OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to the article titled, 'Mayor driving a new bid to reduce transit, lower taxes Monday', published Feb. 26.
Who suggests that busing every half hour is a luxury we cannot afford? Someone who doesn’t recognize their own privilege, that’s who.
As a driver, I know my privilege. I can leave my home and go wherever I want, whenever I want. Previously, I took the bus. It took me all day to do the most basic chores, and waiting an hour for the bus in the freezing cold was a major deterrent. This is especially true with children or people with disabilities.
If we are looking to cut luxuries, surely there are actual luxuries that could be cut — and I don’t mean taxes.
In Grade 1 my child did a “wants vs. needs” chart. Perhaps we should start there. Cutting transit is a kick in the face to those already struggling. Lowering taxes in the same breath is further catering to those with privilege.
I understand taxes aren’t cheap, but they should not be lowered at the expense of those already living in poverty and struggling to meet their needs. If we don’t have enough for transit, we cannot afford to cut taxes. It’s basic math.
Homeownership is a privilege not everyone has the luxury of experiencing. Most of us would prefer a tax bill to paying our landlord’s mortgage and never benefitting from the equity we literally paid.
Cutting transit for those without privilege, while cutting taxes for those with privilege seems kind of backwards. Didn’t this mayor campaign on his progressive views towards those less fortunate? Perhaps he can volunteer to drive those who can’t catch the bus at their regular time. Since there are so few riding as he argues, this shouldn’t take up too much of his day.
Valerie Kitchen
Orillia
