Opinion

Dear Editor News of the City of Burnaby year-end surplus is an opportunity for those of not familiar with how this occurred to ask those who are. I have made inquiries and learned that this is due to e.g.

The transit plebiscite appears to have degenerated from a Yes versus No battle to a doom versus gloom fight. The past couple of weeks saw two good examples of the hysteria either side likes to employ.

There’s no more sacred or noble exercise a citizen can perform than casting a ballot. Except when they don’t bother to do it.

What do taxpayers have the right to know, or need to know, when top brass in city positions are shown the door? In the last Burnaby NOW we published a story about the former Burnaby school district superintendent’s golden handshake.

What makes a good story? A hero with whom we can empathize. A villain we can blame. These are features of stories we have been told since we were children. The no side in B.C.'s transit plebiscite keeps telling us there are plenty of villains.

Dear Editor: Re: Burnaby’s surprise $100-million surplus. Put in the simplest terms, that amounts to almost a quarter of the year’s operating cost for the city, or just under half of a year’s property tax revenue.

Dear Editor: I read with interest the article in the recent Burnaby Now (Campaign more about Clark than Lee, Our View, April 17) regarding the MLA Richard Lee recall campaign. I met Mr. Lee a while ago, and he seemed a nice man.

Dear Editor Does Burnaby want to gamble on a toxic oil spill? The proposed major expansion of the Kinder Morgan oil export facility in Burnaby is a significant threat to Burnaby citizens.

Re: New ice rink in the works, Burnaby NOW, April 17. Dear Editor More ice time and more floor time! The Burnaby Minor Lacrosse Club is also looking forward to a new arena in South Burnaby.

The inside of a voting booth is meant to be the most private of places, but our provincial political parties wouldn’t mind stepping in there with you.