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New Edinburgh News
JUNE 2004
The City’s 2004 Budget- last comments
The implication (concern?) of the community was unprecedented
during this year’s budget process. That is no small wonder when
proposals included threatened multiple library branch closures,
loss of City support for community volunteers providing recreation
and other services at the neighbourhood level, grants to arts,
cultural and heritage as well as economic development
organizations and reductions to every sort of City service. All of
this in the context of a possible a property tax hike. The tax
hike itself was problematical due to an antiquated property tax
system no longer able to support all of the services expected of
it. Recent changes had only exacerbated the problem by imposing
caps on some property classes. Finally, a vigorous real estate
market provided the coup-de-grâce.
I don’t believe that Council did an adequate job, given all of the
advance preparatory work (U.P.R., Opportunity Log, extensive
community input) that went into this exercise. Moreover, it
appeared that all of the planning work of the previous term of
Council, known as Ottawa 20/20, supposedly providing the new City
with a cost-effective direction for the long term, was largely
ignored. In the end, I voted against the ‘Budget-as-amended’. Some
of my reasons for doing so are: the severe cuts to OCTranspo, our
failure to provide needed additional life-saving paramedics, our
failure to make reasonable cuts to the fire service (closing 2
fire stations) that would have saved significant sums without
compromising community safety.
We will soon be starting the process of preparing for the 2005
Budget. Maybe we can correct some of this year’s shortcomings
including addressing problems that were ignored. Although I will
admit that this process can be frustrating, it is important that
we all stay engaged if we are to have any hope of improving
things.
Le projet de travaux publics de la rue Acacia débutera … enfin!
Les travaux, sur Acacia entre la rue Beechwood et la rue Maple,
font parti d’un programme de remise en état de la chaussée, de
l’aqueduc et des égouts. Des fonds ont aussi déjà été approuvés
pour aménager un nouveau trottoir sur le côté ouest de la rue afin
d’améliorer la sécurité des piétons et l’accès aux services de
transports en commun. L’angle de Rideau Terrace et Acacia sera
aussi modifié enfin d’en améliorer la sécurité
Spring Cleaning Stanley Park
On May 8th, New Edinburgh volunteers, ably led by community
ex-patriot Ed Browell, once again got down to the business of
sprucing up the park after the usual accumulation of detritus over
the winter months. This annual activity is an excellent
opportunity to demonstrate one’s commitment to the community and
to its well-being. Well done to all!
Lucy Abbott, J. Legendre, Dianne Unicume, Gemma Kerr, Bob Burchill,
Laura Wallace, Olivia Wittenburg (11 years of age – for
identification purposes only), Ed Browell, Peg Herbert, Carlos
Vidosa, Tamara Campbell, Jim Watson
Jacques Legendre
Councillor, Rideau-Rockcliffe
You can communicate with me at (please include a telephone
number):
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1P 1J1
Tel: 580-2483, Fax: 580-2523
E-mail:
jacques.legendre@ottawa.ca
Web Site:
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com
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