6 - Friday, October 7, 1988 — North Shore News INSIGHT Towers referendum does a nose job for council WEST VAN COUNCIL’S RED HOT POTATO has been cooled with the decision, announced Monday, to hold a referendum on the twin towers project at 326 Taylor Way. All things considered, it’s the only realistic move at this point. Forget that the mess was created because council omitted to test fickle public opinion. In fairness, that’s been admitted by Mayor Don Lanskail and is now water under the bridge. What we have today is a problem to be solved. The gut question is whether ‘West Van residents as a whole back their Sentinel Hill, Cedardale and Ambleside neighbors who want the present lease with the developer, Newcorp, terminated and a fresh start, period. The answer is not quite a foregone conclusion. While you can find residents from 17th Street to Horseshoe Bay who oppose highrises on principle, there are undoubtedly others in the western half of the community who lose no steep at all over the towers project. tt would make moncy for West Van — and it’s not in THEIR backyard. STEPHEN HUDSON ...beating a A second question is whether West Van wants the site developed in ANY shape or form that makes money for taxpayers — or alter- natively kept for public use (¢.g., a park and/or community facilities) at ongoing COST to taxpayers. Some of Monday night's speakers accused council of being “‘chicken”’ for not tearing up the lease there and then — but ignored completely the legal penalties for such a unilateral action, which could conceivably cost taxpayers a bundle. If, however, a proven ma- jority of West Van citizens —- not just council —- says ‘‘no’’ loud and clear to the whole Newcorp con- cept, a reasonable buy-out setile- ment might well be negotiable. Faced with community opposition on that scale, a smart developer with an cye on future business with municipalitites doesn’t hang too tough for his very last legal pound of flesh. Finally, of course, the referen- dum at the Nov. 19 municipal elec- tion is also smart politics. For the next six weeks the project is on hold until the people speak. And the heat’s off council, whose *members seeking a further term #3, can now face the voters claiming clean noses for choosing the “‘democratic’’ option. What better way to make everyone except Newcorp happy — for the moment! vent YOU’D NEVER KNOW from his school record that Stephen Hud- sen, son of North Van’s Keith and Felicity Hudson, has a serious im- Bridge buffoons HE ANNOUNCEMENT of a federal election traditionally inspires party faithful te sacrifice all remaining vestiges of common sense in the initial rush to promote their candidates. . Perhaps the worst example of political haif-wit- tedness in the guise of good old-fashioned enthusiasm and political involvement is the sporadic and danger- ous publicity assaults on local rush hour traffic. North Shore residents, always at the mercy of the pairment. The 9th grade St. Thomas Aquinas student is on the honor roll, enjoys reading, sports and outdoor activities, and com- municates effectively — all this despite severe deafness. Deter- mination to beat the handicap has now won him a 1988-89 Financial Aid Award from the international Alexander Graham Bell Associa- tion for the Deaf, which makes the grants to a select number of pro- mising deaf students who use speech, lip-reading, listening skills and hearing aids to cope with a regular school environment. In Stephen's case, ‘‘master’’ might be a better word, een SIGN-OFF: Want to find out just where those Reform Party typcs are coming from? Drop by for coffee and cookies 2 to 5 Sunday, Oct. 9, at the open house for North Van RP candidate Ron Gamble’s campaign office, 1328 Main at Lynn ... Fromme, Eastview and Lynnmour students met one of their favorite writers last week when Monica Hughes — author of over 20 children's and young adults’ books (Ring-Rise Ring-Set, Sandwriter, etc.) — shared her secrets with them at Lynn Valley Library ... And a belated 100th birthday salute (Sept. 30) to former West Van res- ident Muriel Brawn, now in ex- tended care at Lady Minto Hospi- talon Saltspring. Her son Jack Brawn, retired Li.Col. and 1930s B.C. tennis champion, has also lived many years in West Van. kan WRIGHT OR WRONG: People paid less than they earn often wind up earning less than they’re paid. AND IF THE PCB CARGO SHOUD LOOSE... YOU WILL FIND THESE UNDER YOUR SEA First and Second Narrows bridges, are sitting ducks for placard waving buffoons each time a party organizer dispatches wild-eyed supporters to the north or south ends of either bridges during morning or afternoon rush hours. While the strategy provides optimum exposure for the chosen candidate, it also provides optimum an- noyance to drivers by slowing traffic and creating an unnecessary driving hazard. No one would advocate pouring cold water on the sparks of political involvement, they being in such limited supply, but surely there are less fatuious ways to display them. The coming election, with such monumental issues as free trade and the environment, will decide Canada’s future in a way that no recent election has. Election campaigns should therefore be concen- trating on snd clarifying those issues. They should not be organizing highly visible political circus acts that do more to irritate and alienate than enlighten. sae oe 9% S aT OS et aeaeS Publisher Peter Speck Managing Editor... . Barrett Fisher Associate Editor Noel Wright Advertising Director . Linda Stewart North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and quatitied under Schedule 111, Paragraph INI 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 Nurth Shore, Second Class Mail Registration Number 3885. Subccriptions North and West Vancouver, $25 per year. Maiting rates available on request. Submissions are welcome but we cannot accept sesponsibility tor unsolicited material including manuscripts and pictures } which should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope. 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