To the editor:
Re: "Property values remain stable," Jan. 9.
It is time once again to pay our property taxes for 2013. The rates have gone up steadily, leaving many of us wondering why City of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»services have been decreasing in our "green" city.
For the past six months there have been two (soon to be three) new property developments in our West Side Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»lane. Two of them will include laneway houses.
Prior to construction, our lane was pleasant and in good condition. Now, the condition has deteriorated significantly. Ongoing traffic from trucks has polluted and damaged the lane - mud pits are everywhere. Garbage and greens are frequently not collected. The lane is not functional and serves only as a delivery option for the construction sites. Many of us have complained to the city requesting that they bring some gravel to fill in the pits. The city takes no responsibility and places the onus on the developers to clean up the lanes and pay for any damage.
Our leaves were placed for pickup outside for five weeks and despite complaints to the head of sanitation, they remain debagged and wet.
We again called the city. They promised to pick up within a week. It didn't happen. We called again and were given a special work order escalation and their promise to pick up.
The leaves are still here. Another phone call and the city claims they were picked up Dec .20. They were not. They reopened the file. On Jan. 7, the leaves were still sitting in our muddy neglected lane.
It appears the City of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»only pays attention to the big spenders - developers.
Jenny Wright, Vancouver
