Editor:
An open letter to New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote:
I understand that construction is a noisy, dirty job.
I understand we all have to be uncomfortable at times, but for us living anywhere remotely close to the river, this new (Pier West) project starting up is a nightmare, just when the 10th Street and Quay highrises are just finishing up.
We have endured months and months of pile driving, detours, road closures, etc., as well as a brutally cold winter, so we are all ecstatic to be able to enjoy the warm weather upon us. But once again, we can’t be outdoors, let alone have our doors and windows open to welcome spring. The sound of pile driving is deafening.
Maybe I’m naive, but wouldn’t it make more sense to do this in the winter months when it’s not going to destroy residents’ chances of enjoying spring and summer?
Again, maybe naive, but can we afford to have thousands more residents on our roads, parking, pets, shopping, etc.? Where is the infrastructure? After everyone settles here?
I apologize if I sound negative, but I prefer to call it realistic. I love my city and I would not want to live anywhere else, but if it becomes too big, too fast, I might have to really look at where will be the best quality of life for me.
Please, let’s slow things down just a little bit so we all can enjoy this beautiful city I call home.
Kerry Romaniuk, New Westminster
