Nice words can’t smooth over city’s betrayal

Editor: As engaging and polite as they are, engagement consultant JoAnne Kleb and Chief Administrative Office Peter Weeber simply cannot restore the hopes and trust I had in the Penticton mayor and council.

Even though they are good at their job to cover for the City of Penticton, claiming they want to ”hear the public” such as at the upcoming openhouse presentation of the parks and recreation master plan Draft No. 2, they cannot smooth over the wrongs the mayor and council, and certain employees are doing to Penticton, particularly to our parks.

We, the public, are like a wife with a husband who thinks he can do what he wants. He betrays, belittles ignores and uses the wife, and then hires counsellors to try and convince her that he and his actions are not so bad, and that she should just forget any wrongs and “move forward.”

This current council has done just that to this community, particularly in regards to our public parks. In the case of Skaha Park, they bypassed the bylaws, practically giving away what is one of our dearest and rightful inheritances.

They entered into an alliance with self-seeking developers, without our knowledge and consent, without a lawful referendum — a betrayal. They shrugged off our many, many pleas and petitions and letters, ignoring and belittling us.

They created committees and hired expensive consultants they hoped would convince us that they, the masters were in the right. Meanwhile, using us and depleting the family resources.

The “husband” has not been truly remorseful nor asked for forgiveness for these things. And still has the same interests and expressions, and still dallies with his other partners.

This may explain why this wife, we citizens, are not going to be convinced. Hannah Hyland, Penticton