Today I learned that the Hamilton Public Library has reduced its hours, and now requires all library users to scan their library card before they can enter. I feel queasy just thinking about this: public libraries are joyful places where everyone is welcome, knowledge is free, and connection and belonging are available to all. SeeingContinue reading “The Wrong Thing for the Right Reasons”
Tag Archives: housing
Are Drugs the Problem?
A lot of the comments I’ve received on my posts about homelessness lately have been about drug use. Some of them have been nasty, blaming people for their own poverty because they use drugs; others have been more generous, simply acknowledging that drugs are part of the problem. So let’s take a closer look: areContinue reading “Are Drugs the Problem?”
AMO Conference Report
Last week I attended the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference, which was full of good information and networking opportunities, as conferences tend to be. Here’s a brief rundown of what I learned. Keynote Speaker: Andrew Coyne Andrew Coyne gave a barnburner of a talk about the state of democracy in Canada amid our troubledContinue reading “AMO Conference Report”
Strong Mayors in Brighton?
Brighton is one of 169 municipalities in Ontario that were just given Strong Mayor powers. I have some serious concerns about that, and have seconded a Notice of Motion expressing opposition to it. As I sit down to write this, Consider This released an interview with Mayor Brian Ostrander on the subject, you can listenContinue reading “Strong Mayors in Brighton?”
Housing Solutions, and the Limits Thereof
There’s been a lot of coverage of proposed housing solutions during this federal election campaign, and that’s hopeful. Mike Moffatt and Justin Ling both have posts that dig in deep enough to explain the difference between them. But there are a few limitations to these plans that I haven’t seen covered, and I have aContinue reading “Housing Solutions, and the Limits Thereof”
Affordable Housing, and Managing Growth
Today is the first full day of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Sustainable Communities Conference, held this year in Fredericton, New Brunswick. It’s been a very busy day, and my mind is buzzing with possibilities for Brighton, but I’ll focus on the two main sessions I attended today. Affordable Housing This morning I attended aContinue reading “Affordable Housing, and Managing Growth”
Housing Update
After a restful summer break, September is refreshingly brisk — both in the cool morning breeze and in the pace of change. It is the Monday of the year, when most people get back to work in earnest. And I have some things to report after last Monday’s council meeting with regard to the stateContinue reading “Housing Update”
Official Plan Updates
Last night I attended a County public consultation about their draft Official Plan update, perhaps one of the most esoteric and boring events I can imagine…and it was packed. I was a bit late for the first presentation, and had to wait in the hallway; there wasn’t even anywhere to stand in the room. AndContinue reading “Official Plan Updates”
Housing and Homelessness in Northumberland
Two weeks ago I was a speaker at the Northumberland Community Legal Centre’s annual Justice Forum, where the topic this year was homeless encampments. I brought a perspective from inside municipal government, talking about government as multiple overlapping systems each with their own jurisdictional distinctions and resource flows — a system of systems that, despiteContinue reading “Housing and Homelessness in Northumberland”
Property Value
Two things came up in Northumberland in the past week about property value. One was a training session our council had about the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) and how they determine assessment for our tax rolls; the other was concerns about property value suffering from stigma associated with the increase of visible homelessness andContinue reading “Property Value”