I watched as councillors questioned Ms. Bridge as well as the representative for the builder, and yet not one question was directed to the people speaking on behalf of this neighbourhood. Also the builder’s representative should not have had the last word, a rebuttal was requested, but never happened, why was that?
Bonnie Henderson raised the issue of access for the disabled, and was told that would come later, but there is no guarantee, and if she is so concerned about this issue, she should have voted to oppose this motion until she had something in black and white.
Danielle Ingram stated that it is difficult for young people to get a foothold in the housing market, and she thought these townhouses would help with that. Those townhouses will be priced far above what young people can afford, make no mistake, that builder is doing this to make money, a lot of money.
I am a regular watcher of council meetings, and it has become increasingly clear that at least one member of that council thinks that many people in Stratford feel they are entitled, and it was evident again yesterday. Yes, I live in a nice house and I am grateful everyday that I do, but that is not entitled. We worked very hard to get it, nothing was handed to us on a plate. That kind of attitude does not bode well for a member of council.
Does it not concern any of the councillors who voted to support this motion that a builder from out of Stratford can come here and ask to have the Official Plan changed so he can make a lot of money, because that is what it all comes down to, money. It seems to me that this council in many of their decisions put the almighty dollar before the people of Stratford.
After watching that meeting I realized two things, and I think they are pretty true. The first is that if any one of those councillors or the Mayor, who voted in support of this motion, lived in the Queen Trow area and their home backed on to this proposed building, not one of them would agree to it.
The second thing I realized and this has been a growing feeling for me, I guess ever since the glass plant fiasco, is that for the most part this council has lost its humanity. We have people sleeping on benches behind City Hall and in the bandshells by the river and Upper Queen’s Park. With winter coming this is a real problem, one that City Council should not be turning a blind eye too. I was told by one member of council there is no money and yet they have agreed to pump millions of dollars into a hub downtown, which will, when finished, probably cost double. Where is the humanity? This council was elected to represent all the people of Stratford and sadly that no longer seems to be the case.
I hope that in the next two weeks, the councillors that voted to support this motion will have second thoughts and do the right thing and oppose it. Stand up for the people who elected you, not some builder from out of town.
Donna Debling
Stratford