To the Editor,
It’s great the Gaigas want to put a park on their property. If they are so nice it should not cost anything from the city taxpayers. The park shouldn’t be used as an excuse not to pay their share of taxes.
The Gaigas should not be allowed the tax exemption in order to hold prime commercial real estate without paying taxes. If this is allowed what is stopping every owner with vacant commercial property from having a park in order not to pay for their share of taxes?
As a taxpayer I don’t need my taxes going to upkeep of private commercial property with the excuse it is a park.
We already have great parks throughout Port Alberni that tax money goes to maintain, we don’t need another.
If the city council passes this, I expect the same consideration; paying my utilities, snow removal and sweeping my property. I will even put up a park bench and a fountain too.
If the uptown likes this, they should pay for it and all costs including the Gaigas’ taxes for the property. No money or exemptions from the city for the upkeep of private property; if that’s the case, we’ll all want the same.
Jim Irvine,
Port Alberni