To the editor,
Re: City adopts policy for working with neighbourhoods, May 4.
Coun. Jim Turley was on the right track when he asked, “Why are we [providing] tax dollars to groups whose advice we do not agree with?” Why indeed.
Nanaimo will do what it wants regardless of public input. The neighbourhood association meetings went on for some time with considerable public input and presumably some expense. However none of our objections registered with the city and it has done what it wants.
If people are volunteering to provide information and feedback on what’s going on in our area, why do we have to be a registered non-profit? Does the council think we have nothing better to do? Does forming a non-profit ensure that the city can be sure that everyone in the group agrees? I don’t think so. And if we are not a registered non-profit even though we are the body that meets to care for our community needs, why is our input illegitimate? This process has been insulting and a waste of our time.
On a different note, I enjoy gardening so I generate more organic waste with weeds, spent flowers, etc. I called the city to see if there was any way I could obtain or purchase one of the larger green bins. The answer was a flat no. Like Nanaimo really cares. I guess I should just let my property grow blackberries like so many others. And no wonder.
Nanaimo doesn’t care.
Marilyn Hand, Nanaimo
READ ALSO: City of Nanaimo developing policy for working relationships with neighbourhood associations
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