To the Editor,
Two members of Save Linley Valley West were served with court action after a very small protest in October. This is nothing more than a SLAAP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) which is intended to censor, intimidate and silence critics. It is the duty of our court system to shield citizens from improper intimidation when exercising our freedom of speech, to be heard with respect to issues of public concern.
Save Linley Valley West has been working for years with developers, the City of Nanaimo, etc. to save our sensitive wetlands and to no avail. The rights of the group and petitions to mayor and city council have been ignored – 6,000 signatures, many appearances before city council and these voices have been ignored.
I ask the mayor and city council, why are you allowing very high-density development in a very sensitive wetlands area? You are allowing areas to be drained, natural, beautiful wetlands where wildlife exists. The City of Nanaimo appears to be removing our needed green spaces and to be destroying our natural wildlife. This is why people move here. You should be embracing our natural beauty, not destroying it.
People of Nanaimo need to know your taxes will be going up to support this development. A plan for Linley Valley Road to extend from Turner Road will involve the purchase of private property. Who pays for additional fire trucks, garbage trucks, schools, snow removal, water pumps? Taxpayers.
Nanaimo does not need to put high density on every green space. Our traffic flow is terrible and dangerous in many areas. We do not want to become a bedroom community for Vancouver.
This is nothing more than greed and money for developers, real estate agents and the City of Nanaimo.
A.J. RuckerNanaimo
