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Letters: Council decision fails renters

A Richmond News reader is disappointed with city council's vote to approve the Polygon Talisman development
richmond-council
Richmond City Council recently approved the Polygon Talisman development. File photo

Dear Editor,

As a delegate at the recent public hearing for the Polygon Talisman development, I was disheartened and disappointed in our council.

City council could have required so much more rental and affordable housing in this large parcel of land in city centre.

Not only did Polygon stack the speaker’s list with their clients, but these speakers were obviously reading form letters about their intention to purchase condos, with little regard for those who cannot afford to purchase and need to rent.

One of their speakers mentioned that she had to buy her children a condo in Richmond because her children could no longer afford to buy their own place.

Not everyone has the ability to buy their children a condo to ensure that they can continue to live in the city they grew up in.

Unbeknownst to her, she made my point exactly. Housing in Richmond is no longer even remotely affordable. Housing is a human right but we have allowed it to become a commodity for sale to the highest bidder and often that excludes many locals.

We need a mayor and councillors with courage, foresight and the ability to do better for all of Richmond’s residents.

It is with this hope that I look forward to the next election where I am hoping other residents also see the need to have a mayor and councillors who put residents’ needs above that of corporations’ interests

Michelle Li

RICHMOND