PrintWho does council represent?
Big thank yous to both Todd Murray (‘Where is this micromanaging leading us’) and Barb Freysteinson (‘Council playing dirty pool with bong store owner,’ both from the Jan. 11 edition of the Gazette) for voicing what I had not.
I find it reprehensible that Mayor Crouse and council are ready and willing to use whatever tactics they can find to keep the ‘unacceptable’ out of St. Albert. We are open for business … oh, unless you don’t fit in. We want you to spend your money within our boundaries … but wait, only if you buy what we want you to buy. Manage to get past a bogus rule here and there, we’ll still keep you out by smearing your name, whether you deserve it or not. Chances to lower taxes, improve efficiency … oh, let’s fire the people that actually get along with the business community and then not tell taxpayers what is going on.
I have long had a problem with the council’s vision of my city — also known as St. Perfect to my friends residing elsewhere. I’m tired of paying taxes for the better services that used to exist in my city because we must have the best of everything compared to our neighbours. I’m tired of being told who deserves to live in our little enclave and then watching barriers being put in place.
Public figures have a responsibility to their constituents to safeguard our hard-earned taxes and represent our views as a group. It is not up to them to pass moral judgment or attempt to social engineer the community.
Thank goodness that most of the people I know in St. Albert are not representative of Mayor Crouse and most of the councillors. Which begs the question, who exactly do they represent?
Jackie McDonald, St. Albert
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