DEAR EDITOR:
Re: Comments from Mayor Wayne Wright, The New New Westminster, BCBusiness Magazine October 2012.
"The civic centre is a major part of Wright's goal to make New West an 'A-class' city, and he has harsh words for those who question his approach: 'You've got losers all the time in life who keep looking for things to throw stones at, and someday they want to break a window,' says Wright. 'The fact of it is, this is one of those windows that is too strong, and their information is too wrong for me to let it go too much longer.'"
Wow, Mayor Wright, what's up with your comments towards those who dare to question your decision to build a $50-million office tower?
Let's parse your BCBusiness Magazine comments between the bullying and the intimidating.
First, the bullying part of your tirade: "You've got losers all the time in life who keep looking for things to throw stones at, and someday they want to break a window."
Well, what might be the response to your comments from the 2,100 citizens who took time from summer vacations to challenge you and your council's plan to borrow $59 million without going to a citizen's referendum?
What if everyone turned towards city hall at the same time and yelled the words, "I know you are but what am I!" Pee-wee Herman would be proud, but would that make you show more respect towards your critics? Perhaps some might view such a response as bullying the bully.
How about the famous playground rejoinder to the school yard bully, "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me!"
Nope. I don't think so. I've seen too many people's souls wounded by taunts of being "a loser."
Words do hurt, Your Worship, and your ridicule of all who oppose you as being losers is not very becoming of the office of the mayor.
Secondly, Mayor Wright, let's review the threatening part of your tirade: "The fact of it is, this is one of those windows that is too strong and their information is too wrong for me to let it go too much longer."
Are you foreshadowing actions yet to occur, Mayor Wright? You have a lot of power, sir, and high-powered lawyers (paid $589,678 in 2011) at your beck and call.
So what is your future plan towards those who dare to challenge your choices or decisions? You've already unleashed the city's legal hounds on citizens who have the temerity to use the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to shine a light into the secretive deals of our city.
Who will be next, Your Worship? You do, after all, have access to the names, addresses and phone numbers of the 2,098 citizens who signed the alternative approval process forms seeking a public referendum on the $59-million loan.
Perhaps direction can be sought from the biblical quote (Matthew 7: 3), "You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
It would be appropriate, Your Worship, if you viewed those who challenge your unilateral actions with a more charitable eye.
On reflection, Your Worship, don't you think you may have been way out of line with your taunts of "loser."
Your threatening tone only increases the divide between mistrust and respect. It's not too late to retract your views and to apologize for your thoughtless comments. That, sir, is the right thing to do.
Christopher Bell, New Westminster
