Letter: No Respect for Our City

Murray Scott's October 14th letter to the editor of the Gazette:

http://www.stratfordgazette.com/editorial/article/93322

At City Hall Election Night

Al Tucker, Kerry McManus and I waiting at City Hall for the results of the election waiting and waiting and waiting....

Not the quick computer results that we expected at 8:20. It was more like 10:30.

I was almost elected. There were only just over two hundred votes between Mr. Cuilliton and myself. The first three wards had elected me to council but the last ward bumped my name off the top 10.

The fact that I had a strong position on a very controversial issue was both an asset and a disadvantage. My supporters knew where I stood and agreed with me strongly. It is a hopeful thing that so many supported me because it shows how many other people have concerns about our future growth and development and protecting the character of our unique and special community. I will continue to speak out for wise growth and development in Stratford by advocating Smart Growth Ideas, Transition Towns Initiatives and Permaculture Principles to move forward in enlightened ways instead of continuing to be stuck in the dark age of increasing sprawl. We could be a leader in this important and crucial direction of wise community nurturance.

I want to thank my supporters for all the work and effort you made in support of my campaign.

Voting Problems / Beacon Herald Article

I have heard from a number of people about the problems they had with the computer and phone voting system.

I have had calls and emails from citizens who were not able to vote. They tried to vote at the traditional time between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on election day but were cut off in the middle, couldn't log on, didn't know the polls were extended an extra hour and were prevented from casting their vote (a number would have been for me). Many also felt that the sense of coming together as a community to vote at polling stations was lost. And re-counts? Accuracy? Voting online was easy before Monday late afternoon but lacking in a sense of occasion in my experience. I could not get onto the candidates web page Monday after 5 p.m. If you or any in your network have had any issues around the voting system this is the message from Joan Thomson, City Clerk:  

"If members of the Public wish to provide feedback on the InteliVote System, they can submit written comments to the attention of the City Clerks Office -  Corporate Services Department, City of Stratford, City Hall, P.O. Box 818, Stratford, Ontario  N5A 6W1 or election@city.stratford.on.ca" 

Sending a letter will be more effective and get more attention than an email. 


This is the link to the Beacon Article:

http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2817194

Best New Ideas For Stratford

Article in the Beacon Herald Saturday, Oct. 23rd. All the candidates had 75 words to give their new ideas for Stratford:

http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2814138

These are my ideas: 

*A clean Avon River with swimming area.
*Close Market Square to traffic on Saturdays (temporary barriers at minimal cost) and have the farmers' market downtown which would lead to increased income for farmers and great support for downtown. 

*A film production studio.
*A citizens' group to guide the review of our Official Plan using Smart Growth ideas, transition towns initiatives and permaculture principles (working with nature) to create practical solutions for Stratford beyond the current dependence on fossil fuels.

Sunday Afternoon Beauty in Stratford

 

Past citizens saved the river banks for us to enjoy. Now it is up to us to protect our special downtown and unique character of our community for future generations.

Stratford Gazette All Candidates Forum

This is the synopsis of my appearance at the Municipal Forum:

“I think Stratford is worth fighting for,” responded Lesley Walker-Fitzpatrick, when questioned whether she would support the city again spending taxpayers’ money to try to stop Wal-Mart from building in the east end. 

The big box retailer has a reputation for killing communities, she said. 

“Do we want to be another sprawl town or do we want to have quality of life?”

Stratford’s economy relies on the character of the community, she noted, adding it is already in good hands with its well established arts and culture scene and new industrial developments.

As well, she added, the university campus will present “amazing opportunities for spin-offs for creative, innovative, respectful jobs.”

Not just protecting the character of the city, but wise planning and fiscal responsibility are of the utmost importance for the city in these financial times, said Walker-Fitzpatrick. 

“You have to understand the difference between a need and a want,” she added. 

With her diverse background in early childhood education, the performing and visual arts and social justice and environmental research, she said she understands the issues and challenges many families without a guaranteed income, whether the parents are performers, entrepreneurs or factory workers who face periodical layoffs, encounter.

My Profile in the Stratford Citizen

Thank you Stratford Citizen for a very accurate article based on the interview with Adam.

http://www.citizennews.ca/?page_id=1798/

As a citizen participant in the OMB hearing over Walmart, Lesley Walker-Fitzpatrick spent days researching and hearing about planning issues relating to Stratford. If elected, she hopes to apply what she’s learned to the upcoming review of the City’s offical plan.

“I’d like to see it be a good road map so that we manage to keep the character of our city as we grow,” she says.

Among the issues she wants to explore are increasing local sustainability, resisting urban sprawl, pursuing creative retrofits, cleaning up brownfields, hosting open markets in Market Square and ensuring that future commercial developments in the west end blend with the surrounding neighboorhoods. She also wants to take an active role in the city’s accessibility committee, having “walked the walk” in caring for her late brother, John, a quadriplegic.

Walker-Fitzpatrick says her performing arts background has helped her understand the challenges faced by those without a guaranteed income. And in a nod to the City debt, she says more large capital expenditures shouldn’t be pursued without public consultation.

As for the environment, she says it’s a matter of getting the City’s many thriving aspects – like culture, industry, tourism and the new university – to work together.

“We have the right ingredients for us to be a leader in this direction – a responsible, sustainable, green direction.”