Dear Editor:
Re: Residents press city to reject proposal, The Record, May 30.
We are writing in support of the Elizabeth Fry Society's proposal to construct a new multi-level building at 273 and 275 Sherbrooke St. We have been homeowners and residents of Sapperton for 16 years.
Firstly, regarding the daycare. We note that Royal Columbian Hospital recently sold some of its adjacent property to developers who built condos providing market value housing. The daycare that existed on this land was not replaced.
While both senior governments (federal and provincial) profess support for daycare, we have not seen any other new facilities being built in place of the one that was demolished.
Here we have a private society, such as the EFry Society, proposing to provide a public daycare that would offer an enriched program and extended hours.
As a community, we should be supporting this initiative.
Secondly, regarding the 10 units of affordable housing for women and their children. We are wholeheartedly in favour of this proposal. How can we deny access to decent housing to those women who have been marginalized by society, much less deny access to their children? It seems as if the opponents of this proposal are suffering from NIMBYism.
This opposition appears to be verging on discrimination against marginalized, underprivileged, vulnerable and poor women and their children.
We encourage approval of this proposal.
Nora Janitis and Vic Chan, New Westminster
