Dear Editor:
Re: A Traffic Fix May Come at Ballot Box, Aug. 23 Mailbox.
Thank-you to Stanley Jackson for writing a straightforward letter that should be cut out and stuck on fridges throughout the North Shore.
The ever-growing traffic nightmare on the North Shore is a classic example of what happens when people fail abysmally to exercise their democratic right to vote on behalf of themselves, their children and the long-term quality of life of their communities. By and large, when people fail to claim their democratic power, they get the generally lousy governments they deserve – governments that essentially do not represent them but vested monetary interests, all of it couched in the hypocritical rhetoric of “environmental concern” and “sustainable progress.” Now more than ever, people need to stand up at election time and elect representatives who recognize that such an unbridled and unbalanced approach to development in their community is not progress.
It does not take a doctorate in urban planning to realize that the North Shore – stretched out between water and mountains – is not an urban area such as Vancouver and Burnaby, which are spread out in all directions and serviced by a large number of traffic arteries.
Yet, North Shore politicians blithely approve one development proposal after another as if they were living in those municipalities.
The result is the totally predictable traffic congestion fiasco that the North Shore has become – an example for the world of a grossly unsustainable approach to development, and a dereliction of duty in the stewardship of one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
If they wish to break away from that antiquated pattern, North Shore residents would do well to emulate their neighbours on Bowen Island – who have largely kept the political agenda in the hands of citizens through their substantially higher participation at the polls and their staunch support for the environmental and sustainable development policies of their democratically created community plan.
A model community is created to the extent that it is a vibrantly self-determined, democratic society. As Jackson indicates in his letter, if North Shore residents want to stop sitting idly in gridlock, they will need to stop sitting on their hands at election time and vote for change at the ballot box.
John Sbragia
Bowen Island
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