To the Editor,
Re: Hilton seeks park lease for waterfront project, Aug. 14.
I had to read the article twice just to believe what I was reading and I must say I still don’t believe it. A public park is just that – public. Not semi-public, not partially public, but public. The business decision of the year is going to be to lease it as it ‘is not used much.’ What’s next?
I recall – in fact just as recently as the fireworks and marine festival that brought so many people to Nanaimo – that there was limited space to sit and enjoy the fireworks. The ‘useless’ space was full. Just the notion of a international company getting the rights of a publicly owned park for their benefit – because don’t kid yourself folks, it is only for their benefit – is sick.
Is everything for sale? Why not the rest of the park space in Nanaimo? Should we not do a study or have a commitee studying on how many people actually use these places and if they don’t, why not just flog them to some corporation for their use so we can maybe rent it back from them or pay admission? What a joke.
Every time I hear this city council make another decision I bow my head in shame as a resident. Bring on the election; we need a clean slate.
Kristian ValingNanaimo
