Re: Officials need to step up for oak tree (Oak Bay News Letters, Friday, Aug. 18)
As a young person and university student who has lived in Oak Bay for over five years now, I applaud our mayor Nils Jensen for the strong stances he has taken in regards to increasing affordability in our community for our seniors, students, families, and all residents.
I have regularly attended council meetings for the past few years and have seen the mayor carefully consider the various interests, issues and stances of residents and other shareholders in order to help lead the municipality to decisions that benefit the largest possible number of residents. While these may not always be the most popular decisions, I believe the vast majority of them have been the right ones.
The letter writer refers to the mayor’s “cozy relations” with local realtors. Perhaps he is referring to the mayor’s strong partnerships with various interest groups. I have witnessed this first-hand as the mayor has reached out to young people to consult with them on what they see as the best path forward for our community. After all, building relations, rather than closing one’s self to differing opinions, is what a great public servant such as our mayor should do.
Quinn MacTavish
Oak Bay