I am dumbfounded by the City of Victoria’s claim that renting out the former Romeo’s and Urbana Kitchens properties — purchased for $11 million in 2024 — will somehow generate meaningful revenue.

Let’s be honest: No short-term rental income is going to make a dent in an eight-figure public expenditure.

Pretending otherwise only adds insult to injury.

This is a massive amount of taxpayer money, spent on a small, noisy corner lot at one of the busiest intersections in downtown.

Calling it a “future park” and then ­trying to soften the backlash by ­temporarily renting it out feels more like damage control than responsible ­planning.

If the city truly believes this land is worth $11 million for public use, residents deserve a transparent explanation that includes real financial reasoning — not vague promises and accounting fantasies.

At a time when our community urgently needs investment in housing, infrastructure and services, this kind of spending is simply ridiculous.

The city should consider selling this property and reallocating the proceeds toward programs and services that fall within its mandated responsibilities.

It is consistently astonishing to see public funds allocated to initiatives that appear unnecessary, and taxpayers deserve a more prudent and accountable approach to spending.

Nelly van Schagen

Victoria

I have heard it said by a representative of the Pacheedaht people that the Walbran will be logged in order to enhance the well-being of their people.

There is another way, and it would ­provide much more than temporary sustenance; it would last into future ­centuries, bring lasting work, agreements and cooperation up and down Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.

Some years ago, the University of ­Victoria studied the tree canopy in that part of Vancouver Island and the hidden lives of the creatures that lived there. Professor emeritus Richard Ring was involved with those studies.

Working with the Macusi (Indigenous) people in Guyana a few years ago, I was........

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