Dear Editor:
As I sit in my new penthouse (two blocks from Coquitlam Centre looking out over the lake towards the mountains and the festive lights of the Evergreen Theatre), my thoughts turned to my former residence for 25 years - the kingdom of the Royal City. The letter regarding the mayor's condo, the strata fees for which appear to being paid on a fictionalized square footage, raised the question in my mind as to why he is selling. Could it be that the diesel fumes, train whistles, dangerous goods and the potential for emergency vehicle sirens crossing the new draw bridge across the Fraser moat to Queensborough or is the threat of his being dethroned by "old king coal" eroding the value of the investment in his Quayside castle?
Is this sale a precursor to his retirement to Australia, a penal colony founded by clearing the jails of "Old Westminster"?
His musings in this regard are truly regal in nature. He seems to believe that it is his royal prerogative to find a worthy successor to ensure that power is passed into the Wright hands (pun intended).
Pardon my scepticism, but isn't it the voters who determine successors - not the incumbent?
The attempted sacking of yet another not-for-profit organization by the city, aided by mercenaries and carpetbaggers from outside the moat, also speaks of the Royal prerogative mind set of the fiefdom's council who seem to believe that what is theirs is theirs and what is yours is theirs ... eventually.
Even the habitués of the Westminster Club have moved on and their deserted headquarters ordered sold by the court to the Community Living Society, more in keeping with council's future vision for New Westminster.
As I left the traffic-clogged streets of the Royal City, due in part to the city's ongoing fight with its neighbours over new/replacement bridges, I passed Anvil Castle and witnessed a murder of crows circling its "iconic" unfinished, unpaid for, unsold and unleased office tower - a reminder that one high-priced bureaucrat has promised to eat one of them if it remains unsold or unleased.
If the office space doesn't sell or get leased, you can bet that the mayor's legacy will be to house all those out-of-town living but working in New Westminster high-priced bureaucrats within Castle Anvil, while devolving costs on the backs of taxpayers, just like he devolves his condo costs on his neighbours.
E.C."Ted" Eddy, Coquitlam
