Consider This (https://consider-this.ca/author/robert-washburn/page/2/)
Professor of e-journalism Publisher of Consider This
The show/full interview:
When municipal budgets get tight, politicians look for savings. One of their favourite targets is policing. This is due to the enormous costs associated with providing this service. Most of the items in a police budget are fixed and are hard to cut. For decades, efforts to cut costs by amalgamating local police were undertaken. Continue Reading →
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Jordan Stevenson is a local Port Hope businessman. He is also an advocate for the homeless and affordable housing. An old city transit bus from Windsor arrived at his office on Hamilton Road. He is transforming the bus into a mobile warming centre. He named the project the Buddy Bus after his constant companion, a rescued dog. Continue Reading →
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The draft 2023 budget was made public recently. It proposes a five percent increase or a hike of $138 on average. Council will be debating the budget on Monday. There is immense pressure on politicians. Inflation, interest rates, provincial downloading, police, the library, transit, and the harbour, among a long list of other items under fire. Continue Reading →
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Last week, I brought you the story of a proposal to develop a 32-unit condominium in Brighton that has many residents worried. It also has the mayor and councillors concerned. The developer, JRB Williams Enterprises, wants to build on lands next to a provincially protected wetland on an area zoned for residential. An archeological assessment report submitted to the council says some Indigenous pottery was found dating back to 600 AD. Alderville Chief Dave Mowat is pretty upset. Continue Reading →
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A Detroit Department of Elections worker pushes the crowd back as absentee ballots are counted on Nov. 4, 2020. Brittany Greeson/New York Times via Redux November 8 is the date of the midterm elections, but today — September 15 — is Democracy Day . An initiative of news industry […]
Click here to view original web page at niemanreports.org Continue Reading →
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While Brighton council must address concerns raised by residents, it also faces new pressures from the Ontario government. New policies governing the planning process were implemented late last year. These include cutting development costs, streamlining approvals, and speeding up the building of affordable housing. Mayor Brian Ostrander will talk about his reaction to the residents and their presentation at a public meeting on January 16. He will also address the new rules imposed by the province around the approval process. Continue Reading →
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A proposal to develop a 32-unit condominium in Gosport, which is part of Brighton, has many residents worried. It also has the mayor and councillors concerned. The location is next to a provincially protected wetland close to the shores of Lake Ontario. The developer, JRB Williams Enterprises, wants to build on lands next to it zoned for residential. Residents packed the community center at a public meeting on January 16 to make their concerns known. Continue Reading →
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Northumberland County will spend about $200 million in 2023. That is all the salaries, programs, and services, plus the capital stuff like roads, new equipment, and so on. Understanding where your tax dollars get spent is crucial. Politicians are under the gun. It is up to the county council to spend it wisely. Continue Reading →
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Property taxes! How much are local taxes going up this year? Hopefully, I have your attention right now. January is budget month across Northumberland County. Municipal councils are working overtime to finalize their budgets. Continue Reading →
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The temperature dropped to minus 16 degrees this past week. It snowed, and it rained, as well. When sitting at home or in an office, it is easy to forget people are living unsheltered in these conditions. The Coldest Night of the Year is a walk held in Port Hope designed to raise money and remind us what it is like to be homeless, especially in the winter. Event director Phil Redford will explain what is happening this year as his group tries to raise money and awareness about struggling people. Continue Reading →
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