Dear Editor,
Re: “Richmond mayor commits to helping residents without homes”
In his letter to the News, the mayor highlights that 1,400 invitations were sent out for four in-person sessions, and one online chat, to discuss the supportive housing project at Cambie and Sexsmith. These sessions have been cancelled as part of the housing minister’s suspension of the project until after the provincial election.
Of the four, in-person sessions, only a maximum of 30 persons were permitted to register for each. That would only permit a maximum of 120 persons to register for the in-person sessions, out of 1,400 people allegedly invited. This is a classic case of gatekeeping.
How can the mayor endorse a process that is deliberately designed to suppress public participation and input?
If 1,400 invitations were sent out, more should be done to accommodate at least even a quarter or more of that number. Four, 30-person max sessions plus an impersonal online chat do not constitute a healthy public engagement process.
The math does not add up, and in this case, it does not encourage greater transparency or scrutiny. It seems the mayor and proponents of low-barrier housing want to sweep the inconvenience of public engagement under the rug.
Sheldon Starrett
Richmond, B.C.
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