Mailbag
Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Positive outlook
A lot of good changes in Pitt Meadows
Dear Editor, I have lived in Pitt Meadows since 1988, and in that time I have seen many positive changes, large and small. The new recreation centre, the new library, the Bonson sports fields and the community garden, economic progress such as Meadowtown Centre and the growing industrial park near the river, improvements to the ice rink, the excellent design of Spirit Square, Bonson Landing, Osprey Village, and the greenway, the planters down the middle of Harris Road, the bollards and stamped concrete side-
walks at the town centre intersections, and most recently, the new seniors centre: the list goes on. All contribute to making Pitt Meadows a wonderful place to live, and all required the encouragement and support of council and staff, past and present. Well done, all. And on the flip side, we seem to be infested with a host of bleating whiners with nothing good to say about anything. There is, of course, nothing easier than to criticize the efforts of others, but I would ask: when was the last
time any of you made a meaningful contribution to the improvement of the community (aside from the grudging payment of taxes)? There is one common thread I see in all of the negative letters: the arguments are never backed up with any facts or figures. If you wish your position to be taken seriously, then do your homework first. Otherwise it is just opinion masquerading as truth. And please, do us all a favour and delete the personal insults before you hit the send button. Norm Dawson, Pitt Meadows
Waste management
Garbage pickup will hurt recycling TAX RETURNS
cost of approximately $30 to $40 Dear Editor, dollars a year. It has been suggested that the Scan this image with Why would I want to spend a citizens of Maple Ridge would great deal more to have it picked be delighted to have municipal up at my door? The recycling garbage pickup. program doesn’t pick up everyI don’t agree. For years we’ve thing, so I’d still have to visit all been encouraged to reduce, the depot. reuse, and recycle. I’m not conI believe any garbage pickup vinced that a municipal garbage Letters to should be voluntary and not pickup wouldn’t hinder our the Editor compulsory. Maybe Councillor growing interest in recycling. Bob Masse [City survey proIn our household we’ve manmoted, Jan. 24, TIMES] is right: let’s take a aged, through recycling, to get our garbage survey. down to so little that we need only visit the depot once every three months. This is a J. Jones, Maple Ridge
Just Saying
Teachers valuable enough to be heard
Dear Editor, Gordy Robson should have a care with the power of his words [Check out the offer, Feb. 5 Just Saying, TIMES]. Several of his skills had their inception during his school years, and were encouraged by his teachers. Teachers educate and need to be valued by a society. So when a teacher gets
together with other teachers to try to help a government hear the need for change, they are not “whining idiots,” but educated professionals asking to be heard. When he was mayor of Maple Ridge, people would question his council’s decisions, often without knowing all of the facts. And wasn’t it nice when Mayor
Maple Ridge
Road salt damages vehicles
Dear Editor, Why is it that the municipality has to spray all of our roads with that stuff, brine? Is the municipality responsible for this? The brine will rust our vehicles and create future safety problems, as our vehicles are made of steel. Also, when it rains, this toxic solution goes into all of our local creeks. Maple Ridge prides itself on stream and river stewardship. I have personally driven on our roads for 36 years, and the amount of brine dumped by the municipality is absolutely beyond stupid. Our weather patterns have not changed on the West Coast in my time. There is no snow, and maybe once in a while a bit of frost. Will Waterbeek, Maple Ridge
Robson had the opportunity to explain that those decisions were decisions made after collecting relevant data, communicating with involved parties, and debating. And yet, even though he explained the process and his position, some people would maintain their opinion without checking their facts. Those people were “just saying,” and not “just thinking.” Please take the time to talk to a dedicated teacher, and ask if he or she feels valued by a government that bullies with legislation, ignores the Supreme Court, and tries to cut an education budget already one of Canada’s lowest. Sheldon and Elizabeth Rosenau, Maple Ridge [Note: A fuller version of this letter is online at www. mrtimes.com. Click on Opinion, or search the writer’s name.]
B.C. politics
Didn’t want to say before election
Dear Editor, There is still time to attend the next BC Liberals black-tie fundraising gala ball event. Don’t worry, your contributions won’t go to TV or radio ads. The taxpayers of B.C. have that covered. The food menu will consist of B.C. coast open-pen farm-fresh Atlantic salmon (sea lice optional). Guest speakers will be Stephen Harper, Allison Redford, Gordon Campbell, and Kevin Falcon of stupid-andstupider fame. Christy Clark and Allison Redford have kissed and made up. Didn’t want to tell you until after the election. The topic of discussion will be BC Hydro, privatized for generations. Will somebody
loosen Rich Coleman’s necktie before his head explodes trying to tell people why BC Hydro rates will double or better? Something about privatized river-run projects. Is that residential rates only? Didn’t want to tell you until after the election. If it wasn’t for those pesky, annoying elections every four years, we could have totally privatized two more B.C. Crown corporations by now. Didn’t want to tell you until after the election. Your friends thank you in advance. J. Johnson, Maple Ridge For more letters to the editor visit... www.mrtimes.com – Click on Opinion.
LETTERS POLICY: Copyright in letters and other materials submitted voluntarily to the Publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the Publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic, or other forms. Letters are also subject to editing for content and length. The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows TIMES is a division of LMP Publication Limited Partnership.
A7
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DOG LICENCING In accordance with the City’s animal control bylaw, all dogs six (6) months old or older are required to have a licence. The cost of the licence for 2013 is as follows: Until February 28 Spayed or Neutered $17.50 Not Spayed/Not Neutered $47.50
March 1 $35.00 $65.00
Finance Department 604.465.2423 May be paid by cash, cheque, debit, visa or mastercard at Municipal Hall 12007 Harris Road prior to February 28th, 2013