Opinion
LangleyAdvance
Fort Langley
Lesson to be learned from Watts
Dear Editor, High praise to the mayor of Surrey, Dianne Watts, who cast the deciding vote to prevent the Casino complex to be built in south Surrey. One cannot help but respect the mayor’s statements that underline the importance of listening to the residents of the area to be most affected. Ms. Watts said, “Residents in South Surrey are very engaged in their community and they take an active role in how they would like to see the community develop. When you’ve got that amount of opposition just for the gaming licence, you really have to sit back and take notice.” Why is it that Langley Township council continues to ignore the residents of Fort Langley when they attempt to take an active
role in stating how they would like their community to develop, and provide a petition with hundreds of signatures against the Coulter-Berry three-storey design? If I recall correctly, the opposition to the proposed request for bylaw exception was not about the design, but the height of the building. It is too bad that, in the past several years, Fort Langley residents have been ignored twice by council when the residents have dared to express their opinions on buildings that impact their community. Perhaps the Township mayor could ask Ms. Watts to conduct a workshop on listening to your electorate. After all, she gets it. Township council doesn’t. Jim Deacon, Fort Langley
Fort Langley history
View of past life ably interpreted
Dear Editor, As a longtime supporter of the National Historic Site and a founder of the “Friends of the Fort” volunteers, I must say that, though there have been misunderstandings or misrepresentations over the years, the members of the Fort have made and continue to make a real effort to “tell it like it was” [Big House exhibits leave out significant historical players, Jan.
1 Letters, Langley Advance]. In my experience, all the interpreters, First Nations and others, have made a visit to the site a real step back in history. In today’s world, the First Nations people are among our most valuable actors and participants. They take part in all the activities and events, and assist in telling and demonstrating our history. As a descendant of First Nations people, with a life-
Assault
No humour in thrown drink
Dear Editor, My daughter was waiting for a bus on Willowbrook Drive (outside of Willowbrook Shopping Centre) on Christmas Eve, after doing last-minute Christmas shopping. A car approached, stopped, and someone inside threw a full chocolate drink, hitting her in the chest. Fortunately, the drink was cold, but it covered her coat, pants, and purse. It was thrown with enough force to hurt her chest. She was unable to get a good description of the car or licence plate number. However, they know who they are. Why someone would stoop so low, especially on Christmas Eve, is beyond us. There was one other person, a young woman, at the stop. She, too, knows who she is. It is beyond us why she would think it was funny and laugh at my daughter. Instead, she could have helped. Jim Fleck, Langley
Abortion
Choice choices seem strange
Dear Editor, I was listening to discussion of the dangers of driving and texting. It seemed strange to me: in this country, a person has the “choice” to keep or kill a baby in the womb, but when it comes to the “choice” of driving and texting, that “choice” must be taken. Chris Schouten, Langley
Response
Important information missed
Dear Editor, I attended the townhall meeting about bird scare cannons used mainly in blueberry fields, and found your online article lacking [Calls for bird cannon solution, Jan. 18, www. langleyadvance.com]. Yes, two dozen or so people got up and spoke against the use of cannons, but there was no mention that more than 100 people there opposed cannon use. That’s misleading reporting. Anyone reading the article who hadn’t attended the meeting would get the impression only two dozen people were there. Not so. Cherry Groves, Abbotsford
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time pass to the Fort, my thoughts are that we should just accept some of the information – or misinformation – from our grandfathers, and just enjoy each other today. All the pictures and stories in our Fort may depict that the attitude that the British “invaders” were superior to the natives. It was ever thus, and the interpreters at the Fort are responsible to convey this, even if it was and is a misguided interpretation of the situation. Like religion, history is recorded by man, and until the present technology became available, interpretation by the individual recorders, if possibly unreliable, still contains the basics of the past which are most valuable for us today. A visit to the Fort, the “Birthplace of B.C.,” gives people a view of life in the olden days, and a rest from the bustle of modern life. Bays Blackhall, Langley
Two Langleys
Double duty
Dear Editor, Double salaries, Don’t we have fun? We elect two mayors, When we only need one. We pay our taxes, And pay double staff; We should be one city, To cut wages in half. We look to the west, What do we see? One huge district, The name is Surrey: One competent mayor, To run the whole thing, But that’s not right for Langley. Changing is trouble, Because in our town, We enjoy paying double. Mike Harvey, Langley For more letters to the editor visit... www.langleyadvance.com – Click on Opinion.
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| Thursday, January 24, 2013 |
A9
City of Langley “The Place to Be!”
2013 FINANCIAL PLAN OPEN HOUSE The City of Langley will be hosting a Financial Plan Open House on Wednesday, February 6th at 6:30 pm at the Langley City Hall (20399 Douglas Crescent). The 2013 Financial Plan currently has a gap of $557,140 between total revenues and planned expenditures which would equate to a 2.63% increase in property taxes to balance the budget. Including utility rate increases, the impact on an average multi-family home (assessed at $210,247) would be an increase of 0.51% or $6 and an average single family home (assessed at $459,023) would see an increase of 2.36% or $61. City Council will be holding a Committee of the Whole meeting at 7 pm on Monday, February 18th in the Council Chambers where a public presentation of the Financial Plan will be made. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity for the public to share their views with City Council on how the shortfall should be addressed. Additional information can be found on our website at www.city.langley.bc.ca
2013 Financial Plan Summary Revenues: Where does the City’s money come from? Last Year 2012 From Property Owners: • Property value taxes $21,214,045 • Water user fees 4,059,290 • Sewer & Drainage user fees 2,936,595 • Garbage and recycling user fees 996,725 From other sources • Gaming proceeds 5,750,000 • Government transfers 2,045,830 • License and permits 613,715 • Investment income 364,400 • Other miscellaneous 1,001,410 Total Revenues $38,982,010
This Year 2013 $21,856,465 4,030,835 2,970,560 1,014,360 5,750,000 1,813,765 668,420 364,400 1,106,090 $39,574,895
Expenditures: How is the City’s money spent? Policing Services 9,589,110 Fire Services 3,712,310 General government services 3,677,870 Water 3,271,790 Recreation, Culture and Community Services 3,112,955 Engineering and operations 2,574,235 Sewer & Drainage 2,506,745 Parks 1,664,270 Garbage and recycling 996,725 Development services 892,150 Other Protective services 788,345 Fiscal Services 6,195,505 Total Operating Expenditures $38,982,010
10,065,385 3,758,830 3,672,160 3,208,335 3,147,405 2,564,085 2,512,310 1,664,775 1,014,360 922,510 825,365 6,219,375 $39,574,895
Operating Expenditures does not include an allowance for amortization of tangible capital assets. The capital construction expenditure budget, not included above, is $10,573,755 for 2013 and is funded through transfers from reserves.
www.city.langley.bc.ca