The Editor,
Last month a technician knocks on my door saying he was here to install a smart meter.
He took off the old meter and found he could not replace the old one. He came back to the door to tell me the paneling on the house was blocking the box and that he would let B.C. Hydro know.
A few days later, a girl from Hydro called to tell me I would have to hire a carpenter to make the amendments needed.
I told her no, I'm not hiring anybody. She then told me I could ask a neighbour or family member to do it.
I told her that I don't know anyone willing to go near that electric box with a saw.
The girl then told me that all I had to do was shut off the breaker to the house.
I then informed this girl that I was no longer comfortable with the idea of installing this box after reading the letter from the leader of the Green Party which stated that the party still has concerns with the safety of these smart boxes.
I further stated that I also had concerns as my grandson sleeps on the other side of where the box would be installed.
The girl assumed that my grandson is a baby so suggested I get a baby monitor.
So what? If he were a baby, he could call out in the middle of the night, "Help me grandma, my brain is being fried?"
So another technician comes on Sept. 8. I explain the problem the first technician had and also the idiotic instruction from the girl at B.C. Hydro to shut off the breaker.
I told the new technician that this girl thought that if you shut off the breaker, not only is the power coming from the box into the house off, the power from the power pole to the house is off too. The man could only shrug and agree that the power to the box would still be on. However, he would let Hydro know the box could not be changed.
Then the man around the corner got his new box and his fridge blew up. Enough said about that.
The mayor says EVERYONE has to have a smart box whether they like it or not.
Everyone must have a water meter, like it or not. I have one, don't particularly like it.
There is no vote, no choice - like it or not.
Remember the art? I'll bet some of the council is sorry they agreed to a vote.
Like it or not seems to be the theme of this mayor and council, who were elected to safeguard the interests of the electorate of Richmond.
Well, like it or not, the people said no to the very expensive garbage still insulting our eyes all around Richmond.
We need free enterprise people to start running for council before the Hugo Chavezstyle fascists do permanent damage to our city and our pocketbooks - like it or not.
Rosanne Costain Richmond
