To the editor,
Those of us who have unwillingly tolerated the youthful exploitation of ‘the point’ at Long Lake being bombarded by noise across the water feel strongly about this little slice of heaven gone wrong.
This month, it reached its pinnacle – my husband witnessed a shocking event. The 80 or so ducks bobbing along in the noon-day sun were maliciously attacked; actually bombarded not once, but twice. Three young men in an orange motorboat deliberately ramrodded the craft right up the centre of the gathering. Met by shock and fear the wildlife screamed in angst and desperation. Then in a great flurry of wings their flight was up off of the water where they could be safe.
How can this daytime playground – generally the purview of sunbathers, children playing, dogs fetching, people fishing, canoes and kayaks become a nightmare? This nightime Mecca for loud, foul-mouthed, hard drug-using, pot-smoking youths has impacted greatly on the use of this area. The public has built fires amidst dry grasses, strewn left over food and garbage, harassed dog walkers, and discarded cigarette butts along with freshly toked ‘Mary Jane.’
Why doesn’t this park have to play by the same rules as others? That includes no smoking – any form of lighting up.
The city needs to raise the ante in a bid to have responsible stewardship of this little gem of land on a lake in the middle of city and home to a variety of wildlife.
What these young men presented was not only a nauseating flash of who and what they are, but more importantly, could become. It is well documented that children who prey on animals go on to commit serious crimes.
Moneca Graham, Nanaimo