"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 25 February 2016

RESIDENTS DON'T MAKE DECISIONS

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WHAT'S IN AN ANTHEM ?": 

The Mavrinac stake-holders were back before Council. They really. really, really do not want any more development there although they have never had any idea of what they do want beside space of their own. I find it amusing that there is now talk about it being used by all of Aurora. Once the mantra was that there was already too much traffic in their area so any plans would be have to be very narrow. Not inclusive at all. 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 25 February 2016 at 18:28

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Mavrinac residents did not hide their intentions. They wanted no further development. 

On the pretext the town needed to respect subdivision agreements even if the land wasn't needed,
the town hired lawyers to coerce the sale and the town bought the land. 

The area was amply served with parks yet they used parks reserve funds for the purchase. . 

Now the consultant advises no more parks are needed,the land should be sold  and funds returned to the reserve.

Revenue forfeited from development is many,many times more than that spent on legal fees and the land purchase. 

If funds knowingly forfeited, were instead stolen from town coffers, that would clearly be a criminal 
offence.

Yet funds that didn't need to be spent were. Revenue that should have been earned was knowingly forfeit. 

Fully serviced land sits idle. 

Funds were inappropriately taken from a reserve fund for the purchase.

Mavrinac residents didn't make the decision.  

Council did. 

But  not without an argument. 

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is tricky. They believe they have a " right " to another green space despite all the plans showing it not necessary. The
pressure is on because Highlands impacts on so many more individuals who also feel entitled. You might think we were imitating
that lot of nut bars in Oregon who claimed a nature reserve for their cattle. Thank heavens we can fight it out without the long guns. I think they should compromise and accept a small amount of development . They don't have the bodies needed to influence the next election.

Anonymous said...

Sod it and be done. The land was purchased for political reasons. In fact that's why land get bought by government. Anyone trying to explain otherwise is fooling themselves or trying to fool others. The area residents or the Town wants green space, well you have it. Sod it and mow it, there's your green space. Enjoy the weeds, because that what all green space has been reduced to anyway.

Anonymous said...


Only two councillors endorsed the residents' argument for that space, Wendy G. and Tom M.

It will be interesting to watch what happens.

Anonymous said...

Plans, plans, plans and more plans. Anyone can find what they want in the plethora of plans.
What happens with Mavrinac will be a political move. Not necessarily the wiser or more cost effective one.

Anonymous said...

Can you imagine anyone in the US even wispering the thought of changing their anthem?

Anonymous said...

19:32
There is a good portion of people there who think they can return to the " good old days " when America
was " respected " and they all had good paying jobs. It ain't going to happen. Nothing like refusal to pay taxes and home schooling
the kids to destroy the system.

Anonymous said...

9:36 - If I had to do it again, I would home school. The school system has become a mess.

Anonymous said...

Heaven forbid the mavrinac bunch have to compromise with some more housing and the green spaces.
It is telling that they do not like the planners' ideas but have none of their own except that they should have their park.

Anonymous said...

But nothing can compare with the damage being done in the states with home
schooling by those who were home schooled themselves. Their education level has cratered. And these are the same folk who fight every form of taxation in which the money could go towards schooling or infrastructure. We have it much better here - touch wood.

Anonymous said...

Money may play a small factor, but education starts in the home.Parents or guardians need to support their kids, and I don't mean financial, I mean being engaged in your kids education. You can throw all sorts of money into a system, but if nobody gives a damn, it isn't going to work. There was an article in the Star this week. Pretty sad.
www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2016/02/22/young-grads-need-to-brush-up-on-3-rs-employers-say.html

Anonymous said...

You see the problem even in american blogs where comments are about " liers " and "loosers ". They even have mangled pocket versions of the constitution which they cite as the real thing.

Anonymous said...

It is a bit frightening when kids are touted as being mimi geniuses and they cannot write in cursive. Signing a cheque is a real
challenge for some.