The Elitist Environmentalists of Vancouver
There's a small but vocal group of environmentalists in Vancouver who think they speak for everyone but truly only represent a tiny elitist minority of the population. Such groups include this one and this one. Their latest raison d'etre is a ridiculous campaign to stop the twinning of the 43 year old Port Mann Bridge.
Their biggest talking point is "we don't want to have an L.A.'fication of Metro Vancouver". This makes for a great bumper sticker, but let's analyze it a little more thoroughly. What they're essentially saying is that the transportation infrastructure decisions made 40+ years ago should last us for eternity. They loathe and frequently condemn anyone who lives in Surrey or further east in the Fraser Valley and has to commute into Vancouver to work.
How dare they! Unlike these self-centered snobs, not everyone can afford to live close to Vancouver and bicycle in to work. These critics are NIMBYs of the very worst kind and absolutely disgust me.
Here are a couple of facts you should know about me: I live in the heart of Vancouver. I willingly gave up my car almost 5 years ago and walk, bicycle, and take transit to get around. I have absolutely no bias on this matter except for the God given right to use my common sense!
A great new blog focused on such transportation issues can be found here.
Labels:
elitists,
environmentalists,
NIMBY,
transit,
transportation,
Vancouver
11 comments:
Right on!
Ditto! You put it so well, no need to add anything.
In reviewing both of the groups you mentioned, I think that SPEC and Change Everything are actually the same people. I've mentioned this before; there is this small group of 12 people who oppose everything out there. They make up new group names to try and demonstrate that they have a broad base of support.
Nice marketing but a sham!
"...in Vancouver...tiny elitist minority..."
But what about the thousands that have signed petitions opposing Gateway?
What about the fact that most of the organization against Gateway seems to be happening in the working class neighborhoods of East Van?
What about the business in Langley that is spending tens of thousands of dollars supporting a advertising campaign against Gateway?
What about the people fund-raising in Burnaby to start an ad campaign?
"...the transportation infrastructure decisions made 40+ years .."
But aren't SPEC and other proposing that we use modern solutions to congestion (Congestion Charging, Queue jumpers, BRT, LRT)?
Isn't it the pro-Gateway people that are proposing 40 year old ideas (highway expansion)?
Rob,
Individuals are entitled to their opinions. I just happen to think those against Gateway are incorrect.
The mirror response to your comments would be: "What about the millions of citizens (according to the polls) who are in support of Gateway?"
Of course rapid transportation expansion should be included but that instead of increasing the number of lanes across the Fraser is just fiction.
Robert
"...think those against Gateway are incorrect..."
Then you should explain why you think they are incorrect instead of presenting dishonest information about the size and make-up of the groups that you disagree with.
"...millions of citizens (according to the polls)..."
Which polls?
"most of the organization against Gateway seems to be happening in the working class neighborhoods of East Van?"
That's a load of crap! I'm a resident of East Vancouver and Gateway isn't on the hearts and minds of East Van residents.
Also, take a look at the anti-Gateway crowd; How many websites do they have posing as grassroots initiatives, when they are just fronts for multi-million dollar environmental agencies like SPEC.
Forget about debating who has the most support for or against Gateway; the answer will only be decided in the 2009 election.
- All of the anti-gateway meetings that I have been aware of have been in East Vancouver (Britannia Community Centre, Croatian Cultural Centre, WISE hall). At the larger of the meetings that I attended were hundreds of people, the vast majority (if not all) of whom were from East Vancouver. I can't think of any meetings that were on the west side (except for the one coming up this weekend) and certainly none where the majority of attendees were from the west side.
Walter, have you attended any of these meetings?
- I travel around many neighbourhoods in Vancouver and by far the majority of “Better Transit not Freeways” signs are in the neighbourhoods on the East side
- The Grandview Woodlands Area Council is a group directly elected by residents and business owners in east Vancouver. It was elected on a platform to oppose Highway One expansion.
Walter, are you aware of this group? Have you been to any of their meetings?
“..websites do they have posing as grassroots initiatives...”
Check out both http://www.gatewaysucks.org/gateway-project-map and http://cche.vcn.bc.ca/
Both of these websites were put together by volunteers in East Van. No money from any environmental organization.
Rob,
Are you an employee of SPEC or just a zealot?
I was on East 1st avenue today and what did I see; none other than your “Better Transit not Freeways” signs. The interesting thing you forgot mention in your attack comments is the very signs you mentioned have SPEC's name written on the bottom in large letters.
Another thing, I would bet money that these signs have a lot more to do with NIMBYism than they have to do about saving the environment.
Grassroots support, my ass! It's the same 12 people posing as separate groups under different names.
Why don't you stop being such a pest here and elsewhere and go and read Bud Campbell's comments on Bill Tieleman's Blog. Bud being a staunch NDP supporter has some sound advice for you on Gateway from the left's perspective.
I didn't find Budd offering any rational arguments as to why I should support a project that offers no long term benefits and so many negative consequences.
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