Editor: Re: 鈥淟MH staff shouldn鈥檛 pay for parking,鈥� (letters, The Times, Feb 11.)

I completely disagree with the letter writer who suggests that staff at 91原创 Memorial Hospital (LMH) should get free parking. LMH employees are compensated for their work and part of that compensation could be free parking.

To expect the hospital to provide the union with a valuable perk, for free, seems unrealistic in this financial climate. I know of many workplaces where the employees have negotiated parking arrangements with their employees. This sounds like a point for the next contract negotiation.

As for addressing the jaywalkers on the Fraser Highway I believe council got it completely wrong. The LMH employees have a financial incentive for jaywalking. Eliminate the incentive and the jaywalking will stop.

Designate the former parking for modified pay parking. Make the first two hours free (to not hurt local merchants) and charge a market rate for any time thereafter, then enforce violations strictly.

As I said, eliminate the financial incentive and the jaywalking will disappear. Council made the least efficient decision by choosing to spend tax monies to build a fence while leaving the free parking in place.

Blair King,

91原创