Dear editor,
It was with much amusement that I read through last week’s letter regarding Comox council’s failing grade by a frequent and verbose letter writer to The Comox Valley Record’s opinion pages.
I suppose perspective is relative, but as a Comox resident I have found the council and mayor’s office have achieved solid marks over the past term and I believe that instead of trying to find fault with decisions that don’t necessarily meet our own personal metrics we try and look at the broader picture.
The Town of Comox, within the larger Comox Valley, is a study in contrasts, with viewpoints on a wide range of issues that span the ideological spectrum. What I find so disappointing is that the most vocal, harsh and inflexible critics tend to be from the NIMBY crowd, who invariably foist their opinions on the rest of the community with little thought or care as to contrasting viewpoints.
The lack of respect shown towards councils in both Comox and Courtenay is troublesome; these are members of our community who are working within the mandates set before them. While it is well within our “rights” to hold our elected officials accountable, in my opinion it goes beyond the boundaries of good taste to publicly try and shame people because they do not hold the same linear view of what the NIMBY crowd wants.
We all live in this wonderful area we call the Comox Valley. Let’s strive to honour the past, embrace change that benefits ALL generations and support one another, while building an inclusive community that respects all divergent points of views.
Derek Costantino
Comox