Dear Editor:
I want to thank the Whitecaps for waking me up to the lack of transparency, lack of integrity and lack of consultation our city counsel has demonstrated during their latest process to make a decision on whether to approve a new stadium in Queen's Park.
I want to thank the Whitecaps for making me realize that we give a few individuals the power to make decisions that affect us all. We pay very high rates of taxes in the City of New Westminster, and I think we sometimes forget or ignore how our tax revenues are allocated.
Our city council makes these decisions for us, and apparently with little concern about the residents of this city as demonstrated by this last process. The process to make this decision regarding the Queen's Park Stadium lacks several key factors that I cannot wrap my head around.
First and foremost: what is the cost of this new venture? How much funding are the Whitecaps proposing to contribute? From what I hear it is zero dollars? Why? If they want to make a commitment to our city then why not invest?
So we the residents of New Westminster pick up the tab? Well, we will get a wonderful new stadium! Guess what? We already have a stadium and soccer fields and baseball fields and trees and green space. Why are we proposing to rip it all apart and start over?
Another thing I cannot understand is why do the Whitecaps want to come to New West? I hear they have burnt numerous bridges in other communities but will not disclose why? Makes me wonder where the transparency is in all of this?
But I want to thank the Whitecaps for bringing this up to our attention because now I wonder what other kind of decisions our council makes and how effective are they in allocating resources that I work very hard for.
I will now be watching very closely and of course voting in their next election. Thanks, Whitecaps!
Jodi Harbour, New Westminster
