Dear editor:
I can take no more. I feel I must provide a rebuttal to The North Side opinion piece in the Jan. 3 edition, by Paul Sullivan.
To me, Mr. Sullivan’s “vision” as scribed is grossly unfair and seems more a media attack upon the current council of the District of North Vancouver.
The unending criticism [is] by developers, by speculators, and most notably by said and fellow journalist commentators, seemingly with an axe to grind, and who must think the correct answer is theirs and theirs alone.
In the last municipal election, DNV residents effectively said “too much development – too fast – don’t destroy and/or allow others to ruin and wreak havoc with our beautiful community.” For these pundits to proclaim that somehow City of North Van council is “doing it right for one and all” is hogwash. The city would have you think selling parks and recreation space for 30-storey highrises is somehow good community planning.
As far as the housing affordability crisis goes and who is to blame, it is senior levels of government who for decades have failed to invest (or legislate to attract private investment) appropriately, which has helped create today’s shortage of social, low-income and entry-level housing. Of equal complicity in this housing nightmare – and a kick in the teeth to so many regular working citizens – has been the flood of largely foreign capital playing a game of real estate monopoly, aided by local speculators and their corrupt backers. It is a crisis created by greed.
As for the amalgamation of the two “North Vans,” remember it is the district that has always been willing, and the city that is the breakaway community founded on land speculation and profit for developers. Somehow fitting, isn’t it?
A. (Tony) Caldwell
Retired DNV employee and lifelong resident of both North Vans
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