"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Thursday 10 April 2014

The decision is pending

Tuesday was  rough.As the day wore on  anxiety grew. Iknew the   only argument against the  intent to commit $11 million of the Hydro Reserve Fund as  a gift to York University would be mine.

I did not anticipate success but it had  to be done.

I am frankly appalled.

First  there was  Heritage Fantasy Park, as brazen a real estate scam  as ever seen in Aurora or anywhere else I know .

Millions to be siphoned straight from the Hydro Reserve  into the pockets of  private property owners using the Office of Mayor to give the scheme credibility. 

Next came  zooming out of  nowhere a proposal to compete in a bidding war  with the building industry for   designated land  with sevice allocation providing desperately needed tax -earning capacity even as taxes  have increased each and every year of this term. 

The  proposal was  the land to be used  instead for a community park......the distaff side of  public corporation business. 

Between these two proposals came litigation to compel a developer to sell 6 acres to the municipality at a fraction of value to prevent its development. 

Even more  tax  earning capacity set aside  for no other  purpose than political consideration. 

If litigation is successful, it means an expenditure of millions for property  not required for any municipal purpose plus the cost of  litigation.

The area is properly  serviced with parks. The developer has provided  as required by law. and  paid  development charges for their development .

All  of this  in an election year , plus the latest bid to divest ourselves of  $11 million  from a fund created by sale of an asset in a previous term. 

The municipality owns seventy-five percent of a   mid-town block .

A fine modern library occupies a corner. Church Street School represents millions of dollar of investment intended to honor  the solid  practical values of the people who settled this place.
and provided a tradition for us to build upon. 

Old , inadequate buildings  in the square have awaited a municipal decision on disposition
for ten years and more.

Study after study has been completed. Engineering reports submitted. 

The buildings have no future.  

The land is under-utilized. 

Opportunity lies with the Hydro  reserve, for a vibrant core to be exactly where it  needs to  be and has always been 

To  do what a hundred miles of patterned concrete, fancy benches  and  blanket heritage designation on tired old properties will not.  It  would  draw people from every part of the town to a hive of activity in the centre. 

In the last Provincial Dalton McGuinty  recklessly mis-spent   $1,1 billion dollars   on the eve to save two  Liberal seats .

The Honorable Kathleen Wynn  is likely to be required to endure the penalty.

A price  is always paid for under-estimating public understanding 

Over- reaching the power of elected office is never sound strategy. 

Managing a public corporation like a private enterprise is definitely no-no.






14 comments:

Anonymous said...

That Library was built within a single term of office by a good council for all the citizens of the town. Now we seem to have devolved to the point where council is servicing only the loudest and most demanding of its residents instead of providing what is required by the whole.

Anonymous said...

This is exactly why the Town should have returned the Hyrdo funds to those that made the money.. the taxpayer. It should have paid every property tax payer a pro-rated portion of the funds. Then there would have not been any money to worry about spending the wrong way.

Anonymous said...

"...intended to honor (sic) the solid practical values of the people who settled this place(,) and provided a tradition for us to build upon."

That's exactly what the Town's centenary project, the 1963 library building, signifies.

Anonymous said...


I am looking at a document put out by the ACADEMICA GROUP dated April 8, 2014.

It opens as follows: "York University is actively looking to establish a new campus in the York Region, announced YorkU's President Mamdouh Shoukri at a March Senate meeting. YorkU is currently seeking a municipal partner in the region before preparing a formal proposal for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities; several municipalities ....have already registered their interest in hosting a YorkU and have begun preparing presentations for YorkU representatives.....YorkU has formed a steering committee tasked with planning and preparing YorkU's proposal to MTCU."

I have also found and printed a document titled YorkU in York Region - Vision and Principles Brief for Municipalities March 2014.

It would appear that YorkU is planning on a major campus, not merely a "medical school" facility as has been mentioned during the past few weeks.

York's original and main campus consists of 457 acres and is the largest post-secondary campus in Canada. Its Glendon campus in central Toronto consists of 85 acres.

It sounds to me that with an April 17 submission deadline our staff and council seem to be somewhat behind the 8-ball, judging from Mr. Garbe's comments in this week's Auroran.

The possible land requirement could run into several hundred acres.

Anonymous said...

I fail to see the need for secretive meetings which exclude certain councillors from the planning process. Council, with all its pluses & negatives, was elected to work as an entity for Aurora. Any negotiation involving large amounts of taxpayer dollars should involve all members.

Anonymous said...

13:34
The people who settled this Town have been dishonored for a very long time. It’s shameful.
I can only hope we can get a whole new set of council members come October (With maybe Evelyn at the helm??.. .Just throwing it out there Eve!!) that can put Aurora back on track with the solid practical values that we once all shared.

Anonymous said...

Rumor has it that Debra Kelly won’t be writing for the Error anymore.

Anonymous said...

I recall a citizen at the podium talking about being inclusive.That was a couple of years ago.He has continued that message.The guy nailed it.I hope he runs for election.

Anonymous said...

23::09 She " wrote " ?

Anonymous said...

20:40
Ha Ha Ha... that made my day.

Can't wait for October and Mayor Buck and her band of Buckeroos.

Anonymous said...

To 23:09 - well for whatever reason her twitter account of dlkyorkeditor is no longer available - perhaps she's off to bigger & better things!

Resident said...

This is why I love Council Buck. To the point! I'm going to be asking every candidate their thoughts on these questions. Thank you

Anonymous said...

"Can't wait for October and Mayor Buck and her band of Buckeroos."

a.k.a. That '70s Show

Anonymous said...

23:09-You have someone better in mind?? Do you know anyone else that has her experience?...And anyone of those “Buckeroos” would be an asset to this Town. The value bus has been on a spending route for a number of years with not a word or consideration of the state of economy in mind. If 3.75% increase is acceptable then I guess the status quo at the council chamber is acceptable for you. It’s not for me.