Dear Editor:
I have just returned from my first visit to New York, spending my whole week on Manhattan Island and still didn't see all the sites.
What I did see was the restoration of many small theatres and the building of skyscrapers around these theatres. I ask the question, how can the New York architects and politicians find ways of building around and encasing, saving these old theatres and keep them in the city's inventory, when the architects and politicians here in New Westminster can't find a way to save Massey Theatre.
I took in a show at the Broadway Theatre built in 1924 and now surrounded by a skyscraper, saw the Letterman Show at the old Ed Sullivan Theatre built in 1927, which still has the cast iron ticket booth in the lobby, surrounded by a skyscraper and saw many more theatres saved from the wrecking ball.
All residents of New Westminster want a new high school, and sooner not later, and many are concerned with the possible burial sites under the Pearson wing of the high school, but getting back to New York, Manhattan was home to the Lenni Lanape Nation of Indians and was bought from them by the Dutch for approximately 60 guilder. The First Nations are not forgotten in Manhattan, the name itself is a derivative of a Munsee Indian name Manna-hata. New York has the National Museum of American Indian right on the Island.
New Westminster has extended $6 million to the school district for a bigger seating capacity in the new theatre, to be incorporated into the new school. Why can't we build around the Massey Theater, saving the cost to build a new theatre, retaining all the fly systems and backstage space (not in the new plans) needed to put on noteworthy events and shows and take the $6 million and build a space dedicated to the history and people from the past, at the Pearson wing.
The Pearson site has had an army base and high school on that ground for many years. There may not be anything left to find on the site. Have an archeologist and First Nations on site and collect what is found.
New Westminster could have the only space in the Lower Mainland dedicated to preserving the Indian language, literature, history, art and give the students a place to study New Westminster's First Nations' history.
Bill Radbourne, New Westminster
