I was proud to be part of the cross-section of local folks who came together to support our Jewish community. I hope the message they take from the gesture is that Fredericton has their back
All in Fredericton
Some thoughts on the heels of another Harvest
I see, or perhaps I should say, I hear the difference between all those blues events and Harvest. All all those others, people are primarily there for the music. At Harvest, for many, the music is secondary. For many, Harvest is first and foremost a social event.
Affordable Housing Strategy is as much Opportunity as it is Responsibility
the pieces are in place to meet this crisis head-on. We need only the political will, and I like to think we have it.
Some thoughts on this municipal election day
Isn’t it great though, to have the privilege of weighing our options and having our voice heard at the ballot box. And knowing that it will be easy to vote, it will be fair, and whatever the results they will be accepted by all. Americans should be so lucky.
The Sad Saga of my Sonata Sunroof, Part 2
It was like I opened the floodgates. I had no idea there are so many people out there each with their own story of how they were treated poorly by Hyundai
Fredericton Council comes through for homeless, but would bolder have been better?
how’s this for a Tale of Two Cities. While our city council was meeting Friday evening to revisit that $900 thousand for homelessness relief here, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation was announcing $3.4 million for affordable housing in Moncton.
Some further thoughts on that City Motel vote by Fredericton city council
if you want to vote them out, fill your boots, that’s your right, but let’s put a cap on the hateful rhetoric. Just because they didn’t vote to our liking doesn’t make them bad people.
Fredericton Council votes NO to housing homeless
The most frustrating thing about Fredericton City Council’s vote not to cover the shortfall that would have turned the City Motel into housing for the homeless, is that the rationale the councillors who voted against it used was so damned lame.
City Motel would be a real game changer for homelessness in Fredericton
It’s the right thing to do morally and economically. We’re talking over $1M in taxpayer savings in one year alone (based on 40 people housed) But what we are really talking about is changing lives.
The dollars and sense of our Performing Arts Centre
So, when the performing arts centre is built and operating for, let’s say a decade, the return to the federal and provincial governments will be about $11 Million each. This of course continues to increase every year thereafter. With this side of the ledger considered, the expenditure doesn’t seem so bad, does it?
Out of The Cold: A Homelessness Plan Comes Together
All of this is good of course in that it meets an immediate need. But it is not the answer to homelessness. That would be a home, through Housing First. There is good news on that front too
Gleaner Misleads Readers on Playhouse, Should Take a Stand Based on Facts
The Gleaner editorial calls for a Playhouse renovation which, years ago, was priced at $12 million. A modicum of research on behalf of the writer would have shown him that would be an incredible waste of money. Which is why the Playhouse abandoned that plan.
Let's see how the new Higgs government measures up on the compassion front
The problem is considerable. For a start, there’s hardly any affordable housing. Rents have risen steadily while welfare rates haven’t moved in years. Add to that the complex issues those who are living rough are dealing with. Almost all have mental health challenges, often combined with serious addictions. As Faith McFarland of the Community Action Group on Homelessness so matter-of-factly states, crystal meth is a monster. And it is a monster combined with everything else requires professional intervention. This isn’t a job for volunteer ladies from our local churches, regardless of how well-intentioned they may be.
Some Random Thoughts on the heels of Friday's Tragic Shootings
In life, all most of us can hope to aspire to, is to make a positive difference. And it occurred to me that these two officers have done that in spades.
About those Officer's Square elm trees
the key question remains of how city hall could be so tone deaf as to not understand how cutting down these majestic trees wouldn’t rub a lot of people the wrong way.