Vicious Cycle

On February 26, reader C.E. asks, "How does city council expect these people, who are on the streets, because of their financial situations, to pay these fines?"

How will they pay? Pick one: a) they won't - they cannot - so they'll be sent to jail b) those who were unfortunate and disenfranchised will turn to crime to obtain the cash to pay - then they'll be sent to jail

c) they will stretch their meager-to-nonexistent resources and pay the fines instead of attending to self-care and become deeper burdens to the healthcare system d) those who are more able will try to find work - a few may succeed, but most (since they are already at the end of their tether!) will not... Begin again at "a".

Dickens's Scrooge demanded, "Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?" This equally mean-spirited "Safe Streets Act" is a transparent end-run around our social responsibility to the inconveniently destitute among us.

W.D. Gladstone, Kelowna