Raise the Hammer

Wait, there are people in the BNA who don't even live there? Who the dickens has time in their lives to participate in a neighbourhood association for a neighbourhood they don't live in?

I get that there might be wealthier people in BNA since with land values climbing everywhere, Beasley might look like a good option to those who would have never considered it before. Are they investors who just own property there?

NikAtNite: You are welcome to attend a BNA meeting and see that there is very little truth in your statement. BNA members are people with a wide range of incomes, as both renters and owners.

Maybe you should come to a BNA meeting and find out the truth...

I know of BNA members with children at Dr.Davey and some are working with others who do not even have children, let alone at Davey, to bring some free additional programming to the students.

I know of BNA members who are well off and live in the neighbourhood, but volunteer their time helping others in the neighbourhood.

I know of BNA members who are not well off and who no longer live in the neighbourhood and come to help out.

Also NikatNite, FYI - there is no additional cost for French Immersion and presumably if these people were so wealthy they would just move to those areas.

I think if you are upset about these issues at Dr. Davey (and I think you would be right to be concerned about some of them), you should attend a BNA meeting and bring them forward, so that perhaps you can get some support behind solving them.

A few comments:

4-5 years for a Hydro substation renovation? That seems a bit long of a time-frame. If true, I suspect that this is not being driven by construction considerations, but by bureaucratic and budget considerations. In other words, they will build it as money becomes available.

Children can't use the park? Just to stand of the grass or lie down under a tree? Bizarre. When I was a kid cue the Four Yorkshireman during recess I went all over the place. Yes, into the park adjacent to the school grounds. To deny that to children not only severely impairs their quality of life, but produces adults who have never had that experience of exploring discovering, creating and playing on their own.

Yikes! I don't want my children to live in a world dominated by those kinds of adults.

The last meeting I went to before moving to a different community a couple of years ago was the AGM where the new executive was being elected. The hardest part was finding people who were willing and able to take on the various roles. I don't think it's changed that much in the last two years, so I'd suggest running for an exec. position or finding someone who shares your views to do so. There's lots of room to help guide the BNA.

Most BNA members I know that no longer live there are due to changing circumstances and are not investors. Some can no longer afford the rent or have personal reasons to rent elsewhere. Some have moved to just outside the neighbourhood to get a home that fits their family needs. There are a host of reasons some may no longer live in the neighbourhood, but they still care. I don't know of anyone on the BNA who is merely an investor or who lives more than a neighbourhood away and the vast majority live in Beasley (probably all have lived there at one point).

teachers are concerned about their safety in walking from the food bank parking lot one block away, on Cannon Street East at Ferguson, to the school. About 95 percent of Dr Davey's approximately 600 students walk to school along these horribly unsafe streets.

I'd like to think that this is not the first time that the grown-up staff at the school have expressed any concerns about the safety o this route - because on the face of it, it hearing the teachers complain about walking along the same stretch that most of the kids already use is a bit eyebrow cocking.

about their safety in walking from the food bank parking lot one block away, on Cannon Street East at Ferguson, to the school.

Ok - I just read this again. And then I looked at the map.

We're talking about one block of bricked street with stop signs at either end. I bike this route often as it takes me between the Cannon bike lanes and the International Village. I am really surprised to hear that adults are worried about their safety when walking for a block on a sidewalk separated by parking and a verge from a single lane of traffic in each direction.

What am I missing?

Comment edited by moylek on 2016-04-11 13:31:32

According to Jason Farr and to the HWDSB, the extended period of time is because the substation is being completely rebuilt.

If you don't believe me, ask the good Councillor, or Lyndon George from Andrea Horwath's office.

I believe that this is an ideal opportunity for all those involved in the community to fight to have this dangerous piece of infrastructure removed from a recreational area.

Yeah, my exact response in the meeting was "cry me a river."

I have a great deal of respect for all the teachers I know at Davey but if they're scared (as grown adults) to walk a block, they need to speak up on behalf of the students.

This is the perception of the area being unsafe, which adds to the unwillingness of students, parents and staff to use the park.

I think everyone should be concerned about all these issues, and fortunately several members of the BNA are already very much involved in the Hydro One issue.

Nice attitude. Effectively, the money raised by the parent council comes from the parents of students of Dr Davey. We're not, as a general rule, wealthy. And slides are perhaps more expensive than you realize. I believe the money will ultimately come from Rotary. Don't spit on us because we're poor.

Jim, how much have you personally donated towards this slide? I don't think throwing internet stones is getting it accomplished any faster...

I'd think that a working slide at a children's school is what we pay tax dollars for.

no one believes you little man. the list of things you said you did when you didnt and the list of things you said you would do and didnt is legendary. are you the jim that was asked/told to leave your sherman neighbourhood association cause of your intolerant attitudes and ignorant behaviour?

Don't you know? It is much more important to pay $18 million for a car road to a future ghost town on hwy #6. That means no money for slides and a lot of other things that are only for children and other unimportant people.

Comment edited by KevinLove on 2016-04-12 09:37:58

This guy has psychological issues. Best not to engage...

Lost credibility on the ghost town

Update: according to Sue Dunlop, the slide is due to be fixed this Friday, April 15, at HWDSB expense.

Kev, I thought roads are for all vehicles? Isn't that what you rant about on here fairly often?

Glad to hear that the slide is getting fixed. In spite of the current issues, I think that there is at least hope for the future for the kids to get to school safe and use the park someday. Not ideal though. This brings to mind the situation at St. Patrick's School. Their playground is asphalt with no green anywhere. And as for getting to school safely, they have crossing guards but the school is surrounded by urban expressways (Main, King, and Victoria) with speeding cars and large trucks. Even more surprising is that there are no school zone warning lights and speed reductions during school hours (not that anybody would slow down anyway!). I don't see much improvement here in the future.

yes, i see what you mean. its sad when people turn out like that. even if he asked for help it would be hard to get what with the waiting lists and all. he should still try though.

I went to St. Pats in the early 70's. Same as it is today except the school is newer now. In my class of about 60 kids we have at least 5 doctors, 5 lawyers, one architect I know of. One pro football player. Two US college football players. at least two Kingston Pen survivors and numerous scallywags who ahve spend a lot of time at the Hamilton jail. A bunch of teachers. No one was killed by a car. We dodged traffic. Farted about in every alley. Played football and Hockey at Eastwood and walked all the way up Vitoria one way without complaint when traffic was way busier than it is now.

You guys are a bunch of whiners.