Editor:
There is a blight that has had a serious detrimental effect on cities. It severely taxes a city's infrastructure, public transit, traffic density, parking, etc.
It is referred to as "urban sprawl.”
New Westminster has its own version of this blight - "vertical sprawl." This insidious problem is being exacerbated by Mayor Jonathan Cote, who has an agenda. His vision of morphing New Westminster into a world-class city is by allowing/promoting unprecedented construction of mega towers.
What makes this agenda untenable for the citizens of our city who have a strong objection to this is our cabal of city councillors (some people refer to them as "Team Cote"), who seem to vote on issues en bloc according to the mayor's whims or ideology.
This is not how you properly serve the citizens of New Westminster. We voted these people into office to represent and support us and our concerns, not an individual's personal agenda.
The latest fiasco to be foisted upon us is yet another prosaic monolith being built by the Westgroup in the Brewery District in Sapperton.
Drive up and down any street or alley and you will see bumper-to-bumper parking occupying every available space reaching all the way up to Fraser Cemetery. This is due to the fact there is already a lack of affordable parking availability for the people working and living here now.
Now, add to this mix tens of thousands of new renters, owners, office workers and customers who will be flooding into the Brewery District (from the various projects). Without a doubt, the traffic congestion along Columbia and Brunette is going to be a nightmare. Don't believe the powers that be when they tell you that these people will be using the SkyTrain. We are a society that has an ingrained dependence on relying on our own vehicle for commuting.
Living on the hillside of Sapperton, we have been blessed with a magnificent view of the Fraser River. We are losing this with every new highrise that is built. Soon the view of the river will be a distant memory.
Not only should there be more consultation concerning future development, but the citizens should set aside their apathy and indifference and get more involved in this issue. After all, this is your city, and you should be concerned with its future. Don't leave it to the politicians to decide what is best for the city and its people. You don't know whose back pocket they are in.
Murray Swanson, New Westminster
