Dear Editor
I was at the Massey Victory Heights Residents Association meeting addressing the association's view on the transit referendum.
If I had any doubts about how I would vote, despite the fact that there was no No side representative, I made up my mind during the meeting. And it was the Yes side representative, Chuck Puchmayr, who swayed me to vote No.
If ever there was an example of the stereotypical politician, Puchmayr is it; he can't give a straight answer to a simple question. Most of his time was spent blaming the Liberals for TransLink, with particular zeal at bashing Kevin Falcon. He went on to say if we wanted to fix TransLink, the opportunity would be in 2017 (referring to the next provincial election).
Participants asked if the current plan was the only solution. Puchmayr suggested that this was the last hope for a solution. Give me a break! There will be many more proposed solutions before our municipal misfits come up with an executable solution, which you can bet will change again before a shovel is in the ground. And then change again after shovels are in the ground.
If, as Mr. Puchmayr said, Metro Vancouver creates 50 per cent of the provincial GDP, then I would say the mayors have a huge bargaining chip in discussions with the provincial government. Maybe they should use that clout!
There were comments from Chuck about union members being better builders (referring to the chunks of concrete falling from the Pattullo) and Pattison being a good choice for an audit chair because he hired GlenClark. Sounds more like Glen Clark had an epiphany and realized being a capitalist was much better for his family than being a union organizer - talk about a flip-flop.
All I learned from the meeting is that finger pointing is apparently a profession, along with double talk. At least I will not have doubts when I vote No!
Let's hope the mayor and council can figure out a way to fix our terrible traffic issues - one solution is to get the traffic from cutting right through the middle of our beautiful city. I vote no Pattullo in its current location. Put it where it can link directly to Lougheed Highway and Highway 1.
Larry Hill, New Westminster
