Editor:
I recently attended the public hearing for Gibsons revised official community plan and have since learned that 388 letters were received by Town staff on the matter. Amazingly, 44 per cent (172) of those letters were multiple copies signed by the same individuals … a variation on the robocall technique.
The same group, dominated by the five defeated candidates and their campaign organizers, monopolized the microphones at the hearing. They made the first 20 to 25 comments at the microphones and garnered applause (even though it had been requested that no one be applauded or booed) — not from a majority of those in attendance, as has been reported, but from a maximum of 60 attendees from a crowd of 200 (I counted carefully, recognizing that it would seem like more to those sitting at the front of the room).
Even though they were soundly defeated in November, of course these people are free to express their opinion in our democratic society. However, I would expect them to show a little more respect for the democratic system. Submitting robo-letters and dominating the agenda by lining up at the microphones until attendees begin to leave the meeting is a form of bullying.
So democracy is “for us to listen only and shut up.” Very democratic indeed.
Bernard Leveille, Gibsons
