Dear Editor:
Re: City let residents down, Letters to the Editor, The Record, June 29.
Well said, Catherine. It is truly sad that our elected officials are using the great and important service that the EFry provides to pave the way for development of this historic community.
Anyone with a computer can Google Elizabeth Fry Society and look at the map to see a huge gaping empty lot on Columbia Street right beside the existing EFry building.
The owner of the lot approached the Sapperton residents association a few years ago to look for support for a variance in developing this lot.
I'm sure it would have been easy to work out a deal where the variance would be granted in exchange for ample space set aside for EFry.
This has never been mentioned by city council nor has any other option other than the OCP change.
I would suggest this is because there is a larger plan afoot and this is the perfect opportunity to start that plan in motion.
Before the cries of NIMBYism rain down on me, I will say that I pass by the EFry all the time walking my kids to school and always smile at whoever is out front of the building, sometimes stopping to talk as they pet our dog.
These are people in need of help and I believe we should try to help them, but I feel they are being used as pawns.
Take heed New Westminster, today it is Sapperton but tomorrow this kind of underhanded action could be taken against your community.
Corey Dixon, New Westminster
