Congratulations ucluetians! For placing the value of a community ahead of money. When it comes to money nothing matters. Except for return on investment. The mayor of tofino has done a great job of turning what was once a community into an investors paradise. The practice of the inviting almost every house in tofino to be a vacation rental gives a great return to the owner but nothing to the community. i could go on.
It's not fair to blame all of Tofino's woes on the mayor. You need to add in the 85% of the electorate who voted for her, the previous mayors, the previous councillors, district staff both present and past, thirty years of bad choices and faulted decisions, and human greed. (not just the real estate speculators, but also the years of consultants that walked away with millions for helping to design the current unsustainable fiasco). But, you CAN blame the mayor for failing to take the bull by the horns and show some grit and leadership in getting the outrageous spending, waste, and extravagance in the District office under control. Josie told us, during her campaign, that one of her main priorities was "affordability" for Tofino's residents. How does a 53% tax increase figure into that picture?
I was told yesterday that you now need to make a scheduled appointment in order to meet with a member of Tofino Bylaw enforcement. You can't just simply drop by the office and ask a question. That's because, I'm told, the threats against the employees there have escalated to the point that this is required in order to insure their safety. Those officers are the first line of communication between District Government and the citizens of Tofino. Has the relationship between the people of our "idyllic paradise" and our government come to this? We fear each other, and the people must be governed from behind locked doors? Does mayor and council realize that the situation has slid downhill enough to reach this point? Apparently so, since the response is to propose a law to stifle and silence public comment or dissent. Sad.
I can understand the Mayor not understanding the concept of affordability. She studied biology, not financial management at university. In other words she shouldn't be mayor. Besides isn't her property under assessed so it probably is affordable for her.
I can understand bylaw being defensive. They've been aggravating businesses with their enforcement of bylaws that a sensible community would not have. At least so far they haven't tried to make you only talk to them once a year like the district office staff was/is trying to do for council meetings.
This town is in trouble if it wants to remain liveable. Heard yesterday someone's taxes went up 65% last year.
It has been sold out beneath us and the Mayor, council and district staff seem to think everything is all ok and puppy dogs and rainbows.
All I'm seeing of affordability is a lot of dog **** on the sidewalks accumulating just like the debt for the un-affordable un-built housing.
For those interested, The Tofino Ratepayers Association is currently being formed. This takes a bit of time, we first need to get registered as a non-profit entity under the Society Act of B.C. You can register here to receive updates, or to become a founding member of the association: https://thepublicpurse.ca/ . The website is still under construction, please be patient as things are put together. NO ONE needs a 53% hike in their taxes! Join us, as we act with you and with your support, to try to put a stop to this insanity, and all the other waste of public funds going on at The District Office. Note: No taxpayer paid consultants were used in the creation of this notice, just ordinary citizens doing for themselves what our municipal government is failing to do for us.
Let the market prevail . In former times fish plant workers camped on Sharp Road by the Dolphin Motel. This situation resulted in Tonquin Apartments being built. The problem is that the District issues temporary use permits for ghetto housing and puts roadblocks up to actual housing projects. The logging company built about a dozen houses for employees without the District having control over their business licence. The District has too much control over us as it is.
Smartest thing you've ever posted here Ralph. I new you had it in you. Housing shortages in Tofino are like food shortages in the old Soviet Union, People who actually knew how to farm were actually kicked off the land because they could make a profit, That was ideological obsession. Scarcity, all manufactured by, and because of excessive, gov't control. Not saying we need no rules but we are long past the sweet spot. People trying to follow the rules are currently stuck in the middle of a corn maize, while bureaucrats micro manage everything. trying to do something they don't know how to do. Leading to the underground economy. When politicians admit they are turning a blind eye to gross violations it is an admission they can't manage their way out of a wet paper bag, and have given up. "Trade you some turnips for a rabbit". "We'll keep it quiet." "I hear a rumour the Politburo is allowing a delivery of rubber boots, before winter", "affordable housing from the generosity of the committee is coming", "but it is not certain when." "Better get in line early as they will all be gone in a few minutes". "Don't worry, your blanket should last for at least another year". "Got any socks?" "You can put up a tent in my back yard for a sack of spuds".
Now here's a question for the readers. Why have we abdicated our right to do something to the District to decide for us? Yes there are collective goals that need to be achieved and that can only be reached through collective action but do we need to have the government in everything and produce a nanny state? The current nanny state does not seem to be making many of us happy especially when the current goals require absurd amounts of taxation.
9 comments:
Congratulations ucluetians! For placing the value of a community ahead of money.
When it comes to money nothing matters. Except for return on investment.
The mayor of tofino has done a great job of turning what was once a community into an investors paradise.
The practice of the inviting almost every house in tofino to be a vacation rental gives a great return to the owner but nothing to the community.
i could go on.
It's not fair to blame all of Tofino's woes on the mayor. You need to add in the 85% of the electorate who voted for her, the previous mayors, the previous councillors, district staff both present and past, thirty years of bad choices and faulted decisions, and human greed. (not just the real estate speculators, but also the years of consultants that walked away with millions for helping to design the current unsustainable fiasco). But, you CAN blame the mayor for failing to take the bull by the horns and show some grit and leadership in getting the outrageous spending, waste, and extravagance in the District office under control. Josie told us, during her campaign, that one of her main priorities was "affordability" for Tofino's residents. How does a 53% tax increase figure into that picture?
I was told yesterday that you now need to make a scheduled appointment in order to meet with a member of Tofino Bylaw enforcement. You can't just simply drop by the office and ask a question. That's because, I'm told, the threats against the employees there have escalated to the point that this is required in order to insure their safety. Those officers are the first line of communication between District Government and the citizens of Tofino. Has the relationship between the people of our "idyllic paradise" and our government come to this? We fear each other, and the people must be governed from behind locked doors? Does mayor and council realize that the situation has slid downhill enough to reach this point? Apparently so, since the response is to propose a law to stifle and silence public comment or dissent. Sad.
I can understand the Mayor not understanding the concept of affordability. She studied biology, not financial management at university. In other words she shouldn't be mayor. Besides isn't her property under assessed so it probably is affordable for her.
I can understand bylaw being defensive. They've been aggravating businesses with their enforcement of bylaws that a sensible community would not have. At least so far they haven't tried to make you only talk to them once a year like the district office staff was/is trying to do for council meetings.
This town is in trouble if it wants to remain liveable. Heard yesterday someone's taxes went up 65% last year.
It has been sold out beneath us and the Mayor, council and district staff seem to think everything is all ok and puppy dogs and rainbows.
All I'm seeing of affordability is a lot of dog **** on the sidewalks accumulating just like the debt for the un-affordable un-built housing.
For those interested, The Tofino Ratepayers Association is currently being formed. This takes a bit of time, we first need to get registered as a non-profit entity under the Society Act of B.C. You can register here to receive updates, or to become a founding member of the association: https://thepublicpurse.ca/ . The website is still under construction, please be patient as things are put together. NO ONE needs a 53% hike in their taxes! Join us, as we act with you and with your support, to try to put a stop to this insanity, and all the other waste of public funds going on at The District Office. Note: No taxpayer paid consultants were used in the creation of this notice, just ordinary citizens doing for themselves what our municipal government is failing to do for us.
Every community needs an industry/industries.
All industries affect the communities they are in.
Tofino used to harvest resources and catch seafood.
Now we fish for tourists.
How many lures and traps we use is up to us.
How many homes we build for the catchers is also up to us.
I support a system where all business licences are contingent on providing the necessary housing for the owners and employees of the business.
Why? Because that's how the fish camps and forest companies did it, and it worked.
Jarmo Venalainen
Resdident of Tofino
Let the market prevail . In former times fish plant workers camped on Sharp Road by the Dolphin Motel. This situation resulted in Tonquin Apartments being built.
The problem is that the District issues temporary use permits for ghetto housing and puts roadblocks up to actual housing projects.
The logging company built about a dozen houses for employees without the District having control over their business licence.
The District has too much control over us as it is.
Smartest thing you've ever posted here Ralph. I new you had it in you. Housing shortages in Tofino are like food shortages in the old Soviet Union, People who actually knew how to farm were actually kicked off the land because they could make a profit, That was ideological obsession. Scarcity, all manufactured by, and because of excessive, gov't control.
Not saying we need no rules but we are long past the sweet spot. People trying to follow the rules are currently stuck in the middle of a corn maize, while bureaucrats micro manage everything. trying to do something they don't know how to do. Leading to the underground economy. When politicians admit they are turning a blind eye to gross violations it is an admission they can't manage their way out of a wet paper bag, and have given up.
"Trade you some turnips for a rabbit". "We'll keep it quiet." "I hear a rumour the Politburo is allowing a delivery of rubber boots, before winter", "affordable housing from the generosity of the committee is coming", "but it is not certain when." "Better get in line early as they will all be gone in a few minutes". "Don't worry, your blanket should last for at least another year". "Got any socks?" "You can put up a tent in my back yard for a sack of spuds".
Now here's a question for the readers. Why have we abdicated our right to do something to the District to decide for us? Yes there are collective goals that need to be achieved and that can only be reached through collective action but do we need to have the government in everything and produce a nanny state?
The current nanny state does not seem to be making many of us happy especially when the current goals require absurd amounts of taxation.
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