The proposed Downtown Eastside Whitecaps soccer stadium is way out of scale with the prime heritage area of Gastown.
   It would cut large parts of the downtown off from future development on the port-owned waterfront property.
   We need a comprehensive plan for the entire rail lands before anything can be built on it.
   In Coal Harbour and False Creek, Vancouver required the removal of the rail tracks before building anything. The development there has since become famous for its urban living.
   The same thing needs to happen on the rail lands. Let’s not depart from what has brought Vancouver success.
Scott Hawthorn, Vancouver
Too good to turn down
When does a city get an offer like this, with a private citizen offering to build a community asset such as a soccer stadium? It took about nine days for Toronto to approve its stadium. Why are we letting a small group in opposition delay this? As with plans from other visionaries, you have to get the big picture first, then work through the details.
   A Gastown stadium will offer healthy traffic to the area, something sorely needed, and will bring a world-class facility to our world-class city.
   We should act like appreciative partners in this venture and get on with it. Let’s pay attention to the overwhelming support for it and get moving.
   Mark James, Vancouver
Opposition solidifying
   Vancouver Whitecaps’ president John Rocha suggests opinion among Gastown residents is split about their proposed stadium.
   This is optimistic speculation on his part.
   In our meetings with local residents, we’ve found only a handful of people who support the stadium, with most either adamantly opposed or simply unaware of the Whitecaps’ plans.
The bad news for Mr. Rocha is that, as people learn more about the plan to impose a massive stadium on our community, opposition to it grows.
A technical review found that the proposed stadium was “at odds with the scale, character, and activity in Gastown.”
Carol Sill,
Gastown Residents Association
Children first
I am thoroughly disgusted by the tone of B.C. Teachers Federation president Jinny Sims and the teachers’ union in regards to their contract negotiations. The message appears to be loud and clear — they want more money and perks. They are forgetting that the most important issue is children. If it weren’t for the students of this province, there wouldn’t be any teachers. Get your priorities straight Sims and company.
Tom Murray, Pitt Meadows
Always assume the worst
Police associations are speaking out in favour of keeping Canada’s botched firearms registry. They say it’s invaluable in determining if police are going to a residence where a firearm will be present.
   But any officer who relies on a registry of law-abiding citizens for this is in for a tragically short career.
   That’s because criminals do not register their guns. An officer must always assume they’re at risk until they have control of the situation.
   Michael Dines, Oshawa, Ont.
Registry useless
   Chief Armand Labarge, of the Canadian Association of Police Chiefs, and Tony Cannavino, of the Canadian Professional Police Association, are dyed-in-the-red Liberals.
   By supporting the gun registry, they are simply pushing their party line at the expense of the truth and are a complete disgrace.
   Any street officer will tell you of the uselessness of the gun registry. It is nothing more than a feel-good money pit.
   If the registry says a meth lab has no guns, should a police officer feel at ease when he enters?
   Labarge also tries to link the registry to safe gun storage, a separate piece of legislation that would remain even without the registry.
   As for Cannavino’s observation that “our last six or seven police officers were killed with long guns” — well, where was the registry there? How exactly does the registry help with incidents like this?
Noel Wright, Vancouver
Only a few bad apples
It’s a shame that the media and police always label “Hells Angels” as bad guys and criminals. It’s far from the truth. There are always a few bad apples anywhere you go nowadays. People seem to forget that politicians and even police have been charged with crimes. Should we now start saying all police and politicians are bad? Why is it fair to punish a whole group over a couple of bad apples?