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LETTERS: Upset in City of White Rock

Letter writers express dissatisfaction with civic leadership.
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Editor:

I write to support a movement to have White Rock become part of the City of Surrey.

Our city council does not seem to have the ability to govern or look after the interests of its citizens. Development is approved haphazardly, with the OCP being stretched on a regular basis at the request of developers and no thought given to the effect of development on neighbours. Our drinking water now tastes like sewage and our clothes stink from being washed in White Rock water – which used to be some of the best in the Lower Mainland. Most businesses have now moved out or been driven out of White Rock by high taxes.

City council showed disdain for its citizens at a recent public hearing by acting like school children while their electorate spoke out about issues that are near and dear to them. One councillor munched on snacks, one spent his time on his iPad and another wrote humorous notes to show the mayor while people were speaking.

It is time to move on and join a modern city that seems to be responsive to its electorate.

Places like Ocean Park and Cloverdale, etc., have not lost their identities by being part of the City of Surrey, and neither would White Rock. I think it is high time for White Rock to move on. Enough is enough.

Randy Hundt, White Rock

• • •

Just received the quarterly water bill from the City of White Rock. Noticing that it had gone up a lot, I wondered why there was no explanation.

Called the city and was told there was a notice sent out last quarter. Turns out, though, that notice did not warn of the increase, it merely suggested that if I wanted the 2017 rates, I should go to the website.

Dissatisfied with that, I was passed on to another employee who was able to tell me that condo water rates had gone from a minimum $33.81 per unit per month, to $40.60. That’s a 20 per cent increase.

I might expect a private business to try to slip an increase like that past me, but not a city government that is working on my behalf.

So, city hall, if water rates are too low to sustain the service we are getting or the improvements that are needed, simply tell me. Tell me the reasons. Tell me the amount of the increase.

Don’t give me a homework assignment to complete in order to find out the truth.

Vern Coulter, White Rock

• • •

The decision by the City of White Rock to reduce street parking and widen the sidewalk in East Beach is a further dagger into the heart of businesses in the area.

Businesses on the waterfront are suffering and need creative solutions to help stem the tide of closures. Why the city would take away already-scarce street parking and burden businesses with creating extended sidewalk seating without proper consultation is puzzling at best.

In the absence of additional parking for patrons, combined with the unnecessary associated sidewalk costs, the City of White Rock is sending a signal to businesses that a wider sidewalk is more important than what matters most for their survival – customers.

Neil Moody, White Rock