Carpenterism

Councilor Richard Carpenter, showing the height of arrogance during a news conference to officially announce his re-election campaign, said that he and Ms. Cheschi-Smith will help to acclimate newcomers to council. This will only be possible if he wins, something he seems to take for granted. And not only that, but he wants all candidates to bow down at the alter of Carpenterism and embrace his positions on all major issues. "We want all the candidates running to look at these principles and adopt them.", he is quoted as saying. So much for critical thinking and differing viewpoints. So much for the voters having an actual choice or a real voice in the running of the city. It must be the Carpenter way or the highway. That's what has been wrong with the council for the past four years, this "I'm right and you're wrong, and the public be damned" attitude. With any luck maybe Mr. Carpenter will find himself just another member of the general public after this fall's election..

Why Bother To Recycle?

Last week, as I was taking the blue box out with the rest of our garbage, I had the usual feeling that I was contributing in a small way to reducing waste. But then as I looked at the cans, bottles, other plastics and paper, I began to wonder if it was worth the bother. Some of the cans and plastic required some rinsing to make them acceptable and we always remove the windows part of the envelopes as instructed as well. But to what end?

By recycling, we are supposed to be helping to save the earth, albeit in a very small way, and cut down on the amount of material that goes to the landfill. But all this effort is negated as the buildings on the south side of Colborne St. are knocked down and carted off to that same landfill. One dump truck load would probably more than wipe out a years worth of our recycling effort. And this will drag on for several more years as the foundations are also removed, when and if replacement buildings are ever build. And how many trees and other scarce resources will be used up in this possible construction? So much for reduce, reuse, recycle as it applies to our current city council. Yes, a small amount might be recycled but when you are smashing buildings down with large heavy machinery, little would be salvageable. How much more sensible and environmentally friendly would trying to save at least some of these buildings have been.

Even our self professed champion of the environment, Ms. Cheschi-Smith, who frets over plastic bottles at City Hall (they are at least recyclable), voted in favour of this massive destruction.

I will continue to do my part by recycling, even though those who are supposed to be leaders do just the opposite. The shame is theirs.

The Destruction Begins

The Brantford City Council has decided to forge ahead, without the federal grant, with the destruction of the south side of Colborne St. Guess Littell and company needed to try to keep their failing campaigns on track. And, we are assured that the loss of this grant won't cost the homeowner an extra cent. What a load of crap!

Just because they are going to use Casino money instead, it is still our money not theirs. When the casino was being debated, we were told that money received from it would be used to pay for added policing costs, road improvements, and to keep taxes lower. This has been nowhere near the case. Much of the casino revenue has been spent on misguided projects in the downtown while my and most other homeowners' taxes have more than doubled, and this move continues this trend. I assume that when budget time arrives next year that taxes will be lowered seeing as how there seems to be so much extra money available when needed. And no more griping about the need to replace crumbling infrastructure as apparently federal grants are an unnecessary luxury.

I still think it's a pity to see these historic buildings reduced to landfill. Brantford once prided itself on its history, but not anymore. Will the Bell Homestead be reduced to rubble in the near future too?

"You don't know what you got til it's gone".

South Side Littell

Well, it's now more than five months since all the stores and tenants were forced out of those buildings on the south side of Colborne St. In fact it was so imperative that they get out that one senior who had lived there for years and kept his building in good repair was evicted by Councilor Littell, forcing him to leave many of his belongings behind. A truly disgraceful move. And for what? The buildings sit there empty, stripped of much of their insides, and with open windows to the elements. Even if somehow there was a way to save them, it's most likely too late because of the recent significant deterioration. And instead of being a source of tax income they are a drain on tax dollars requiring security to try and protect them from vandals and arson.

And why is this? It's because in his rush to bolster his shot at being mayor, Mark Littell, didn't want to listen to anyone, didn't do his homework on what was necessary to get grants and approvals, had no firm plans in place for future use of these lands and just forged ahead no matter what. Mark Littell has proven that he couldn't organize a one car funeral. He would have the hearse going the wrong way and would bury the coffin before the person was even dead. Why anyone (except his developer friends) would even consider voting for him for mayor is beyond me.