Moonfist’s letter in the Sooke News Mirror of Aug. 22, had one lucid comment. When speaking of the legacy left by Janet Evans and Evan Parliament, he expressed the hope that ‘it is strong enough to withstand both the editor of the Sooke News Mirror and those that were elected.’
Rest assured, Moonfist, the legacy left by those two will live and haunt this community for decades to come. Their signatures enacting documents relating to the Prestige Hotel, will be a constant reminder of their place in the history of Sooke.
With Prestige paying taxes for municipal purposes at $66,000 plus or minus, annually, it will take Sooke taxpayers close to 20 yrs. to recoup the $1,500,000 Janet Evans and Evan Parliament donated to the Prestige group on our behalf. Add to this the $660,000 in Development Cost Charges that were never paid, thanks to yet another endorsed document; and the $800,000 spent on property for the boat launch, which another pair of signatures placed under a blanket easement in favour of Prestige, to make us ‘invitees’ on that land, and now we can remember them for close to $3,000,000 lost to us by the stroke of two pens. We will never recoup the legacy of lost dollars left to us by the former mayor and CAO.
While Moonfist wanders through his philosophical world, scolding those who do not share his approach to issues, I give thanks every day for those who are prepared to take a stand like the editor of the Sooke News Mirror; those who in elected office try to deal fairly with issues in
protecting our community; and ordinary folks who get involved and make their opinions known. The enemy is apathy.
Gail Hall
Sooke