Live - from city hall - the Mayor of Burlington talking to residents - 80 tuned in.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

December 13th, 2017

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It was the Mayor’s first Facebook Live production during which the number of people on line was just a bit over 80. Viewer traffic was pretty steady – opened at just under 40 and rose to 80.

Did the Mayor rise to the occasion?

Goldring on Facebook live 1

Mayor had all kinds of notes, some of which he read from, others that he referred to for specific data.

Well he did and he didn’t. A call from a viewer asking him to explain mobility hubs was awkwardly answered – see it for yourself at minute 15. It was pretty clear that the Mayor didn’t have a firm grip on that subject – and if he doesn’t – how do the rest of the population get to understand it?

His comments on a meeting he had with former Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller on what was happening at the Meridian Brick operation that threatens the value of properties on West Haven Drive will have been a surprise to many.

According to the Mayor Meridian is doing what they are supposed to be doing, the Region is doing what they are supposed to be doing, the province is doing what they are supposed to be doing and the city is doing what they are supposed to be doing. You can watch that segment at minute 32.

The Mayor said he “will continue to advocate for the residents” which had people on West Haven gasping. They have been pressing the Mayor to bring a motion to Council asking the Minister of Natural Resources to put a HOLD on the expansion of the quarry until all the studies have been completed.

Mayor Facebook live 2

Mayor, live on a Facebook presentation.

At the most recent Meridian Brick sponsored community meeting they said that they planned on cutting tree in part of the east quarry this winter.

Residents are terrified that the company will slip in any day now and cut the trees – once they are cut down there is no going back.

Traffic and transit took up much of the time – housing both affordable and the needs of the seniors community were given quite a bit of the one hour broadcast.

Oddly, the Mayor made no mention of the Task Force the Mayor created to address the issue of seniors’ housing in Burlington. Last April the Mayor had the Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario on hand to talk about housing for seniors – not a mention on what that Task Force has done.

Viewers learned that the Goldring household consists of the Mayor, his wife and seven daughters. We learned that Cheryl, the Mayor’s wife, has a family tradition of buying each of the seven daughters a new pair of pyjamas each year. The “girls” range in age between 26 and 42 – that would be quite a pyjama party.

The Mayor did something like this with Cogeco TV in a broadcast from Council chambers for what was billed as a call in program – no one called in.  So this was an improvement

Was the live production worth watching? It was. You can see the whole thing HERE.

 

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2 comments to Live – from city hall – the Mayor of Burlington talking to residents – 80 tuned in.

  • Allen Jones

    While I am always prepared to “rant” for Burlington, I hope that I am equally prepared to applaud an initiative that tries to help with communication flow …. this Facebook attempt at explaining the Mayor’s perspective on issues and why such and such is done or has been done, is a “giant step” and it gets a loud applause from yours truly.

    BRAVO Mr. Mayor

  • Joe Gaetan

    The City of Burlington website calls our downtown transit station a Mobility Hub. Metrolinx on the other hand states a mobility hub is more than just a transit station. Mobility hubs consist of major transit stations and the surrounding area. They serve a critical function in the regional transportation system as the origin, destination, or transfer point for a significant portion of trips. They are places of connectivity where different modes of transportation – from walking to riding transit – come together seamlessly and where there is an intensive concentration of working, living, shopping and/or playing.
    The Big Move identifies two kinds of mobility hubs:
    Anchor hubs have the potential to transform the regional urban structure and act as anchors in the regional transportation system. They include the major transit station area and the surrounding area in urban growth centres as well as Pearson Airport and Union Station due to their roles as the GTHA’s primary international gateways.
    Gateway hubs are also key nodes in the regional transportation system located where two or more current or planned regional rapid transit lines intersect and where there is expected to be significant passenger activity (4,500 or more forecasted combined boardings and alightings in 2031 in the morning peak period). In addition, these areas are generally forecasted to achieve or have the potential to achieve a minimum density target of approximately 50 residents and jobs combined per hectare.
    While The Big Move identifies specific mobility hubs, there are many other nodes that are also important components of the region’s urban structure and transportation system. These include:
    Destinations are unique places within the region that have significant drawing power. Although without the transit activity to be full mobility hubs, such destinations are critical to the functioning of the transportation system. Destinations include universities, colleges, airports, regional shopping centres, hospitals, arenas, and arts centres.
    Major transit station areas that do not meet the criteria for mobility hubs (our downtown) continue to be locally significant access points to, or interchanges within, the transportation system. As such, they must provide convenient access from various forms of transportation.

    Lets STOP calling our downtown transit station a Mobility Hub.