Read article here
To the editor of the Sudbury Star,
(Published October 31, 2008 with some editing)
I appreciate Denis St. Pierre's reporting on the aftermath of the vote.
Your Worship, here is this lowly taxpayer's take on the situation. The main issue in the last election was road repair. People weren't happy with the state of local roadways. You may have talked about the legacy projects in your campaign, but I didn't notice. I wanted my roads fixed.
Two years into your term, we have had the roads budget substantially increased both years due to additional senior funding. Around $30 million per year, if I recall correctly. The problem is, other than a few major (largely overdone in my opinion) projects, the roads still suck. And I had seen no logical plan of how these deficiencies were going to be addressed until now with the shave and pave, although the streets to be done still weren't listed anywhere I saw. (Note to Robert Falcioni - if you are recommending a $30 million project to council, you should bring a list of prior examples to bolster your case). And the long overdue Maley Drive project cut to two lanes? Give me a break.
So now, let's forget how the current economy might curtail private and senior funding options. On the cost side alone I am concerned. When have we come in anywhere close to initial budgets on any major construction project in this region. And, in this case, if we had the funding for the original budget but incurred substantial extra costs, where would the additional funds come from? Remember the four-laning of MR 55, more than 50% above the original proposal.
Quite frankly, Mr. Mayor, you lost sight of the big issue from the last election. You haven't been able to lead or motivate staff to deal with what we said was our major complaint. I don't have faith that you or staff can deliver anything close to what you were promising in this omnibus motion, even if I did think it was all necessary. Why, oh why, did we extend the term to four years?
Now fix the roads and maybe we'll feel better about letting you build something else.
By the way, Ted Callaghan, I'm in your ward. You'll have my vote again next time if you choose to run.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Re: Hospital seeks to avoid cuts - April 9, 2008
Read article here
To the editor of the Sudbury Star,
(Published April 15, 2008)
George Smitherman says hospitals facing cash shortfalls shouldn't expect more from the province, even if it means laying off nurses and closing beds. Otherwise, he said, there would be a "free-for-all where hospitals spend whatever they want and send in the bill at the end of the year, and that the people's heath-care system can't be sustained on that basis".
In my vision of "the people's health-care system", the hospitals would spend whatever was required to meet the health care demands of their community and send in the bills as the year went along. I understand the need to be vigilant about frivolous spending and poor hospital management, but to fund these institutions without any consideration of the of level of legitimate services required is surreal.
Smitherman's strategy of closing beds and reducing service levels to forestall deficits doesn't punish the hospital management. It punishes the taxpayers of this province, ordinary citizens who need the care that the provincial government, in the person of George Smitherman, would so glibly deny them.
To the editor of the Sudbury Star,
(Published April 15, 2008)
George Smitherman says hospitals facing cash shortfalls shouldn't expect more from the province, even if it means laying off nurses and closing beds. Otherwise, he said, there would be a "free-for-all where hospitals spend whatever they want and send in the bill at the end of the year, and that the people's heath-care system can't be sustained on that basis".
In my vision of "the people's health-care system", the hospitals would spend whatever was required to meet the health care demands of their community and send in the bills as the year went along. I understand the need to be vigilant about frivolous spending and poor hospital management, but to fund these institutions without any consideration of the of level of legitimate services required is surreal.
Smitherman's strategy of closing beds and reducing service levels to forestall deficits doesn't punish the hospital management. It punishes the taxpayers of this province, ordinary citizens who need the care that the provincial government, in the person of George Smitherman, would so glibly deny them.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Re: Council can't agree on new policy - April 3, 2008
Read article here
To the editor of the Sudbury Star,
(Published April 7, 2008)
I was appalled at some of Council's comments in this article. Councillor Dupuis asks the question, "The only thing they could hang us for was freaking tickets? " No sir. Personally, I think you could be hung for Council's lack of effecting an improvement in road conditions, among other things. (The editor altered this sentence thusly: "No sir. I think you (have responsibility for) the lack of improvement in road conditions, among other things." I guess they thought hanging seemed a tad harsh, even though Councillor Dupuis brought it up first.) The ticket affair merely shows this council's disdain for the taxpayers who elected them and a misguided sense of their place in the political sphere of things.
Thanks to the Sudbury Star and the whistle blower for shining a light into places our elected officials would rather leave dark. I had hoped the new auditor would improve transparency at City Hall, but having them report to this Council will be like having the fox in charge of the hen house.
Councillor Dupuis, I read the Sudbury Star and I vote. Every time.
To the editor of the Sudbury Star,
(Published April 7, 2008)
I was appalled at some of Council's comments in this article. Councillor Dupuis asks the question, "The only thing they could hang us for was freaking tickets? " No sir. Personally, I think you could be hung for Council's lack of effecting an improvement in road conditions, among other things. (The editor altered this sentence thusly: "No sir. I think you (have responsibility for) the lack of improvement in road conditions, among other things." I guess they thought hanging seemed a tad harsh, even though Councillor Dupuis brought it up first.) The ticket affair merely shows this council's disdain for the taxpayers who elected them and a misguided sense of their place in the political sphere of things.
Thanks to the Sudbury Star and the whistle blower for shining a light into places our elected officials would rather leave dark. I had hoped the new auditor would improve transparency at City Hall, but having them report to this Council will be like having the fox in charge of the hen house.
Councillor Dupuis, I read the Sudbury Star and I vote. Every time.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Old Letters Never Die
Imagine my surprise today when Sandy says I'm being quoted in Denis St. Pierre's article in the Sudbury Star. OK, the roads versus legacy projects debate is heating up and one of my briefer rants to the editor was published yesterday. But no, Denis is referring to another letter,one I wrote December 26, 2007 that the Star published January 8, 2008.
The relevant parts include:
The relevant parts include:
The $131-million pricetag for the legacy projects is just one issue threatening to conspire against council. There is a road network pock-marked with the worst pothole outbreak in memory, ever-rising taxes and water rates - and the credibility hit from a concert ticket fiasco, to name a few.
All of which suggests taxpayers such as Jim Robinson won't be easily convinced to reconsider their opposition to the legacy projects.
Robinson recently told The Star he will "be watching with great interest as the feasibility studies are done for the performing arts and recreation centres." He was referring to council's decision to spend $250,000 on consultants to investigate the feasibility of each legacy project.
Like many city residents, Robinson is concerned the legacy projects will be built at the expense of hard services, namely road improvements.
"Based on the marginal visible roads improvement in 2007, despite record spending, I don't believe that the city can fix the roads even without these projects," he told The Star.
"So let's make sure we don't try to live beyond our means. My vote was cast in the last election based on basic infrastructure deficiencies and road rehabilitation and I expect it will be again the next time we go to the polls.
"What good are state-of-the-art legacy projects if the roads and sewers have fallen apart?"
I wonder what possessed Denis to keep this particular letter on file? Sandy and I were talking last week about the need for a citizen's committee to encourage council and staff to focus on the key infrastructure renewal. Maybe it's time.............Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Re: City in a deep hole - March 22, 2008
To the editor of the Sudbury Star,
(Published March 28, 2008)
I note that Robert Falcioni says he recommended $40 million in the City capital budget for road renewal, but Mayor John Rodriquez says that the City can only afford $30 million. I also observed the start of a major project to straighten and widen a stretch of MR80 in McCrea Heights that can't affect more than a couple of kilometers. How many million dollars of that limited capital budget are allocated to this substantial upgrade that benefits so little of our deteriorating roadway?
Streets are disintegrating before our very eyes. Let's focus on resurfacing as much of the substandard surface as we can and not continue to blow the budget on a few major upgrades of limited scope.
(Published March 28, 2008)
I note that Robert Falcioni says he recommended $40 million in the City capital budget for road renewal, but Mayor John Rodriquez says that the City can only afford $30 million. I also observed the start of a major project to straighten and widen a stretch of MR80 in McCrea Heights that can't affect more than a couple of kilometers. How many million dollars of that limited capital budget are allocated to this substantial upgrade that benefits so little of our deteriorating roadway?
Streets are disintegrating before our very eyes. Let's focus on resurfacing as much of the substandard surface as we can and not continue to blow the budget on a few major upgrades of limited scope.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Re: Key Year For Legacy Projects - December 26, 2007
To the editor of the Sudbury Star,
(Published January 8, 2008)
I'll be watching with great interest as the feasibility studies are done for the performing arts and recreation centres. The net cost to the municipality depends on some very optimistic senior government and private sector funding while economic benefits are a question mark. And don't
forget that nothing comes in under budget around here.
Over and above these concerns, Councillor Cimino's comment that "poor road conditions cannot be used as an albatross that indefinitely precludes investment in other community projects" worries me. He states the city can fix the roads and do these projects as well. Based on the marginal visible roads improvement in 2007, despite record spending, I don't believe that the city can fix the roads even without these projects.
So lets make sure we don't try to live beyond our means. My vote was cast in the last election based on basic infrastructure deficiencies and road rehabilitation and I expect it will be again the next time we go to the polls. What good are state of the art legacy projects if the roads and
sewers have fallen apart?
(Published January 8, 2008)
I'll be watching with great interest as the feasibility studies are done for the performing arts and recreation centres. The net cost to the municipality depends on some very optimistic senior government and private sector funding while economic benefits are a question mark. And don't
forget that nothing comes in under budget around here.
Over and above these concerns, Councillor Cimino's comment that "poor road conditions cannot be used as an albatross that indefinitely precludes investment in other community projects" worries me. He states the city can fix the roads and do these projects as well. Based on the marginal visible roads improvement in 2007, despite record spending, I don't believe that the city can fix the roads even without these projects.
So lets make sure we don't try to live beyond our means. My vote was cast in the last election based on basic infrastructure deficiencies and road rehabilitation and I expect it will be again the next time we go to the polls. What good are state of the art legacy projects if the roads and
sewers have fallen apart?
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Re: "All I had to do was provide the leadership" - Denis St. Pierre - November 27, 2007
To the editor of the Sudbury Star,
Mayor John Rodriguez accomplishments during first year in office, as recounted by Denis St. Pierre, are impressive. The city auditor, the fair wage policy, resolving the fire chief situation and other issues which seemed to stymie past leadership were handled successfully. And there are great plans for the future with the performing arts centre and recreation complex. The article even mentions acknowledged shortcomings in the areas of homelessness and the province sharing mining taxes.
But what is missing in this review? What was one of the biggest complaints of Sudburians leading up to the last election? How about the roads? We saw a municipal tax increase to improve our roads and received record senior level funding last year and, notwithstanding some major projects on the MR 55 East four-laning, Lasalle Blvd west of Notre Dame and a few other spots, the general condition of the roads hasn't improved. Paris Street from Walford to downtown, the major avenue tourists see entering the city, is brutal. The east end of Lasalle Blvd continues to fall apart. MR 80 through McCrae Heights is a challenge. I could go on and on about major roads that haven't been improved, but those of us driving in this city know what they are. Four of them even made the Ten Worst Roads in Ontario list last year.
I was disappointed with the lack of improvement in the roads. I was surprised to find how little information on road rehabilitation exists on the otherwise informative city website. I am concerned that all I hear of for future work is reference to more major projects with curbs, extra lanes and other fancy features that cover very few kilometers. How about just grinding and relaying some of the asphalt before there isn't any left? Is there a schedule for getting this done? I can't find one.
Until I see some results on this longstanding issue, I can't see committing any support to the arts or recreation projects. What good are 21st century facilities if you can only get to them on 19th century roads?
Mayor John Rodriguez accomplishments during first year in office, as recounted by Denis St. Pierre, are impressive. The city auditor, the fair wage policy, resolving the fire chief situation and other issues which seemed to stymie past leadership were handled successfully. And there are great plans for the future with the performing arts centre and recreation complex. The article even mentions acknowledged shortcomings in the areas of homelessness and the province sharing mining taxes.
But what is missing in this review? What was one of the biggest complaints of Sudburians leading up to the last election? How about the roads? We saw a municipal tax increase to improve our roads and received record senior level funding last year and, notwithstanding some major projects on the MR 55 East four-laning, Lasalle Blvd west of Notre Dame and a few other spots, the general condition of the roads hasn't improved. Paris Street from Walford to downtown, the major avenue tourists see entering the city, is brutal. The east end of Lasalle Blvd continues to fall apart. MR 80 through McCrae Heights is a challenge. I could go on and on about major roads that haven't been improved, but those of us driving in this city know what they are. Four of them even made the Ten Worst Roads in Ontario list last year.
I was disappointed with the lack of improvement in the roads. I was surprised to find how little information on road rehabilitation exists on the otherwise informative city website. I am concerned that all I hear of for future work is reference to more major projects with curbs, extra lanes and other fancy features that cover very few kilometers. How about just grinding and relaying some of the asphalt before there isn't any left? Is there a schedule for getting this done? I can't find one.
Until I see some results on this longstanding issue, I can't see committing any support to the arts or recreation projects. What good are 21st century facilities if you can only get to them on 19th century roads?
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