The Editor,
Re. "On Nelson's 'drivel'" (Letters, The Tri-City News, July 13) and "Develop or protect - what to do with the Riverview Hospital lands?" (Face to Face, The Tri-City News, July 13).
I have to give a thumbs down for Ken Norton's letter to the editor about the side of your Face to Face column written by Jim Nelson. And I give The Tri-City News thumbs up for the Face to Face feature in general for the work of both columnists, Mr. Nelson and Andy Radia.
I like the format of presenting (usually) opposing views on a topic. The Face to Face columns about what to do with the Riverview lands that happened to be published one page before Mr. Norton's letter are a perfect example.
In this case, I agree with Mr. Nelson's view that we invest in the Riverview lands by both retaining the park space and improving our much-needed mental health resources. And I disagree with Mr. Radia's view that we should bulldoze the place, sell it, then take the money and run.
These lands are far too valuable a public resource for the community and for the province not to hang on to them. If they are sold, what would we have after 10 years and what would we have lost? Besides, the BC Rail deal reminds us that it is often only the crooks and their lawyers who really get to take the money and run.
But I'm sure there are some out there who agree with Mr. Radia and enjoyed his presentation of the argument - that's what the feature is all about.
Some artfully applied rhetoric and the occasional bit of humour go a long way towards getting people thinking and talking about issues. If someone thinks this is "drivel" repeated 52 weeks of the year, then I'm surprised that they would keep reading it.
Ken Murray, Port Moody
