Editor: Re: New West arts strategy 'not fully baked', the Record, May 17

The real problem, in my opinion, is that the strategies coming out of New West City Hall are far too baked. Despite years of consultation on one project or another, be it arts strategy, replacement pool plans, skate park relocation and the list goes on, we seem to get the same results, a plan city hall wants but significant parts of the community don't support.

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Why? Because New Westminster City Hall listens but doesn't hear.

I have been challenged by several people of late for my lack of participation in these important decisions in our community while having outspoken criticisms of many or most. I'm writing today to explain why.

Essentially, in my experience, participating is a waste of time, unless, of course, you're buying what city hall is selling.

The public engagement process in this city, and not this city alone by any means, is completely broken if you believe it when they say the purpose is to listen and adapt to the opinions and wishes of those most directly affected. It is my direct experience that city hall does not listen and adapt. In fact, my experience is that city hall is anywhere from ambivalent to down right negative about input from its citizens. Seemingly the only way to get their attention is by petition. On this two-year waste of time, I at least applaud Coun. Mary Trentadue for standing up for her constituents and acknowledging the abject failure to connect with this vitally important community, the Arts. In spite of that, I am hopeful that come Oct. 20 she, and all her fellow councillors and the mayor, gets tossed out of office and that, on a going forwards basis the needs, want and desires of the people who live and work here supersede those of the small number of people who work at city hall who seem to feel that they, and only they, get to decide on what happens in our once fair city.

Harm Woldring, New Westminster