As we head into 2024, we already know it’s going to be a very challenging year both locally and globally.

Most times we’re excited to ring in a new year and look forward to many bright days ahead. But it’s getting harder to think that way in this day and age.

The high cost of just about everything will continue to be a serious problem. This has been coming to a head for a long time and even people making higher salaries than their jobs warrant are going to have trouble making ends meet.

The housing situation has become almost unbearable. It shouldn’t cost anyone such a large percentage of their wages to buy or rent a place to live.

And the homelessness situation increases daily, not only here in the Comox valley, but throughout the province, the country, and beyond.

Residents in the Comox Valley are facing challenges as municipalities persistently increase property taxes, with no end in sight. This is primarily due to substantial financial commitments made in recent years, such as new (albeit needed) sewer conveyance project. Despite the necessity of these projects, the continuous tax hikes are not providing any relief during these difficult times.

Taxpayers don’t have proverbial bottomless pockets, and there seems to be no happy medium between what we can pay and what our governments need, to deal with issues such as aging infrastructure.

The opioid drug crisis shows no signs of letting up. Perhaps a change with the current provincial coroner retiring and someone else taking up the task might help. Free drugs is not the answer – treatment is – so that’s the direction that must be taken.

We hope all our readers have enough personal joys and accomplishments in the upcoming year to offset the disappointments and realities of the ‘bigger picture.’

–Black Press