MAILBOX

Lautens should know better

Dear Editor:

was not amused by Trevor Laurens” misleading and mischievous article entithed, “Hard to COPE with overtown communists," which appeared in your November 23 issue.

Lautens claims that he writes as a North Shore resident merely observing what has transpired in Vancouver, This is misleading as Lauten: is a regular correspondent of Vancouver's leading daily, The Vancouver Sun.

As such, Lautens knows that COPE policy is developed openty at Community Directions Con- ferences to which members of the public, including representatives of various ethnic communities and neighborhoods, are invited. Lautens also knows that elected COPE politicians are accountable to COPE membership to work to implement that policy.

One of the major differences which distinguishes COPE from the Non-Partisan Association (NPA) is that COPE politicians are united in the quest to imple- ment COPE policy while NPA politicians are only united in their determination to keep the ‘‘social- ist hordes"’ out of office.

Lautens should know that the Sunday meeting -- incidentally held at the home of Libby Davies and Bruce Eriksen, not of Harry Rankin, is to develop strategy and tactics.

Lautens knows that the Van- couver Sun has, subsequent to the election, advised the Civic NDP to abandon civic politics, that Van- couver voters do not want provin- cial and federal parties par- licipating in Vancouver elections. The success of the COPE city councillors — each garnered ap- proximately 20,000 votes mare than did the comparitive NDF city council candidate — results from a proved track record of working closely and effectively with the various neighborhoods of Van- couver on the major issues of af- fordable housing, cheap and effi- cient’ public transportation and improving the quality of the en- vironment, for example.

Lautens knows that other comments are misleading. Both Davies and Eriksen are respected members of the provincial NDP, but it was as COPE activists and neighborhood improvers that they came first and third, respectively, in the recent civic election.

Lautens should know that Sadie Kuehn, COPE president, is also the chairperson of a major policy committee of the provincial NDP. In fact, three of the five table of- ficers of COPE are provincial NDP members.

COPE is committed to a pro- gram to change the direction of Vancouver; that is to stop the steady movement toward a so-called ‘‘world class’? exclusive city in

Alderman slams column

Dear Editor:

The North Shore News must be very proud of its columnist, Trevor Lautens. .

What a brilliant political analy- sis he displayed in his column of Nov. 23, that claimed Vancouver to be further left than Moscow and identified nearly 70,000 Van- couver voters as ‘“‘the booby vote.”*

What a man of our times he is with his tirade against the civic party that won the majority of the aldermanic vote in the Nov. 17 election.

What illuminating political economy he gave us by capturing the essence of Vancouver politics in his impression of the table

manners of Harry Rankin.

What sensitivity and class he showed by spewing out such bit- terness bottled up inside since at- tending a dinner as a guest of honour almost twenty years ago.

This column on Vancouver af- fairs was so remarkable that I can only guess at why it was not published in the Vancouver daily where Mr. Lautens is regularly employed.

Could ic be that the other paper has a standard of decency and professionalism which Mr. Lautens is unencumbered with on the North Shore News?

Bruce Eriksen Alderman City of Vancouver

Buses need telephones

Dear Editor:

On December 4, a pedestrian was hit by a car on the Dollarton Highway near Capilano College. This incident happened right in front of the bus I was on.

Fortunately, I carry a cellular phone and called 9-1-1 for help.

What disturbs me is why our buses are not equipped with

current year.

spayed and neutered dogs.

A.K. Tollstam Treasurer-Collector

THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF NORTH VANCOUVER

E> 14991 DOG LICENCES

+ It is an offence under the Dog Tax and Regulation By- taw to own a dog over the age of four (4) months that is not wear- ing a licence tag issued by The City of North Vancouver for the

If you have purchased a 1990 Dog Licence from the Ci- ty of North Vancouver you will receive a 1991 Dog Licence State- ment early in January, 1991. If you did not purchase a 1990

“Licence or, for some other reason did not receive a statement by January 31, 1991, please contact the Treasury Department at the City Hall, 141 West 14th Street, North Vancouver, Phone 983-7316. Dog Licences may also be purchased at the S.P.C.A. Shetter, 299 Mansfield Place, North Vancouver in person only.

For New Registered Dog Owners proof must be supplied for

Spayed or Neutered Dogs Un-Spayed or Un-Neutered Dogs

cellular phones. Apparently they were promised as far back as Ex- po. It would make sense not only for incidents like these but to have all those extra sets of eyes con- stantly on the road and in contact with emergency authorities could make for a safer community. Richard Blackburn

North Vancouver

$13.00 $30.00

which only the very affluent can live in comfort and ease. COPE has its zoal to transform Van- couver into an inclusive city where al classes can live happily and usefully.

It would have been more useful to focus on COPE’s policies and programs designed to facilitate quality living for all Vancouver residents in this transition decade to the tweaty-first century.

Joha Church COPE secretary Vancouver

“OU HOLD THE KEY TO YOUR FUTURE

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