People will be surprised who supported referendum on borrowing $59 million
James Crosty's campaign calling on the city to hold a referendum on whether to borrow $59 million was never about the office tower, the civic centre or cheap character slamming. It was always about giving the people a right—through a referendum—to determine whether they wanted to take on an additional $59 million debt.
Second, the fiscal issue that faced the public was a City of New Westminster initiative—not a Crosty one. It was part of the largest borrowing bylaw in the history of the city and one that elected officials (voted into office in November 2011) never mentioned and were never given a mandate for.
The city supplied the Alternative Approval Process Elector Response Form and Mr. Crosty and other taxpayers acted on this option provided by the city. It appears that 2,098 people had the same calling. Crosty and fellow citizens managed to collect over 1,504 themselves. Recognition also goes to those 594 individuals who took it upon themselves to deliver their forms to City Hall.
Thank you to all for taking on this cause on behalf of taxpayers.
Third, it took an estimated $150,000, multiple politicians, ad campaigns, editorials, letters to the Editor and nearly six months to get 10,000 voters to the polls in 2011. By contrast, it took less than 30 days, in the middle of summer, no money, limited forms from City Hall and dedicated volunteers to get 2,098 signatures on a form requesting a referendum.
That is one fifth of the 2011 voters. I trust that this will not go unrecognized by the city, council and supporters what this number actually means and recognize that things would likely have been very different had the playing field been fair.
Mr. Crosty lost the last election.
Some people are behaving like sore winners, constantly dredging up this fact.
For those who do not have a history in New Westminster, Mr. Crosty has made significant and positive contributions to this city, and has done so without personal gain, city funding, bullying, intimidating, and without misleading the public or slamming anyone's personal character.
As a neighbour of Mayor Wayne Wright, Crosty has been a citizen advocate for nearly 22 years.
Mr. Crosty didn’t disappear after the election, and continues to fight for his rights as a taxpayer. With the city's total debt approaching 127.5 Million ($59 million included), I have no doubt you will see more of him.
I also think when his detractors read the names of the people who signed the opposition form, they will realize just how isolated they are in their opinions of this referendum and Mr. Crosty.
Paul Thompson
New Westminster
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