I Hope They Are Happy

As predicted on this blog last July, Kingspan has abandoned plans for the development of a Canadian headquarters here in Brantford with the resulting loss of 200 well paying jobs and the increased municipal taxes that it would bring. Kingspan is also suing the City of Brantford for $10 million. I hope that the Indian protesters that halted this project until it was no longer viable are happy. They are now targeting housing development on Conklin Road and have even tried to stop the building of a vital community medical centre. They are doing irreparable damage to the community of Brantford, their neighbours. The same community where many Indians feel free to use the services provided and paid for local taxpayers, the same people that care so little about.

Funny how they use the excuse that they are protecting the earth from more pollution and sprawl while at the same time development is rapidly taking place on the reserve. But then again I guess that if the Indians were to build another "smoke shop" on the former Kingspan property that would be different somehow.

Traffic Calming

The City is studying ways to slow traffic through Henderson Survey on Terrace Hill St. This area has already benefited from an obstacle course placed on the Queensway to slow traffic as well.While lots of other areas get speeding cars on their streets, many using them as short cuts, this will never do in the prestigious survey, which just happens to be home to the ward's two councilors.

If any street needs to have some kind of traffic calming done, it is Erie Ave. a far busier street than that short piece of Terrace Hill Street. Erie Ave. from the city limits to Cayuga St. (approximately 10 blocks) has but one traffic light and this is a manually operated one, so much of the time it is on constant green. Cars coming in from the south or those going out that way, have nothing to impede their progress and control their speed. Those backing out of their driveways or attempting to cross the road do so at their own risk. And there are also two public schools located on this stretch of road as well. Aw, but this is just in lowly Eagle Place, so I guess it doesn't deserve the attention like a north end desirable neighbourhood gets.

Oh, and a cheap and simple solution to solve the situation on Terrace Hill Street: install a stop sign somewhere along that stretch of street. Problem solved.

Interest Rates Cuts = Less Income

Every time that the Bank of Canada cuts interest rates it is hailed as a boost to the economy and an attempt to lessen the effects of the recession. While it may be a relief to those with large mortgages and big credit card balances, it just further puts the squeeze on seniors who depend on interest on their savings to supplement their pension incomes. As these rates fall so do seniors' incomes. And at the same time property assessments are going up and so are property tax rates - a double whammy. It certainly doesn't help to spur spending when seniors have to cut back do to declining incomes and rising property taxes.