To the editor:
Re: "Lack of public input on major policies weakens democracy," June 15.
Geoff Olson has it right, except democracy is not just a hallucination provincially and federally, it's also an illusion at the city level. Extreme and unwanted rezonings have been thrust upon neighbourhood after neighbourhood in Vancouver, despite strong, organized and sustained opposition.
In the West End, we've lost Maxine's at Bidwell and Davie (c. 1905) for a tower (STIR program), will lose the Legge house (1899) on Harwood Street for a tower, and have already lost a vital community asset, St. John's church at 1401 Comox St. (since 1906) because of a proposed rezoning for a tower (STIR). And despite almost 13,000 people signing a petition and Mayor Robertson saying the project was on hold (before the last election), 1401 Comox still went ahead to public hearing June 11 and 13-essentially unchanged-with a council decision to be made June 27, even though our community plan process is just starting. It's time to rise up neighbours.
I feel sorry for people suffering to achieve democracy in other parts of the world. If only they knew.
Greg Helten, Vancouver
