Better Transit, a To-Do List that isn’t all about BRT
Let’s be honest eliminating poverty in a generation. Not something a City Council can do by itself. Bringing more jobs? Well, a city council can create a good environment for that to happen in again not something a city council can do on it’s own.
But fixing transit…that folks is something that with leadership at City Council and through it at the London Transit Commission, that is something that can be done! Transit is something wholly under the city’s control. Continue Reading
Bus Rapid Transit, an Argyle Neighbourhood Viewpoint
As chair of the Argyle Community Association, I have been pressing the City of London to hold public information sessions on the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plan outside of the Central Library and in neighbourhoods where people live. This week, BRT information FINALLY came east of Highbury, when the Argyle Community Association hosted city staff at an information session at Clarke Road Secondary School.
What I learned in trying to get people to attend was that people feel that this is a done deal, that there is nothing they can do to stop, change, or improve it. They feel nothing they have to say is genuinely going to be listened to. Continue Reading
The Friday Roundtable: Former City Councillor Cheryl Miller, local Broadcast legend Steve Garrison, & Shawn Lewis
Talking about local school boards pulling funding from high school theatre production of “Prom Queen”, (true story of an LGBT student’s fight to take his boyfriend to prom), the first poll on issues in the 2018 municipal election and the mayor race, and more.
Apology to London’s LGBT Community Must Come From Council
When I first arrived in London (much younger) the Mayor of the day was defending herself and her council at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal for refusing to declare Gay Pride Weekend in the city. As a gay person who was still in the closet at the time, it certainly made it feel like the city really didn’t want me or–anyone like me–to make London home. Continue Reading
Time to Axe the Vacant Property Tax Rebate
Talking with Ward 14 Councillor Jared Zaifman and 980CFPL host Craig Needles about the recent move by City politicians to eliminate the 30% rebate commercial and industrial landowners get if their properties sit vacant for more than 3 months.
The Election Sign By-Law Must Be Consistent and Fair
You don’t have to love election signs, but they are an important part of our election process. They are a relatively low cost way to let the public know who is running in their area, and especially important for those running against an established incumbent. Continue Reading
Talking Tourism Goals for London
On October 25th, I had the chance for the third time this year to sit down with the chief of Tourism London, John Winston. The impact of tourism on our local economy is really underestimated by most London residents, but it is huge.
Oct 18th AM980 Roundtable: Councillor Jared Zaifman & Shawn Lewis
AM980’s Craig Needles talks with Shawn Lewis & Councillor Jared Zaifman about the passing of the Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie, and also Council’s latest…the possibility an International Plowing Match in London and should we really want one?
Why All Londoners Should Stand with Striking Cami Workers
The reality is the economic under pinnings of London have been allowed to slowly rot away over the 20 years I’ve called this city home.
First the internet’s digital revolution came for the white collar jobs, as the insurance and financial sectors downsized dramatically.
Then automation started coming for the blue collar manufacturing jobs, that so many in the community looked down on as unimportant. And it wasn’t just the auto sector, places like Phillips lighting, where I once worked disappeared too.
And throughout, corporate greed, empowered by so called free trade agreements, and the hollowing out of worker’s rights by provincial governments, made even good paying jobs more precarious.
So in the face of that, it’s more important than ever that when our friends and neighbours go out on strike like the workers at CAMI have done, that we rally around them and say, enough is enough! Continue Reading
Politicians “Experience” and Years in Office Are Not Equal
Some politicians hold office for many years because they are good at getting results for the people they represent. Others simply benefit from the “incumbent advantage” of name recognition and vote splitting to hold on. So the public should never mistake years in public office with the experience needed to “get the job done”.
Recently, this was evident in the debate around the proposed “adult entertainment license” for a new strip club in east London’s Ward 2. Continue Reading