LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- September 09, 2008
To The Editor:
Do you feel safe and secure in your home?
Well, your fellow citizens who live in manufactured home parks do not!
These parks have become targets for developers over the last ten years. I personally know how this feels. I was a resident of one of four parks bought out by one developer in Coquitlam. This is the reason I fight for residents in BC and will keep on fighting until we are safe and secure when we move into a manufactured home park.
If you live in a manufactured home park, you could be next. What can you do to protect yourself as well as help other residents?
Campaign to the BC provincial government for more protection and better compensation if and when your park is sold for redevelopment. Campaign to your local government for their support to make sure you receive adequate compensation for the loss of your home and not just the buildings. The assessed value of your home is based only on the building and not the decks, outbuildings, lawns, trees, etc.
And let's say that your unit can be moved, where are you going to move it to? If it's older than five years, most manufactured home parks will not take it. If you can move your home, the truck transporters who would be moving it, most of them are under contract to the manufactured home builders and you will be fit into a slot whenever and if ever they are available.
At what cost? Thousands of dollars! More than the 12 months rent the provincial government says you will receive.
Princeton has a Relocation Assistance Policy. That is great! But, from personal experience, developers will come up with various methods to make you sell your home or move out and leave it for little or no money. You will be scared into selling and/or leaving. You need your town to step in at this point to protect you.
Now, if you are a senior or a low income family, where will you go? Seniors cannot get a mortgage at their age. Low income families cannot afford the high cost of mortgages.
Affordable housing? What's that? Very few municipalities have enough affordable housing to accommodate all their needs.
Manufactured home parks are an ideal source of affordable housing. Why not lobby your town council to come up with incentives for manufactured home park owners to keep their parks as affordable housing - tax breaks are one idea.
Your town is going to see a major increase in population and facilities in the next 15 plus years to accommodate the possible opening of the copper mine. Approximately 275 full time jobs, maybe another 400 secondary jobs to support the mine, will be filled and your town will have to grow to accommodate this increase in population.
Where is the housing to accommodate this increase? Even if the mine itself sets up housing, your town will have to grow just to fulfill their needs.
Now is the time to get involved. Don't wait and see what happens. It will be too late.
Protect yourself, protect your manufactured home parks, and protect your town.
If you work together now, Princeton will benefit and the citizens of Princeton will benefit.
Thank you,
- Julia Gully, Merritt & District Manufactured Homeowners Association
Editor;
Today (September 5) I am announcing that I am running for the position of Regional Director for Area H. My wife and I have lived in the area for 21 years and have been involved in farming, running a business as well as being active volunteers in many community organizations, events and charities. Throughout this period I have been very aware of events and developments taking place in our area and have been supportive of new and local businesses while attempting to bring awareness to those that might threaten our well being.
I think it is safe to say that the vast majority of residents were opposed to the coal fired power plant that was to be sited in our community. In fact it was our strong opposition, along with many others from around the province, that caused the government to re-examine its position and place a ten year moratorium on all coal fired power generation in the province. The coalbed methane issue now being pushed forward in the community appears even more critical. Living as close as we do to large urban areas we can continue to expect more problem industries unacceptable to the lower mainland. Medical waste disposal and industrial dry cleaning operations were both turned down by the town and yet the dry cleaning operation ended up in Area H, eventually incurring serious legal problems related to the handling of toxic wastes.
I am however very positive about the potential reopening of the mine, believing that there is no better place for a new mine than on an existing mine site, and, of course, of 274 high paying jobs will certainly benefit the entire community. While I support and encourage new industry I believe that we can and must manage our area intelligently and sustainably, protecting and preserving our most valuable resources, clear air, clean water and the environment that makes up this wonderful rural lifestyle we so much enjoy.
I am participating in this election because I believe that it is a responsibility of the Regional Director to become aware of both potentially beneficial and troublesome industries and to work with the entire constituency to assess the associated risks and rewards so that informed decisions are reached. The sheer extent of Area H dictates that these and all other important decisions should not be made in a vacuum by one individual but rather through a strong, diverse and transparent APC board that meets and reports on a regular basis. I believe as well that voters should be given a choice for any elected position. I therefore respectfully offer my name as a candidate.
- Brad Hope, Princeton
