Dear editor,
This is in response to Don Nickerson’s letter in The Record dated Nov. 12 entitled Homeless referendum discriminatory.
Nickerson quotes me saying that I had written somewhere that there is already social housing in the Valley so any new housing would be redundant. Well, I don’t mind being referenced in this way but it would be nice if it was in context.
More seriously, Nickerson uses my statement about the existence of social housing in the Valley as an argument against the referendum. This I cannot let go by. I fully support the referendum and I greatly encourage people to vote yes.
Nickerson argues that a new CVRD levy of less than $10 per household would be too onerous for property owners and would be discriminatory letting other taxpayers off the hook.
Well, as taxpayers, we do need to be careful about how our money is spent. I, for one, may not support tax money going to support curling clubs, recreation centres, or economic development, but that’s what’s happening here. We just need to get our priorities straight.
Cities all over North America, Europe and elsewhere recognize the importance of subsidizing housing. Victoria invests in housing. Vancouver does. Nanaimo does. Campbell River does.
Yes, there is social housing in the Comox Valley but it’s woefully inadequate. The Salvation Army emergency shelter can’t keep up with demand. There is no transitional housing and no supportive housing.
Let’s get together and support our less fortunate brothers and sisters by voting YES on the referendum Nov.28! It’s the least we can do.
Roger Albert
Cumberland
