Dear Editor,
I feel it is strange as a society that we are willing to pay 11.2 million dollars to build an active transportation bridge on 6th Street next to the 5th Street bridge that already allows for active transportation versus building homes for unhoused people in our community.
In the March 26, 2025 Comox Valley Record there is an article about the bridge and cost. With the of grant is 3.5 million dollars that will leave a balance of 7.7 million dollars to be paid for by the city. A public notice from the city said it will explore other funding opportunities to offset project costs. In the article there is a paragraph written that states "The balance is proposed to be paid for by long-term borrowing as well as city’s reserves."
In the Dec. 5, 2024 Comox Valley Record an article was written to celebrate #13 and #14 shipping container homes at Maple Pool for the unhoused. As per the article this was done by the non-profit group WeCan Shelter who organize businesses and volunteers to donate supplies, funds and their time to accomplish this. I applaud non-profit groups for what they do in the community, but they can only do so much. The government can’t expect non-profit groups to solve our housing crisis.
I believe that funds to build an unnecessary/duplicate bridge should be reallocated to build homes for the unhoused. This seems a more humane way to invest money.
Rhonda Snook
Comox
