THE
NEWSPAPER.COM
LETTERS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013
AS09
Send your letters to ‘Now’ editor Beau Simpson at edit@thenownewspaper.com
‘Idle No More’ drive does indeed have legs The Editor, The “Idle No More” movement assembled for a rally at our South Surrey door step, the Peace Arch Border Crossing. I attended for the second time, this occasion more deliberate than curious. The weather was challenging for me and I am sure for many others in attendance. I wanted to see how committed the attendees were to their causes, which are numerous. Leadership identification was lacking except for the early speakers addressing the converted. I was amazed at the number of First Nations representatives attending from as far as Australia. Conciliatory messages came from New Zealand, Vancouver Island bands and a very interesting/curious sympathizer on vacation and standing in solidarity with the movement from Croatia. I was still able to identify the regular “rent a crowd” individuals. This time I came away convinced in my own mind that this movement has legs and the future depends on the outcome of the meeting between Chief Theresa Spence and Prime Minister Harper. Yes, I will be there for the next rally on Friday. Orvis Noel, Surrey
What will next mess at Port Mann be? The Editor, The Port Mann Bridge appears to be the
newest white elephant for taxpayers. Will drivers go back to using the bridge, given ice bombs, black ice and – who knows what’s next? Maybe faulty billing to credit cards and misreading of licence plates? Mary Polak, our illustrious minister of transportation, claims taxpayers will not be left holding the bag for new expenses because the contract specifically states their will be no ice build up on overhead cables. However, logic dictates that moisture from high above must go somewhere and that is likely down onto the bridge deck. My suggestion is we go back to using our old bridge for the interim (say until summer has arrived). The fast ferries sold for about $20 million. A good bridge auction could raise us the money to get the 300 new buses required for our Surrey-Langley bus network. David Walters, Surrey
Surrey’s generosity helps thousands The Editor, Newspapers, television and radio stations have all picked the top stories for 2012, usually involving violent crime or natural disasters. But the real top story in our city should be the generosity and kindness of donors and volunteers. Putting aside busy lives and economic concerns, hundreds of people unselfishly
came forward to donate to others. Large teams of volunteers picked up items, registered families, and sorted toys to keep things running smoothly at the Surrey Christmas Bureau. Thanks to this support and hard work, 4,800 local children received gifts, food vouchers, clothing and household items, making spirits bright for their low-income families. On behalf of the board and staff of the Surrey Christmas Bureau, we express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who so freely gave donations and volunteered precious time to provide services. K.C. Gilroy, co-ordinator, Surrey Christmas Bureau
Put deer, owls before new casino in Surrey The Editor, I am a neighbouring resident to the proposed hotel casino development and therefore am opposed to said development. It is my position that the location is wrong, not because of NIMBYism but because it is a lovely pristine location home to deer, owls, and herons. You don’t have to be an expert to formulate an opinion about Surrey planning – they have been rolling the dice for years: monster home here, strip mall there, mega box store with no real science or design esthetic in mind.
A monkey could do a better job of urban planning than Surrey planners during the past 20 years. That said, perhaps the planning department have been puppets to the politicians, looking for public popularity rather than what’s best for the city. K. Arpink, Surrey
Highrise in Delta will wreck neighbourhood The Editor, Re: “Council says Scott Road needs ‘flashy’ highrise,” the Now, Dec. 27. Originally, a five-storey tower was proposed for the land, which now will become a 37-storey tower. As per Coun. Scott Hamilton, times have changed and the economies of scale have resulted in the need to build higher. Hamilton describes the Scott Road corridor as resembling Kingsway, but the new tower will be on 80th Avenue. The Kingsway look is further up between 96th and 90th Avenue on Scott Road. This is the part of Scott Road that is in urgent need of development. The new tower will create many traffic problems and destroy an established neighbourhood that is home to seniors, young people and many ethnic groups. How much more diversity do we need? A. Wrobbel, North Delta
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