Dear editor,

A general inquiry for the powers that be at Courtenay City Hall regarding their potential upcoming legislation changes in city parks.

Just so the residents of the Comox Valley are on the same page, and lest there be any confusion, is it the position of the City of Courtenay that residents are fine to openly use crystal meth/crack/tranq/fentanyl and other assorted hard drugs but smoking a cigarette is now off-limits?

I just wanted to make sure I鈥檓 reading this correctly because I鈥檓 sure I would look pretty silly if I/we/you/them/us have this message incorrect. Is the City of Courtenay telling its residents, tourists, taxpayers, business owners and children that this community is condoning open-air drug use in city parks but the smoking of a Marlboro is punishable by law?

I just want to make sure I鈥檝e got this correct because sometimes things are lost in translation and maybe city staff might have not have thought through these sorts of decisions and the ramifications they might have on the populace or how stunningly ridiculous these decisions look to any logical person who can read or write.

Maybe decisions such as these should be put forth to the community at large by plebiscite, such as to gauge the taxpayer鈥檚 level of interest in this legislative change. I鈥檇 suggest, rather politely, that the City of Courtenay does not possess the backing of the majority of the populace on this matter and might be shocked to learn that a sizeable portion of this community does not want our public parks to be turned in to open-air drug havens by writ of law.

Michael Kennedy,

Courtenay