It is a rotten shame the way the District of West Vancouver has allowed Klee Wyck House to rot. The land was donated for public use and for decades, it was a hub for the arts. But today, it’s a neglected mess.
Sadly, it’s just one of many West Vancouver assets that has been let go over the years. The municipality absolutely cannot plead poverty, however. For years, council boasted of their zero per cent tax increases without paying any attention to how municipal assets were depreciating.
Letting your home fall apart to save money isn’t fiscal responsibility. It’s miserly. An ounce of prevention. Penny wise. A stitch in time, etc.
It may be too late to save the Klee Wyck House. If it can be salvaged, it will certainly cost more now than it would have 10 years ago. We can’t imagine this will sit well with West Vancouver residents, many of whom are the biggest patrons of the arts in the province.
Thankfully, council has had something of a Scrooge-like conversion and is now bumping taxes up a little bit each year to make sure there is money available for a maintenance crew when one is needed or for rebuilding an asset before it’s too late. Other municipalities have being doing this for decades.
All of this is timely. As we write this, career politicians and political wannabes alike are strategizing on how they can campaign their way into council seats this fall.
Whether it’s shiny new facilities or unrealistically low taxes, don’t let them leave your doorstep until they’ve explained exactly how they plan to pay for their grandiose promises – or what they’re willing to sacrifice in the name of low taxes.
Death and taxes are sure. Government myopia, thankfully, is optional.
What are your thoughts? Send us a letter via email by clicking here or post a comment below.
