Monday, December 7, 2009
School district open house, workshop cancelled
The School Board has announced the postponement of the Public Information and Workshop Session scheduled for Tuesday, December 8, 2009 due to the date conflicting with some seasonal events. The The Board will proceed with its Inaugural Board Meeting at 6:00pm, December 8th, 2009 at Century House.
VOICE supports open public process on high school site question
Below is the Voice press release that was released on Saturday.
New Westminster, B.C. - VOICE New Westminster is expressing full support for an open public process regarding where to site the new high school, and they're urging the city to be part of that process.
VOICE President Neil Powell says all of the VOICE candidates were committed to transparency, accountability and public process during the last civic election and the organization remains committed to these values.
"Public process is essential to achieving a solution that is valued and supported by all stakeholders," Powell said. "Achieving the best possible solution on the high school site is also going to take participation by all levels of government."
Powell points to strong feelings in the community that all levels of government in the past - municipal, provincial and federal - have played a role in bringing about the current situation on the high school site.
Powell says there are also questions in the community relating to the federal government's use of the site during the second world war, when barracks were apparently built on the site, which may have obscured the site's past use as a cemetery.
Likewise, when the province and the city carried out the original land exchange, the cemetery was shut down but not properly decommissioned.
"The community wants to be part of the discussion and they have questions they want answered," Powell said. "They want to see the new high school built, with all levels of government working together, and they want to see it built without losing existing amenities like the Massey Theatre."
At the November 24th meeting of the New Westminster school board it was announced that a public meeting will take place on December 8th at 6:30 pm in the Douglas Fir Room at Century House, 620 Eighth Street, New Westminster.
Voice New Westminster was formed in January 2007 to support a broadly-based, non-partisan slate of candidates for mayor, council and school board. Voice New Westminster is comprised of residents from all parts of the city sharing a common vision for a revitalized and sustainable New Westminster.
New Westminster, B.C. - VOICE New Westminster is expressing full support for an open public process regarding where to site the new high school, and they're urging the city to be part of that process.
VOICE President Neil Powell says all of the VOICE candidates were committed to transparency, accountability and public process during the last civic election and the organization remains committed to these values.
"Public process is essential to achieving a solution that is valued and supported by all stakeholders," Powell said. "Achieving the best possible solution on the high school site is also going to take participation by all levels of government."
Powell points to strong feelings in the community that all levels of government in the past - municipal, provincial and federal - have played a role in bringing about the current situation on the high school site.
Powell says there are also questions in the community relating to the federal government's use of the site during the second world war, when barracks were apparently built on the site, which may have obscured the site's past use as a cemetery.
Likewise, when the province and the city carried out the original land exchange, the cemetery was shut down but not properly decommissioned.
"The community wants to be part of the discussion and they have questions they want answered," Powell said. "They want to see the new high school built, with all levels of government working together, and they want to see it built without losing existing amenities like the Massey Theatre."
At the November 24th meeting of the New Westminster school board it was announced that a public meeting will take place on December 8th at 6:30 pm in the Douglas Fir Room at Century House, 620 Eighth Street, New Westminster.
Voice New Westminster was formed in January 2007 to support a broadly-based, non-partisan slate of candidates for mayor, council and school board. Voice New Westminster is comprised of residents from all parts of the city sharing a common vision for a revitalized and sustainable New Westminster.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Why Such Low Voter Turnout?
Our congratulations to Fin Donnelly, the newly-elected MP for New Westminster-Coquitlam, and to all of the candidates who ran in the by-election; Diana Dilworth, Rebecca Helps and Ken Beck Lee. Congratulations as well to all those who worked on the candidate campaigns. Campaigns are hard work and everyone who took part in the process is to be commended.
As is typically the case in by-elections, voter turnout was low. Only 29.9 per cent of the eligible voters bothered to take the time to vote (and just two days before Remembrance Day which honours those who fought and died to preserve our right to vote).
Sadly, low voter turnout is a trend that’s showing itself federally, provincially and municipally even in general elections. Exactly why is not entirely clear.
With no disrespect to 49.6 percent of the vote that went to Fin Donnelly last week, it works out that only about 14.5 per cent of the eligible voters chose the person to represent the eastern half of New Westminster plus Coquitlam and part of Port Moody in Ottawa.
Even more discouraging is the fact that the 29.9 per cent voter turnout in last week’s by-election beats the 24.3 per cent voter turnout in the last civic election in New Westminster. Out of 41,551 eligible civic voters, only 10,092 bothered to go to the polls in November 2008. And in many cases those elected to city council and the school board were elected by barely 8 or 9 per cent of the eligible voters.
As is typically the case in by-elections, voter turnout was low. Only 29.9 per cent of the eligible voters bothered to take the time to vote (and just two days before Remembrance Day which honours those who fought and died to preserve our right to vote).
Sadly, low voter turnout is a trend that’s showing itself federally, provincially and municipally even in general elections. Exactly why is not entirely clear.
With no disrespect to 49.6 percent of the vote that went to Fin Donnelly last week, it works out that only about 14.5 per cent of the eligible voters chose the person to represent the eastern half of New Westminster plus Coquitlam and part of Port Moody in Ottawa.
Even more discouraging is the fact that the 29.9 per cent voter turnout in last week’s by-election beats the 24.3 per cent voter turnout in the last civic election in New Westminster. Out of 41,551 eligible civic voters, only 10,092 bothered to go to the polls in November 2008. And in many cases those elected to city council and the school board were elected by barely 8 or 9 per cent of the eligible voters.
Massey Theatre and Recent City Hall Visit to China
The mayor's junket to China and the on-going drama surrounding the Massey Theatre's fate have been prime topics of community conversation for several weeks now.
The Massey Theatre's situation is, of course, collateral damage resulting from decade’s worth of school board incompetence and the never ending attempt to replace NWSS (an aging cold war relic) with a modern facility.
Left to their own devices, there's no question that the Massey Theatre people would be operating of a hugely successful and very popular theatre venue.
Unfortunately, the boat anchor burden they've had to bear in the form of their school board landlords has fouled their propeller and left them sitting half dead in the water in recent years. Cutting the anchor chain and losing the deadweight of the Labour council dominated school board is obviously something that needs to happen (and soon). The Massey is too good to lose.
As for the mayor's junket to China: Daniel Fontaine from CityCaucus.com had a great opinion-editorial piece recently in the Royal City Record. Fontaine's notes on the ineffectiveness of scattergun economic development efforts and one-off junkets like New Westminster's will resonate with many frustrated Royal City residents.
If you missed Fontaine's commentary you can find it here on the Royal City Record. And you can also read Fontaine’s CityCaucus blog post about the mayor's China junket on the CityCaucus.com website.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Canfor Continues
The Record did a further piece on this situation on February 14th, 2009 and did an even more in-depth story on Record reporter Theresa McManus' blog.
Voice director, Neil Powell, attended council tonight, February 16th. His closing comments were:
"President Obama recently apologized to the American people by saying, 'I screwed up.' If in fact Mayor Don MacLean's comments are correct will you apologize to New Westminster's residents for putting us through the suffering [related to the Canfor expropriation] of the last 12 months."
Mayor Wright declined the offer. He also did not seek to set the record straight and correct Neil Powell's comments regarding what Mayor MacLean had attributed to Mayor Wright. We can only assume then that Mayor Wright did bring the Canfor site and acquisition forward to Metro Vancouver.
Voice director, Neil Powell, attended council tonight, February 16th. His closing comments were:
"President Obama recently apologized to the American people by saying, 'I screwed up.' If in fact Mayor Don MacLean's comments are correct will you apologize to New Westminster's residents for putting us through the suffering [related to the Canfor expropriation] of the last 12 months."
Mayor Wright declined the offer. He also did not seek to set the record straight and correct Neil Powell's comments regarding what Mayor MacLean had attributed to Mayor Wright. We can only assume then that Mayor Wright did bring the Canfor site and acquisition forward to Metro Vancouver.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
What to do with our Parkade?
The Record recently ran an article on council's deliberations re: the Front Street parkade. This got Voice director, Susan Wandell, thinking about the issue. Here are her comments. Feel free to weigh in with yours.
I use the parkade most times I am in the downtown. There is not sufficient street parking and even if you find it, the parkade gives you freedom from keeping your eye on the parking meter to make sure you don't get a ticket. When the downtown has been "rejuvinated" and the convention centre/city hall (oops, public building with an arts component) is built, there will need to be parking and underground parking is extremely expensive to build. People are not going to suddenly give up their vehicles - they may scale down but vehicles are not going away. I attend a meeting on Street one evening a month and seldom found street parking. The committee suggested that members be given permission to park in the parkade free of charge while attending the meeting. We were given that permission last month and I took advantage of the parkade rather than drive around for 10 minutes looking for a space.
Parking variances in the high rises are not providing enough visitor parking and even if there is sufficient space, it is awkward to deal with - calling the person to come down and let you into their parkade and giving you a parking pass and then having to return the pass - what a hassle.
Let's think outside of the box. If the parkade is underused, why not advertise on the SkyTrain/buses and charge the same rates as SkyTrain parking lots for "Park and Rides". Perhaps CKNW may advertise as a public service announcement. Promote it in the City Page of The Record.
Thank you, Councillor McIntosh, for thinking ahead. The parkade may not be beautiful to some people's mind, but it serves a purpose. Before you start with the sledgehammer - come up with a better, more affordable solution.
I use the parkade most times I am in the downtown. There is not sufficient street parking and even if you find it, the parkade gives you freedom from keeping your eye on the parking meter to make sure you don't get a ticket. When the downtown has been "rejuvinated" and the convention centre/city hall (oops, public building with an arts component) is built, there will need to be parking and underground parking is extremely expensive to build. People are not going to suddenly give up their vehicles - they may scale down but vehicles are not going away. I attend a meeting on Street one evening a month and seldom found street parking. The committee suggested that members be given permission to park in the parkade free of charge while attending the meeting. We were given that permission last month and I took advantage of the parkade rather than drive around for 10 minutes looking for a space.
Parking variances in the high rises are not providing enough visitor parking and even if there is sufficient space, it is awkward to deal with - calling the person to come down and let you into their parkade and giving you a parking pass and then having to return the pass - what a hassle.
Let's think outside of the box. If the parkade is underused, why not advertise on the SkyTrain/buses and charge the same rates as SkyTrain parking lots for "Park and Rides". Perhaps CKNW may advertise as a public service announcement. Promote it in the City Page of The Record.
Thank you, Councillor McIntosh, for thinking ahead. The parkade may not be beautiful to some people's mind, but it serves a purpose. Before you start with the sledgehammer - come up with a better, more affordable solution.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Canfor Expropriation Voted Down amid Disturbing Revleations!!
This morning, Voice Director, Dana Hings, and Voice President, Blair Armitage attended the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District’s meeting. On the agenda was a report regarding Metro Vancouver’s attempted expropriation of the Canfor site in New Westminster.
At the beginning of the meeting, one of the board members brought up the idea of looking at the public process for delegations to present, feeling it was too restrictive. The board chair said that they would discuss this again. This was likely a result of Ms. Hings request to speak before the Board but missing the deadline by an hour. Ms. Hings had sent emails to the board and Mayor Wright asking for an exception but one wasn’t granted nor did she hear back from Mayor Wright.
Helen Spiegelman of Zero Waste Vancouver spoke eloquently and with such passion, as usual. Joe Foy of the Western Canada Wilderness Society, (and also a resident of New Westminster), spoke in regard to the impact on the wilderness and about recycling in general.
Quite a few board members spoke to the issue of rejecting the proposal for the land expropriation and most were reluctant to agree to reject but did as there were too many factors in the way. It was stated that this deal could be tied up in the courts for 3-4 years, and this group does not have this kind of time. It was mentioned on more than one occasion that this was handled backwards, where land is bought for such a use before public consultation. There was also no public consultation with the Fraser Valley, who have also shown opposition to the idea of increased use of incinerators within the region. The McBride Sapperton Residents’ Associations meetings were mentioned. Obviously the board recalled Neil Powell’s presentation before them in July and realized that they did not have the support of the neighbourhood.
Most board members were reluctant to reject this proposal for the same reasons mentioned above except for the Mayor of Pitt Meadow, Don MacLean. He still supported this proposal and, among other things, commended the Mayor of Port Moody for still trying to push this through, even with such opposition. He also commended Wayne Wright for bringing this site and acquisition forward in the first place!
This flies in the face of statements the mayor made less than 12 months ago in the press when he stated that he knew nothing about the proposal.
At the beginning of the meeting, one of the board members brought up the idea of looking at the public process for delegations to present, feeling it was too restrictive. The board chair said that they would discuss this again. This was likely a result of Ms. Hings request to speak before the Board but missing the deadline by an hour. Ms. Hings had sent emails to the board and Mayor Wright asking for an exception but one wasn’t granted nor did she hear back from Mayor Wright.
Helen Spiegelman of Zero Waste Vancouver spoke eloquently and with such passion, as usual. Joe Foy of the Western Canada Wilderness Society, (and also a resident of New Westminster), spoke in regard to the impact on the wilderness and about recycling in general.
Quite a few board members spoke to the issue of rejecting the proposal for the land expropriation and most were reluctant to agree to reject but did as there were too many factors in the way. It was stated that this deal could be tied up in the courts for 3-4 years, and this group does not have this kind of time. It was mentioned on more than one occasion that this was handled backwards, where land is bought for such a use before public consultation. There was also no public consultation with the Fraser Valley, who have also shown opposition to the idea of increased use of incinerators within the region. The McBride Sapperton Residents’ Associations meetings were mentioned. Obviously the board recalled Neil Powell’s presentation before them in July and realized that they did not have the support of the neighbourhood.
Most board members were reluctant to reject this proposal for the same reasons mentioned above except for the Mayor of Pitt Meadow, Don MacLean. He still supported this proposal and, among other things, commended the Mayor of Port Moody for still trying to push this through, even with such opposition. He also commended Wayne Wright for bringing this site and acquisition forward in the first place!
This flies in the face of statements the mayor made less than 12 months ago in the press when he stated that he knew nothing about the proposal.
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