Dear Mayor Gregor Robertson,
I want to take a moment to sincerely apologize for a mean-spirited tweet I directed at you in the past. It was not fair, and I regret letting my frustration get the better of me.
When I was a teenager, playing SimCity, I dreamed of being a mayor—of building a city that worked for everyone, where no one was left behind. That dream stayed with me into adulthood, which is why I cared so much about the promises made to our most vulnerable—our homeless, our Aboriginal communities, and our veterans. When I saw those promises fall short, it hit me hard. Maybe too hard.
Another deep frustration I carried was the unbearable noise of the SkyTrain outside my home. I wished our city had the resources to transition to a maglev system, something quieter, something future-focused. The constant noise has been difficult for my family, and as much as I try to endure it, I can’t deny how much it’s impacted us.
I also want to acknowledge something personal. I am not mentally ill, but I do live with PTSD from my time in the former Yugoslavia during the war. The stress, the memories, and the feeling of helplessness in the face of things beyond my control sometimes bubble up in ways I don’t intend. That doesn’t excuse my words, but I hope it explains where they came from.
I respect the work you’ve done for our city, even if I haven’t always agreed with everything. I know leadership is not easy, and I recognize that you’ve had to make difficult decisions. Once again, I truly apologize for my harsh words. I wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
Joe Jukic