This past summer my husband and I drove from B.C. to Newfoundland and back through the States. We observed first hand that not one community we knew well has been able to stay the same.

Change is inevitable and what makes the difference is input into how the change happens and what changes are made.

We saw haphazard and inappropriate development in communities that tried to resist any change at all.

It reinforced our belief that we don’t want to be at the mercy of an outsider who does not appreciate the jewel that Tsawwassen is and can be. Sean Hodgins lives in Tsawwassen and genuinely cares about the future of our community.

He deserves a chance to share his vision for Southlands and you need to speak up on Oct. 24 in favour of at least a fair hearing.

“No” really means you want no input, control or discussion about choices, which would eventually put our community at the mercy of whoever ends up developing Southlands.

Do you really want to smell manure when your windows are open? Do you want to follow a slow tractor down 56th St. on your way out of town?

Perhaps you would prefer glass greenhouses or high-rise apartment complexes blocking views of the bay a few years down the road when new politicians and residents vote for their vision of progress.

Even if Southlands was donated to Delta for parkland, would you support an increase in your taxes to fund the development and annual maintenance of the parkland?

Be careful what you wish for.

We vote “yes” to what Sean Hodgins is offering now—full input from the community in an open and transparent forum, and a plan that includes parks, trails, open spaces, community farming, a centre for urban agriculture with Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and housing choices for seniors and families in walkable neighbourhoods with taxpayers to fund maintenance of the public lands.

He remains open to suggestions and more input from everyone.

Best of all, two-thirds of the land in his vision would be protected forever in a plan that would be the envy of North America.

To put it simply, “no” means no choice and “yes” means we can choose the future we want to enjoy and pass on to future generations.

Janice and Ron Wasik,

Delta