An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it.
- Mohandas Gandhi
Do you remember when the mayor went to the federal and provincial governments proclaiming that the park site was "shovel ready" and the entire Westminster Pier Park would be built for $25 million?
Then in 2010 the city suddenly announced that it was never their intention to build the whole park for $25 million but rather half now and the rest in phases.
Do you remember when the City of New Westminster assured all of a "worst-case scenario" total remediation cost of $1.5 million for the environmental remediation of the Westminster Pier Park?
Then the city engineer acknowledged many months later that remediation costs were past $4 million and could reach as high as $6 million or more.
Do you remember when the City of New Westminster announced it had received an extension of the construction deadlines from the provincial and federal governments but promised the park would open before the November elections in 2011?
Do you remember the endless "We're on time and on budget" proclamations in New Westminster newspapers and on city web page updates?
Do you remember the recent story of our mayor standing on the parkade with a federal politician and boasting about how a Canadian Mortgage and Housing Commission loan of $6.3 million was showing financial prudence? The newspapers reported the mayor saying that the CMHC loan was covering most of our city's one-third share of the $25.5-million project.
Well, what do you call it when the mayor lets a local newspaper run a story that's not quite accurate?
Do you remember when both local newspapers, only one month ago, reported that the Westminster Pier Park would open on schedule by the end of October 2011?
Then . Shazam! Presto, Change-o! . a few days ago the local papers report that city officials and Westminster Pier Park project managers now (having forgotten last month's assurances) acknowledge the park will open sometime in 2012 because of contractor screw-ups!
Yeah, let's blame the contractor even though we're paying project managers tens of thousands of dollars a month to oversee the pier construction project so it can be completed "on time and on budget."
There will be no more "we're on time" advertisements and proclamations.
You may not remember, because the city never showed
its citizens, a February 2009 report that stated the eastern pier (the old pier that remains) was derelict and at the end of its life.
Now, the mayor and council are entertaining proposals that the same derelict eastern pier be used by New Westminster citizens to draw chalk art on the acres of asphalt, fly kites, or use the expansive area of asphalt as an offleash dog park; although city staff warn you cannot allow vehicles (or large groups?) onto the eastern pier deck because of "potential weight loading issues."
How many people make up the weight of one car? What size of group is too large before "potential weight loading issues" are a concern?
How about if our mayor and council direct that a new structural engineering report be obtained thus assuring us all that the previously derelict eastern pier is now safe for human play?
Do you remember the incredible number of city press releases and newspaper stories that our city's financial contribution (apart from the purchase of the property) to the pier construction project is only $8.5 million?
When was the last time you read a "we're on budget" advertisement?
Stay tuned.
Christopher Bell is a New Westminster resident.
