"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Thursday 8 January 2015

"Blazing Saddles "

On the west side of Yonge Street a sidewalk stretching between Orchard Heights Drive and Aurora Heights Drive is part the transportation system and as such, gets plowed by the works department.

Machell Park runs parallel to Yonge Street in that location.  A pathway complete with benches, allows walkers to sit and relax and enjoy the outdoors . It's a leisure facility.

Current temperature, with wind chill effect is around 29%. below. Weather alerts are being issued. Information is provided at what point flesh freezes. The elderly are warned to stay indoors.

It is an average  Canadian winter.

Town parks  are little used in winter. Staff  are reduced to a minimum. Park paths  are the responsibility of parks staff who are aware of how the parks  are used.

A full complement of administrative staff are retained at great expense, to advise  of changing needs  A service might no longer be used and could be cut back or replaced. Another might be working very well and not need fixing.  Still another might need to be increased.

These  determinations are the year round functions of administrative staff in preparation for the annual budget.

Annual cost of professional advice is literally millions of dollars to a community of  56 thousand people and less than half that many homes.A heavy burden for home and business owners.

But apparently it's not sufficient.  A Council resolution has endorsed the concept of plowing  snow
from a park path that runs parallel and duplicates a pedestrian sidewalk on Yonge Street. In fine weather the park path has a purpose. I guess that's not what is meant by micro managing.,

It's the same genius that perceives the same bureaucracy that doesn't know which paths to plow, is nevertheless replete with  all skills ,chutzpah and business acumen of a Donald Trump to buy and re- develop every piece of real estate available in downtown Aurora.

Step aside Disneyland, Broadway and Las Vegas .

Aurora is on the move.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I still marvel at the genius that was display during the last transit strike we had (YRT)... when was that 2 / 3 winters ago?

Every snowfall, there were crews displatched to shovel and salt the concrete pads at bus stops. Of coure, no buses were coming, they were on strike.

Positive As Always said...

I bet the new council is really missing your input.

Anonymous said...


Possibly Donald Trump in the flesh could buy the future "H" lands and build a hotel and condo tower with a casino. Also four gourmet restaurants, three bars, swimming pool and spa and a fitness facility.

That would satisfy our present dearth of decent hotels, would provide high-fensity, and hopefully affordable, housing, a source of revenue to the town's coffers and some entertainment to the casino's users and an international cuisine.

That would certainly put Aurora on the map.

Anonymous said...

Funny, town employees always used to know the priorities but then they did have more regular contact with the residents. If there was a problem, someone just phoned and spoke to the works dept.
Now we have a communications dept that filters information and sometimes, especially over the weekends the message gets lost.

Anonymous said...

@12:56
Using the former's new twitter handle ?

Anonymous said...

13:57
The town can accumulate land like crazy with our money but Mr Stronach will actually be doing something constructive. And I'm pretty sure he won't be checking to see if certain individuals object to tree removal and possible " light pollution "

Anonymous said...

13:57 No he wont as he has enough votes lined up.