Don’t build a wall around Victoria

Re: “Victoria’s densification process raises concerns,” comment, June 30.

At the heart of the writer’s tirade over perceived threats to the neighbourhood character of Fairfield/Gonzales lies a startling statement that implies its residents agree with Donald Trump — that the best way to preserve Victoria’s lifestyle is to build a wall around it.

He wrote: “Is it reasonable for everyone who wants to live in Victoria to do so? That’s not possible unless the rest of us are willing to accept increased traffic and pollution, reduced free space, more pressure on already insufficient schools, health services, roads, parks and recreation and the increased costs to maintain and expand them.”

In other words, stop building homes and services for newcomers and focus instead on longtime residents, especially those who own their own homes. Could there be a more explicit definition of NIMBY? And he goes on to suggest that the majority of Fairfield/Gonzales residents agree with him and have formed as many as 10 civic action groups to oppose what they see as “bulldozing.”

If this narrow, self-serving effort were to succeed, we should put up a sign on City Hall saying: “Not a millionaire? Have school-age children and/or pets? Move to Langford.”

That’s certainly not my vision of Victoria’s future, and I sincerely doubt it reflects the feelings of most of us, especially those who have recently moved here, or returned here because they appreciate how much the city has done and is still doing to make a larger, more energized city livable for everyone, not just the privileged few. Derry McDonell Victoria