I attended two Parksville council meetings and one public meeting concerning the re-zoning of 222 Corfield St.
Given what I believe is intentional confusion about what this re-zoning enables; restating it is necessary.
It is to house two desperately needed projects in our region — both of which are well documented to work as well as save tax-payer dollars.
One is the proven successful supportive housing-first approach to working with some of our vulnerable community members.
This enables about 50 of our citizens to get 24-7 support to make the changes they want in their lives while being provided with appropriate housing (hence ‘housing’ not ‘treatment’ first).
The other is a permanent home for the extreme weather shelter.
This service is already provided in our communities. Having a permanent home saves time, money, and human resources in finding and setting up an appropriate location each winter.
There are different sets of rules for each project which serve vulnerable community members in different ways.
Given the rudeness and animosity expressed by a tiny number of those against this re-zoning of 222 Corfield, I am impressed by the professional decorum of Parksville’s mayor, councillors and staff.
I am delighted they ‘went with the science’ rather than cowed by what appears to me a well-funded and professionally organized opposition using tactics consistent with the so-called American ‘conservative’ movement (which isn’t ‘conservative’ at all) outlined and documented in Jane Mayer’s Dark Money.
I feel The NEWS’s reporting on these meetings has unfairly portrayed both sides on this issue as being equally rude and disruptive.
From these meetings, I know what the projects are about.
I am bewildered Coun. Salter doesn’t, given she was at all I attended.
We need to heal our community while refusing to be manipulated through fears and false appeals to a higher purpose.
Yvonne Zarowny
Qualicum Beach
