Simpler housing, lower expectations key to affordability
People are partly to blame for the high rents in Vancouver. They have higher expectations than they did 60 years ago.
One solution would be to build no-frills, three-storey walk-up apartments like the one I live in that was built in 1955.
There would be no elevator, built-in dishwashers, granite countertops, bathrooms with cupboards and counters, and suites wouldn’t have their own washers and dryers. This would reduce construction costs considerably.
My rent has only gone up to $880 from $760 in 12 years because few people want to live where there is no elevator or dishwashers.
Vaughan Evans, Vancouver
Question must be answered
Having the real-estate industry investigate itself and police their own members is like having police investigate police. It makes one wonder how much dirt is swept under the proverbial rug.
If I understand shadow-flipping correctly, properties are sold several times before the paperwork is done. Do transactions not have to be notarized? Aren’t commissions taxable income? How is the tax being avoided unless something crooked is going on?
Perhaps commissions should be held back for a time to make sure all is well.
George Pearson, Surrey
Realtors’ silence is loud
I’ve been reading the articles about the long-overdue government response and investigations into Vancouver’s manipulated real-estate market. Strange how there is a noticeable silence (or any response) from industry “experts” like Bob Rennie.
Tom Allen, Surrey
Paramedics deserve respect
Re: Story on firefighters using Naloxone. B.C. Ambulance Paramedics, even at the most basic level of training, have used Naloxone since 1992, not just certain paramedics as you reported.
Second, they are called B.C. Ambulance Paramedics, not BCEHS. No one in the general public knows what BCEHS stands for.
Ambulance paramedics have been fighting for the recognition they deserve for years and not referring to them by their proper nomenclat u re does them a great disservice.
Jeff Laurie, Langley
Clean up SeaBus washrooms
TransLink’s new CEO, Kevin Desmond, says he’ll listen to the public and businesses as well as TransLink brass and employees.
Here is what I want to say: The SeaBus washrooms are in terrible shape. If any company let their washrooms deteriorate to the same degree they would be shut down by head office or the health department.
You have to look after the assets you have, instead of creating more assets that you cannot look after.
Diane Plett, Abbotsford
Premier makes me sick
I am so ashamed to be represented by Premier Christy Clark’s government. They won’t even take care of B.C. or properly fund education and health care yet they feel the need to lecture and insult Alberta.
How dare this government kick Alberta when they are down? Who gave our tradespeople jobs when B.C. had none?
Christina Moffat, Quesnel