Editor,
For many years I have lived in Squamish and watched how my taxes have been wasted on the Nexen site.
Isn't it up to $9 million? There is nothing to show for it except for a dog-walking trail.
This week, new plans - a hotel ["Oceanfront plan takes tangible steps," The Chief, Nov. 5].
Do we not have six in Squamish already? Is there not one in receivership? The rest, I understand, are running at half occupancy.
Yes, we should make it harder out there so they can close their doors and leave with the rest of the businesses who cannot afford the taxes.
An arts building, we sure need that, as it will create a lot of good paying jobs.
Yes, 250 people came out and thought your idea was great, what about the other 18,000? Well, we know there is no tax base in Squamish to get this money from.
Be honest and tell the people what they're going to pay for all this. What we need are decent-paying jobs. You have a waterfront that should be used as a port. Can you imagine jobs that would be there and the tax base?
The Squamish Terminals is a good example. Look at the jobs and taxes they pay.
As I read in an outdoor magazine, the average rock climber or windsurfer will spend $8 per day. I read we had approximately 40,000 of those people visit Squamish. That's $320,000 for the year. Same as three longshoremen living in Squamish.
It is up to the taxpayers of Squamish to tell you what we want to with the waterfront. A referendum should be held before you waste one more cent.
Ian Breimo
Squamish
