Letters to the editor

Recycling leaves streets a mess

To the editor

I would like to express my utter anger with the mess left behind by the recycling crew every Wednesday afternoon. Why is that every time I walk down my street immediately after the recycling pickup the street is littered with papers, cartons and often broken bottles?

Is this the service that we are paying for as tax payers? Who is monitoring the level of service that we are getting? Are they in such a rush that we should be satisfied if 20 per cent of the trash is left on the street?

Do I need to take photographs and send them into the City before any type of action is taken?

Frank Candido

Prospect Avenue





Cyclists should be allowed to pedal for charity



To the editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to commend Town of Mount Royal Mayor Vera Danyluk and her council for refusing le Tour de l’Île de Montréal the streets of that city.

I have absolutely nothing against cycling events, but I have a great deal against a cycling event that will not allow its participants to raise funds for the charities of their choice.

The same concept is used in Ironman USA events and last year, those choosing to raise funds in Ironman USA events raised over $8.5 million. Let me emphasize those choosing to raise funds, as it is not mandatory for anyone to raise funds.

Le Tour de l’Île de Montréal is a great inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians. Retailers along the route or nearby have reported their lost sales being (in some cases) over 90 per cent! The tourism industry has reported that there is no increase in hotel room occupancy due to the event. Taxpayers are subsidizing the event on top of that.

The only people in fact who actually benefit, are the folks that stage the event!

In view of the fact that Quebec is by far the worst area in Canada and the USA for charitable giving, it is high time that the event cooperated with charity or was refused the streets of other cities/boroughs if they did not.

There is no reason for le Tour de l’Île de Montréal to not do as thousands of similar events around the world now do.

I encourage all residents to mention to their friends, relatives and business associates that le Tour de l’Île de Montréal has been refused the streets of Town of Mount Royal because it is an inconvenience to the citizens, harms businesses and will not do anything for humanity.

If all of you do as I ask then one day in the future Le Tour’s participants may be raising over $8.5 million for children’s hospitals, cancer research and other worthy causes.

Murray Levine

Founder, Philanthropic Athletes Foundation