I learned of a handwritten sign taped to the back of a vehicle window this week. It read I’m not drunk, I’m avoiding potholes. Ignoring the few sink holes that have popped up around the city and the mass of potholes has become a full time non-contact sport for drivers in Edmonton of late. It has me wondering just why I’m paying (increasingly huge) taxes to the city. I pay to have my garbage removed. A plow never made it’s way down my street or alley in winter – the hubby and the neighbours cleared those out with snowplows so people could get to work – and the roads are a mess. The housing crisis has resulted in the appearance of tent cities and there appear to be few new low income housing and shelter spaces being developed.

So what is the city doing with it’s tax dollars? Well, the mayor and councilors got a nice 13% raise and we’re about to have a brand spanking new art gallery. There’s also talk of a new hockey rink for the Oilers. Somehow none of these items is on my city improvement wish list.

There’s a civic election taking place in October and no one is running against the encumbent mayor as of yet. There’s no way this mayor or council should be re-elected, but unless someone else throws their hat into the ring soon, I predict another four years of shoddy city management, poor infrastructure maintenance, and increasing taxes with little or no return.

I love my city, but this is getting to be ridiculous!

Technorati Tags: Edmonton, taxes, potholes

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