Opinion

The Editor, We recently read of the fire marshall in Vancouver invoking a ban on building occupancy, limiting the number of people in a building to a safe level. Not in Richmond, though. On New Years Eve, at about 10:30 p.m.

The United Nations declaration that 2012 is The International Year of the Cooperative could not be more aptly timed. There is real and palpable discontent in the land with our current systems of governance.

The Editor, Re: Progress borne of outrage, Editorial, Jan. 4. With regard to your editorial, you observed the protests across the globe have yet to bring about solutions.

The Editor, As a teacher, I am very concerned that during 62 meetings since last June with the governments bargaining team, BCSPEA, they have offered nothing. The BCTF have dropped many of their demands in good faith.

Aha! I think we now know a key source of NDP leader Adrian Dixs professed desire to bring a modest approach to governing.

Home learning would spawn more funding, jobs

Whether you like the provincial home assessment numbers will depend very much on where you stand. Assessments are largely flat, going up or down a few per cent in the past year.

I'm not going to mock politicians this year. For one whole year, I'm going to withhold my contempt, hang back on the snide remarks, and back off from cynically pointing and laughing at them. Except for a few exceptions.

The Editor, Re: "Unhappy resident shouldn't be allowed to hold up traffic," Letters, Dec. 2, 2011. With reference to the letter from Marion Smith, I have some comments to add to hers. TransLink claims it prides itself on being "Handicap Accessible.

The Editor, Thank you all involved for another successful Steveston Rotary Santa Claus Parade Dec. 23.