Municipal Politics

[jammer139]

Oxford politicians seek dismantling of Thames Valley board: 'Too big'

“There should be a London board and an Oxford, Elgin and Middlesex board," said Zorra Township Mayor Marcus Ryan

Another example of Municipal politicians not understanding their roles and swim lanes by wading into areas that are not their jurisdiction.


https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/oxfo...es-valley-board-too-big?itm_source=index

[jammer139]

Same old Same old in Old South.

“It is very peaceful now and we don’t want people in the neighbourhood.”

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/old-...-on-beloved-green-space?itm_source=index

[inimrepus]

Originally Posted by jammer139

Same old Same old in Old South.

“It is very peaceful now and we don’t want people in the neighbourhood.”

I'm torn on this. If the community is currently using the park the way it is and doesn't want it changed, then why should it be changed? Especially when there is a park with a playground just 1 block away (Dunkirk Place Park). If the green space isn't being used or people were asking for this then it would make sense in my opinion.

[jammer139]

Mayor Morgan on CBC interview.

"On the infrastructure front, Morgan said the city highlighted several "choke points" that need investment to unlock housing growth.

That includes a potential project in the downtown core that could open up as many as 6,000 housing units, and upgrades to wastewater infrastructure near Fanshawe College to expand capacity for new development."


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/lo...rts-and-infrastructure-funding-1.7615866

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by jammer139

Oxford politicians seek dismantling of Thames Valley board: 'Too big'

“There should be a London board and an Oxford, Elgin and Middlesex board," said Zorra Township Mayor Marcus Ryan

Another example of Municipal politicians not understanding their roles and swim lanes by wading into areas that are not their jurisdiction.


https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/oxfo...es-valley-board-too-big?itm_source=index

A Mayor is also responsible to their citizens to try to improve their lives and he is correct on this. The school board amalgamations of 30 years ago did nothing to improve the education system, nor controlled costs. TVDSB covers way too big an area and is too London-centric.

[jammer139]

How would even more school boards improve education or control costs???

School budgets are now and have always been driven by labour costs of salary and benefits to the toon of over 80%.

We already have 4 school boards in this geography - Public English, Public French, Catholic English and Catholic French not to mention a number of private schools.

If the Mayor wants to change the education system he should run for MPP who are also responsible to their citizens to try to improve their lives specifically in the jurisdiction of education. Alternatively he could also propose taking over all the schools in his municipality to have direct control over them.

Originally Posted by Djeffery

A Mayor is also responsible to their citizens to try to improve their lives and he is correct on this. The school board amalgamations of 30 years ago did nothing to improve the education system, nor controlled costs. TVDSB covers way too big an area and is too London-centric.

[Djeffery]

It's ridiculous to suggest Mayors and local councils shouldn't be voicing opinions on local issues under the purview of a higher level of government.

[jammer139]

PEC supports adding money to housing incentive program to keep it going.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/lo...e-money-into-housing-incentive-programs/

[jammer139]

LFP article on the Task force recommendations for Council pay.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/0920-lf-pay?itm_source=index

[jammer139]

Mayor looking to setup shelter huts for homeless using strong mayor powers.

Interesting list of conditions for success. Chatham's lessons learned should help.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/lo...re-s-what-they-could-look-like-1.7641564

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by jammer139

LFP article on the Task force recommendations for Council pay.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/0920-lf-pay?itm_source=index

small wonder that our taxes have doubled inflation over the past few years.

Josh Morgan held down a full time job (at Western) while serving as city councillor.

[Djeffery]

Council is still officially a part time job except for Mayor and many still hold down other jobs. It used to be that almost all of them had other jobs. I remember controversy when Bernie McDonald ran on the platform of being a full time councilor because he retired from GM Diesel and had a nice pension, so he could afford to only be a city councilor. Some others felt that was a cheap ploy to stay elected (it worked). There have been a couple lottery winners on council too over the years, which allowed them to spend more time with the city. Several of them over the years were lawyers, financial planners, auto shop owners, clergy, newspaper owner, realtors, teachers. Morgan isn't the first to work at Western while on council, heck the old grumpy dude probably still does lol.

[MolsonExport]

there is something fishy about voting yourself a 40% wage hike.

I am rather tired of the double digit tax increases (while realizing that some earlier tax freezes were unsustainable...but the cops always seem to get their asks). My wages have fallen below inflation for 6 years and counting.

[jammer139]

York is proposing high rise towers in Arva. And were off - let the annexation debates begin.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/as...rth-arva-braces-for-big-change-1.7647553

links - https://www.middlesexcentre.ca/articles/proposed-arva-subdivision-bridle-path

link to planning document with subdivision map - https://www.middlesexcentre.ca/sites/def...0-%20Bridle%20Path%20North%20Updated.pdf

[jammer139]

New Middlesex County Administration office at the southern end of Adelaide St fronting the 401 is progressing. Nearly finished forming and pouring the L1 walls.

[MolsonExport]

Even though the developer is York, the towers look very Drewloish

[jammer139]

Steve Peters stepping down from St Thomas City Council.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/stev...fter-30-years-in-office?itm_source=index

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by jammer139

Steve Peters stepping down from St Thomas City Council.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/stev...fter-30-years-in-office?itm_source=index

Good for him, that's a long time in office. I lived in St Thomas at the end of my teens and he was working at the downtown A&P when he was first elected. I'm also on a St Thomas city group that he is also on, and he is quite the historian for the city and county. He could probably have defeated Preston to become Mayor again if he wanted to.

[jammer139]

London's HART Hub set to open on Monday.

The HART hub, offering 59 shelter beds to be phased in at the Salvation Army Centre of Hope, is set to open Oct. 27. The highly anticipated facility is one of 28 hubs announced across Ontario last year as part of a $550-million provincial initiative over three years.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/london-addiction-recovery-hart-hub-opens-monday

[jammer139]

Committee votes to increase council pay 35% and introduce severance pay.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/co...r-councillors-who-fail-to-be-re-elected/

follow up story - https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/gi...eader-on-city-councils-pending-pay-hike/