Larry's Corner

Some pre-Christmas Thoughts

Here we are, just a month before Christmas, and the hurly-burly of the Holiday season is upon us, early snow and all. Let me take stock before Christmas Shopping, Egg Nogs, Christmas cake and snow-shoveling become a matter of regular activities.

 Salvation Army:

 I have been given the privilege of helping out as the official voice of the Salvation Army Kettle Drive for Hamilton Burlington, 2007. This is a ceremonial but important task. We are in the process of raising $540,000.00 explicitly for the food banks run by Sally Ann in Hamilton and Burlington. I had the privilege last week of being escorted to the three food banks in Hamilton, in Dundas and in Burlington. These locations cater to clients directly and distribute food to many other venues in Ontario, depending on need. Across Canada, the Kettle drive raises approximately $13M and is used for humanitarian needs at a time when most of us are overindulging in the best of festive traditions.

I ask ALL Hamiltonians and Burlingtonians to give generously. Between the two communities we have over 700,000 people. If everyone gave a simple loonie, we could meet the targeted goal in about 20 minutes. Of course not everyone can give, even a loonie; and even more unfortunately, not everyone will give to this worthwhile endeavour. So, if you can, and if you care about your fellow man, please give as much as you are able to a great organization that does so much good work. Please give to the Kettle nearest you. For you computer folks, there is even an ikettle process that allows you to donate online. Details are available at www.SalvationArmy.ca

 Angelica

Janet and I were blessed with our first grandchild this past Friday. Her name is Angelica Marie and she is, as the name suggests, an angel. Thank God, mother and child are doing fine. I am not so sure about a fretful dad, but he’ll get the hang of it. Look out folks, she looks like Prime Minister material to me!!

 The Red Hill Parkway

Finally, after over 50 years it opened. I was out of town on Saturday, but traveled on it on Sunday afternoon. I was startled to see some police cars there checking out speeders, and even more disappointed to hear that they fined over 30 of them on the first day. Geesh, folks. Get a life; let people enjoy what they have been waiting for these many years. Wait, that’s what the police are doing- they are stopping potentially dangerous driving and ‘giving’ life by preventing accidents. I’m glad I wasn’t speeding.

Today, I had a strange request. Mr. Matt Jelly, who ran against me for Mayor, asked for a ride on the Parkway. Apparently I had promised to take him once it opened. So, I took this staunch anti-expressway activist on the road. He seemed quite okay with the experience. But I won’t know for sure. He is a regular on the Cable show, The Opinionators, and the trip was part of research for this show. I hope his views will be balanced.

I am monitoring the opinions of Spectator readers on the new road and am pleased with the overwhelming support our citizens are showing. I had the occasion to make a presentation to about 150 parents of students at the Mountain Kumon center a couple of days ago and asked whether people were enjoying the access provided by the RHP. The crowd cheered. So far, so good, I think, but the best is yet to come.

I did note that there was a meeting of parents concerned with speeding near one of the access ramps near Greenhill. The meeting was sponsored by Trustee Robert Barlow, an ardent anti-road person who claims to have received a dozen phone calls from concerned parents. Interestingly, the Principal of the school had received no complaints. I hope this isn’t Trustee Barlow simply fighting old battles. Nevertheless, the city’s traffic department and the police should make student safety a number one priority. If a stoplight is needed near the school, I am sure that the very capable local Councillor, Chad Collins, will look after the issue promptly.

Blogs and Blogging:

I write this blog about once a week and as you know if you read it, it is posted on Chris Ecklund’s website. I don’t know how many people read it. Sometimes I think I write it for Chris’ personal interest and also for myself as therapy. Chris tells me that the number of ‘hits’ has been increasing steadily since I began writing. I am also told that the blog has been referenced on “Hall Marks” the City Hall insider blog moderated by the Spec’s intrepid reporter Nicole MacIntyre. It has also caught the attention of Ryan McGreal who does an online magazine with sometimes extreme left wing opinions called “Raise the Hammer”. Ryan has referenced my musings several times and has even written oppositional articles on my expressed views. That is fair ball as long as my words are not distorted. I suspect that because of this exposure, more folks may also read my stuff, so I will be very careful to express opinions candidly and in an interesting way, but also responsibly. I think I have been doing so from the start and you may want to read some of my archived posts.

I plan to write supportively about city issues, but will voice my concerns when I have them without taking potshots at people. Sometimes this is hard to do but I will try to walk the line. As well, if you have some topics that you think I can write about, pass them along and if I have an opinion, I will share it.

One Bag Limit:

This is a hot potato for Council. I sympathize with the case being made by Tom Jackson for a more concerted effort with apartment dwellings in getting to our targeted goal of 65% diversion before we impose limits. I also think we can do better than the 40% we are currently at. Is there a compromise for the interim? We are currently at a 3 bag limit. Can we go to 2 before imposing a one bag solution? The reduction, however, is inevitable. Landfilling is not good, and we must discourage it and discontinue it. I also feel that using a waste facility as an energy resource is worth looking at and will write about it at a future time.

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