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Letters: Residents should haver a say

Giving money to local groups without grant application is wrong

Sooke citizens —  3,435 and counting are being robbed of their vote and input by mayor, council and staff regarding John. Phillips Memorial Park.

Population of Sooke Stats: 2006 — 8,000 residents +/- 2009 — 9,699 residents, 2011 — 11,405 residents.

The report was drawn up and presented in Nov. 2006. Since then nothing more has happened except staff drawing up a set of contracts under the radar, making arrangements with minority groups with an almost immediate urgency to proceed.

The mayor has to realize that this is not a top down decision as he may have been used to in his previous employment, but a democratically decided outcome instead, 3,435 citizens and counting are disenfranchised by council and administration.

Nearly one-third of Sooke’s population is effectively being excluded from the decision as to what is the best plan for this only unfettered green space remaining in Sooke for years to come.

The conscientious neglect by Sooke council to have any signage indicating this is a park is remarkable and noteworthy by it’s continued omission over the years. The report is completely out of date by now and the granting of $3,600 of tax payers and voters money to the proponent is preposterous. Since when does a proponent of a +/- $200,000 possible development not even have the barest initial capital? Funds, if any, must go to the development of the $750,000  park on the east side of the Sooke River, concentrating the recreation potential for sports where it belongs.

Fred von Ilberg

Sooke