Comment 119157

By RobF (registered) | Posted June 08, 2016 at 10:54:37 in reply to Comment 119134

We live in a litigiousness society. Maybe they are being advised to raise concerns about the possible impact LRT construction on their businesses in order to establish for the record that they raised them.

We also need to separate the general benefit of LRT from how it may or may not benefit individual businesses and residents along the proposed lines. Major public investments like LRT often work like the equivalent of a forest fire. Weaker or poorly capitalized businesses and poorer residents, especially if they rent, get displaced in the process (i.e. they are the proverbial under-bush), while the regeneration produces new growth and strengthens the stronger and better capitalized businesses.

Not saying this is right. Nor am I trying to overdraw on the negative consequences for some. It's just the reality of the situation ... this happened in Toronto on St. Clair West and along Cambie St in Vancouver. We can take steps to mitigate the impact, but there will be causalities. The challenge is to maximize the benefit, minimize the negative impact to the greatest extent possible, and proceed in a fair and transparent manner that generates trust.

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