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Re: 'Mississauga candidate takes shot at Scarborough,' News, Oct. 8.

According to the article, Mississauga-Streetsville Liberal candidate Bonnie Crombie made a disparaging comment about Scarborough when asked about crime and violence in her city.

Her reply, "I think you are confusing us with Scarborough..." and then she laughed.

I cannot laugh about irresponsible comments by people who are placing themselves in positions of influence and power. In fact, I, along with many other citizens of beautiful Scarborough, am deeply offended by Crombie's comment. It makes me wonder whether her leadership should be asked to recall her as a candidate.

We do not pit one community against the other by disparaging one in favour of another.

The fact is Scarborough's crime/violence rate is a lot better than many other places. Speak to Police Chief Bill Blair and hear what he has to say. He lives in Scarborough as I do.

I do not know Crombie but from the article I got the impression she is insensitive, irresponsible and totally ignorant of Scarborough as a fast-growing community.

I have been living in Scarborough for 37 years and my family and I have resided at the same address for the past 23 years. My four children grew up and attended school here - from public school through colleges and universities. They are now adults within their chosen professions. I have great neighbours, some of the best, of all cultures who came here from different parts of the world.

They take care of my interests if and when my family is away on vacation and I do the same.

Over those years I have found the people of Scarborough to be friendly, responsible and hard-working citizens. We are made up of all professionals and trades and we function well as a community.

In addition, from the 1970s onward, I have worked in community and political affairs in this city, setting up community organizations for young people, adults and newcomers to ease some of the issues of settlement, employment and education.

I interacted with many of the community and political leaders of the '70s, '80s and '90s; I walk this city night and day in some of the most disadvantaged and lack-of-service areas and have discovered, in general, that we are indeed a city of people melding together with good intentions and contributing enormously to the growth of Canada as a whole.

Scarborough is a beautiful place. I travel around it in comfort and relaxation and I go to sleep at nights with no fear, feeling assured my family and I are safe.

I invite Crombie to join me and some other citizens of Scarborough on a walk through the Rouge Valley park where she could learn a few things about the environment, community spirit, safety and friendship, and assist her to develop a sense of responsibility in community respect.

Furthermore, her apology to her Liberal colleagues, Jim Karygiannis and John McKay, is insufficient to repair the disparaging comment.

She owes all citizens of Scarborough an unconditional apology in the same medium where she has damaged our great community - Scarborough.

Derrick McLennon