Bryce Lee: Wants more than any city council could get done in its first 100 days; doesn't think the new Mayor will last more than one term.

100 daysThe Gazette has invited residents for their thoughts on what the new city might try to achieve in its first 100 days.  A lot of wishful thinking and some misunderstanding of how the city actually works.  Interesting comments.

 

By Bryce Lee
November 28th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON

Have often thought the ward boundaries should shift, to accommodate two extra councillors account some wards are geographically larger than others. Even the load so to speak.

No more structures blocking the view of Lake Ontario.

The lake is perhaps the greatest asset this City has, do not lose it to developers!

No more fancy homes on Lakeshore east to Guelph Line.

The issue is the portion shown as parkette. The city had three options: keep the land and develop it as a parkette, lease the land to adjoining property owners until the city decides on its long term use or sell the land. The want to sell it.

The issue is the portion shown as parkette. The city had three options: keep the land and develop it as a parkette, lease the land to adjoining property owners until the city decides on its long term use or sell the land. The city sold it.

Over a long time that entire area should become a linear park. Selling those lots on Lakeshore Road between Market and St Paul to home owners was stupid and short sighted.

Let the council delegations be heard, good amplification is required; citizens must not be ignored. They voted the current Councillors in; they can just as easily be voted out in four years!

421 Brant

Approved – all but impossible to change the decision

Looking north from Queens Head

Developer is expected to appeal the council decision to keep the structure to 17 storeys – developer wants 24 – same as the approved building across the street.

As to the planned monstrosities opposite the current city hall and elsewhere; the so-called Official Plan needs to be reviewed. Such tall buildings should be fronting the edge of Metrolinx railway line, not in the downtown area. Keep the downtown building height to six stories, set back from the new wider sidewalks.

Have affordable shops on perhaps the ground floor or even the second floor.

Motorized vehicle parking should be at the rear of said structures or below level; 1.5 vehicles per household please. Employees should also be afforded parking, below street level.

Traffic barriers in place on LAkeshore for the Car Free Sunday last year were expensive and not really used. The event was poorly attended.

We are an automobile based society

We are an automobile based society regardless of the method of propulsion; make charging stations available payable by bank card. The car park with Elizabeth on the east and John Street on the west should be a many level parking garage with retail shops and professional offices on the ground floor and second level, shops to be fronted on the streets mentioned above.

Maintain, if possible, the residential areas of old Burlington below Ghent Avenue; homes constructed post WWII, and occupied for the most part by baby boomers.

Keeping those aforementioned residences allows residents to walk to most locations; The Brant Street No Frills plaza needs to be retained; grocery outlets are few and far between in this City unless one has suitable transportation.

City sponsored transportation should have free Sundays and free all the time to seniors.
Ensure all of the provincial subsidy is used; smaller electric powered (solar?) buses with frequent service is required.

And if the current Provincial Premier wants to merge Oakville and Burlington to Hamilton, tell him he too could be voted out of office, sooner than later!

Meed ward election night 1

Mayor Elect Marianne Meed Ward

My own thoughts on Meed-Ward: she will be a one term mayor, as were the two previous female mayors of Burlington.

She was wonderful as a Councillor however a mayor requires a whole different mindset.  She will stumble and in four years be out of office.

As for the other newly elected Councillors; being a ward Councillor requires time; time far beyond what the incumbents know. A Councillor is a 7/24/365 job; no rest during the four years; while  elected.

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5 comments to Bryce Lee: Wants more than any city council could get done in its first 100 days; doesn’t think the new Mayor will last more than one term.

  • B.C.

    I do not recall a female mayor other than Mary Munro. Can the writer please clarify who the other is? Mary Munro did not run for re-election I believe, so while she was a one term Mayor, that was her decision.

  • Hélène

    Would Bryce Lee be so good as to elaborate on the “mindset” required to make the transition from very successful two-term councillor to mayor?

  • Stephen White

    The article contains a number of interesting thoughts and constructive ideas but the comment regarding the new Mayor is not fully explained and seems, on the face of it, very unfounded.

    Here’s the thing about leaders. Some rise to the occasion. Some don’t. Some are architects of their own misfortune, and some are victims of backroom machinations. Implying that previous female leaders in the City are somehow flawed due to inherent character failings or lack of ability is not only disingenuous but lacking in both fact and substance. I recall when Mary Munro was Mayor of Burlington, and from my perspective she was the best Mayor this City ever had. I didn’t feel like Ms. Munro was willing to hang residents out “out to dry” the way I did with several of her successors. I’m not sure who the second individual was to whom Mr. Lee is referring.

    Marianne brings a number of stellar qualities to the office of Mayor (e.g. passion, communication skills, the ability to connect with voters, etc.). She won election honestly and fairly, and as a consequence deserves the public’s support just as Rick Goldring or Mike Wallace would have received if elected. I for one am glad to see more female representation on this Council. Over the past few years this Council has become an “old boys club” populated by small town business interests who were ingratiated with developers, lacked the ability to speak truth to power, didn’t challenge the status quo, and didn’t do a particularly good job of engaging with their constituents. The disastrous consultation process surrounding the OP is a living testament to that.

    So, if electing a female Mayor along with two very capable, well-educated female Councillors provides more consultation, better engagement and better quality of decision-making I for one say “bring it on”.

  • D.Duck

    “My own thoughts on Meed-Ward: she will be a one term mayor, as were the two previous female mayors of Burlington”

    Wow, that is a very misogynistic and sexist comment. Kinda negates any worthwhile things you may have said.