Editor:
Re: “House rich and people poor,” Editorial, Aug. 2.
I am astonished at the callousness of many of our residents in regards to the housing shortage for RCMP and other needed people. Real estate is twice the value or more than when I first moved here. We also have greedy people who are basically charging almost their entire mortgage as rent. It’s wrong. I’m not talking about those who have a large mortgage and are getting some help by renting; I’m talking to those who charge rent that is 80 per cent of their mortgage. Don’t kid yourself – it happens and if you don’t know that maybe you should try talking to some people outside your privileged circle.
Perhaps these greedy people will wake up one day when they call the police or ambulance and are informed that there’s nobody they can dispatch.
The rental market is abysmal here, and those who don’t realize that should keep their mouths shut. One couple had to pay out of pocket to get their place professionally tested for mould because the landlord wouldn’t admit there was mould and won’t do anything about it. This is not a one-off. This is normal and happens all the time.
As a community, we did miss out on experienced police officers. To those who think that the RCMP are being “too picky,” why don’t you move to “those” neighbourhoods yourself? It’s unlikely that you ever would. To those who think that their rate of pay should be more than adequate, I think you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. But by all means, go have a dip in your pool to cool down after reading this.
Maybe we should make RCMP and other needed professionals live in tents in the forest. I hear that’s becoming quite popular.
Alicia Passmore, Gibsons
