Not all quiet on the asphalt front
Although the community has been fairly quiet on the topic of the asphalt plant in recent weeks, this doesn't necessarily mean that all is well. On the contrary: all is NOT well in Whistler. New residents of Cheakamus Crossing (like ourselves) have seen first-hand over the past several weeks the impacts of the asphalt plant in operation.
Honestly, it's a lot worse than we expected. The smell - strong, acrid and lingering - is like a warning to flee. It gets right into your throat and lungs and sticks around, heavy and thick, giving us headaches and sore throats.
Something that smells this bad definitely can't be good for you - and research confirms that the emissions from the asphalt plant can cause serious health problems like respiratory illness, asthma, lung disease and even death in the very young and old. Hopefully the parents of new babies in the neighbourhood are taking precautions and not spending time outside when the plant is running.
It's tragic to think of what the consequences could be for the young children in the area exposed to these past several months of toxic air quality.
We have a child ourselves and when the plant is operating we have developed a bit of a routine based around fear for our health: We keep our windows closed (but we can still sometimes smell the toxic odour inside our house). We keep our one-year-old son inside, or we leave the neighbourhood for as much of the day as possible.
This may sound paranoid to some of you but if it does, we bet you've never spent time in our 'hood when the plant is in full swing. If you've smelled the odour and felt the toxins enter your body with every breath, we bet you'd be staying clear as well.
That said, we do agree it's pretty crazy - crazy that we need to even consider measures like staying inside, crazy that an old, grungy, polluting, illegal asphalt plant is spewing out toxic emissions less than 300 metres from the front doorsteps of Whistler's Olympic legacy neighbourhood. We live in Whistler, B.C., Canada in the year 2010. Shouldn't we be able to breathe the air without worrying that it might make us sick? Shouldn't someone be doing something about this situation?
It's not even as though the asphalt plant is a decent, law-abiding business. Not only is the asphalt plant in violation of the current RMOW zoning bylaws (i.e. illegally operating on land that is not zoned for asphalt production), but it's also violating at least three items within their License of Occupation from the Province. As citizens of Whistler and B.C., we strongly believe that the relevant governing bodies have a clear responsibility to take action to protect the health of our families, our visitors (remember the hostel and the Whistler Athletes Centre are host to international visitors and elite athletes) and our environment.
This polluting, legislatively non-compliant, dangerous and ill-placed operation must be moved/removed away from residential areas (that is, if it even needs to remain in Whistler at all). There is simply too much at stake.
We will keep working on our part to ensure that the plant is not operating at the current location next spring and we hope others will continue to join us in support.
That said, we think the RMOW in particular should be doing more to solve this problem. Remember last year when Council voted to move the plant away from Cheakamus Crossing by June 2010 before residents moved in? What happened to that promise?
Let's not hold a grudge on the timeline but let's keep the pressure on Council and the RMOW to keep their word and follow through on their commitment to move the asphalt plant away.
If you haven't yet seen the movie about David Suzuki, Force of Nature , it's definitely worth watching. There is a section where Dr. Suzuki talks about air as a sacred element, about how every breath of air we take enters our bodies and reaches every single cell, from our lungs to our heart to our toes and fingertips. "We are the air, the air is us. What we do to the air, we do to ourselves". A basic scientific concept, yet we don't seem to really understand it as a society. At least that's how it seems here in Whistler these days.
The White Family
Whistler
Do laws even apply to Cheakamus Crossing?
Good morning, I hope yours is better than mine. It's 7 a.m. on Tuesday and this asphalt plant is still going. My daughter wants to go outside and I can't take her. Is this an acceptable way to live? Would you live like that?
I thought this guy was a great businessman and a good neighbor, as told by our mayor and council and staff of RMOW. That contract on the highway was supposed to be done in September and then October. It is now November 16 and the plant is still operating. Even on Saturday we couldn't get a break from this frickin' plant, the smell was horrible.
It was bad also on Monday. I could still smell the toxins at 8:30 pm when I walked to the gym.
I guess the Cheakamus area is above the law and bylaws. So, does that mean that we can do whatever we want in this area? Strip clubs? Park our cars anywhere we want? Smoke and drink everywhere? Because if I got that right the IP1 zoning allows everything, unless it is written on the paper that it is not permitted.
I find the lack of responses from the municipality's various departments lame. I left a message last week on your phone and sent an e-mail and I haven't had a response yet. I don't expect one about this e-mail either. I guess you guys are too busy finding a way to move the plant. Unacceptable situation.
Denis Ebacher
Whistler
The Tipping Point
Our Squamish/Whistler commuter bus has had many issues over the years. We have met them head on and resolved and restored service through tough times (e.g. construction and road closures). Whistler and Squamish council's deserve congratulations for keeping the needed service economical and consistent.
Recently, costs were revealed that have put our service into jeopardy. At an October council meeting in Whistler, it was reported that the cost of the commuter service had jumped to $1.14 million. Really! So with these calculations, $1,140,000.00 divided by 365 days ($3,123 daily) divided by 8 trips per day. So each time the commuter leaves Squamish ($390.41) it goes to Whistler and returns to the barn in Squamish (another $390.41) for a round trip total of $780.82. Four round trips per day!
Who establishes this cost? B.C Transit? Are they really paying 47 per cent of this amount? Don't we, the taxpayer, own these buses? It wouldn't make sense to inflate bus costs to the people who already own them.
Did B.C. Transit sell hammers to the U.S. army back in the '80s for $400.00 each? It just seems like quite a bit.
Anyway, there's got to be a better solution. These buses have fixed costs but are not maximizing revenues. As Chris Quinlan stated, "At the end of the day this should go to a regional transportation committee." Let's get on with it!
I, like many full-time Whistler workers (100 to 125) use the service 400 times minimum per year. 200 times up and 200 down. I buy tickets. They used to cost me $90 bi-weekly but now, as of two weeks ago, cost me $144.00 bi-weekly. Each ticket went from $4.50 to $7.20. At 400 trips per year that's $1080.00 more you want out of my pocket. Are You Nuts? There's a recession on.
Of course I'm going to buy a car and drive up and down the highway 400 times, by myself. You've hit the tipping point where that makes sense. I was using the buses after my "deadly" graveyard shift for a safe ride home. On Wednesday mornings, after working 16 of the last 21 hours, I looked forward to my napping as a competent driver took me home. Not any more though. Looks like I will have to resort to having my windows down and sucking in the cold air as I ramble down the mountain road.
I refuse to pay such an enormous increase. I pay my taxes. I will not adhere to an insensitive and unrealistic increase brought on by incompetence and lack of foresight. A decision brought forth by the Whistler council slaps the face of sustainability and their Whistler2020 vision.
It would be wrong not to include the rest of the corridor with these initiatives. At 5:45 a.m. daily, two buses leave the Squamish barn. One bus goes to Pemberton, via Whistler, for $6 per trip or $5 tickets. The other bus goes to Vancouver (Lions Bay or Park Royal or Lonsdale) for $6 per trip or $5 tickets. Each bus reaches its destination and then comes back.
My solution is to set the buses up so they run the whole distance every two hours, with safe stops as close to the highway as possible. Problem Solved! You're welcome!
Having a transportation system in place encourages growth and stimulates economies. As politicians, you have been elected to tackle problems and come up with reasonable solutions. Look at this issue as a challenge rather than a problem. A 60 per cent increase in cost to the citizen/user is not a solution. You would lose ridership when a portion of the solution is to increase ridership.
Of course, if you don't want the bus anyway then raising the price is one way of killing it.
Paul Lalli from Squamish council has taken the initiative to develop a plan for regional transportation. I urge all political members and corridor stakeholders, especially our MLA Joan McIntyre, to combine efforts and establish a transportation connector. All options should be considered.
Within the structure of corridor community budgets, there must be resources made available to develop and maintain this needed service. We can do this. We can do this now.
Andy Wills
Squamish
Not callous at all
Re: The Callous Environmentalist by Jesse Ferreras ( Pique , Nov.10)
This column employs a cheap journalistic trick by creating a false dichotomy and then drawing a conclusion founded on an unsupported assumption. Serious columnists don't do that.
The false dichotomy is that there must be a tradeoff between the well-being of people and the health of the environment. The false assumption that follows is that if you care for the environment then you don't care for people.
In fact, those who opposed Taseko's Prosperity Mine project most vigorously are those who live closest to it and would be most affected by it. It was demonstrated through the public hearings that their culture would be shattered, their health would be put at risk, and, for many, their livelihoods destroyed (much the same can be said for the tar sands). This is true for both First Nations and non-FN.
There is no shortage of either copper or gold in the world, and few of the jobs in the mine would have come from the local community, including Williams Lake, and it would have operated at a net loss to the provincial coffers because of the subsidies that the mining sector enjoys in the form of cheap B.C. Hydro energy, government improved and maintained road infrastructure and CO2 emissions offsets. Cynics like Jesse Ferreras consistently get it wrong. There can be no healthy and happy - or wealthy - society in an environment destroyed for the short term benefit of a corporate few.
David Williams, President
Friends of the Nemaiah Valley
Celebrate the 'stache
I have been seeing a lot of my friends around town with clean shaven upper lips! What? Don't they know this is Movember? This is when guys let their moustaches grow out in recognition of male prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is as prevalent in men as breast cancer is in women. It can be detected early and successfully treated, but you have to get tested. I have a number of survivor friends and chances are that there are more of us out there that are yet to be diagnosed or treated. So let's recognize this. Let your moustache out.
Even the NFL recognizes breast cancer by wearing pink! Get a hair lip!
Terry "Toulouse" Spence
Skwikw
Friends, Neighbours and Strangers
I want to take this opportunity to thank my friends and neighbours in Aspen Ridge for their support during my family's setback after the theft of money and other belongings from my cab. I would also like to thank two total strangers, Mike Brown from Seattle and Lisa from Tamarisk, who came forward with assistance after they read my letter in the Pique . A heartfelt thank you for your kindness and generosity from me and my sons. I'm truly moved and very proud to be a part of such a responsive and caring community.
R.J. Pridy
Whistler
Waste not, whatnot
Many thanks Sue Maxwell for your letter to the editor last week, stating that "hopefully by developing a clear needs assessment and working with the community and partners we can find a solution that reduces waste, reduces bear problems and mortality, encourages car-free residents and does not substantially increase municipal spending on waste collection." I couldn't have said it better myself. Your timing was excellent. The Bear Working Group is holding an open house to "spark some community discussion" on Wednesday, Dec. 1 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Whistler Library Common Room. I look forward to seeing you and some enthusiastic new volunteers there!
Sylvia Dolson
Get Bear Smart Society
