There’s nothing quite like the letters to the editors section to get people reading — and responding.
We’ve been getting a lot of feedback about letters to the editor, and earlier this month I wrote a column about that very subject: why we run letters, and why they’re such an important little slice of democracy in New Westminster.
So what are people writing about, anyway? Check out the seven most-read letters to the New Westminster Record in April.
1. Old-timers need to stop ‘gatekeeping’ New Westminster
“I, for one, welcome more neighbours and more people to live, work, and play in this great city.”
2. ‘You ain’t special, kid’ — a New West old-timer responds
“I could easily come down heavy on the writer’s arrogance and self-centred attitude but would be yelling at myself five or six decades ago.”
3. New West used to be great. Now it’s a concrete jungle
“When we drive home over the Alex Fraser Bridge and look at what has happened to New West, we can’t believe our eyes!”
4. The only ‘discrimination’ at the parklet is against non-smokers
“When it was first opened, there were games for children to play while their caregivers sat and had conversation and a cup of coffee with friends.”
5. New West could be an oasis, but it has ‘chicken coop’ apartments instead
“It could be an oasis in the Lower Mainland, with parks and greenery and river and creeks. But no!”
6. I’m happy to raise my child in New West. Here’s why
“Change can be hard, but it’s worth looking around and being honest about the state of things, rather than devolving into hyperbole and NIMBY-style rhetoric.”
7. Let these New West residents have a break for awhile, please
“We need a break. We need the pavement that has been destroyed by the heavy truck traffic repaired. We need the sidewalks cracked due to the same trucks repaired and the closed stretch reopened. We need the crosswalk returned to its original location.”
📢 SOUND OFF: Got an opinion to share? Want to send kudos to someone in New West? Have suggestions for fixing a problem? We want to hear from you — send us a letter.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected]
