Dear Editor,
Regarding Stephanie Sukkau’s July 21 letter, it’s astonishing to see that the old “TransLink executives should take a pay-cut” trope is still out there. First, in 2014 TransLink’s executive compensation went down by 5.24 per cent; there were no “fat raises” as Ms. Sukkau suggests.
Second, executives have had a salary freeze since 2013.
Third, even if you forced the executives to work as volunteers and turned over their entire compensation to helping fund TransLink, that would only amount to about $2 million. A new bus costs at least $400,000, so TransLink could buy at most five new buses. Congratulations, you’ve solved pretty much nothing!
Meanwhile, the crumbling Pattullo Bridge needs replacing, people across the region from Victoria Hill to Broadway stand and wait as full buses pass them by, and congestion and pollution continue to get worse and worse.
But hey, at least those “fat cat” executives aren’t being paid for the work they do.
Brad Cavanagh, via email
