Published every. Wednesday Maurice Pifher By 677209 Ontario Imc. 'Editor Phone: 668-6111 Peter Irvine Ç. ~668-6112 Ad-ertising Manager I-m I..668-6369 UN, Adeso-. AlxadrISmJ -I I i Du AnderProdAle inranimor gU ¼cThe flly Whitby newspaper ifdepefldenfty owned and operated by P.O. Box0, Witby, Onlt. Whitby residents for Whitby residents U S2nCls ôaRgitton051 Murmurs of discontent by those involved with the operation of the Durham Recycling Centre have grown louder since Durham Region, in March, gave 12 months' notice that iR would sever ties with the centre. We learned at the time that it was one of the changes felt necessary to event ually create a more efficient system as the Region aims to recycle 25 per cent of its waste by 1993. ýBut Gerry Emm, former Whitby councillor and Region works committee chairman, 'and now chairman of the Durham Recycling Centre board, says that decision might have been made too.-hastily. The non-profit centre opera- tion, ho dlaims, has been doing "exceptionally well" - in part due,' says a centre supervisor, to a dedicated staff that works with an insLfficient nijmhp~r of trucks and in > Best option inadequate building <both owned by the Region) for the extent of the successful programn. Emm dlaims that certain Region staff are "empire- building." He also says there is a belief that if the Region accepts an alternative to make recycîing part of its waste management system, costs may rise dramatically in comparison with the current operation by the centre. Meanwhiîe, the 12-month notice led to doubt amon g centre workers about their future employment, and the result has been a turnover* of staff and some difficulty in keepinri employees, perhaos hinderina current operations. As the Region. is now explorinig alternatives, its stili flot too late to consider ho-w the centre, if Ieft to continue operations, could manage an expanded system given the proper equipment. Only a year and a half into its five-y ear contract, was it fair to give notice to the centre wit tout f irst having corne up with a-more definitive longterm recycling plan that might have included the centre and its employees? Residents now know the importance of recycling, par- ticularly in the context of overaîl waste management that has recently fomented bitter feelings over new landfill sites. We ask only that the discussions continue among ail involved to reach agreement on the most efficient recycling system available, whether or not that includes the Durham Rec.ycling Centre. Whatever happened to goverumient for the people?. To the editor. We Canadians have ta take a stand now. What happened ta goverrnent for the people? Governinent today bas grown se large, it is a cancer in our society, and like cancer it must be stopped early or you are dead. Are we too late? Politicians can only think about one thing, getting votes, at any expense. Ours. They have forotten they are public servants and not gods. We, the people, did not bring on this deficit. The governinent did. Why was the deficit allowed ta get se high? While the economy was doing good they should have been cutting it back. Instead, they ignored it and kept rigit on spending. You do not spend nioney like drunken sailors when you are in debt. We would ail be on welfare if wo ran our homes the way the governinent has been running the country. When these niinority groups corne asing for xnoney, it is the duty of the leaders ta say no. We don't have it. We are paying a tax upon a tax and that is deep, trouble. Wilson's spending cuts are mostly on projected costs and very littie on government cutbacks. We have toornuch goverrnent. Politicians promise everything to get your votes and do as they please when they are in power. I amrn ot just talIdng about the Conservatives. They are ail the saine. The Liberals started this dirty spiral (and just look what they are doing in Ontario, ta-xing us to death). The New Democrats havo nover been in power, but they waxu; wt give to ever37 rninority group that cornes along (a regular Robin Hood society) so, their band of rnerry men would put us in worse shape. The councillors in Whitby voted themselves a 5 per cent Nage increase, the regional councillor getfa 7 ner cent. Toronto wants to slip by a 12 per cent increase in roperty taxes. Last year Picering taxes went up 8 per cent plus being re-evaluated. Durhamn Region is putting touha 19 per cent increase. Scandaous. The governinent telis us ta keepinrassat4Per cent. They do not practise what they p reach. The governinent is keeping inflation high. Ontario lias the lowest unemploynient rate (more taxea comxng in). The largest building and housing boom in histor (again, more taxes coming in). Our taxes should be dropping in this high economy, but they say they have a deficit. Something is terribly wrong. Too much governinent. Ail the goverrnents -are treating us as fools and se we are for -putting up with the gross SEE PAGE 122 0e 'Di*sturbing' decision to deny progress To the. editor., The recent council decision to deny progresa with a market value assessinent for the Town of Whitby is both cisturbing to me andi wrong. Everyone aeknowledges that Our current method Of establishing property taxes is unfair. When some properties are taxed according to a 1940 assessment and others at a 1988 assessment even thougli these properties are worth the saine value, the discrepancy in payment is obvious. The end rosuit is that the rnajority of Whitby taxpayers subsidize the favored few who are allowed to retain this tax break whule the rest of us carry the financial burden. There is an argument that these propertios with lower assessments don't have standard sowage pipes, etc. This argument doesn't washf Town taxes are putting in new sewage systems. Are the property taxes thon raised for thlese areas? No way! Tax subsidization continues. The problom started simpl lai that you pay your taxes base on your assessed value of your property. If you property was assessed 20 years ago at $8,000 and your noiglibor was assessed 10 years ago at $4,000, you may pay twice the taxes of your neiglibor even thougli the current value of the properties were identical. The solution ta this problem is mnarket value assessment where ail properties are assessed on the same basis and are taxed accordingly. Fairness in taxation can thon be achieved. Market value assessmont is the only available avenue ta ensuring that everyone pays their fair share. That, in essence is ail vie demand. Ail Whitby residents are able ta enjoy the facilities and services funded by our tax dollars. I believe that we should ail contribute on an equitable basis. Councillors Buffett, Brunelle, Drurnm and Edwards do not obviously share the concept of fair taxation for ail Whitby property owners. If you share my frustration with this forrn of tax favoritisin, I urge you ta, voice your feelings ta, these coundilors. Sinoerely, M. MMéArthur Whitby To the editor. I arn writing this letter in hoping te instill some action on the part of dog owners. Speaking as a concerned parent and former dog owner myseif, responsibility is on owners to "scoop the poop" in our public parks (my area being Fallingbrook Park), and al other public walkways and private lawns. I amn certain the public needs no education as ta, the health risks to our chilcren this irresponsibility imposes. Perhaps strict leash laws, fines and signs in our parka niav serve as reminders to tilose owners. However, with some common courtesy applied, it may not have to corne to this. If a sinall shovel and bag is bothersome, use gloves andi a bag or even use one plastic bag as a disposable glove. The Town allocates landsa and upkeep dollars to keep our parks beautiful. Let's koep them dlean and accessible for everyone's enjoyment. Reminder: Please, when walkcing dogs, "Scoop the Poop." A conoerned Wbitby resident D. D. Assivero Dog owners : Let's keep parks dlean> LETTERS The Whitby Free Press welcomes letters to the Editor on any subject of concemn to our readers. Letters should be brief and to the point - rarely more than 300 words. Ail letters must be accompanied by the nime, address and phone number of the wvriter; however, on -request, your name may be withheld from publication if we agree that there is a valid reason. The paper reserves the right to reject or edit ail letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free Press, Box 206, Whitby, Ontario LiN5 5S1or drop thr7ough ourmailsiot at 131-eock St.N.