Perth Voice Interactive

A poor decision
I WOULD like to add my voice to the many letters of complaint you received regarding the article “A funny thing about rape,” (Voice, January 15, 2015).
By now you have realised what a poor decision it was to print such a sexually explicit and suggestive article in a local paper that is indiscriminately distributed to all the residents of Perth’s inner suburbs, often by minors.
You have offended a great number of people; women, rape victims, parents, and anyone who does their best to maintain the dignity of women and protect them from exploitation.
I trust that you will be much more discerning in the future regarding the articles you publish and especially the images you choose to include with them.
Siobhan
Mt Lawley

Bad for business
I WAS astounded to learn the Vincent council passed a motion to allow a music event to be held in the laneway next to our business premises (Siena’s of Leederville) on Saturday February 21, 2015.
Does the council realise how loud the music will be? Does the council realise how disruptive the loud music will be? Does the council realise how much it will affect us, as a business?
A couple of years ago the council approved a fashion parade for the same laneway and that totally destroyed our night. The music was so loud that people could not sit in our enclosed back section and the music could be heard throughout the whole restaurant. We had customers walking out of our restaurant, and that was just a fashion parade with only “catwalk” music.
Now, the Vincent council has approved a “music event” with alcohol from 5pm to midnight. The music will be many times more loud and disruptive than a fashion parade.
What is most disturbing is we did not find out until the day of the vote (by another concerned business owner) that this was happening. We did not receive anything to inform us that something like this was planned.
Furthermore, you would think the council would actually come to see us personally to discuss the matter, considering the fact the laneway is right next to our premises and that an event like this will completely destroy our Saturday night…..our busiest night of the week.
This was an incomprehensible decision by the Vincent council. More so, because some councillors argued against it and it was passed by a split decision.
I have questions to ask the council:
• why could you approve an event like this next our business, when you would surely realise how disruptive it would be?
• why are we treated like this when we have been here for 15 years paying our rates and taxes?
• why would you close the laneway that is the main thoroughfare for the carpark to Oxford Street?
• why could you make it harder for the disabled people parking in the back to get to Oxford Street?
I can only assume the Council listened to the people who argued against it but decided it knows best.
After all, Siena’s only has families eating there! They won’t care if their dinners are ruined. Siena’s only has locals eating there! They won’t care if they can’t hear themselves talking.
Siena’s has only been there for 15 years. Let’s help this promotor from nowhere instead. The Siena’s owners live in Vincent and pay rates and taxes personally, but don’t worry about that! Let’s help some one-off promotor make a quick buck at the expense of a business that’s been there for 15 years.
Yes, let’s look after this promoter so we can encourage other promoters to come and do the same at the expense of people who have been here for 15 years paying rates and taxes.
Yes, let’s look after the music and alcohol event rather than the family restaurant.
Well done Vincent! That’s how you envisage our council.
As you can see we are not happy with the decision and we are unhappy to not have been consulted. We will look at taking action against the promotor and the council for loss of business and disruption of business. The council knows we will be losing money on that night and losing goodwill as well.
The people of Vincent need to know the kind of decisions this council is making.
Andrew Parissis
Siena’s of Leederville

Confidence in the chair
ONE of the critical issues that has set the cities of Perth and Vincent at loggerheads approaching amalgamation is the composition of a future Perth city council.
The City of Perth proposes retention of the status quo, that is, a council comprising a mayor and eight councillors. A most cogent argument that Perth advances is that: “…Council House is fitted out to accommodate the meeting and administrative requirements of the Lord Mayor and eight councillors. Any change to the numbers will result in significant costs.”.
Therefore, I have written to the mayor of Vincent suggesting a potential solution to this sticking point: that, to achieve a quick and satisfactory compromise, following amalgamation Vincent offers its surplus chairs to future Perth council meetings to accommodate any increase in the number of councillors, whilst henceforth also making it a condition of standing for election to council that candidates be of small to medium physique only.
I await the outcome of this vital, albeit sensitive, issue with bated breath.
Geoff Cooper
Glebe St, North Perth
The Ed says: All a moot point now, Geoff…for now.