You listen to the debates at HRM Council, and it’s all about the density, packing as many people as possible on top of each other in the urban core, so that they can avoid extending services out to the periphery. The Premier recently observed that they are horribly out of touch with the people, and I agree.
I live in one of the last few single family homes on South Park Street, and we’ve had bike lines, traffic calming measures (which create traffic jams), up-zoning (without parking to match), homeless encampments, and massive property tax increases (due to rising assessments) thrust upon us. I complain to the Councillor, and am told they are doing what the public demands (or what they see as being good for the public, in a sort of “take your medicine and stop complying” tone of voice). I don’t know which members of the public are doing the demanding, but any time I see them, they seem like small groups with radical opinions, not the majority.
Meanwhile, in the smaller communities, they get nothing, for all the reasons you’ve mentioned.
Everything you say here is correct. The Councillor is wrong. They work for the bureaucracy and they will do or say anything to keep the best and most well paid job they will ever have. They have a package of lines of talk that they will try on you. It doesn't matter to them. As a 'complainer' they immediately cross you off their list. Their jobs only depend on a small cabal of ideologue votes from most government and near-government elites. It's the bureaucratic party of Canada. And nowhere is it stronger than in HRM politics.
I love this John Wesley! I too left Nova Scotia twice and came back, once for 18 Months to Vancouver Island, because I was seeking a better life, which unfortunately due to relationship problems, forced me back home. My second time it was because I met someone that I was pretty sure was the right person this time, who was transferred to Ottawa. I reluctantly moved there with him, scared to death that it wouldn't work and I'd have to come home crying again. Well, that didn't happen, it turned out that my heart was with the right person this time and we prospered in Ottawa. I missed home of course, we couldn't get into a social circle no matter how hard we tried, I gave up! I quit my comfy City job with all the benefits to provide for me in my retirement. We sold our first house we bought together, moved back to Halifax after 10 years of what felt like a failed adventure, but I guess it really wasn't. We struggled a lot, trying to re-establish our selves here, although we were back with all our friends and in my case my family. Nineteen years after returning home and twenty nine years into our relationship, we are happy and love being here, despite the direction the City has taken.
There is definitely a flawed logic in much of what HRM does. Perhaps a small town advantage is scale? People feel connected to a place, each other and know what's going on. For example: Would Musquidobit residents agree to HRM councillors secretly planning to spend $200m to buy & demolish 12-14 historic buildings (with 50-70 rental homes)& cut 80 trees on their Main Street to add a 2nd bus lane even though it won't reduce congestion or traffic? Halifax is far away so they likely don't know that's what's planned for the last historic neighbourhood on Robie St. And in the dense disconnected urban core most people have no idea that's what HRM is up to. But Musquidobiters and all small HRM town ought to know and be interested to where their scarce tax dollars are headed. They should demand that the $200m go to rural micro-transit, more buses, more drivers, carshare, bike-share and building or protecting affordable housing. Help make that happen by writing clerks@halifax.ca
Once again, I agree with everything you say it's thoughtful and well, logical. But also every time I read something like this is from you I fall into more and more despair about this city because I don't think I see it changing in my lifetime
This whole piece is a perfect argument for why Strong Mayor Powers do not belong in Nova Scotia and especially not in a regional municipality.
You listen to the debates at HRM Council, and it’s all about the density, packing as many people as possible on top of each other in the urban core, so that they can avoid extending services out to the periphery. The Premier recently observed that they are horribly out of touch with the people, and I agree.
I live in one of the last few single family homes on South Park Street, and we’ve had bike lines, traffic calming measures (which create traffic jams), up-zoning (without parking to match), homeless encampments, and massive property tax increases (due to rising assessments) thrust upon us. I complain to the Councillor, and am told they are doing what the public demands (or what they see as being good for the public, in a sort of “take your medicine and stop complying” tone of voice). I don’t know which members of the public are doing the demanding, but any time I see them, they seem like small groups with radical opinions, not the majority.
Meanwhile, in the smaller communities, they get nothing, for all the reasons you’ve mentioned.
Everything you say here is correct. The Councillor is wrong. They work for the bureaucracy and they will do or say anything to keep the best and most well paid job they will ever have. They have a package of lines of talk that they will try on you. It doesn't matter to them. As a 'complainer' they immediately cross you off their list. Their jobs only depend on a small cabal of ideologue votes from most government and near-government elites. It's the bureaucratic party of Canada. And nowhere is it stronger than in HRM politics.
Agreed.
I live in Herring cove the y serviced part .
2 small streets .promised water and sewage 25 years ago , almost forgotten .
Go to rehab 2 times a week , what have they done to the peninsula!! It’s ugly and difficult
I love this John Wesley! I too left Nova Scotia twice and came back, once for 18 Months to Vancouver Island, because I was seeking a better life, which unfortunately due to relationship problems, forced me back home. My second time it was because I met someone that I was pretty sure was the right person this time, who was transferred to Ottawa. I reluctantly moved there with him, scared to death that it wouldn't work and I'd have to come home crying again. Well, that didn't happen, it turned out that my heart was with the right person this time and we prospered in Ottawa. I missed home of course, we couldn't get into a social circle no matter how hard we tried, I gave up! I quit my comfy City job with all the benefits to provide for me in my retirement. We sold our first house we bought together, moved back to Halifax after 10 years of what felt like a failed adventure, but I guess it really wasn't. We struggled a lot, trying to re-establish our selves here, although we were back with all our friends and in my case my family. Nineteen years after returning home and twenty nine years into our relationship, we are happy and love being here, despite the direction the City has taken.
There is definitely a flawed logic in much of what HRM does. Perhaps a small town advantage is scale? People feel connected to a place, each other and know what's going on. For example: Would Musquidobit residents agree to HRM councillors secretly planning to spend $200m to buy & demolish 12-14 historic buildings (with 50-70 rental homes)& cut 80 trees on their Main Street to add a 2nd bus lane even though it won't reduce congestion or traffic? Halifax is far away so they likely don't know that's what's planned for the last historic neighbourhood on Robie St. And in the dense disconnected urban core most people have no idea that's what HRM is up to. But Musquidobiters and all small HRM town ought to know and be interested to where their scarce tax dollars are headed. They should demand that the $200m go to rural micro-transit, more buses, more drivers, carshare, bike-share and building or protecting affordable housing. Help make that happen by writing clerks@halifax.ca
Once again, I agree with everything you say it's thoughtful and well, logical. But also every time I read something like this is from you I fall into more and more despair about this city because I don't think I see it changing in my lifetime
Another thoughtful post with many different thread worthy of unpacking.