Thanks in large part to the parks department, St. Albert is a very attractive place, physically. Money spent on trees and plants is a good idea from the perspective of aesthetics and the environment, with equal benefits for all.
But an insular, stifling political atmosphere is becoming increasingly palpable. We are becoming a smug community, catering to the smug, and many people seem uninterested in anything that happens beyond their own block. Yet, paradoxically, we seem to have aspirations to becoming New York City NorthWest , and build anything and everything that can be built.
While the citizens of St. Albert voted against the new ice sheet and branch library, concerning these projects and expenditures almost the first thing the new mayor (Cathy Heron), who is much concerned with politeness and civility in council meetings said: "There will be some hard questions … about how to go ahead in a different way." (Edmonton Journal, Oct. 17). This appears to be a way of getting around the express will of St. Albertans. Had I known my vote would count for nothing I wouldn't have bothered with it.
While the Gazette is a great community paper, we need to get past small-minded provincialism and concern ourselves with what is going on in the world, that is, beyond, Russia-bashing.
Young people in this city need more information on major political issues to balance the artificial, almost fairyland atmosphere of this city. More information on the dire state of international affairs and the precariousness of the world economy would help to balance our interests and viewpoints.
Doris Wrench Eisler, St. Albert
