Dear Editor:
I have been a resident of New Westminster for 31 years and I love this city. I own a home along with my wife in the Queen's Park neighbourhood, and we love our community. We are taxpayers and, I might add, faithful voters.
We have a son in baseball set to move up to Queen's Park Stadium next year. We also have a daughter who plays soccer in the city. In the last year we have been to a Whitecaps game, a Lions game, a Canucks game and a Mariners game. I love baseball and I love soccer. I believe very strongly in youth and community sport, and I enjoy professional sports immensely.
And ... I am dead set against the proposal put forth by the Whitecaps.
Those in opposition to this proposal have eloquently cited many reasons why this project in not in the city's best interests, including:
* The cost of the project and the lack of transparency around it.
* The parking and other considerations surrounding 3,500 people in a residential neighbourhood.
* Insufficient public debate and a rushed timeline.
* The loss of our city's heritage.
* The displacement of New West Baseball.
* The commitment of the Whitecaps over the long term.
And the list goes on and on.
I agree with all of these reasons, but for me it very simply is the wrong direction for New West because community parks should be for community and not corporate use.
Rob Morrison
