To the editor:
Re: "Dunbar needs seniors facilities," Letters, Oct. 31.
Letter writer Erin Coulter attempts to throw a "social" mo-lotov cocktail into Vancouver's development debate. Under-standing recent history in Vancouver, the elderly in a neighour-hood like Dunbar are not "the wealthy." They may be sitting' on expensive real estate now, but these elderly are yesteryear's hard-working people (teachers, librarians, plumbers, carpenters, etc.). Dunbar was once a very middle-class neighbourhood where these people raised their families here.
Nobody will argue against the need for more seniors' accommodations - throughout Vancouver. The subject proposal is for non-assisted living.
The proposed accommodations are not only outrageously expensive but also against community planning policy and are out of line with current zoning bylaws. It is impractical as proposed. It would be a non-player for every senior citizen that I've talked to. Dunbar wants seniors accommodations, but as "the people" want it - not what this developer-driven council is forcing upon them.
Is it wrong to question development that goes counter to civic bylaws, or, wrong to question a city council that denies and ignores almost every neighbourhood group in the city? From the Downtown Eastside Residents' Association to Shaughnessy, associations are speaking out against council about how they are not listening to the people' who elected them. Yes, the Downtown Eastside and Shaugh-nessy are now working together Erin - so get with the program!
Erin's comments about "heads in asses and being out of touch" could quite easily be portrayed by certain people's lack of critical thought due to being 'spoon-fed' their facts (sic) by the twitter-sphere. May I suggest trying to get your facts from somewhere other than your iPhone.
Gerard Charlton, Vancouver
