Letter to the Editor

(Warning, there may be some satire in the observations below, so omit, or read twice). Apparently, many of the ‘Old Guard of Cranbrook’ decided in the past election to focus on attacking potholes and taxes and threw out the former Group of Seven (GOS).

Now we have a new GOS (minus one or two) who are dragging their feet at supporting the local arts council acquisition of a desirable facility. Personally, I think potholes and taxes should both be increased. The first to profit the businesses of the 10-plus tire and 15-plus auto repair businesses in town, and the second to increase the contingency fund for: (1) carrying out feasibility studies to show that no work is needed or too expensive to do; (2) raising salaries of city staff and workers and the RCMP; and (3) leaving a large treasure chest for the future GOS that may take office in 3.7 years.

If we are not careful, the rising storm over the art funding and restoring old and useless heritage buildings will again divide Cranbrook, just as the East Hill debacle did five years ago. (I’m still upset about how that turned out). The addition of fluoridation to our water and deer culling (or not) are other popular issues that are effective in maintaining divisions and disharmony in our town. One popular motto that has arisen is, “When we don’t harmonize, we can vandalize,” as demonstrated to be effective by deer culling opponents.

God forbid that we fund new ventures that do not appeal to the majority of voters in the past municipal election. We need more letters like those by Ms. Revie and Ms. Dodgson (Townsman-10 April and 14 April) to hold our feet to the fire. I suggest that true lasting happiness and richness of life is found in cavernous streets (that we still have) and a large treasure chest (that we don’t have), and certainly not in the transient emotional highs experienced by inspiration from whimsical historical displays of art, culture and music. Those seem frivolous.

I wonder whether the GOS has considered selling city hall to fill the coffers. If it sold they could then take up residence in the long-vacant ‘Super Value’ building to give that eyesore a new purpose. Or perhaps they might also consider selling the clock tower.

When Bill C-51 goes into effect, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service might well purchase it for placement of their personnel to keep a lookout for unsavoury characters in our midst.

Jack Loeppky,

Cranbrook

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