Response to reporter Alan Campbell's Really? column
Dear Editor
Re: “Sorry, I’m just too busy,” Voices, April 22.
I enjoyed reading Alan Campbell’s column. It resonated with me because I’m the president of a 168-unit strata complex.
Many times when I suggest to someone that they run for council I also get the response of, “I have kids.....I’m working ....I don’t have the time...”
In my situation, I have a full-time job, I have two young kids (five and eight years old), I take my kids to twice-weekly music lessons, and I handle the administration as president of the strata.
How do I find the time?
I make the time, so all 400-plus residents here can coexist peacefully and to ensure our strata funds are never again riddled with corrupt expenses (an unrelated story that made me join the strata council three years ago to put a stop to it.).
How we set our priorities allows us the time to accomplish almost everything in life. When people tell me they’re too busy to deal with strata “stuff,” I’m always ready to tell them my personal situation and challenge them to define their “busy” excuse. So, I was glad to see in writing that I’m not the only strata president who faces the “I’m too busy” excuse from people.
It’s my final year on the strata council because we have a relatively “new” bylaw that sets term limits for council members — the bylaw was initiated to prevent a repeat episode of council-corruption.
At our next AGM, I hope we have owners who can step forward and not lean back on the all-too-comfortable, “I’m too busy” line.
Pinky Dang
Richmond
Dear Editor,
Re: “Sorry, I’m just too busy,” Voices, April 22.
Thank you, Mr. Campbell.
Your page three column hits the nail on the head.
The other much overused expression, used when you call someone on their excuses, is “whatever,” the true enemy of social communication.
I pictured hundreds of readers shrugging while muttering, “Whatever.. .”
I wasn’t one of them. While I don’t live in a strata, I work, volunteer, shop, help neighbours, etc., all while dealing with issues relating to my mobility disability. Yet my first response when a friend and/or neighbour wants to talk, even to ask me to do something, is “Sure, what’s up?”
If someone you love says, “Can you do me a favour?” your first response is, “Sure, what is it?”
If you don’t like them much, you’ll respond, “Depends on what.” or “Sorry, I’m just too busy.”
Before the next person asks you, “Got a minute?” you need to decide if you’re a friendly type or a misanthrope.
George Pope
Richmond
Dear Editor,
Re: “Sorry, I’m just too busy,” Voices, April 22.
I would have thought you could come up with other reasons why people are not attending open houses.
I became one of those people, but not because I’m too busy. Rather, I’m frustrated with the status quo in Richmond ever since this administration has been in place.
I attended open house after open house, involved myself in politics locally and federally, thinking that if I could even effect some small change for the good, then it would all be worth it.
Finally, I stopped attending, realizing that after many years of trying, it makes no difference what an open house provides. The decisions are made well before any open house or consultations take place.
The only way we can make a difference in what goes on in Richmond is on election day. That can work, but only if elections are fair.
This city has been backed by developers for a long time, and if you can’t paint that picture in your mind then you are willfully blind.
It’s been the same old faces, the same money and the same direction: Build!
This city council is loyal to developers only and will say what is necessary to the constituents to keep them on side.
For anyone else who aspires to municipal governing, we have a perfect glowing example of how not to grow a city.
Don’t be so quick to judge the no-shows as complainers or people who just refused to make the time.
Maybe they are just pissed and choose to spend their time changing things they can and trying to accept the things they can’t.
That may sound like a cop-out, but you can screw people over just so many times and eventually they get it.
Until the mechanism to create change is improved, nothing will change.
Dean Beauvais
Richmond
