Editor:
Re: ‘You are throwing Princess Street under the bus,’ Record News, June 26
Although the issue of preventing segregation is my focus, I am very sensitive to the issues of Princess Street and I share their concerns. It is a very narrow street and the risk of pedestrian/motor vehicle conflict is very real and possibly deadly. May I recommend an overpass or some type of safety pass through for pedestrians?
I don’t live near it, but it is on my walking route and I see the potential for danger.
On the focus of segregation, the (now-approved) development on Sixth Street has brought a new “low” to New Westminster, as it is opting for segregation (through separate entrances and lobbies for renters and owners).
In addition to the research that cities have done on this (Vancouver being one), cities have now stopped having separate everything because they now realize it is wrong, it undermines decent human values and puts us back 200 years.
There are some who suggest that renters do not take care of buildings as well as owners, and there is some truth to that. However, there are already systems in place to facilitate landlord/tenant relationships.
Most developments today have security cameras which make it easy to see who is doing what in public spaces. If the unit is damaged, there are systems to address that. There is also the use electronic fobs, which will only allow access to certain floors. I imagine that is what meant by secured rentals.
According to the reports, the developer mentioned that stratas are notorious for deferring repairs until the last minute. To that, I say welcome to the life of a renter. Sometimes renters have to get on the 6 p.m. news, or protest in the street before the building owner takes care of the repairs.
We have seen it - elevators down for months before something is done. In some cases, the Residential Tenancy Branch mediators are not fast enough, not because they are inefficient, but because they are overworked with caseloads with varying rental issues. The issues of building repairs, whether in a rental or condo, are many.
Many owners either don’t know or forget or don’t understand about contingency funding and assessments and these are the source of many conflicts and delayed repairs. In rentals, often no one takes renters seriously until it becomes public. Many condo owners were once renters.
I imagine there are those who might ask, why would anyone purchase a unit in a building where there are renters? Many reasons - to get a foot into real estate ownership and, in this particular case, the location are two good reasons.
At meetings and everywhere else, we hear the words diversity, inclusion, welcoming city. How does segregation fit into these words? Segregation is the antithesis to all these words, so is segregation really who we are?
Angela Sealy, New Westminster
