Time to Move on

This is from the Delta Optimist.

I will post my Blog version here shortly.....

Believing in a cause is important and having checks and balances in our ordinary lives helps us to reach individual and societal goals.

Not many are prepared to stand for a cause and publicly expose themselves and their feelings but those that do should be congratulated for standing just the same. When a fight is lost it can be painful but we should collectively realize that not all battles could be won.

Comments and letters published in this paper over the past week compel me to address what I see is a problem that is looking for an opportunity.

Remember he show “Happy Days�? Critics loved the show until an episode where the “Fonz� jumped his Bike over a pool with a shark in it. The show was stupid and Happy Days tanked after that.

The term “jumping the Shark� is now used to refer to people that have taken issues just a little too far. Some in this community who had credibility are starting to lose it and the sad part is that they don’t even realize it.

When I read about “lack of process� and “lip service� and “undemocratic process� I get a little anxious and wonder if people understand the term democracy or what public process actually means.

In the case of the Shato proposal, the Municipality clearly and unequivocally explained to the public what the process was and how it is to proceed. Citizens on both sides of the issue were given several opportunities to offer their concerns or support and council was able to listen, observe and make up their minds on this particular issue.

This is called public process and is a fine example of democracy in action.

The idea that staff was running with this issue and making the calls must be offensive to them and our elected politicians (the ones that bring and read their binders that is), not to mention me as a voter and tax payer.

The suggestion that the public is being deceived by secret plans to further develop the Tsawwassen Golf Course beyond the scope that has been carefully articulated, is offensive to those who support the plan. Insinuating that the developer and staff have hoodwinked us makes the community look stupid. How do we feel about that community?

World renowned planner Andres Duany was in town a few weeks back and made a statement suggesting the notion that those who have clear expertise in matters relating to the environment need to work harder to integrate their expertise in to process when it is clear that it would help in the community building exercise.

I hope that this can be the case as our community continues to evolve and to meet the daunting challenges of supporting needed growth and environmental stewardship at the same time.

We do not need zealots in this community. We need hard working people who will stand for what they believe in but ultimately be prepared to sit at a table and hash out compromise in the truest sense of the word. It is all about give and take.

Anything less is jumping the shark.