MAILBOX

Citizens should participate
in the budgetary process

Dear Editor:

The proposed GVRD five-year
capitai plan will affect North
Vancouver District taxpayers. It
deals with projected increases for
needed regicna! capital outlays for
five major functions, including the
Regional District, hospitals,
sewerage and drainage, solid waste
and water.

For the City of Vancouver this
translates into an increase per
family residence from $125 an-
nually in 1990 to $372 upon com-
piction of the works. While the
impact for North Van may not be
identical,. we will undoubtedly be

Reader
likes

| new bus
| route

‘Dear Editor:
- I read recently that residents of
’ Westmount Street in West Van-
‘couver are very unhappy to have
‘the Horseshoe Bay Express bus
* service -using Westmount as part
of its route.

. While I sympathize with the zes-

“2 idents, i am nonetheless thrilled

“s that Westmount has been. chosen
over 15th Street. Comments from
most fellow bus riders also seem

- to support the Westmount route.

» > Asa Lions, Bay resident, ovr

:.,, choice of buses is minimal at besi.

‘It was cumbersonaie to travel via
public transit from anywhere west

: . of 15th Street to- Lions Bay. The
_. change in routing allows for easier
travel and greater accessibility to
-all of West Vancouver for many
more people.

. West Vancouver Transit —
thank you for making this
change. I -truly hope’ that this

‘ routing willbe maintained

*: S. Bree Stoddart

; ” sLions Bay

PITCH-IN
__AND
RECYCLE!

affected.

People in the Lower Mainland
are now facing the moment of
truth as are most other cities and
regions in Canada. Hard choices
must be made.

Savings could be made in the
water supply area where projected
costs have risen primarily as a
result of meddling through logging
in the first place. Savings could
also be made through appropriate
government legislation in the
waste and recycling sector by forc-
ing manufacturers to re-use
recyclable materials in the produc-
tion of new products, as is the
case in other countries, including
the U.S. Other savings could be
realized through greater emphasis
on rapid transit.

We need to set priorities and to
include the citizens in the deci-
sion-making process. The public
has to be made aware of the facts.

In the District of North Van-
couver, for instance, we have fi-
nanced road reconstruction out of
land sale moncy. We should have
used this money for capital pro-
jects exclusively, or set it aside to
pay for the aging infrastructure,

an expense which will hit us like a
ton of bricks in the near future.

The number of cars, as opposed
to people, per average household
in North Vancouver is increasing
much faster. What we have to
decide is which is more impcrtant
— sewage treatment, hospital care
or billions of dollars for bridges
and freeways; or maybe we can
afford both?

I made a motion on North
Vancouver District Council that
we go to public referendum this
fali to ask the taxpayers whether
they are willing to pay for a two-
year road and road reconstruction
program for 1992 and 1993. if
successful, it could be repeated in

time for the next municipal elec- .

tion in the fall of 1993 for another
three-year program.

This, in my opinion, would not
only make the public aware of the
fundamental issues we face and
set priorities, but also provide our

citizens with a platform to par- -

ticipate in the budgetary process,
something politicians promised in
the last ciection.

Ald. Ernie Crist

District of North Vancouver

The “hairbali
contingent’ is
bad journalism

Dear Editor:

A friend sometimes brings
me a copy of your paper, par-
ticularly the section containing
On the Other Hand by Doug
Collins, a columnist wiio ap-
parently has a reputation for
sticring up controversy. -

If that is indeed his intent,
by his comment “We are ruled
by freaks, frauds, wimmin and
pansies’? (Neth Shore News,
Sept. 18), Mr. Collins has
made a good start, although
Pm confused about exactly
what he is trying to say. Does
he mean that in his opinion
this country should be run by
unelected, conser-
vatively-oriented and physically
normal male heterosexuals
without an arrest record? Or is
this another case of lame,
misguided maundering offered
mistakeniy as a faiied attempt
at humor on the part of a
journalist who is so intellectu-
ally impoverished he has to
resort to cheap shots of an of-
fensive nature to a large por-
tion of the population?

By this one reference Mr.
Collins has, in my opinion,
completely negated the validity
of whatever point he was at-

tempting to make.

Whatever the raticnale in-
volved, Mr. Collins’ column of
Sept. 18 is simply not accept-
abie as published, and I ques-
tion the integrity of an editor
who would encourage Mr. Col-
fins in his sexist and
homophobic attitudes by per-
mitting the intact publication
of so scurrilous a comment.

C'mon guys, get with the
90s. It is no longer acceptable,
or cute, to offer up this kind
of garbage as a substitute for
responsible, thought-provoking
journalism. And it sure doesn’t
cut is as humor! if the object
of the exercise is simply to stir
up conflict, then I suppose this
kind of talk might make it in
the bars, or wherever else the
hairball contingent is hanging
out these days, but I hardly
think it prudent to slap the
face {metaphorically) of over
half the population in order to
arrive at the type of political
conclusion any thougthful per-
son has already reached.

On the other hand, Tim (and
Doug), maybe all. men are
pond scum after all.

D. Phillips
Surrey

Finest Cooking of the Greek Islands

Platter for Two

*18.95

Served with Greek Salad, Kalamari,
Meat Balls, Dolmades, Spanakopita,
Mousaka, Souvlaki,
Pita _
Take out — Catering & Parties
Open on Sunday only for Banquets
or large groups. Special discount.
_Special valid with this coupon . E Expires Nov. 30, 1931

Saiziki,

Rice, Homus,
EAT IN ONLY

cane emme oven amnee unee Sm tome Some Gum ee come of

p li84 Marine Dr., N.Van.

Sunday, October 6, 1991 - North Shore News - 7

SILK PLANT SALE
We are overstocked!
eg. 6’ Fig Troe $119 ing $149-169)

All palms 3QO, oc

(behind Shell Gas) 85 359

CUSTOM DRAPERIES
AND VALANCES

Labour $7.50 per panel
unlined. $8.50 lined

CUSTOM BEDSPREADS
AND COVERS

Low, low prices on blinds
and tracks
For FREE Estimates
Call 987-2966

Serving the North Shore for 1S years

Campaign to Elect

David
chreck

¢ UBC Ph.D.

° health economist

¢ 1979-88 General Manager
of CU&C Health Services Society

It’s time to say “enough”!
It’s time for a change!
Call David Schreck and

talk about.the issues that concern you.

North Vancouver -
Lonsdale 988-9460

DANIEL
JARVIS

NORTH VANCOUVER-
SyMOUR

| The Best Alternative in 199 in 4994!

— has lived and worked in North Vancouver for over
30 years

— will help return honesty and integrity to
government in BC.!

— believes in quality health care!
- believes education should be a priority!
— will be accountable to you!

ELECT

DANIEL JARVIS