SON SN : SSS SA SSN a a “REWS VIEWPOINT ders in the e sky HE RECENT revelation that the $2-billion Skytrain has not made riders. out of drivers should not come as a great shock. While the light rapid transit (LRT) link represents world-class commuting for those ‘fortunate’ to live ‘and work along its serpentine route, to the vast majority of ‘Lower: Mainfand residents the Skytrain is something that silently glides over their single-occupant vehicle as they sit in traffic. . .The real shock is. that those mandated to ‘ynamage the livability of this exploding me- tropolis have been so late to realize the ex- tent of our traffic problem. -_The province, municipalities, the GYRD, all release reports forecasting the commuter _'geidlock that is‘to come. But none have solutions. For example, not one of three proposals for an updated First Narrows crossing wnveiled in the spring by the province in- _ cludes a North Shore LRT link. The wisdom of decision-makers is back- ed by the Skytrain ridership report. ‘“Why throw more money away on a proven loser? ,*’ they mumble. Any system — especially a major trans- portation link. — when partially completed is a loser. But with vision and will, the Lower Mainland could have a network combining ‘existing train track and new LRT lines to rival any city in the world. Think about this, the latest from the GVRD: ‘‘Traffic to and from the region’s major gateways is expected to grow by 91% between 1991 and 2011.”" Makes you get in your car and drive, doesn’t it? LETTER OF THE DAY Collins columns read with interest Dear Editor: », We have been appalled tc read here in. Ontario about the passing of Bill 33 by your NPP govern- ment, which will surely limit greatly freedom of expression and is playing into the hands of the politically correct. This takes away the rights of the majority of solid Canadians whose forefathers built this coun- try, to express their outrage at - what is happening with the open door policy of letting-in the Third World and excluding Anglo- Celto-Saxon and kindred peoples who have been the backbone in making Canada the great country it has been, but is becoming no longer. Here, back East, we dearly love your columnist Doug Collins, and he ‘puts into words exactly what we want to say on the above sub- ject, as well as on the homosexual situation, and. so many other topics on politics, governments and world situations, and we only wish we had him here in Ontario and that there were many more brave columnists like him to give us voice on these matters in his and our way of thinking. A friend sends me his columns and 1 make copies and send them 980-0511 Distribution ‘out by mail to many people across Canada, from Halifax to Victoria, and they are most appreciative to get these writings by Collins. They tell.me that they agree most wholeheartedly with him, as Ido. We do. commend you and your paper for continuing to print what we want to hear, against what we know must be great opposition. Do keep up your courage in this matter and we look forward to more great writings from Collins, and others who think like,him. Sean Harris Cttawa, Ontario . ._. 4. Peter Speck Managing Editor . Timothy Renshaw Associate Editor. Noel Wright Sales & Marketing Director Linda Stewart Comptrolier Doug Foot North Shore News, founded in 1969 as: an independent suburban newspaper and qualitied under Schedule 111, Paragraph lil of the Excise Tax Aci, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday’ by North Shore Free Press Lid. and ,distributed to every door on the North Shore. “Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement. No, 0097238. Mailing rates available on request. Submissions are welcome but wa cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited tmaterial including manuscripts and pictures which should be accompanied by a stamped, sell- ‘addressed envelope. ‘Publisher . Newsroom V7M 2H4 Display Ac-ertising Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Classified Advertising | 986-6222 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. Entire contents © 986-1337 © & Subscriptions 986-1337 PCOS ths newspager_* Fax 985.3227 contains Administration 985-2131 recycled tore MEMBER 985-2131 SDA DIVISION $1,582 (average circulalion, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday) . © 1993 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. ded to p HELP WANTED: a Selomon with doctorate in social arts and ai least 10 years successful experience in fuzzy-merit conflict resolution. Apply soonest to Mayor Jack Loucks, * North Van City Hall. The job: to assist the city fa- thers and mothers decide the win- s ner of the bingo battle scheduled for the Aug. 9 counci! meeting. In this corner, the nine North Shore charities that now run non-prolit bingo. In the other, Northstay Charity Bingo Associa- tion -- which so far docsn't have a caller or a bingo card to its name, First, the basic facts. The ex- isting non-profit operations — among them, the Legion, the Eagles, Silver Harbour and St. Thomas Aquinas School — use their own premises and volunteers. They cooperate to avoid com- peting with one another onthe — same day. Ali proceeds from their: bingo sessions, after paying win- nets and buying cards, go to their designated good causes. Exactly how much in total net dollars an- nually has not so far been reveal- ed. In contrast, big-time profes- sionally run bingo in North Van is the goal of Northstar -- a consor- tium led by North Shore Com- munity Services, North Shore Volunteers for Seniors, North Shore Care Givers Society, Queen Mary Community School . Association, Evergreen Kiwanis MAYOR JACK Loucks:.. coun: cil seeking a Solomon. Club and the Kiwanis Club of Capilano. Northstar has already ear- marked a bingo hall site on East ist and a professional manager, Mark Eraut, whose Anzac Enter- prises operates a similar bingo hall in Esquimalt. It reportedly raises “over $1 million’’ a year for Es- quimalt charities. . The Northstar hall would be open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week. Its sponsors project an annual payout of ‘‘at least $700,000” to charities — in- cluding those now benefitting from the nine existing non-profit bingo operations. Not unnaturally, the latter vig- . orously oppose Northstar’s bid, which they fear would put them out of business. Northstar denies this and insists they could all hap- pily co-exist. Eraut has even pro- duced a letter from the Legion in | Esquimalt confirming that his operation there has not hurt the: Legion’s own bingo. Esquimalt being a major forces base, possibly its Legion enjoys a particularly loyal clientele. But in general, to claim that a modest HITHER AND YON four-hour bingo session once or twice a week will be unaffected by a king-size operation running daily from mid-morning until the wee small hours is like saying a mom-and-pop corner grocery will do just as well as ever when Save-On-Foods opens two doors along the block. ; - Northstar wouid treble the North Shore's current bingo ‘‘ca-: pacity’’ overnight. Would the bingo ‘‘market” automatically . treble overnight? Professionally-run bingo under.» the B.C, Gaming Commission must give charities 25% of the take. So net donations of $700,000 mean Northstar would have to gross an annual $2.8 million — . about 37, 700 per day, 365 days a Wand how far would $700, 000 —- if realized —- cover any losses by the Legion,. Eagles, etc., in addi- » tien to the needs'of Northstar’s’ own 50 or so charities?. Would all. the money stay on the North : Shore? To date, both sides are far toc. reticent about their detailed math.’ Without fuller and confirmed fig- ures, how can anyone judge ra- tionally whether the present non- : profit bingo or Northstar’s am- -Ditious alternative will serve North Shore charities better?: Even a Solomon? : * ‘eae ; + Saluting community crime-fighting efforts, North Van RCMP sponsors its National - Night Out celebration Tuesday, ° Aug. 3, from 6 to 10 p.m. in . Mahon Park with kids’ activities, raffles and much more — find out how YOU can become involved. .-. Have you any photos of 25- year-old Cap College when it . opened in West Van High School ° in 1968 or other nostalgia pictures of its early years? If so, please contact Meredith Woodward, 984-1729. ... And thanks to our typo gremlin for needlessly trying © to be kind by chopping two years off my age in my Wednesday let- ter to young Trevor Lautens — but not to worry, Trevor, one feels even better at 75 than 73! aoe WRIGHT OR WRONG: The essential ingredient in good speeches is shortening.