RaineyS
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Meet Guelph’s newest city councillor
GuelphToday
26And the radical righties voted for a righty who is friends with the mayor. That tells us what we needed to know. Let's hope this council can act like mature adults and work together. Is this city really becoming as divided as the States?
9- RaineyS
Councillor Dan Gibson considering run for mayor
GuelphToday 28Dan sits on no council committees, doesn't host regular town halls, doesn't produce a newsletter and has the 2nd lowest attendance record. When he does show, he's dialling in remotely and looks bored and disengaged. Not my idea of mayoral.
- RaineyS
Name of new Guelph high school now official, but not everyone pleased
GuelphToday 18How does Ralf Meisenbrink know the school community likes the name? How was that determined? No one in the already-existing Two Rivers neighbourhood was asked. You can't just take the name of a neighbourhood that already exists. Look at all the neighbourhoods that surround the school -- Pine Ridge, Westminter Woods, Clairfields, Arkell Woods, Royal Valley, Rickson Ridge -- not a single river (or water feature) in any of the surrounding neighbourhoods that will feed this school.
2- RaineyS
Mayor ‘will not hesitate’ to use strong mayor powers for housing
GuelphToday 18Threatening to use strong mayor powers is weak leadership. It means he can’t build consensus or doesn’t trust his council. It’s a threat meant to intimidate. “Shut up and do as I say or daddy will come in and take over here.” Which is completely disingenuous because I can’t think of a single instance where Council voted down a development that the mayor would have needed to come in a use undemocratic powers. I see my councillors trying hard to get housing moving faster. Cams false bravado is not leadership and it’s also not working to get actual shovels in the ground.
1- RaineyS
Opinion: University of Guelph needs to own its role in housing
GuelphToday 15Not letting the U off the hook, but there's a reason they are so desperate for more students -- frozen Provincial funding since 2019, and they aren't allowed to raise tuition since 2019, courtesy of Ford gov. Also the "heads & beds" levy is provincial and UofG has no control. The city and Mike Schreiner MPP have been pushing for years to get that changed. All in all, a perfect shstorm.
3- RaineyS
OPINION: 'Guelph has become a cold and mean place in recent weeks'
GuelphToday 15All residents of Guelph are welcome downtown. But that doesn’t mean you can take over a whole section for personal use at the expense of others. I the bylaw doesn’t say people can’t be there. It just says you can’t build a shelter structure. If the Mission was open during the day for people to go in and socialize or play games would this be an issue? If businesses fail and leave there’s no taxes to pay for services and housing. The city can’t make developers build housing . The feds and province need to ante up big $$$
2- RaineyS
Mayor warns tax increase could rise above eight per cent
GuelphToday 11That’s a great sound bite BUT the truth is that it’s social services and energy costs that are driving up the budget beyond inflation. Deal with those, and this city will SAVE money in the long run that will stabilize taxes. Social services should be provincial - but that’s another discussion.
5- RaineyS
Mayor warns tax increase could rise above eight per cent
GuelphToday 16There used to be a daytime space at Sister Christine’s on Gordon. St. George’s square and the library have been filling the gap ever since it closed. It should be provincial funding but they turn a blind eye and empty pocketbook.
- RaineyS
City shuts down historic bridge citing safety concerns
GuelphToday 10OMG I can't believe this is happening AGAIN. Can't trust the city to look after it's own heritage. Are there not laws about designated structures and requirements for minimum maintenance standards? This is wilful demolition by neglect.
3- RaineyS
City names two parks for potential affordable housing projects
GuelphToday 11I'm shocked this is even being considered TBH. Just because a park doesn't have a programmed use doesn't mean if has no function. We are already woefully short on parkland in this city. Are they proposing GIVING it away to a private developer? Developers already have land! If the city wants to make housing more affordable, give away planning fees, not parkland.
2- RaineyS
ICYMI: Here's the name being recommended for Guelph's new high school
GuelphToday 7LOL Do they know there no river anywhere near this? And it’s nowhere even close to the Two Rivers neighbourhood. Not good optics. It’s like they didn’t look at a map. Very confusing.
5- RaineyS
Winds of change on city council could increase voter turnout, says expert
GuelphToday 8The desire for change should be balanced with experience. If more than half the council is replaced, it could take 1-2 years for a whole new group to learn the ropes and be effective. We don’t have that kind of learning curve time - the new council has to get to work FAST and tackle BIG problems. I want change but not ideological rookies with a great campaign slogan, but no actual cred.
4- RaineyS
On brink of heritage designation, paint job of The Manor draws criticism
GuelphToday 7Until it’s your neighbour who wants to never cut grass, paint it purple, park 6 cars and a boat, rent to 16 people and raise donkeys in the backyard. Private ownership isn’t a free for all.
5- RaineyS
City moving forward with new park names
GuelphToday 4I like the Indigenous name! I hope residents take time to learn to pronounce it correctly to avoid it being called Turtle Park. And i thought Brooklyn Park was a thing already when the Brooklyn Heritage District was created. I wonder how many other parks in Guelph have no name? What is the name of the park at Essex and Waterloo?
7- RaineyS
OPINION: Guelph road users - all of them - need an etiquette lesson
GuelphToday 10If people followed the "do unto others" golden rule, we wouldn't need government to create things like noise bylaws, speed limits, pollution rules -- but alas, we do need government because common decency is not so common these days. I'm fine with taxes going to make our roads safer for everyone, including bikes, and saving lives. Slow down folks.
1- RaineyS
'I am sorry': Mayor Guthrie backpedal, orders bike lanes plowed
GuelphToday 4I think those are temporary - the goal is raised separated lanes.
7- RaineyS
Don't let your light shine through, recommends city staff
GuelphToday 4This is a good step fwd. The parking lots at the malls, car lots, stores and office lit up all night, spotlights, and that annoying searchlight coming from downtown. It messes up human health, migrating birds, and a safety hazard. There's a pizza place with a blinding spotlight that is a danger to drivers.
6- RaineyS
Artist draws attention to ‘erosion of our cultural heritage’
GuelphToday 8Bravo! I’ve walked this trail and what a shame it’s been allowed to get into such deplorable condition in the first place. Isn’t our city supposed to be showing leadership and setting an example? Now it’s a piece of art.
2- RaineyS
Two councillors won't be running again; one considering run for mayor
GuelphToday 7Honestly, just reading the comments section is exactly why anyone even thinking about running for councillor or mayor would walk away. Such hate. Anyone brave enough to put their name on a ballot deserves some ounce of respect. If you think you can do better, I look forward to seeing you coming forward to run.
3- RaineyS
On brink of heritage designation, paint job of The Manor draws criticism
GuelphToday 6This is horrible. It’s one of the most visible heritage buildings in the city. Everyone knows and sees it. Ownership of private property comes with responsibility especially if you own something that has heritage value to the whole community. Private ownership is temporary. If you buy a heritage building like this one it comes with an inherent obligation to take care of it and pass it down to the next generation. Places like this are rare and were built to last forever. What an absolute shame.
4- RaineyS
