Entries from December 2007

December 31, 2007

Information to consider: The Story of Stuff

I believe that City issues are interconnected with national and global issues. Therefore solutions for City problems need to incorporate this bigger picture, and education is an essential part of that.
To help out in this regard, I am forwarding a link to a 20-minute illustrated presentation called “The Story of Stuff” that outlines unsustainable systems [...]

December 29, 2007

Guelph needs a recreation master plan designed for today’s pressures

The following Guelph Mercury editorial was forwarded to Councillors by Randy Norris: 
I remember my parents telling me that time speeds up as Father Time gets older. I much prefer being called mature compared to what my teenagers could call me. It allows me to retain some resemblance of dignity since I’m on the dark side of 50, [...]

December 28, 2007

No downtown cleanup tax in 2008 budget

The following article appeared in the December 28 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
At least two downtown bar owners say they pay enough tax and don’t think the city should impose a “bar-stool levy” as a way to recover costs associated with late-night policing and garbage collection.
Mike Hauser, who owns Doogie’s and Pablo’s, said bar owners [...]

December 24, 2007

2008 Budget priorities

I would like offer my opinion on the value of sidewalk plowing as part of the budget priorities discussion.
I believe that the money used for sidewalk snow plowing would be better used elsewhere. Having lived in urban Toronto for a number of years before returning to Guelph, I know that people can and do clear [...]

December 20, 2007

Councillors Approve Glass Recycling System

The following article appeared in the December 18 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
Right now, your pickle jars are going to landfill. Soon, they’ll be finding new life, most likely as fibreglass.
Council approved a million-dollar fix to the city’s glass recycling system last night. That means, after sending glass to landfill for three years, the city [...]