Re: Dare I say the B次元官网网址淎B次元官网网址� word?, Hard Pressed, Dec. 2, 2011

ItB次元官网网址檚 nice to see more people talking about amalgamating.

For too long my precious tax dollars have been spent on mayors, councillors, chiefs, deputies and managers B次元官网网址� rather than on the community.

Having more than 90 elected representatives serving the region from Sooke to North Sidney is absolutely insane. And each has their own stipends and perks.

I used to think small was good. But after seeing the success neighbourhoods such as Cook Street village, Fernwood and James Bay, I now see these village concepts are the better way to go.

Since all the core municipalities are interrelated, connected and share common resources, Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt and Saanich should be seen as one city with numerous villages.

One wonders why Colwood, largely a residential city, is falling over itself to build a downtown core when there is an active, vibrant one in Langford.

ItB次元官网网址檚 nice to have business and offices to meet specific needs in specific areas but we do not need to duplicate entire downtowns just to keep up with the Jones.

Instead of reinventing the wheel, letB次元官网网址檚 put the barriers to amalgamation on the table and appoint non-elected officials to make recommendations to address those barriers.

Of course, they will need the support and co-operation of our elected representatives.

LetB次元官网网址檚 start by amalgamating Langford and Colwood and grow together and develop a community plan that is good for both.

Barringer Young

Colwood