Perth Voice Interactive

Improving mobility benefits
INTERESTING response by Marina Foster (Voice Mail, October 10, 2015) to the City of Vincent’s protected bike lanes on Scarborough Beach Road.
The letter was published on the same day the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) released its report: “Delivering Sustainable Urban Mobility”.
In essence, the researchers would be congratulating the City of Vincent for the work it is undertaking to develop a more environmentally friendly urban community.
To assist in achieving this, Vincent has commenced to prioritise people along with more environmentally friendly modes of transport.
The benefits of improving urban mobility are not confined to the environment, but also contribute to the economy, the community’s social well-being, and the health of individuals.  Outcomes which are to be welcomed.
Geraldine Box
Alma Rd, North Perth

Mature admit mistakes
I WOULD definitely rather have a lord mayor like Lisa Scaffidi, who is mature enough to admit her mistake and say sorry, than one who acts like a petulant child.
Even after being asked to repay the council for using personal expenses funds for what was deemed an unauthorised use, Reece Harley refused.
Not liking something does not justify non-compliance.
I wonder if the legal advice you are seeking in relation to this matter will also be ratepayer-funded.
Accountability — get some.
Debbie Saunders
Oxford St, Leederville
The Ed says: Ms Saunders is running for mayor in Vincent. This letter has been edited for legal reasons.

A  medal for congestion
REGARDING the closure of traffic lanes on Scarborough Beach Road in Mount Hawthorn and North Perth — who is the bureaucratc brainiac responsible for transforming car lanes to bike lanes and therefore adding to the congestion woes this city is experiencing?
You should get a medal. And let me just add that I don’t agree with the current rhetoric and slogans like “motorists versus cyclists” or “war on our roads”.
I do believe, however, in less congestion (and therefore less frustration) on our roads if we can avoid it.
Gene Lorenzon
Shakespeare St, Mt Hawthorn

Ignorance inconceivable
IT is inconceivable that any public officer in 2015 would not be aware of the need to be accountable (Voice, October 10, 2015).
Lisa Scaffidi’s defence that she’d raised disclosure issues with the-then CEO, Frank Edwards, falls on deaf ears as Mr Edwards told the CCC that he’d assisted her to conceal details of her trip to the Beijing Olympics from councillors.
Notwithstanding what Ms Scaffidi may have achieved, to accept free trips for her and her husband from development companies who were to profit from council approvals must raise issues of competency at the very least.
Defence of Ms Scaffidi by other PCC councillors on the basis this issue is central to one event back in 2008 should take note of Ms Scaffidi’s tweets, which highlight non-disclosures up to 2013.
At the 2015 WALGA conference the Mayor of Vincent asked for transparency reforms but was resoundingly rejected, 172 to 46, with Ms Scaffidi silent on her position to adopt these reforms (Voice, August 15, 2015). We wonder why.
Michael Mannion
Crawford Rd, Maylands
Ed’s note This letter has been edited for legal reasons.

Waste of time
NOBODY doubts that people in distress should be helped — this is obvious. But then to say that asylum seekers are not attempting to enter Australia illegally is a travesty of the English language.
I don’t know where Anne went to school, nor her level of understanding of English, but may I suggest that she look up the following words: migration, immigration, legal, illegal, and attempt, and then try to distinguish in an objective manner whether people who try to jump the queue are doing something legally or illegally.
If the latter, then it is a waste of time to support them.
Sasha Verma
Beaufort St, Perth
The Ed says: What “queue”? And according to the human rights convention, of which Australia remains a signatory, it is not illegal to seek asylum.

Wretched roadworks
THE roadworks to create cycle paths along Scarborough Beach Road began before ANZAC Day. They are still continuing.
When they are complete the disruption to traffic along the major thoroughfare will be major. Motorists are held up when cars turn off and buses stop. No way for emergency vehicles to get through in case of an emergency.
Traffic numbers are only going to increase no matter how much cycling is promoted. Rat-runners will be prolific. Not one person I have spoken to agrees with the works and actually strongly disagrees with it. To add to all of this I have not seen one cyclist using the cycle path
An acquaintance reported being abused by a cyclist when asked to move from the road to the cycle path. I am not against cycle paths but to have islands built to give exclusive use of an entire road lane to cyclists is a joke. After all, it is motorists who through their registration pay for the roads, not cyclists.
Leonie Edwards
Federation St, Mt Hawthorn

Mind your language
OPENING the first page of the October 10 edition of the Voice, I was appalled to read multiple profanities, as part of direct quotes in your article “O’Hanlon dumps Harley”.
I see myself as a fairly progressive 20-something year old in a modern world, yet reading such language in a community newspaper that is enjoyed by all ages seems obviously inappropriate.
Yes, Mike O’Hanlon may have used colourful wording during the interview but surely you could have used poetic licence to remove these before the article went to print?
Jess Bruins
Oxford St, Leederville
The Ed says: We generally don’t edit out naughty words Jess.