Joe Gaetan digs into the controversial approval of $160,000 in taxpayer funds for the FIFA Canada Caravan. Following a Freedom of Information request, new details have emerged that challenge the "last-minute urgency" narrative presented to City Council.
Thank you to the 238 people who responded to Focus Burlington's survey on this issue. The results are included in the article.
Peter discusses the lack of accountability at the senior levels in Hamilton.
He talks about the impacts of Hamilton's 23% increase in taxes over the four-year term of the current council. Apples to apples, the total tax bill in Burlington has increased by almost 27% over the same period, with Burlington's share of that total bill up by over 44%.
"We need a mayor and councillors who understand finance and discipline".
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Can you substitute the word Burlington for Hamilton in much of what Peter says?
Watch the video here:
With municipal nominations opening May 1st, candidates must weigh the risks of vote-splitting. In 2018’s Ward 5 race, Paul Sharman won with 33.99% of the vote, edging out his closest rival by only 6%. To unseat incumbents, challengers must realistically assess their funding and visibility, sometimes "taking one for the team" to avoid splitting the vote.
Other Ontario communities are using on-demand transit or conducting pilots.
Is Metrolinx working?
What is a 15-minute city, and is Burlington on the road to becoming one?
The latest city council meetings have been odd, unusual, even interesting, in that not much appears to be getting done. Why is that?
Perhaps because it is an election year. Or maybe it’s because council members – in their fourth year of this term of council – have nearly reached the breaking point in their dealings with each other.
https://www.focusburlington.ca/opinion-is-council-dysfunction-evident/
Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury - may have found a better way.
Burlington spends $37 million a year on our transit system
Read more about Argo Transit's solution:
How do they want to reduce pricing?
Build more efficiently? Lower profits? Value the land at a lower price?
NOPE - The solution is to lobby the Burlington City Council to lower development charges and pretend the savings will be passed on to consumers.
What do you think - fill out Focus Burlington's survey
Homelessness is a serious issue. Is a Burlington-only subsidy for developers, which may increase property taxes, the solution? Property tax increases cause rent increases, which in turn cause homelessness. Is it time for the province to act on this issue?
Read more here: https://www.focusburlington.ca/nodcs/
When the housing market overheated pre-COVID, developers demanded deregulation, faster approvals, and less government interference. Now that the market has cooled, those same voices are calling for government relief, reduced charges, and public support.
Read more here: https://www.focusburlington.ca/opinion-sorry-not-sorry/
With the recent cancellation of a 475-unit condo project on Appleby Line, a correction in the condo market may already be happening. Should our city council eliminate development charges to save the development industry?
Read more here: https://www.focusburlington.ca/housingspeculation/
Is there a better way for City Hall to engage with residents?
Read more here: https://www.focusburlington.ca/better-model/
One of the questions at our Beyond the Ballot meeting was:
“What would you do to improve the delegation process at City Council”?
Read more here: https://www.focusburlington.ca/opinion-delegation-or-diminution/
Read more here: https://www.focusburlington.ca/budgets101/
Burlington's reserve funds hold over $200 million. We've tried to explain how reserve funds are used and whether we have enough set aside.
Read the details here: https://www.focusburlington.ca/reservefundsoverview
50 Rental Units
153 Hotel Rooms
83 Parking spots (for the hotel and rental units)
Council has approved the project - the building in orange (23). The developer is donating land at the waterline to the city to extend the waterfront trail. Is this a good deal for Burlington?
