To the editor,
We put the headlines from last week’s News Bulletin in a collage to demonstrate the direction in which our city is headed.
This is not the Nanaimo of some 30 years ago when we first became residents. When we drive around the city these days, we constantly see trees being cut down to accommodate yet another apartment development, and while we realize it’s important to fill the city coffers with permit, licence fees, taxes, etc., even with all this revenue from the developments, city council has the gall to raise our taxes by 7.3 per cent.
What are the citizens of Nanaimo gaining through increased taxes, etc.? We are gaining an increase in criminal and drug activity, homelessness, panhandlers at stop lights, unkempt boulevards, litter and unused bike lanes.
As longtime Nanaimo residents, we fear of going downtown or moving freely around the city and its environs. Our family doctor is downtown, do we run the risk of being attacked while walking from the parking lot into his office?
In our opinion, this is the result of only 20 per cent of the residents of Nanaimo coming out in the last election to cast their votes. We get what we deserve and end up with an inadequate council which seems to value their status as councillors rather than improving life for citizens who support them. What we really need is a council that realizes they are there to serve us – we do not serve them.
Joseph and Diana Walker, Nanaimo
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