I had the pleasure of campaigning in the East End on Monday before attending the Legion Ladies Auxillary meeting, where I was made a member. My friend Mona has been after me for years to come on board and I am glad I finally did it in memory of my family members who participated in World War II. I have to say I look forward to the November Poppy Tea at the Legion, and I have raffle tickets to sell. For $1.00 you can buy a ticket and if you win, a basket of goodies put together by the Ladies is yours. The Ladies Auxillary provides all the food for the events they host and man can they cook! You don't want to miss it!
In the East End I talked primarily with young families (between the ages of 20-30) about the issues. They were very concerned about the length of time it has taken the developer on Mountain Street to finish the condos there, and the condition of their streets. Apparently, they called the Town many times about the project and nothing has been done-like paving the back alley and keeping Mountain Street open for normal traffic. It does appear that the condos are now complete, but the lack of Council's and adminsitration's responsiveness to their calls made people cranky. This is a common problem throughout Town as I go door to door. Council has not listened-they have made empty promises and spoken platitudes but nothing gets done. One man said that Council may pretend to hear but if you disagree or continue to call on issues you are put on the do-not-respond-to-this person list! Wow! I must be on that list, too!
In the East End, people are concerned about Centre Avenue and the intersection with Highway 1A, as well as the failure of the Town to keep up with services and infrastructure given the extensive sprawl. One young man said "Sustainability! Really! What does that mean to you? This is not sustainability when it takes a half hour to get from one end of a 17,000 population town to the other end." I said I would come back and talk to him more about the Sustainability Plan, and he was agreeable.
I had many discussions about what should be Council's priority projects, and most people I talked to want existing infrastructure improved and maintained before we go into debt for major projects. This is important, as the media seem to think that Council priorities should be big ticket items like the pool and arts centre. What people are telling me is that they want safety, mobility and security of basic services like water and sewer as first priorities. Not new expensive tailored parks: instead, they want existing municipal lands maintained and weed free before we invest in any grandiose new infrastructure! Interesting indeed, and I have to agree with what I am hearing.
Tuesday, during the afternoon, I campaigned in the East End again, and the issues were the same. One woman remarked that we need to look at tax incentives to get more commerce and industry to locate here. She noted that we have a lot of empty commercial space in the East End and industrial area and she is concerned that the current council has not attracted more business. I was reminded that a woman on Chinook Drive where I talked to people before the Forum on Sunday night, had discussed with me the possibility of getting a panel of downtown businesses together to form a Downtown Business Association to create a strategic plan for maintaining the historic downtown while attracting compatible and supportive businesses in the industrial area. I know where to start to get this going when elected.
Generally, people of all ages in the East End are encouraging me to keep up the pace, and are glad to see me. One couple said they were so disillusioned with the current Council that they were not going to vote until I came and talked to them. They said that the time I spent and the attitude of respect I showed them as "ordinary citizens" has convinced them to vote. I am humbled. They also said if I am on Council, they want to help, not only in the community association, but in projects across Town.
I apologize to anyone who is disturbed by my door knocking at 7:45 because I do try to make 8:00 my cut off.
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