Letters

Don’t relax parking for downtown tower,hotel

Editor: Re: 44-storey tower with hotel proposed in downtown New Westminster.

I’m very concerned about the proposed hotel you write about. You say their plan is to have less parking than legally required

I think this is a big mistake to allow new builds to badger city hall to lower its standards in the amount of parking required Parking is always a problem and will get worse.

Wendy Galvin

Wind, solar energy are critical for B.C.’s future

Editor: Re: Keith Baldrey B C lacks power to meet climate goals: report (New West Record, Opinion, March 30)

Keith only tells half the story While true the current (no pun) supply will be inadequate, measures are being taken to increase it and also to lower demand. B.C. has thousands of hectares of roofs on which solar panels can be installed. The recent federal budget offers one of several assistance schemes

Also, our increasingly windy climate lends itself to turbines.

These do not have to be giant 100-metre-tall towers, but smaller vertical cylindrical ones which can be located on traffic islands, etc , all over cities The wind blows at night, too, by the way.

Remember, LNG is a relatively short-term energy source. If we are serious about ending fossil fuel use, LNG has to go The electricity it uses then becomes available to the grid Hopefully, our children and grandchildren will have less severe weather to deal with if we do as Keith says: taking bold action. Now!

Colin Dover

Non-smokers can’t use the parklet anymore

Editor: If smoking is the problem, then restrict tobacco sales, Letters to the editor, New West Record, March 30.

Tobacco sales are already restricted, and it’s not that hard to buy weed.

The only discrimination at the parklet is perpetrated by the smokers who make it an unwelcoming space for its intended users: non-smokers

It has always been designated as a nonsmoking area, and when it was first opened, there were games for children to play while their caregivers sat and had conversation and a cup of coffee with friends People that work in the area would sit there on their breaks for some fresh air

It’s too bad that the intended purpose of this area has been ruined by people who absolutely refuse to clean up after themselves

Lisa Finnigan

Let’s make Hyack Square a positive space

Editor: Re: Outside/In festival

For the first time in a long time, positive activity was the focus at Hyack Square on six dates.

Hyack Square usually sits empty, dingy, dirty and grey and becomes home to some challenges from open drug use to human waste issues I walk through the downtown area on a daily basis and have seen the challenges, but rarely see anything fun, positive and exciting taking place.

So why do the Hyack Square events need to end? Funding? Staff resources? What would it take to have something continue even on a smaller scale?

Don’t get me wrong, I will enjoy large festivals taking place downtown, but these smaller events are also wonderful for the community

I hope that mayor and council will focus some of their time and resources to make this happen, so that Hyack Square and the downtown businesses can benefit from this positive energy and sense of community that the events create in the empty, dingy, dirty and grey square

Thank you.

David Minoru

Got thoughts to share? Email editorial@ newwestrecord.ca.

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