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LETTER: A public hearing is for council to listen

A public hearing is for council to listen to the public.
12970198_web1_170426-PQN-M-PQN-Letters

A public hearing is for council to listen to the public.

I rarely comment on deserved criticism when I miss-stepped during my elected office times. I tried to turn miss-steps into stepping stones.

A number of speakers, including myself, were cut off by the mayor, others were allowed to ramble on. So be it.

For Ms. Thompson to characterize us as being rude trying to make our point whilst saying nothing about a councillor calling two other councillors liars is rude and disrespectful. We do not need Trump-style accusations nor personal attacks, disagreeing with someone’s point of view is quite all right.

The overwhelming majority was opposed to the inclusion of a number of units for those afflicted with substance abuse addictions not the supportive housing mandate for low-income seniors, single parents, those on low, fixed incomes etc. The mixing of all is simply not compatible.

There are no programs, help nor facilities here for addicts, I wish council went to bat for those.

If, as reported, some on council feel not everything has been on the up and up, how can we as citizens be expected to make proper evaluations and costly decisions?

I don’t believe people from outside Parksville should tell the Parksville tax payers how to spend their taxes. They do not live here, nor have to live with the consequences nor pay taxes here.

People should look at the aims/priorities of the Affordable Housing Vancouver Island Society.

Paul Reitsma

Parksville