As the municipal election is fast approaching, I would like to remind the citizens of Squamish about some of the questionable decision-making that certain council members have made and they are still running for office. Earlier in the year, we had an illegal skatebowl being built under the bridge to Quest University. This pirate project was approved, with conditions, by district council despite various objections from municipal staff, RCMP, the Fire Department and a vast majority of the affected landowners in the area. These reasons include the fact that this skatebowl is for single use and is for advanced skaters, which means it poses many risks for the young children in the neighbourhood who are not yet skilled enough to utilise the facilities in a safe way. Further, there are the obvious concerns of safety, noise, pollution and accountability that has never been sufficiently addressed. But who needs to consider such things when deciding what is best for the community? Oh yeah, our district council!
Now, we all know how a municipality works, we have bylaws that are put in place that not only keep the order, but they are also meant to provide continuity and safety for the citizens. When Bryan Raiser, Susan Chapelle, Ted Prior and Patricia Heintzman decided to give this skatebowl a conditional go-ahead, they may not have overtly broken any of their mandated duties as council members, but they created uncertainty and controversy for the town of Squamish. People are starting to think, and act on the thought that, if they want something done, or if they want to build a project, they don’t need any permit or even proper zoning, if you get council on board after getting caught, council will get the rest of the law abiding citizens of this town to bend over and try it out for a year.
We have a lot of space to develop here, but it takes planning. Why not have a council that will direct how our town develops rather than one that merely reacts to these roguish whims of self-interested anarchists who feel they can do whatever they want, wherever they want as we watch council just roll over and agree to it after the fact? Please vote and vote wisely. Let’s try to get some real leadership in this town that makes us proud!
Jim Raymond
Squamish
Jim Raymond told The Squamish Chief he is not involved with any municipal election campaign.
