Dear Editor,
I live in Steveston South. There are two buildings at the end of No. 2 Road, one with the Diplomat Bakery in it. There is a walkway down the centre between the two buildings. It is strata property but the public has access through here — unfortunately, for us.
Although people have been asked to stay in their own communities, they are not doing it. On a day like today, the sun is shining, we have people sitting in the middle section on the strata benches, sometimes right on our private patios. People even set up their lawn chairs and eat their lunches.
At the best of times, it is intrusive, but during a pandemic when people are asked to stay in their own communities, this little corner of Richmond becomes a nightmare for its residents.
The crowds increase and so does the stream of empty coffee cups, masks and gloves people leave behind. The dike itself is not six feet wide and there is a steady stream of people passing each other, many without masks. While masks are not mandatory, people are not social distancing, groups of people are passing other groups of people all day.
I have sent videos to the city of the growing number of people here during the pandemic.
The more they shut things down, the busier Steveston South seems to get, despite people being asked to stay home in their own communities.
There is an ever-increasing number of schools being shut down, and an ever increasing amount of kids out there playing in front of our building or down the centre walkway.
I tried to contact someone as I knew of a family that had confirmed COVID-19 and were still going out into public. I got transferred six times and gave up.
I really wish someone would recognize the ever-increasing risk this community is at from the ever-growing number of tourists in the middle of a pandemic.
Kathleen Gallagher
RICHMOND
