Dear Editor,
Residents of Richmond are deeply concerned with certain members of city council for voting to allow mega mansions on ALR land.
Particularly distressful were recent comments by Mayor Brodie regarding an RCA call for transparency, which disclosed, (unknown to many Richmond News readers) the fact that some property developers are actually on council.
This is a shocking revelation.
As a lawyer, Mayor Brodie knows he must not only avoid conflict of interest but equally, even the appearance of conflict. The same regulation (not guideline) is true for accountants, notaries, bankers, doctors and other professions.
In respect to the RCA position therefore, it seems reasonable to expect the same standard for councillors.
Further to Mayor Brodie’s comment, developers on council excusing themselves from chambers during a particular vote does not stop them from knowing everything that is going on with that development and influencing decisions.
After looking up how much campaign money developers have given certain members of council over the years, from my viewpoint, there is the clear appearance of a connection between council and its vote on mega mansions.
This time, I will only be voting for council members with no apparent of conflict of interest.
Jon Westerly
RICHMOND
