Dear editor:

As a taxpaying resident of Niagara-on-the-Lake, I agree with the comments of Coun. Erwin Wiens in the Aug. 3 article “Crosswalk vandalism cleaned up quickly” and with his opinion concerning the responsibility for costs.

While the taxpayers of NOTL have been required to pay the cost of the crosswalk in the first place, (and now with electronic monitoring, the cleanup of vandalism and police investigations following each incident), they have been denied their right to the democratic process.

This required that a random method of survey be carried out to determine an opinion that is seen as being representative of all NOTL residents before any decision was made to install a crosswalk.

Even though this crosswalk is installed on public property (which is equally owned by all), they have been ignored and their viewpoint silenced by the arguable demands of a minority group and their supporters.

Those surveys that have been carried out have elicited a response rate of about 1 to 2 per cent of the population of NOTL, which is less than the typical margin of error of a proper random and recognized method of survey.

From my point of view, this has always been an important issue of principle and is certainly not one of hate against any group, nor is it one that should be considered otherwise because of an increase in the budget (from about $7,000 to $20,000).

Derek Collins
NOTL