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Power to the People (09.29.00)
YYYYYYEEEEEHHHHAAAAaaaahhhhh. Man I tell ya, this is quite a feeling. Where do you start? As you know by now C.H.I.P.S. won! The woodchip and (this is my favorite part) hog fuel storage facility got the big ol' cease and desist last weekend.
What a feeling eh? I was expecting some elation around now anyway what with the Olympics on. But nothing quite like the feeling the moment the news was announced. Only after running naked (figuratively of course) through the streets celebrating did I calm myself to ask what so many of us are asking... What happens now?
Well this is the news as I see it. The judge in no uncertain terms ruled the facility was heavy and the zoning was light. And word around the campfire is, if (and unfortunately it's a big IF) C.H.I.P.S. gets all the money back from the legal costs, that money - raised by the people - will go directly into developing the downtown core. Speaking of putting your money where your mouth is, many people are tossing around very big figures estimating how many municipal dollars were spent by our "elected officials"(see I can be polite) in their quest to destroy our town's center with a woodchip and hog storage facility.
If I may insert a quote by our well respected mayor at this time "They're biting the hand that feeds them, I think they need to get a real life and a real job and contribute to society"(this a quote on her feelings about those filthy hippies sent up the river. But it just fit so well here don't you think?)
So this brings us to the events of Tuesday, a day Ian Sutherland warned us about while celebratory beers were quaffed. You see, the game is not nearly over. Sure we kicked some ass but the ball is now in their court and there are still hands to be played. GBA has no doubt submitted a rezoning application that Mayor and council will have to address. To Corinne's credit she did state publicly that if/when GBA applies for rezoning it will be handled in all the proper channels with public input.
An interesting point now arises. When this was first voted on it was thought it had to go through because there were no other locations. Did they even look? Mayor Lonsdale continually said there were no other locations, but wait what's this... Inferior was quoted in the Sun saying it would seriously consider a proposal to build a wood chip facility on an UNUSED five hectare site already zoned heavy industrial. Well well, think they'll do it? Oh oh, if a move like that was made BCR would have to enter the picture. But that's OK everyone already knows how easy they are to get along with.
So what now? Now you speak up! Yes you, with the boiling blood and newsprint stained fingers, it's time you let them know what you think! You see Mayor and council are STILL calling us a vocal minority. Please stop laughing, it's not funny. Even with all that's gone on, that is still their perception. So it looks like the only way past their blinders is to all shout at once. Write letters to the editor of all the papers, write or e-mail the councilors, or better yet, give them a call. Now I'm about to give you the Mayor and Council's phone numbers but before you use them please, take a big breath in and out, calm yourself and state your views calmly. It won't do anyone any good if you just tear into them. But please phone, we have to wake them up and show just how many of us really do give a rats ass about our town. Corinne Lonsdale 898-5540, Paul Lalli 898-4874 Cheryl Bass 898-9395, Wendy Magee 898-9841, Rick King - 892-8292, Raj Kahlon 892-5011, and Shelly Smith 898-9587. As for emails the only ones I had at press time were shelly@shellysmith.com, corinne@mayorlonsdale.com, and admdept@district.squamish.bc.ca
Bryan continues to fight the good fight straight
out of Squampton'
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