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By lawrence (registered) - website | Posted November 11, 2010 at 12:19:40
Today, after all that has transpired over the summer, I wonder if we can ever be happy with any proposal from anyone.
I am tired of the bad-mouthing of our elected officials. The trash talk about the Cats, and hits at one another.
Not to be a downer, but today I couldn't help but really wonder. Close to 900 people are now out of work except for the foreman living for 3 weeks at a time inside the plant away from their families. Those out of work are collecting a mere $200 a week. Many of these families will lose their homes, have no christmases, and perhaps for some, even their marriages will not survive if this drags on too long.
Now there are talks/rumors (I am referencing second hand information but the quesiton still remains), of the retirees losing their pensions completely? What does my 95 year old grandfather do? My dad perhaps is still 'young' enough to work at 61, but what do these people do with 900 young Stelco employees now out of work, and the possibiliy of 9,000 people collecting pensions also trying to find some source of income?
What does any of this stadium or downtown talk matter, if 10,000 people in this city all of a sudden have little source of income? Not to mention all the jobs that have already been lost over such a short time period.
Maybe I am over-dramatizing here, but today as we reflect on those who have made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our freedom, as I think of all those out of work sleepless with worry about how they are going to support their families, pensioners perhaps too old and broken to find work if their pensions are taken away, and I just stopped to wonder.
How could the future fund help the 'people' who now need or will desperately need, our help? Perhaps that sounds crazy, but how can we effectively assist these people? Sandwhiches and words of support are great and touching and are nice feel-good stories, but when we crawl into our warm beds in the houses we own, full bellies and presents under the trees, a tuna sandwhich and and email just won't be enough.
I don't want to look at them with pitty. I want for 'us' to find a solution and now, before so much is lost.
The most touching speach I ever heard at council over the course of the summer, was from a woman named Valerie. Not sure of her last name but anyone who attends council meetings, would know who she is. She brings this stadium debate and so many other high expenditure debates, down to earth. None of it matters if there are people suffering out there with no insight as to how we can help them.
Life is too short. We should all be accountable for those who are suffering.
Forget the stadium. Forget Aerotropolis. Forget it all. Our major projects in this city need to be about the people. They make this city what it is. Not steel, brick, and concrete.
It's time we ask the people going forward, what they want. What are their thoughts as to how we can fix what is really broke in this city - people.
Excuse the rant, but I am feeling sad today for all those that are suffering. Even if for right now anyway, that suffering is only in their thoughts.
Comment edited by lawrence on 2010-11-11 11:20:16
Ward 3 Trustee for HWDSB.
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