite clearly that 2,500 copies is insufficient to serve just West Lynde and Otter Creek, let alone the rest of Whitby and all the other areas they mention. This newspaper believes that its claim that we are the only newspaper operating in the Town of Whitby that pays local taxes is ac- curate although Incom- promote the downtown core but to help pay for a $130,000 loan package from the provincial government under the Commercial Area Im- provement Program (C.A.I.P.). Theboard intends to give the downtown a major physical face-lift with the money in an ef- fort to make the core more appealing to local Justice Week towards victims' needs and improved services for victims and their families. We can no longer continue to think of victims as just statistics. After all, they are real people, who need help at the time of crisis, as well as infor- mation and guidance about the justice system. In addition, they need support and care to deal with the after-effects of crime. Communities throughout Ontario have been en- couraged to proclaim the week of April 8 to 14 as Community Justice Week, and to undertake local initiatives such as special displays, community workshops, public forums on justice issues, and educational school events. The brochure entitled "Justice for Victims - Let's Care & Share" is available at my riding office at 37 Station Plaza in Ajax, or by calling 683-6707. Make plans during Justice Week, and throughout the year to get involved. Help keep our homes, busmesses, streets and neighbourhoods in the Durham area safe and secure. Join a community crime prevention program or service organization. After all - it's our community - let's meet the challenge. Letter Country Mouse thanks Free Press Dear Sir: We of the Country Mouse wish to thank you for your attendance at our grand opening last week. We would also like you to know that we appreciate all the help and support you have given us since we began this little business. Your staff have given us much more guidance and encouragement than our small amount of business would seem to warrant. We are very grateful for everything that you have done. Sincerely, Betty-Jean Blyth Barbara Williamson. plete. The Free Press pays a 50 per cent sur- charge on its local taxes - that is the rate established for newspapers. The Profile claims an office at 45 Baldwin St., Brooklin which, according to the Town of Whitby, is oc- cupied by Brooklin Printing and Office Products (building owned by Port Perry Printing Ltd.) and pays a 30 per cent commer- cial surcharge on local rates, which is the nor- mal surcharge applied to retailers not newspapers. The Free Press pays taxes as a newspaper - the Profile does not. If they want to be recognized as a truly local newspaper perhaps they should consider paying their fair share of the tax load, and perhaps a tax re-assessment should now be in order. The Free Press has been a part of Whitby for 14 years. This com- munity is our heart and soul and it is our inten- tion to remain a part of Whitby for many years tocome. residents. However, without the money the whole project will fall flat on its face. Regional Councillor Tom Edwards, the mayor's designate on the board, said that if the levy wasn't in- creased then the board will have to continue with its current $10,000 a year budget and to return to the status quo. "We would be forced to carry out the ac- tivities that this board felt was inappropriate and were not truly effec- tive," he said. Buffett was quick to add that "without the levy increase the matter becomes a dead issue." The president was quick to point out that of the 90 downtown im- provement boards in Ontario Whitby has one of the lowest levies. As an example, he * • NEW GENERATION COMPUTER KEYBOARD DURHAM KEYBOARD CENTRE 355 BLOOR ST. W. OSHAWA 725.0001 cites the Town of Bowmanville which has substantially fewer than the 214 downtown businesses that Whitby boasts yet their board has an annual budget of $35,00. Even Ajax's board has a budget of $20,000. Both of these municipalities have smaller populations than Whitby. Should the levy be in- creased and the C.A.I.P. loan be approved, Buf- fett anticipates the physical work to begin in about a year. Edwards added that if the downtown core demonstrates a willing to raise money he feels that Whitby Town Coun- cil would be more recep- tive to further invest- ment in the core area. However, the board's real work will come af- ter the streetscape project has been com- pleted. Buffett said that the board will engage in an agressive marketing and promotion program. But the biggest hurdle is getting the levy in- crease. "The biggest task that we face is selling the concept to the individual members of the down- town ý business com- munity," Buffett said. The board also wants to develope a sense of community amongest downtown merchants and to preserve Whit- by's small town iden- tity. "Community pride is something we have to cultivate," Buffett said. The April 10 meeting will be held at the Whit- by Municipal Building and Buffett wants to en- courage all members of the downtown business community to attend. DADDY'S BAKERY & DELI SPECIALIZING IN BREADS, ROLLS, BIRTHDAY CAKES, PIES SPECIAL HOT CROSS BUNS 884 BROCK ST. N., WHITBY WHOLESALE-RETAIL 666-3271 j~ i1 r -.. I I rr Ix r ~î--î g~---y Get rid of leftover road sait before it gets to your car. Let us give your car a thorough going over: • Power- wash under- side and • Re-open ail 2 9 clogged drain holes. • Power-vacuum 1O rust complete interior. inspectiOn, • Professional hand wash with Ziebart Wash-N-Shine. DRIVE IN TODAY! . ..- .. .. il!NS w -ST-~ c 19 4 ZER fCOPOATO 440 HOPKIN (South of Dundas WHITB CAL ITDAF**AP * YT** EN VISA ;< S ST. St. E.) 1Y LETTERSTO THE EDITOR Our competition takes us totask ZAPeb art APARANCE & PROTECTION SERVICES IT EU NI ', D 1 S, L VOUR -CAR i , 1, . - , , , t e -