MAYOR IS VANDER ZALM, BUNKER AND BUSH ALL IN ONE

Editor, The News:

Re: Trustees Refute Meth Claims (The News, Sept. 16).

If nothing else, Maple Ridge Mayor Gordy Robson is certainly a
premier source of entertainment in Maple Ridge.

What other community in the Lower Mainland can boast of a municipal
politician with the audacity of a Bill Vander Zalm, the incoherency
of an Archie Bunker and the buffoonery of a George W. Bush, all
wrapped up in, at times, what appears to be a somewhat disheveled package.

Early in 2006, Mr. Robson tried (pardon the expression) stirring the
pot at Pitt Meadows secondary about a crystal meth problem. Not true.

Some weeks later, he appeared on Vaughn Palmer's community channel
broadcast and proclaimed that the man responsible for the tragic
death of Grant de Patie was high on meth. Not true.

Then, to his credit, because the thought was there, he offers up one
of his houses as a facility for meth users wanting treatment. Too
bad, but predictably, he didn't put enough thought into this
adventure. Seems the mayor was unaware of the provincial codes for
facilities of this nature.

Now he has opened the fall season with further proclamations about
meth users - this time at Maple Ridge secondary. Again, not true.

Should this pattern continue, I would expect the administrators at
Thomas Haney, Samuel Robertson and Garibaldi secondary schools to be
receiving phone calls from the mayor some time in December or January.

My advice: tell him you're too busy picking up garbage and cleaning
graffiti off the outside walls and to leave a message.

I don't believe for one minute that Mr. Robson isn't sincere about
his desire to deal effectively with the crystal meth problem. I've
talked with a few young offenders who had dealings with him through
the local youth diversion program and each said he was very committed
to helping them get their lives back on track.

What is unfortunate is that some of his tactics have him coming
across like such a bumpkin, and people tend not to sit up and take
note when that's the way he operates.

I just wish the mayor would focus on his assets - helping people
behind the scenes and doing what he can to open proper treatment
facilities for users who want to stop using. Trying to drum up
business for his cause in the manner he has been choosing just doesn't cut it.

As W.P. Kinsella wrote, "Build it and they will come."

Mark O'Neill

Maple Ridge