Editor:
Re: I’m prepared to take my penalty, June 5 letters.
I read this letter by Fred Somers Sr. numerous times to make sure I was actually reading it correctly.
What started off as a normal citizen’s complaint about inaction by staff at Surrey city hall quickly degenerated into an attack on the RCMP in general. I guess the police should set up shop on his favourite road at great cost to the taxpayer so everyone will play nice and slow down while they are present.
I drive this road almost daily and, as far as school grounds go, this one is well protected along 8 Avenue. There is no reason for kids to cross the road, as there is nothing on the other side except bush. I wonder what, in his eyes, makes this school ground so vulnerable.
I also live on a street that has a problem with speeders. I, however, have no intention of hurling stones at cars or insults at the police. Instead, I politely asked Surrey to address the problem.
They installed a traffic counter and found that along the stretch of 0 Avenue past Peace Arch Park, 85 per cent of the some 260 cars per day were travelling 53 km/h. Staff advised this was only three km/h over the posted speed of 50 km/h, so the road did not need any speed mitigation consideration.
They, however, failed to recognize this is a posted 30 km/h playground zone and not a 50 km/h speed zone.
My next action was not to enter into a tirade about the police and their purported indiscretions but to instead ask my elected representative to intercede.
Mr. Somers will be delighted to know I was scheduled this week to be heard by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the City of Surrey to consider my concerns about excessive speed.
Perhaps he should use the democratic tools at his disposal and spare us his personal opinions about everything that is wrong with the RCMP. A little less chest thumping and a little more diplomacy may serve him well in his crusade against all the evil forces leaning on his fragile world.
I hope no one is killed or injured by a childish attempt to become David hurling stones at Goliath.
Andy Johnston, Surrey
• • •
I am pleased to advise that the City of Surrey and the RCMP stepped up to the plate with regard to my letter to the editor.
The tree has been trimmed and the RCMP are running radar.
Thank you to both the City of Surrey and the RCMP. I appreciate your attention to this important matter, and the parents, staff, students and I say thanks.
Fred Somers Sr., Surrey