Tuesday 28 June 2016

Ward 5's Next "Elected" Ward Councillor

With Joe Sponga's resignation, the decision on how to replace him rests with the rest of Council. It's a shame that the Ward 5 residents' right to have elected representation now lies with Council members, who represent other wards.

These council members must decide between appointing someone to replace Sponga or hold a by-election and let the residents chose their own elected representative. We are only 19 months into this term, so you might think that a by-election would be their preferred option.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news for all potential Ward 5 candidates, but there is no way in hell that we are going to see a by-election in Ward 5 this term.

Elections are very messy things and by-elections are far too tricky to predict the outcome. Council has very little to gain and everything to lose if they don't appoint a seat warmer "Yes" person to fill the vacancy.

1) Keep in mind, voter turnout during a regular municipal election is 35%. During a by-election where the stakes are so low, we'd be looking at a turnout between 15 and 20% of eligible voters. In a general election, it may take 1,000 votes to win. If this by-election takes place, and with multiple candidates sure to run, someone may win the seat with just 300-400 votes.

The sitting council members simply couldn't take the risk that someone gets elected and starts asking tough questions and demanding answers.

2) If there were to be a by-election, it would most certainly be a referendum on the Clock Tower development. Council is already committed to proceeding with this project. What would happen if the residents voted someone who was vehemently opposed? All the backroom (of Tim Hortons on Yonge St) wheeling and dealing that has taken place over the past 5 years would have to begin again in earnest.

In order to save Council's plans for the Clock Tower development, the sitting members of Council won't risk a by-election.

Here is my shortlist of possible "YES" people who could be appointed to replace Joe Sponga:

1) Jackie Playter - a long term ally of Tony Van Bynen and someone who has years of experience dealing with the Main Street BIA (even though she is on the 'outs' with the current BIA board). If Jackie doesn't want the job, her son Wes may get it by default.

2) Joan Stonehocker - volunteer with the library board and an advocate for bicycles and growing her own food. These are two issues that Council approves of.

3) Rob Clark - owner of RC Designs and a close ally of John Taylor. Taylor owes Clark a number of political favours and this appointment may be payback time.

4) Rob Buckley - owner of Buckley insurance and a close friend of Councillor Dave Kerwin.

5) Karen Dubeau - a former Library Board member and a strong advocate of Tony Van Bynen's Giga Bit corridor.

6) Sean Stephens - CEO of Treefrog and another supporter of Van Bynen's Giga Bit corridor.

Update (thanks to one of my readers for pointing out this obvious omission)

7) Victor Woodhouse - the former Town of Newmarket Councillor. Although there is no love lost between him and the currrent Ward 3 Councillor Jane Twinney, the fact that the Mayor and Deputy Mayor could always count on his council vote means he'll be under consideration.

If you can think of any other "YES" appointees that I may have missed, please use the comments section and let's get a discussion going.


Thursday 23 June 2016

Municipality-owned Broad Band Internet Corridor Construction Begins in September 2017

It's a plan that has been discussed since 2007 in hopes of transforming the municipality into what the politicians are calling an "Intelligent City." Starting in September 2017, the shovels hit the ground for a five year project to a install broad band internet corridor owned by the municipality.

Phase 1 will run along the municipality's busiest street and connect the library, the municipal offices, and the hospital.

Phase 2 will run through the business district.

The hope is that this high speed broad band internet service will draw in young people and create jobs.

The investment in the broad band infrastructure is currently estimated at $9,000,000, but the municipality plans to have it paid for within 20 years.

Does this plan sound familiar? You could be forgiven if you thought this plan was for Newmarket, (although Mayor Van Bynen's Council is nowhere near this level of preparedness). No, we're talking about New Westminster (population 65,000 - as compared to Newmarket's population of 88,000).

The key difference is that New Westminster has $9,000,000 to spend. New Westminster is flush with cash and its politicians are proud to boast how well funded their project is.

The Town of Newmarket, with just $18,000,000 in total reserves, does not have that amount of money to spend, unless Council foolhardily decided to bet it's bank gambling on a business plan that is full of optimism, but high in risk. You can see the Town of Newmarket's reserves in this information report published on June 15, 2016.

Isn't it time that Tony Van Bynen and his Council allies admit to the residents and the business community that his Giga Bit Corridor is a non-starter? After so many years of economic development failures (Davis Drive, York University Campus, Harry Walker Parkway, Shared Digital Imaging and so on), residents have gotten pretty used to Van Bynen/Taylor coming up short.

But before another nickle is invested in "researching" broad band internet, residents need to be shown that their is a funding strategy that makes sense. Will it mean selling off Newmarket Hydro, for example, and letting go of our golden goose to pursue their vanity project?

I believe we can chalk up Newmarket's Giga Bit Corridor initiative up to a desperate Mayor and his allies who were willing to promise voters anything to dupe us into believing that they have a plan for new economic growth. This promise came during an election campaign but it appears as though this Council doesn't have any intention of following through with it.

For those keeping score at home:

  • Davis Drive Bus Lanes
  • York University Campus
  • Harry Walker Parkway
  • Shared Digital Imaging
  • Finland/ Estonia Junket
  • Giga Bit Corridor
The list of Van Bynen/Taylor endorsed "economic development" failures just continues to grow.

Saturday 18 June 2016

Why Won't Council Commit to a Cross Walk Signal on Water Street?

With the Province promising to increase GO Train traffic to every 30 minutes and Council intending to almost double the amount of parking spots at Fairy Lake, pedestrians in the Fairy Lake area have every right to feel ignored in the hubbub.

For many years, people that walk between Riverwalk Commons and the Fairy Lake portion of the Tom Taylor trail, must carefully cross the very busy Water St without any crosswalk, lights, or other pedestrian aids.

A May 27th Information Report once again refuses to commit to installing a pedestrian crossing light to stop traffic on Water St.

Instead, this report is proposing to construct a "refuge island" to allow pedestrians who are unable to cross the street in one attempt, to at least make it halfway to wait for another possible opening in traffic. Frankly, its a very dumb but expensive idea.

It seems like a lot of construction work as opposed to the obvious solution.

Here is what the right solution should be:

1) Put in a cross walk signal for people who are crossing Water Street on weekdays and weekends between September and June.
2) On Saturday mornings during the summer months (for the period of time the Farmer's Market is open), close Water Street to vehicular traffic between Doug Duncan Dr. and Main St. This will allow free flow of pedestrians during this peak use time.
3) Close Water St between Doug Duncan and Main St. during periods when Fairy Lake is hosting popular events such as the upcoming Canada Day event.

Closing Water St. to cars and trucks for a few brief hours on a summer Saturday morning is hardly going to inconvenience anyone and will keep residents safe.

Its a very simple solution.

It's too bad that none of our highly paid town planners could have thought of it on their own.

Saturday 4 June 2016

Parking Plan Shows Gruesome Twosome's Controversial Clock Tower Development Will Proceed

John Taylor (the junior partner in Newmarket's Gruesome Twosome) is breathlessly trying to convince residents that Main Street's vibrancy is behind the plan to pave over Fairy Lake green space to create 33 new parking spots.

Wait just a minute.

33 spaces?

Isn't that number awfully familiar?

Seems like that figure matches the number of parking spots that will be lost if the controversial Gruesome Twosome's land swap proposal with the Clock Tower development gets approved on August 29th.

Coincidence?

I don't think so.  Unless there is new development, there really isn't any need to create the volume of parking spaces that are being proposed.  Even if there is minor development, there still must be allowances made for the improved public transit, bike lanes, and trails that service this area.  Not every visitor uses a car.

The status quo for parking is perfectly fine if there is no new residential development.

But if a decision about the Clock Tower has already been made (as suggested by the number of back room meetings that the developer has been conducting with Council members individually and in small groups), then - and only then - would the additional parking be required.

A lot of hardworking community activists are about to be greatly disappointed.

Thursday 2 June 2016

Preserve Fairy Lake for People not Cars

Here is an excerpt from the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO)

"Municipal Government  
The powers of municipal governments are determined by the provincial government. Municipal governments in Ontario are responsible for providing many of the services within their local boundaries that you rely on daily such as: 
  • Airports 
  • Ambulance 
  • Animal Control and By-law Enforcement 
  • Arts and Culture 
  • Child Care 
  • Economic Development 
  • Fire Services 
  • Garbage Collection and Recycling 
  • Electric Utilities 
  • Library Services 
  • Long Term Care and Senior Housing  
  • Maintenance of Local Road Network 
  • Parks and Recreation 
  • Public Transit 
  • Planning New Community Developments and Enhancing Existing Neighbourhoods 
  • Police Services 
  • Property Assessment 
  • Provincial Offences Administration  
  • Public Health 
  • Side Walks 
  • Snow Removal 
  • Social Services 
  • Social Housing  
  • Storm Sewers 
  • Tax Collection 
  • Water and Sewage "

Do you know what's missing from this list?

Parking.

Yet the Town of Newmarket has become obsessed with paving over green spaces, like Fairy Lake, to create more and more parking spots. Have they confused "parks" for "parking lots?"

Who benefits when green spaces Fairy Lake are paved over? Certainly not the public. 

Local businesses in the Main St. area might like to have more parking for their customers but their wishes should not supersede the public's need for green space. Besides, if a Main St business is really dependent on more parking, then I'd suggest that there are plenty of vacancies along Davis Drive and Yonge Street corridors that could use a new tenant. These near empty plazas, the casualties of the VivaNext construction, provide plenty of parking opportunities.

Our trail systems and bike lanes all connect commuters to Riverwalk commons. So does YRT transit. People traveling to the Riverwalk Commons, Farmer's Market, Old Town Hall or Library should consider alternative modes of transit that have been promoted by our "green" town.  We won't be green much longer though if our Mayor and Council pave over to make way for more automobiles.    

There is a place for the automobile but it is up to private businesses to concern themselves with parking needs of their patrons. I agree with the AMO. The Town's business is to preserve our parks for people, not cars.