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LETTER: Residents’ actions ‘embarrassing’

Members of the public were not always polite or respectful notes one resident
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Re: Your View, July 14

I read with interest a couple of letters to the editor regarding Christie Point.

Here’s my take on this issue. It’s no wonder the world can’t get along. The two letters I read recently are both a little self-righteous (I know more than town council does) and rude. Whenever a word like “asinine” comes into the conversation you’re starting to get a little over the top in expressing a point of view. For example, Christie Point is going to be solely responsible for creating problems for emergency vehicles on the roadways. I guess the hundreds and hundreds of other homes and condos and apartments that have been approved and built would have nothing to do with that?

As for protecting the land on which Christie Point is located I’d say that currently we are all living in a place that was special to someone at some point in time. I’m sure someone was upset when our house or condo building was built. Aren’t you glad your development was approved? The fact that View Royal and region are fairly densely populated has been something that has been going on for quite some time. I’d like to think that most of that development has been undertaken in a responsible manner.

If we don’t want more development let’s just put up a sign that says “this is our place, we got here first and we’re now closed.” If we’re worried about development, what about the large number of ridiculously large homes built in our region. I think some of those are an eyesore and environmentally irresponsible. What is their individual or collective environmental footprint?

And when you start to be critical of council members being rude? I was at one of the public sessions where members of the public were downright embarrassing and condescending in their comments, some clearly crossing the line with council members in terms of being polite or respectful and even personal. So we somehow get to do and say whatever we want and if a member of council dares to get upset by anything we say, well how dare they? Why don’t the people who complain about town council run for office? And then see what it is like to be a local politician where you work basically 24/7 and it is your job to take whatever level of abuse the voters want to throw at you. No one knows what that life is like. We should be grateful there are people who want to do these jobs otherwise we’d live in anarchy where everyone would want their own way.

I’ve driven through Christie Point. It’s developed, it’s paved, it’s serviced. It needs a major upgrade. Rather than being distrustful and angry about any new development that is going to take place, we need to make sure that things are put in place to make sure any and all new development is environmentally responsible. I’d like to think that is exactly what has been done with the new development that is now approved for Christie Point.

Rick Baker

View Royal