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Is necklace really necessary?

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

What does $5,000 get you these days?

Well, for mayors and former mayors — a whole lot of bling. I am referring to the $5,000 Bates and Moncrief in all their wisdom decided it was necessary to spend on a necklace.

According to Bates, “We don’t want to be looked at as a backwards community.”

Me, I’ve never perceived Cumberland as “backwards.” Unique, well-situated, alive with young people coming here to take advantage of our mountain biking and hiking trails, yes — backwoods, maybe.

But “backwards?” And all for lack of a $5,000 necklace?

Now me, I see $5,000 as enough money for a skatepark. Truly.

Recently, while at the skatepark at the LINC Centre in Courtenay, I noticed a wood half pipe and skate ramp for sale for $500. I thought if you put that on a flatbed, brought it to Cumberland, put it in a park under a roof supported by a few posts — voila! — a skatepark.

And with any support from the community (which has always been tremendous in this regard — Coal Hills BMX being a prime example and something the mayor is quite content to put a road through), additional ramps, etc. could be built for an even bigger skatepark.

A unique skatepark, something our youth can take pride in and enjoy.

Next time you are feeling low self-esteem, Fred, may I suggest a toupée or a red sports car — it will be your dime, not ours, the taxpayers’.

The only backwards here is the continuing lack of imagination displayed by a mayor and a former mayor.

Grant Shilling,

Cumberland



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