10 years later, and what a mess. Honestly, how can urban planners be so out of touch with our rural Columbus community. Last night was the THIRD time in the past eleven months that they wanted residents to sit in groups for a workshop session with developer/builder/consultants at kindergarten tables (yes the Columbus Community Center, former East Whitby Town Hall built in 1859, where the meeting was held, is actually a playschool during the day).
To the crowded room, after the consultant's powerpoint presentation finished, just after 7:00 p.m. residents plainly asked why they couldn't ask questions in public so others could hear the answers, and at that point were told there wasn't going to be enough time. Of course people got upset...and then to hear the consultant say don't worry, sitting at the table and writing your comments will be FUN. How could the paid consultant be so unselfaware of the condescending way those words came across...and then to tell seniors and taxpayers who don't have reliable internet that they can go on-line to look at the comments, well of course that hit a nerve.
I moved to the back of the room and asked the City's Director of Planning to step up and assure residents they could ask all the questions they wanted...but, the charade of these meetings, and the fact I've had to declare a conflict of interest because my family owns property in Columbus...after trying for so hard, from 2009 to 2013 to slow Oshawa's urban sprawl, involving a lot of lovely people who have passed now, with some great highs and distressing lows...it was a low moment again last evening and I find I still shed tears for Columbus
Had to find a pick me up thought to run through my mind at home, and thought of a chuckle from the afternoon Corporate Services meeting when the Mayor was telling off the nice Austrialan fellow making a delegation, Martin Gray, Manager of Public Policy for UBER INC. Honestly, who really knows that UBER is against the City's By-laws...it's not like City has advertised or announced this publicly in any way have they? Gee, now we hear the City Municipal By-law enforcers could see you taken to court if found taking UBER IN OSHAWA...it was too funny, the Mayor being stern and reprimanding, almost seeming to want Martin to be repentant, when after all, Martin Gray had been 'invited' by City Staff to come speak and had sat waiting, having to listen for two hours to a presentation on the City's new draft 'Transportation Network Companies By-law'.
To the crowded room, after the consultant's powerpoint presentation finished, just after 7:00 p.m. residents plainly asked why they couldn't ask questions in public so others could hear the answers, and at that point were told there wasn't going to be enough time. Of course people got upset...and then to hear the consultant say don't worry, sitting at the table and writing your comments will be FUN. How could the paid consultant be so unselfaware of the condescending way those words came across...and then to tell seniors and taxpayers who don't have reliable internet that they can go on-line to look at the comments, well of course that hit a nerve.
I moved to the back of the room and asked the City's Director of Planning to step up and assure residents they could ask all the questions they wanted...but, the charade of these meetings, and the fact I've had to declare a conflict of interest because my family owns property in Columbus...after trying for so hard, from 2009 to 2013 to slow Oshawa's urban sprawl, involving a lot of lovely people who have passed now, with some great highs and distressing lows...it was a low moment again last evening and I find I still shed tears for Columbus
Had to find a pick me up thought to run through my mind at home, and thought of a chuckle from the afternoon Corporate Services meeting when the Mayor was telling off the nice Austrialan fellow making a delegation, Martin Gray, Manager of Public Policy for UBER INC. Honestly, who really knows that UBER is against the City's By-laws...it's not like City has advertised or announced this publicly in any way have they? Gee, now we hear the City Municipal By-law enforcers could see you taken to court if found taking UBER IN OSHAWA...it was too funny, the Mayor being stern and reprimanding, almost seeming to want Martin to be repentant, when after all, Martin Gray had been 'invited' by City Staff to come speak and had sat waiting, having to listen for two hours to a presentation on the City's new draft 'Transportation Network Companies By-law'.
