I remember when
A favourite email amongst the older set, and I get a few of them, is the one that starts off - "I remember when" and then proceeds to list all kinds of fantasies about how much better life was years ago. Now how about a "remember when" from Cobourg.
I remember when you could take a lunch, after supper ice cream or just a daydream break at the Harbourfront. One would just drive down Division St and sit in one's car and watch. Watch whatever went on at your leisurely pace. Gone! With the open space now occupied by affluent condo owners and the miniscule parking lots taken over by long term parkers, some of whom are condo owners with second cars who cannot park onsite because of the failure of Councils to ensure that developers provide adequate parking, the daydreamers have been moved on. But now they have been completely excluded from the waterfront. Signs have appeared that instruct anyone thinking about parking in the West lot, the last public lot available, not to park unless they are part of another exclusive group - actual lakefaring people - Cobourg Yacht Club members or Marina users. There is a trick to engage in daydreaming these days but you have to understand the secret method, secret because it is not publicised, go to the Marina office and beg for a pass to park.
Let's think about this, if the public lot is now going to used exclusively for Yachters and Marina users when can we expect them to pay for this privilege? If the public cannot use this area why should they pay a penny for the upkeep - shift the tax burden to the users, after all they have exclusivity. If I cannot use it I will not pay for it! And at the same time if there are other tax breaks being given to this group remove them after all they are a private club. The Town cannot cry poor about revenues and then expect the taxpayer to subsidise private clubs,
I write this to point out the law of unintended consequences - you cannot have unfettered public access to diminishing public space if you have inadequate planning policies and subsidies to private areas. I'm just suggesting to Council that on this issue you own up to your mistake and acknowledge that the supposed benefit of creating a community at the lakefront has worked to the detriment of the rest of us.
I remember when you could take a lunch, after supper ice cream or just a daydream break at the Harbourfront. One would just drive down Division St and sit in one's car and watch. Watch whatever went on at your leisurely pace. Gone! With the open space now occupied by affluent condo owners and the miniscule parking lots taken over by long term parkers, some of whom are condo owners with second cars who cannot park onsite because of the failure of Councils to ensure that developers provide adequate parking, the daydreamers have been moved on. But now they have been completely excluded from the waterfront. Signs have appeared that instruct anyone thinking about parking in the West lot, the last public lot available, not to park unless they are part of another exclusive group - actual lakefaring people - Cobourg Yacht Club members or Marina users. There is a trick to engage in daydreaming these days but you have to understand the secret method, secret because it is not publicised, go to the Marina office and beg for a pass to park.
Let's think about this, if the public lot is now going to used exclusively for Yachters and Marina users when can we expect them to pay for this privilege? If the public cannot use this area why should they pay a penny for the upkeep - shift the tax burden to the users, after all they have exclusivity. If I cannot use it I will not pay for it! And at the same time if there are other tax breaks being given to this group remove them after all they are a private club. The Town cannot cry poor about revenues and then expect the taxpayer to subsidise private clubs,
I write this to point out the law of unintended consequences - you cannot have unfettered public access to diminishing public space if you have inadequate planning policies and subsidies to private areas. I'm just suggesting to Council that on this issue you own up to your mistake and acknowledge that the supposed benefit of creating a community at the lakefront has worked to the detriment of the rest of us.
1 comments:
Don't hold your breath waiting for our Council to admit a mistake, it will never happen. In their minds they never, ever, could possibly make an error of any kind.
As to the public paying for the elite's playgrounds, is that any different than the City of Toronto operating a bunch of golf clubs? It's no wonder that city is in a budget crisis.
But don't let Peter know, he likes to golf too and might decide the Peter Delanty Golf and Country Club sounds like a fine legacy. I'm sure his loyal Councillors would support it to the hilt.
FORE!
DJO
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