THE EDITOR,
I was surprised to read in a local daily that our mayor and the councillors refused to commit to reduce property taxes when a commitment for reduction of property taxes was sought by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business based in Vancouver.
They also refused an independent audit.
I am not voicing concern on behalf of business people. My concern is why the people we have elected refuse to commit.
Are these people representing electorates? Once they are elected, they seem to act as if they own the place.
There is a need for a conscious effort to reduce the council expenses so that the taxpayers get some relief.
At the moment, the property prices in Richmond are at their peak. Looking at the new developments, one would think that the revenue would have increased tremendously.
This should be reflected by a reduction of our share of taxes and the cost of services. Instead, it is going up.
Now that we have a chance to elect new people to the council and to the post of mayor, we should ask the aspiring candidates for their commitment to run the operation as directors of a corporation elected by shareholders and be responsible to the electorates.
Give us a commitment for transparency and be truly responsible to the people who put you there.
We need a total change and perhaps the new people should also take action to put in place a rule that no nobody should be allowed to serve more than two terms.
S.Ramji
Richmond
