Editor:
On behalf of the former tenants of the Lockyer Road Mobile Home Park, we respond to the SCRD CAO’s comments regarding evictions in the park (Coast Reporter, July 14):
1. The SCRD decided to “pursue compliance” only after the Planning Department requested an “in camera” meeting with the board in April 2022. Perhaps the new board could disclose what occurred during this non-public meeting?
2. How can the SCRD claim to make decisions equitably when four families were evicted as a direct result of its actions? Yes, the SCRD requested those tenants be evicted “compassionately.” But there is no such thing as a “compassionate” eviction – all evictions are examples of cruel, yet bloodless social violence, normalized and legitimized by legislation that is, on balance, very property friendly.
3. One director consistently voted against equity in the Lockyer project saying: “We have these bylaws for a reason.” In so remarking, she abdicated her responsibility to demonstrate leadership in creating affordable housing. Later, she told the Coast Reporter that the province doesn’t provide the right “tools” to the SCRD to assist it in solving the problems of affordable housing! The former board of the SCRD had the tool to temporarily relax zoning – they declined to use it. Why?
4. Most of the families evicted from Lockyer – because of SCRD actions – left the Coast. Do the former directors see the irony given the one former director who consistently supported the project (Lori Pratt) was herself evicted from her rental unit? She too was forced to join the ranks of affordable home refugees.
Housing is a “rigged game” on the Coast. Zoning regulations and OCPs primarily exist to maintain the financial value of property. “NIMBY” is the anthem of property owners and the enemy of equity. The radical inflation of property values on the Coast has dramatically increased the volume of the indifferent NIMBY chorus. Hence, the deaf ears of SCRD directors and the planning department.
Shame on anyone who remains willfully deaf to the quiet voices in our community who aren’t on title.
Ken Carson and Kayla Denis
Gibsons
