Urging The Youth To Vote

On Saturday, November 19 every Kelowna citizen eighteen years and older has equal opportunity to vote for the people they want to manage their community. I want to especially encourage all of the younger citizens to make the effort even if they are unsure who to vote for. It only takes a few minutes and your vote in civic politics will have a significant impact on your city's future. We need some new thinking and this is the perfect opportunity.

Personally, I believe that our downtown is the most important opportunity that we must focus on. Consider the potential. Our newly elected mayor and council will be able to change the present focus of building high-rises on our waterfront, which, if built, will cater mostly to rich, retired or part-time residents. We can do better for everyone. Much better. A redevelopment of the Leon/Lawrence/KSS areas as well as other strategic places away from the waterfront could provide a wide variety of housing for those who prefer an exciting urban lifestyle. It would be complete with all the amenities that allow for living in a community alongside a beautiful waterfront and redesigned City Park. We should encourage the downtown development of higher education facilities and also businesses that support our expanding health and technology industries. This will bring together a vibrant mix of all ages and incomes, and it will create one of the most exciting neighbourhoods to live in seven-days-a-week.

That vision has been ignored for the past nine years, and it's not going to change unless the younger people take a precious few minutes on the 19th to vote for new blood. Please get out and vote!

Michael & Michele Neill
Kelowna, BC