The most you can hope for here ……is an
impression …………and a very minor one at that…………
of how myself and the other candidates think……..
in electing one candidate over the other you can
only hope that collectively with the other council members they
will guide the administration … To provide
what is absolutely possible in Edmonton…………….
to suggest I can promise you anything here…….
is absurd………..
What was that bumper sticker a few years ago
“oh please let there be another boom……
I promise not to pee this one all away”
Well………the boom is here……………the goldrush in on
….and this is……Dawson City………I can assure
you of this…….. you ain’t seen nothing yet……… do you
remember the last few………booms and busts that is……
if nothing else
we should know this ………
Edmonton is not a Calgary
it is not a Toronto or Vancouver
this is a boom town…..
uniquely different than the others………
Edmonton provides workers and equipment to the north……..
Edmonton is the staging point if you will
for whatever is happening on the northern front lines…….
We have entire communities of mostly men busing to
Ft McMurray every Sunday for their week or weeks of camp life
while Mothers and children stay home to mind the home front
Calgary on the other hand is the strategic business center……
With a much more stable family friendly environment
our population is always has been and will remain
much more transient than the others…..
our communities change sometimes faster than they’re built…
This is not to suggest that one is good and one is bad
it is however ……just the way that it is
SPECULATION IS NOT MANAGED GROWTH!!!!!!!!
This boom has been going strong now for five years
and in hyper drive for the entire term of the current
council…….promises promises promises …..besides
providing money to subsidize luxury loft condos downtown …
and a half finished ring road which should be…. in the first place
……….the primary responsibility of the province…….
I would like to know what we have been doing for the last five
years that is any different than the previous thirty.
This council is exclusively……. and perhaps
even more responsible for this mess than any council has been
responsible for any mess in Edmontons history
SPECULATION IS NOT MANAGED GROWTH
We have allowed the public services in this city to diminish to the
point where basic public services are often unavailable……..over
that same time………….we have turned these same services over
to the private sector to make up for the
shortcoming………..problem is….the market has decided that
there are better things to do during a boom in Alberta than contract
to the pubic service……..and I would stress………public
service….the free market has decided for us that there
are much more lucrative things to do………so……we end up
with what we have………massive short comings in road
construction……snow removal……and because of the labor
market………police service and other essential services
…….regarding the police department specifically……..
that along with everything else…we must know ……….
that we are about to loose hundreds
perhaps thousands of combined years
of experience over the next very
short while……….
Senior Officers have already begun to retire
“YOU DO NOT GO OUT AND JUST HIRE WISDOM”
problem is…now we are caught in the same manpower
shortage as everyone else………time for a plan………
I would propose that we develop an immediate plan to insure
that the public service is restored to a functional level ………
We must begin to share ideas within communities
the Police Service and Public Service in general
to begin a planning process
to address these difficulties that we are now
and will continue to face
for some time to come
as our senior Officers within the EPS
and senior staff from within all departments
begin to retire we must without question
insure nothing less
than ongoing public services
in areas such as infrastructure and public safety
SPECULATION IS NOT MANAGED GROWTH
By the end of this campaign I want to know exactly what is going
on …on the corner of 105 st and Whyte ave…..I want to know if
this site poses any threat to people working in the area….
I have been and remain terribly concerned about the young folks
working especially in the basements of the adjacent buildings……
Devine…Chapters…post office bldg…….
what about anyone who is exposed over extended periods
to whatever is being evacuated from the soil
…I mean….this area and far beyond its borders is
contaminated with leaded gas
The last time I requested an explanation, It was suggested that this
information is somehow private….well if this contamination
extends to city property then I would suggest that it is
rather public……..I would like to be assured that before this
campaign is over we have a complete disclosure of the
conditions within and around this area that is visited by individuals
and families with children daily
SPECULATION IS NOT MANAGED GROWTH
the Old Strathcona Business Association has failed in just about
everything they have tried over the last ten years………they have
wasted more money and effort in an attempt to address the
panhandling situation than they have planning and managing
the areas hyper growth…well it seems that way to me
anyway……..thus you have what you have…. a bloody mess
by any standard………it is time to take the reigns and regain
control over what was one of Edmontons most culturally diverse
and exciting areas “for everyone”…the business association seems
more focused on removing marginalized folks from the area than
they do the proliferation of clubs and the activities associated with
them…… I would support the immediate development of a plan to
insure the managed reduction in licensed seats in the Old Strathcona
area to a sustainable …manageable number based on community,
police and business input…….I would suggest around 8000….
SPECULATION IS NOT MANAGED GROWTH
I would support the immediate development of a plan to insure
managed growth in any future developments in neighborhoods
where this same potential exists….ie.jasper ave ..118th
ave….number of licensed seats per location….
plus number of licensed seats per square block……..
with the exception of grandfathering the Old Strathcona
hotel the Commercial Hotel, in Old Strathcona
and I am sure as few in other key areas of
the city ……..
which are indeed the grandfathers/mothers of venues in
Edmonton………..there are no exceptions……….
would you prefer to see the East Village in Edmonton
developed using Granville Island in Vancouver as a model
or Whyte Ave in Edmonton as a model
118 th ave(alberta ave.)…….Granville Island in Vancouver or
Whyte Ave in Edmonton
www.granvilleisland.com
SPECULATION IS NOT MANAGED GROWTH
With the exception of major events ………..
the development of an arena the size or larger than the present
coliseum in the downtown area
will provide nothing less than another massive dead zone
in an area we hope to develop as people friendly………….
jasper ave is dead zone after dead zone…..
which is to say…….3 small businesses……….a block of
office tower…………one small business ………….two blocks of
office tower…………..three small businesses………..and another
block of office tower…1970s boomtown mentality…I would
suggest while we’re on the subject..
that there are FEW if any at all
other cities in the world that consciously ALLOWED
their entire civic history in architecture
to be destroyed at the rate we did….
exclusively for the sake of an economic boom………….
that failed………..
we desperately need to
encourage the inclusion of streetscape that attracts people…
and not makes them afraid to walk through…….
not interrupted continuously and for
extended distances by apparent dead zones….
BUILD IT WITH RULES………..AND THEY’LL BUILD IT
BUILD IT WITH NO RULES ……….AND THEY’LL BUILD IT CHEAPER
we should be ashamed of the addition to the shaw centre……….
this is what we do not want…..
who decided to build this box
which did nothing less than block
what was one of the most beautiful walking vistas in downtown Edmonton
and created nothing less
than another area where people are afraid to walk…………
sounds pretty weird to me????
I thought there were “view” guidelines
to discourage this type of stupidity…
how do we insure this does not happen again….
well I would propose stricter (if that is even a word)
guidelines with no exceptions
regarding architectural integrity
there must be a way to create a community
that is attractive
a community where it is absolutely possible
for small independent businesses…..
artisans…
and franchises to co exist……
along with housing that is desirable and affordable to all
THIS IS NOT TO SUGGEST FOR EVEN A MOMENT
THAT IS IN ANY WAY THE JOB OF THE MAYOR
it is however that persons absolute responsibility
to work with others on council
and within the administration
to locate the professionals that do
it becomes their ultimate responsibility to work with these professionals
to develop plans that are sustainable in every regard…..
are conducive to quality of life
are consistent with the needs
and quality of life priorities
set forth by individual communities
the City of Vancouver….rather CMHC has done this on Granville
Island………….and it is a world class world known tourist
site……….Village East could become one of these……….Whyte
Ave could return to this………..
The managed development of the east village north to meet china town
and the station lands providing a walkable, livable corridor
from the east to the west and north sides of the office tower areas
could provide a quality of life area for “EVERYONE”
NOW THIS REALLY CRACKS ME UP!!!
THE EDMONTON URINAL
PRINTING SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY RELATES TO
BUT COMPLETELY SUPPORTS THE THEORIES
THAT THEY REFUSE TO SUPPORT
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE COMING FROM MYSELF……..
NOW THAT’S OBJECTIVE JOURNALISM………
I THOUGHT FOR SURE SOMETHING LIKE THIS
WOULD NOT COME OUT
FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AFTER I EXPRESSED THESE IDEAS
AS FOR THE ARTICLE
EXACTLEY
CLICK ON TO ENLARGE
I would suggest the managed illimination of ede……..and the
investment of those funds into an urban planning and design
dept with individuals specialized
in boomtown economics and urban design
if there is no such person or persons……
well maybe we should enlist our university
to rise to the occasion………..with bursaries perhaps…………
in the mean time….well……… we do a little better than we have
been…….by at least attempting to put together some sort of
plan….based on our own boom town experience……..there has to
be one person here that some idea of how to take the best
advantage of what is happening here………..
that may not be me…
but I can tell you this…….
when I saw people
panic buying houses six months and one year ago…………
I mean…
I knew enough to tell them………
give it six months…
they’ll overbuild like they always do and
things will settle down substantially……..
and so they have…….
Removal of “the folks” from old strathcona
Don’t blame this one on the police………they are specifically directed
to do whatever it is that they have done………..these officers become
somewhat like these individuals themselves…”marginalized”….
they are directed specifically by the old strathcona business
association with the full knowledge of city hall………
to move these undesirables (well by their apparent standards)
from the area…………
whether they like it or not……
that isn’t the way whyte ave used to be
you notice no front page of the sun
legal battle for these folks
they’ll just have to start hanging out with Scott and the boys
at the overtime
I guess????…………
Our arts community is sponsored almost exclusively by syncrude
and now pfizer pharmaceuticals…………we did not have to go
there……we should be ashamed of ourselves……….
Scott mckeen walked into my jasper ave coffee shop one day
talking about something funky and groovy or something…
well…… I threw him out almost as quickly as words came from his mouth…
well he was just a little to cool for me…
he had that ultimately groovy overtime vibe about him…
you know the one…
scott I am sure you’ll always be welcome at the overtime………..
you know the one…………get over it scott………
you wouldn’t like my place much anyway…
for the over ten years now that we have been in business…
most of the music we play is from those smelly drug addicts
who even smoked cigarettes………
you know the ones………..billie holiday……….miles davis………
janis joplin…………Ray charles…….james taylor………
hendrix……to name but a few………
and the art………
well besides the couple of dalis that I bring down to show once in a while……….
it’s almost all nothing more than some of that original local art………..
from what I know is that incredible class of emerging young artists in Edmonton …..
who also often smell funny and usually smoke those smelly cigarettes…….
I will never unfortunately afford any of those classic pieces
that I am sure adorn your walls………
you know the ones……nothing less than anything
from only the finest of wall mart galleries around the world….yep…
just can’t afford it Scott…hell….
I probably wouldn’t understand it anyway
and that’s about all I have to say about that
kinda funny……
this was a headline in Edmontons own
National Enquirer
the Edmonton Sun
The quote reffered to Counc. Krushell and her
comments regarding people defacating and get this
urinating…..on peoples lawns……..imagine…
in Edmonton you say……
ofcourse this all took place in Old Strathcona…….
Well a little news for the good Councillor……….
build it and they will come……..
now on the other hand…….
I live in the inner city 95a st and 118 ave to be exact……..
……….not quite in the war zone as we know it………..
………which is ofcourse anywhere near
………the commonwealth stadium or rexall place
I have however lived at various locations within the area for the last 30 years or so
I would dare her to spend an afternoon in the football war zone ….
after an afternoon football game……
maybe in the yard having a barbecue on a nice warm sunny fall afternoon
with your children and guests from out of town…..
only to realize that after the game is over
and the drunkerds hit the streets…….
(and I can assure you these are “NOT” eigthteen year old kids
with blue hair and skateboards)
this is in your own neighborhood……
no buffer zone…….no special police service…………..
where all hell breaks loose
and don’t challenge any of these alcohol fueled characters
both female and male
cause you’ll get nothing less than lots of abusive language
and you may just get injured
puking…….yes defecating….
and get this ………urinating to………..
all and often in front of your children
and your guests..
just in for an afternoon barbecue…………
this has been going on
and continues after every game……
it just becomes a part of your life……….
whether you like the sports or not………
so I sent a letter to the Edmonton Police Service again this year
asking a few questions about drinking and driving
which I know these individuals do
cause I’ve seen it………
well here is the question and answer
click to enlarge
now don’t get me wrong here …….I don’t blame much on the police any more………
because it is usually the reality that they have been directed to act
this way here
and this way there…………
that being said….
I would suggest that at times like these
they use foot patrol
administer the 10 second breathalyzer
and if there is suspicion….
well ……we take it a little further……….
……….to easy ……….right…….
no traffic disruption…
well except for the intoxicated drivers that is……..
might just delay them a bit….
but then it wasn’t about their convenience anyway…
WAS IT?????
NOW THIS ONE SHOULD SURELY CRACK YOU UP
click on image to enlarge
or not
as it were
and this Whyte Ave figure is only for a period of time
which happened to include the playoff games….
doesn’t it even bother you a wee bit
imagine what their total operating budget for the entire year
for both ongoing policing and special events must look like
Whyte Ave that is
so………..
seems a little excessive to me……….and why has this happened…
well no one pushed this idea down our throat…
we just kinda sat back and let it all happen
well I have an idea
lets build a few more neighborhoods just like it
lets see if we can’t invest the entire EPS budget
in riot control during hockey playoffs
I mean it just does so much for the economy
doesn’t it????
YOUR CHOICE I GUESS
It’s so interesting to see the ungoverned print media (as opposed to the broadcast media
which is governed during an election in canada whether municipal, provincial or federal
by strict federal legislation policies regarding
nothing more nothing less than FAIR coverage of all candidates)
doing their job so well
I must say that you (the print media that is) have provided my friends and I
with an incredible source of amusement over the last few weeks
the not even mentioning my name is the absolute best
“YOU FLATTER ME”
you silly people
INTERMODAL YOU SAY??????
kinda funny
that anyone should suggest
we have somehow through our personal efforts
secured the center for intermodal transport
where did you think they would put a link
between prince rupert B.C. and the rest of north america
………….SALVADOR SASKATCHEWAN……….
EDMONTONS’ MULTI GENERATIONAL SAGA
well at least we have one
a saga that is
let us never forget opportunity lost
1992 election proposal to expand LRT using abandoned railway right of ways
that had at that time reverted back to city
ofcourse you would not have heard that proposal in the local paper
SEEMS TO ME IT CAME FROM ONE OF THOSE RATHER SILLY
UNDESERVING TO RUN IN A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION CANDIDATES
I mean you probably were not even aware
that we had a clear recently abandoned right of way
available between 104 and 105 ave west from 97 street
to the 121 street corridor
north all the way to the yellowhead
in 1992 and I believe until 1995
when someone wanted to insure
the suggestion would be completely non viable
and began to build on these properties
we could of had no less than a park and ride
along with a safe bicycle path
serving anyone entering from hwy 16a west
or hwy 2 north
and
an LRT station at the point of entry for via rail
ofcourse you never read about any of this
in the Edmonton Urinal or
Edmontons own National Enquirer “the sun”
because again
it was one of them there rather silly
undeserving fringe candidates that suggested it as
just an idea
NOW THAT’S SOME BRILLIANT JOURNALISM !!!!!
the first letter is dated and outlines the prohibited uses of the internet
at just in case you did not know
the over 500 free for all
public non surpervised computers located in the
Edmonton Public Libraries around Edmonton
click on to enlarge
NOW
my concern when I spoke with these people
those few years back was ofcourse
how it relates to the competition I face from them as a public funded facility
in direct competition with myself
at the same time however
I did raise a number of concerns that related to the non supervised access
that they provide
which the letter to follow clearly indicates
I indicated to these individuals
at that time that I throw individuals out of my internet cafe
for drug dealing, prostitution and who knows what else
and where do they go
well right over to the Edmonton public
for a little free unsupervised access
they insisted
well that can’t happen here
well now you decide for yourselves after considering this information
particularly the last five lines of the first paragraph
kind of negates any suggestion of prohibited uses
WOULDN’T YOU SAY?????????
click on to enlarge
remember the next time you ground your teenage daughter or son off the computer
well they’ll be off to the local library
with less supervision then you try desperately to impose at home
now parents used to call me
and let me know that their son or daughter was grounded off the computer
and when that happened
well
and only because we do supervise what happens on each of our computers most of the time
and are concerned active members of the community as our history clearly has demonstrated
for the last 10 years
we supported their grounding
and in fact often ended up having a good game of scrabble
or ofcourse engaged in an open
sometimes rather frank political discussion
a mainstay at the cafe
with their young folks
WHY??
well because the young folks seemed to enjoy it
and the parents always knew their young folks were in a safe supervised place
SPECULATION IS NOT MANAGED GROWTH
I’ve heard nothing about the expansion of safe bicycle lanes………….
or public transportation………
I have heard nothing about the effects of industrial pollution
……..and how it effects our communities………. .
our families………..
with the exception of one question about the massive mountain
………of who knows what kind of garbage……..
……..apparently from other places other than Edmonton………
……..on the west side of Edmonton…………
………which was answered in saying …………
……….it is a private company……..
……….apparently with little or no accountability to the people of Edmonton……..
……….“NEVER FORGET WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS”…………
