Dear Editor: The article in the April 8 News by Chris Sario is so generalized and the facts so biased that one would wonder if the objective had been to inform or mislead us. As 1 understand his remarks about “real family income,” despite more “fam- ily” hours worked (leading, no doubr, to a decrease in the ranks of unpaid workers and adding more work to their shoulders} there has not been a significant raise in the income gencrated by these families. This, apparently, has been in evidence since the 1970s. Gosh, what a coincidence! According to my memory and the book Corparate _ Ratle, the 1970s and "SOs saw massive change in global, most — especially American economic policies. These were the years of “domestic reform” when government was to “get off the back of business” and corporate power flexed its muscles. north shore news MAIL Rox | Family income column flawed Labor and environmental standards were lowered and the tax on the rich was decreased. Breaking the power of unions, reducing wages and benefits and down- sizing the ¢ corporate workforce, were the effects. Manutacturing was shifted abroad along with jobs. As the new policies took hold there was a wage decline; unions lost members and therefore their political clout. Where there was one billionaire in the US. in 1978, there were 120 in 1994. Unemployment rose and social indicators that had been moving steadily upwards over the past 30 years stagnated or declined. By the end of 1994 there were 358 billionaires in the world. This is what Mr. Sario presumably reters to as “profound structural change.” Economic policies that are based or the corporate need for short-term profits have bankrupted our social safety net. Nos, as Mr. Sario would have us believe, that our over-generous “welfare state” reduced incentive to work for lower wages, Mr. Sario’s comment that “we cannot ignore the influence of stability that tends to be connected to living as 2 couple and raising children” seems to imply ther marriage and children are the stability required to attract an increase in income. Hello! Out here in the real worid we believe that an increase in income might have the effect of making our marriage stable and offering the opportunity to raise children. Another example of the warped think- ing of economists and statistical evidence engineers, T sure ani getting tired of the “psychobabble” that is supposed ta assure us that somcene our there knows what they"re doing and is looking owt for us, Carol Wilkins North Vancouver Wednesday, April 15, 1998 — North Shore News — 44 Lanes to keep on rolling Dear Editor: Re: bowling lanes March 29 News. Just to correct a miscon- ception in the March 29 North Shore News. Park Royal Bowling Lanes will be open tor at least the next year. T have been bowling secretary for 24 years there and we are getting ready to sign another season’s contract. Incidentally we would wel- come any senior bowlers, male or female, for our senior leagues on Mondays or Fridays. Please call the lanes or Rita Fiddes at 988-3414. Rita Fiddes West. Vancouver rfiddes@direct.ca so dia & Vertical: Blinds’ Choése from ‘Decor’ v netiun and the én _ selection of fabric vertical. blinds. Big boxes “Dear Editor:: --NoG rowth Gang — who me? ce As the last speaker on the first night of public hearing “meetings. for the: proposed ~CXY business park, I was a bit perturbed. when it came to. ign.up on a speaker’s list. You sec, it only allows for speakers... “FOR” or “AGAINST”. — whereas I felt my comments. were “almost rand not quite against.” “As 1 listened to the 27 peakers : that. night, I ‘had ‘a’ different picture than Mr. Timothy Renshaw. (April 5 Seat of the pane opin: vood, build economic development base fos the dis- trict”. and on. the No side _ Maplewood, build economic ; lopmen - District.” cod are base ‘for the’ about how to best achieve this, No signs ofa No Growth Gang lynching anywhere. Maybe it was different on the second night of the hearing? __. Speaking for my own point - of views I very much support the development of a solid viable tax base. for the district, new employment opportuni- ties, an improved‘ transporta- tion link for Seymour and craf- fic peace for Maplewood. I don’t happen to believe ’ that business uses such as gun shops, pawn shops, building supply centres, exercise. stu- dios are the way to do that — a ‘mish mash’ was my rating. Furthermore, “Mr. - Renshavv. is correct that the risk assessment studies are - complete and. the findings judged acceptable by the pro- - fessionals; and it: is. widely acknowledged that CXY is a good corporate citizen with.a well-run operation which con- - tributes much needed taxes to our economy. However, the professionals * also advise carcful community consideratic in of the ‘fand-use wth wanted adjacent to the plant so thar appropriate risk exposures are developed. Translation: don’t put a lot of people next to a chlorine plant. Again, this equires thoughtful evaluation of cach _ of the business uses in the park, Lastly, the construction of the Dollarton re- alignment and bridge will require $10 million of our district taxpay- ers’ money. This significant investment deserves the tax- payer’s involvement u-fore — not after the fact. Especially when some of the funding options on the table include large townhouse develop- ments cast of Seymour, raids on the Heritage fund and new taxes. So Mr. Renshaw, I think you misconstrued — Asking for “Good Growth” is not the same “as shouting “No Growth,” which the. public hearing transcripts will show was the flavor of the night. Angela Trudeau ‘ angela@techtrain.be.ca 980:2560 elocityinc’ca | LYITC.ca WWY get yet . another no 4 Dear Editor: The | Coalition Healthy Community (CHC) has just learned that Home Depot was refused permission to locate a store at a shopping centre in Victoria, B.C. The decision even includ- ed the word “irrevocable.” CHC would therefore like to correct its statement that‘ che North Shore community could be the 64th to “Say NO to big boxes.” We will be the 65th! P.ter Miller CHC vice-president . West Vancouver for a vena tonne sondione fs Bi ALL TODAY FOR YOUR : woes ENTARY Nace Capilano Mall, North Vancouver 984-2040. ‘Park’ Royal S., West Vancouver 925-2043. Eaton Centre, Metrotowa - ~ Burnaby, 430: 2040: “Mayfair Shopping Centre, * Victoria (250) 382- 2040 ° 7AN AUTHORIZED TAG, HEUER DEALER