A woman claimed in a Vancouver Courier article this week that when she complained to the City about a shortage of parking spaces in the West End because of the Fireworks, she was told that "it was a privilege to live in the West End".
If true, this is rather disturbing.
Yes, those of us who live in the West End are lucky. The location is convenient to downtown, to the seawall and to Stanley Park. The streets are lined with trees, we have all the advantages of a large population but the feel of a small village. Still, that does not mean that our concerns should be ignored.
Would a city official tell a Shaughnessey matron who called in with a complaint that she should consider herself lucky to live where she does? I don't think so.
To take this bizarre logic to its extreme, residents of the Downtown Eastside should consider themselves lucky. After all, they live within walking distance of downtown! So they should ignore their real problems and count their blessings. Indeed, everyone in Vancouver should consider themselves lucky. After all, they have the privilege of living in a beautiful city with a mild climate, stunning scenery and beautiful beaches. So what if the air is polluted, if urban sprawl is destroying the natural surroundings, if the streets are littered, if hooliganism and crime is on the rise. City Hall is under no obligation to do anything because we're "privileged" to live here.
Posted by wetcoast at August 8, 2003 06:45 PM