To the editor:
Re: "Central Park: Drowning in deficit," Feb. 29.
The Vision park board continues its bait and switch routine. You might remember last year when the Vision-dominated park board threatened to close washrooms in its bid to slash the budget ordered by city council. This was a cynical attempt to goad the public into action, only to be saved at the last minute by a relenting council. Meanwhile, all the other cuts went through almost unnoticed.
This year's bait and switch was the proposed cuts to the life guard budget. The plan called for the removal of lifeguards from Jericho Beach. Once again, the public rose to the bait and convinced the elected not to cut this all but essential service. Meanwhile, another million-plus in cuts is coming down the line. More cuts to park maintenance and recreational facility maintenance. More "one time only" savings that never seem to get back into the budget.
I thank the incredible work of the community in saving the life guards (and last year in saving our washrooms), but ask that you don't be lulled into a sense of false security. More cuts are coming. Tell the commissioners and councillors enough is enough. Parks and recreation are important. Death by a thousand cuts is not acceptable. Vancouver's beauty is a result of decades of planning, planting, and maintaining our parks, gardens and recreational centres. It's time for full funding of our park board.
Stuart Mackinnon, Former Green Party commissioner
