Dear Editor,
[Re: 4 City-owned buildings slated for demolition, Langley Advance Times, Nov. 16]
Dan Ferguson’s article regarding the demolition of four City owned businesses, published in the Nov. 16 edition of the Langley Advance Times caused some comment and confusion in our house. An unsigned statement from the City of Langley is as nonsensical as Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky. The letter states that the sites will be used for “tactical urbanism elements which may include the creation of new active and passive recreational opportunities.” The person from the City who wrote the statement does not want to be identified. What a coward.
One can only wonder what is meant by “tactical urban elements.” An appropriate response is to mock the doublespeak. Will we see a training facility for riot police? The “tactical” units, could provide disruptive “urbanism elements” an opportunity to make use of the active recreational opportunity afforded by running away from the police, while the passive among us read about the action in the Langley Advance Times. We will see an increase in crime, once SkyTrain is here.
Maybe the vacant lots will be used for a sanctioned homeless encampment, as the numbers of homeless continue to increase. It could be a tactic the City uses to house the “urbanism elements.” An open air market like East Hastings could be considered an active recreational opportunity, while a safe injection site could be a passive one.
Samantha Paulsen is the person responsible for City communications. I wish the unsigned letter was comprehensible. Why the need for secrecy? What is at risk? Information is being with held from the public. At least Mayor Pachal stuck his neck out to talk about some of the City’s long-term plans. He will have to face the electors.
Congratulations to your paper and Dan Ferguson for attempting to inform Langley residents about the Nexus of Community Visioning Plan and the Downtown Master Plan. The residents should know what the plans are. Afterall it is the taxpayers who will be repaying the loan on these properties for the next 20 years.
Here is what the unsigned letter does communicate, either : “we don’t know,” or “we don’t want to tell you what the sites will be used for.” I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised, considering how a vote on the loan was avoided by means of a sneaky bylaw. Unfortunately the City voters are unable to hold the bureaucrats accountable. They are unelected civic employees. They don’t have to answer our questions. They will keep their defined benefit pensions.
Alas, back to contemplating the jabberwocky. Beware the slithy toves.
Richard Penner, Langley City
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