Editor:
Well, it is a fine situation that White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin finds himself in with certain members of council, as I see it.
It would seem that he does not want to use available communication to keep all in the loop as to motions to be presented at any given council meeting (Councillors lash out at city hall rethink, Sept. 12).
Further, his “love-in” with the anti-coal opposition was a fantastic photo-op (Cross-party opposition over coal trains, March 19), but I am sure did not help with the senior executives and decision makers of a Fortune 500 company as BNSF. Such issues are best left to higher levels of government to be lobbied by both mayor and council as a team.
So the real kicker now might be that the waterfront will be caged by a chain-link fence – complete with warning signs – enough to finally extinguish remaining businesses (Mayor ‘will resist’ rail fencing, Sept. 24.
I am sure the BNSF will leave some controlled access, such as the immediate entrance to the pier and possibly West and East Beach.
The parking revenue that the City of White Rock enjoys will, I am certain, take a horrific toll, as tourists and visitors alike will not like the areas available.
I am certain Baldwin would as well control the number blows of horn on each train that passes through our city, if he actually had a legislated say in the matter.
I have grown up in the Crescent Beach-White Rock area since the mid-’60s and was always aware that trains exist. Thus, I find it hard to understand that purchasers of homes impacted have such issues as train tracks after they purchase.
As the saying goes, “any time is train time” towards keeping yourself safe in their environment.
A word of simple advice would be for the mayor to form a committee headed by perhaps Couns. Helen Fathers and Larry Robinson to form better ties with the BNSF and avoid a catastrophic impact on our local business community.
Ron Eves, White Rock