City Think, London Ontario

Building an Org

2010-02-25T10:58:00.001-08:00

I've just started reading an excellent book called Building Powerful Community Organizations. It's a guidebook to doing just that presented along the same lines as What Color Is Your Parachute. Case Studies, Stories, tips and exercises to sort out the direction on your way to building a new community organization or to strengthening existing ones.

I've also posted another blog on my personal development blog page which you can read here: jppersonalwellness.blogspot.com

In my last post here, I spoke of voter turnout in London and the related topic of community engagement. A Twitter friend had said in a Tweet sent while I was writing that blog that one can't talk about turnout without talking about engagement. ie, the reason that people don't vote may have to do with their feelings of efficacy and the legitimacy of government. Our governments in Canada are legitimate in some ways (rule of law, open elections, a high degree of transparency) but in other ways struggle for legitimacy (low voter turnout, parliamentary democracy, first-past-the-post.)

And so it is with these thoughts and some of the comments that I have seen, both on Twitter and in various other forums, such as TVO's AgendaCamp (I participated in many of the online discussions during Sunday's forum) that I am forming the basis for a community organization.

Part of this process will be to sit down with at least 50 engaged Londoners and people of interest. These people range from the many London friends I have on Twitter and Facebook as well as community leaders I've not yet met both elected and in the NGO and Private sectors. I have ideas and skills to bring to the table but no community organization can thrive with only one person at the wheel. It would be arrogant and quite misguided of me to engage in this process after only being back in London for 6 months.

It is my mission though, to help create a more engaged community around me. I have lived some of the problems. I was for a time one of those youths that leave our City. Now that I've come back with some excellent experience, I am determined to do what I can to address those issues.

So if you are from London and you read this I ask: Will you meet with me? Can you provide me the names/contact info or perhaps a reference to at least 5 people that I should meet with on my Listening Tour? What are your ideas/concerns? And How can you help me to work at building a better London (it's a pretty great place already!)

Voter Turnout in Municipal Elections

2010-02-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

I’m going to make some statements here at the fear of them being misconstrued and me being misunderstood. It seems to be a theme these days so why stop now?

First – I wish more people would vote. I think you give up any right to complain when you don’t vote.
Second – I’m actually happy some people don’t vote. Some people are idiots who have no clue about government or politics and probably shouldn’t be allowed to vote.
Third – I think it’s an absolute democratic right to not vote.
Fourth – I think Municipal Elections should be open to all residents of a City, citizens and non-citizens. If you pay property taxes here, you should have a voice in the decision-making (and Tenants do pay taxes.)
Fifth – I think we should have an elected Youth Advocate; This person would be elected by students. This would encourage youth voting and create a life-long interest in politics.
Sixth – Voters don’t vote for a number of reasons. Most Political observers know that bad weather can swing voter turnout from 5-10 percent. So can distance to a polling station
Seventh – Voting has to become part of a cultural shift. In other words, we can’t simply put up some posters and expect people to vote. We have to have an ongoing campaign to increase participation and we probably need political/government reform to stop disenfranchisement. If it seems like your vote didn’t count, you’re less likely to vote in the future.
Eighth – Transparency and engagement by City Hall are key to continuing to increase voter participation. We can’t expect people to care about something they don’t know a lot about.
Ninth – Community-based orgs need to hold public meetings and bring Councillors to the community during their term and candidates during elections
Tenth – an independent Report Card is needed to show residents how Council votes on various issues
Eleventh – none of this will happen without people creating and driving change (this sounds like a personal challenge to myself.)
Twelfth – The eleventh requires the creation of a Social Business to drive a change in the political culture of our City. This umbrella group would serve as a non-partisan information resource and bring together different interest groups and perspectives to create an ongoing discussion.

So. I’ve been looking for a new job for some time. I’ve been involved in Municipal politics for about 10 years since I moved to Toronto in 1998. Now that I’m back in the town I left for many of the reasons people are searching to identify, perhaps its time for me to get off my butt and put thoughts and words into action. As a friend said recently “I may not be the Quarterback but at least I’m in the game. You’ve got the brains and skills, why are you sitting in the stands?”

And so I will ask for some volunteer help to get this effort off the ground. I would like to earn a living wage from it – I’ve got debts to pay. But I’m also willing to work to create something new, to help the City of my birth. If you’ve got ideas, if you’ve been involved in London, if you’ve got skills (particularly internet design) I’d love to talk to you. Please get in touch and we’ll talk about how to get this started. From name to vision statement, from focus to scope, I’m open to ideas. And by the way…Londontopic.ca is for sale. So there’s an emerging gap and opportunity.

Okay. So this started as one topic and drifted to another. I'm like that. More vision than fine details. I'll write more about voter engagement in the future I'm sure.

Comparing Apples to Apples – A response

2010-02-18T12:54:00.000-08:00

I recently saw a blog post by London City Councillor Paul Hubert that caused a bit of a boiling of my blood. It was titled “Comparing Apples to Apples.” Councillor Hubert was trying to make the point that London was a very well-managed municipality that spent tax dollars wisely. That compared to the City of Toronto that has required ‘bailouts’ from the Provincial government, London’s 1.8 percent tax increase and building of reserve funds was a wonder of fiscal management.

Here's a link: comparing-apples-to-apples/

I have some beefs about this blog and the charts that Mr. Hubert selectively included. The Councillor paraphrased complaints about London’s government and the cost of it relative to other municipalities. When compared solely on the basis of Property Tax paid per household, London measures-up quite favourably to other municipalities. However, anyone with a passing understanding of Property Taxes, Assessments and City Services, as well as the very different circumstances that Toronto finds itself in from all other Ontario and indeed Canadian Municipalities, can tell you that Mr. Hubert is comparing apples to boathouses. He’s not even using fruit for a comparison.

London’s per-household (Single-Family Residential only) property taxes are about $1500.00. Unfortunately this is based on an assessment that is about 1/3 of what a Toronto’s house is. The average price of a Toronto home, including those in Scarborough is around $375,000.00. That would buy a lot of house in London but its taxes, if London were Toronto without the increase in density and accordant increase in the Tax base, would be about $4500.00. Comparing taxes paid does not make for a deep analytical comparison.

First, there are vastly different realities facing London and Toronto that play an important role in the cost of providing services. For starters, Toronto’s workforce is made up of significant numbers of people who don’t live in the City and don’t pay taxes to the City of Toronto yet use services in the City. From Public Transit to sidewalks to public garbage bins, from roads to parks and every other municipal service that these migrant workers use on a daily basis, costs are borne for their provision by City residents. On top of these are the tens of thousands of international tourists who visit Toronto and don’t make it to a place like London.

Secondly, there is the scope of services offered by the City of Toronto relative to those that the City of London offers. One shining example: Library hours. London’s Libraries are closed on Sundays, some of them on Mondays too. Not so for Toronto’s Libraries. Council Services is another example where Toronto’s costs are necessarily higher. City Councillors in Toronto are full-time workers with a paid staff of 3 and a communications budget of $53,000. This means they communicate with their constituents on a regular basis. In six months in London I’ve seen rampant complaints about a lack of consultation and I know that our Councillors are part-time with a staff of 3 – for all 14 Councillors.

I’m sure there are other examples of how Toronto offers much better services but I don’t need to be exhaustive to dismiss Mr. Hubert’s comparison.

Thirdly, Toronto is a magnet for those in need of social services. While London plays the same role regionally, it’s not hard to imagine that Toronto attracts people both from our region as well as the rest of the country in search of good public social services as well as access to a larger and more fluid job market. This increases Toronto’s costs.

Fourthly, while London is nearly as old as Toronto it did not grow as rapidly in its early years as Toronto did and hence, the age of its infrastructure is not as much of an issue as Toronto’s.

Fifthly, per-capita income is actually less while costs of living are higher in Toronto. It is a rich City but it is also a very poor City.

So there are a few quick points that illustrate how meaningless it is to compare Property Taxes paid. I’ve not even mentioned the fact that Mr. Hubert did not discuss the fact that Toronto is the engine of the Canadian economy or that it competes with other global Cities that do receive investment from Senior levels of government in their nations.

One must look at: Service provided, Cost of Services provided, Per-household costs, per-population costs, per assessment class costs. The Ontario Government had previously set requirements for benchmarking. These provide more valid data for a comparison between municipalities. How much does it cost per household to pick up my garbage. Even then, frankly there is no comparison to be made between London and Toronto and Londoners should really just stop with the envy thing.

I’ve lived in London for 28 and a-half years. I also lived in Toronto for 10 years. I have never understood the resentment of Toronto. It is the Province’s urban playground, where we go to see concerts and festivals and gritty urban scenes. We buy our fashion there and many of the movies we watch and the clothes we buy are designed and produced in Toronto. Let’s stop the comparisons. Let’s measure London by our own standards and expectations for our local government. Let’s see Toronto’s difficulties as our own. We need National Urban and Transit strategies. Not petty bickering.

Why I don't get excited about Intensification projects

2010-02-18T10:02:00.000-08:00

I will get back to my series of posts describing the Ontario/London Planning process soon. I've just been a little distracted by an ongoing search for meaning in my life, a sense of greater purpose and numerous setbacks in my basic search for work.

Over the past couple of weeks a number of people have voiced concern about a proposal for a 4-storey building in the heart of Wortley Village. The site is currently a surface parking lot topped with gravel and is the former site of a church that was demolished some years ago (knowing London, perhaps after a fire.) As an aside, empty lots are always harder to oppose for re-development than an existing structure since they don't convey the kind of emotional response that a site with a building does.

For a number of reasons, I have not been tremendously 'excited' about this project and by excited I mean angst-ridden about the future of Wortley Village. For quite some time I've been of a view that no one is on this earth long enough to really be overly concerned about the size, shape and colour of a building, so long as it embodies a sustainable approach to development. In other words, be as concerned as hell about plowing under arable farm land but worry not about those buildings that are built within existing neighbourhoods.

Buildings stand for a long time. Some in our City are 200 years old. In Europe there are 1000-year old Cathedrals. We hope that buildings will last generations spanning our lives on this mortal coil. Contrarily, development is actually a gradual and fairly slow process. The neighbourhood I live in, Westmount, has not changed much if at all since it was built in the 60's and 70's. The potential to intensify the residential and mixed-uses in this area is fraught with difficulties.

At the same time, along Wonderland, new Big Box Stores have killed the Mall that was built when the neighbourhood I live in was built, depreciating the value of the surrounding neighbourhoods by decreasing the amount of amenities within a walkable distance.

So if I don't get up-in-arms about 4-storeys (where 3 and 1/2 is permitted as-of-right) requiring minor variances from the Zoning By-law, I hope you'll understand. Architectural style and building materials, in a hodgepodge neighbourhood with inconsistent standards and patterns of development is a matter of taste that I am not prepared to debate or get worked up about. No neighbour of that building would subject their own property to the whims of neighbourhood taste either.

One thing has become clear of late. We must intensify existing neighbourhoods and make better use of existing infrastructure. By those standards, a 4-storey building painted Hot Pink with big juicy lips on its cornices would be entirely acceptable.

Call me when someone proposes turning more green-space and/or farmland into a house-farm.

Comparing London and Toronto

2010-02-17T19:43:00.000-08:00

Here is an example of how Toronto serves its public in a slightly better fashion. Below is a link to the Agenda for the February 1st meeting of the Executive Committee. Within that document you will find hyperlinks to the various reports - in clear typeset.

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/ex/agendas/2010-02-01-ex40-ar.htm

Below is a link to the webpage where a London City Council Agenda is posted. You must download the pdf to see an unreadable document.

http://london.ca/d.aspx?s=/meetings/Council%20Agendas/2009-12-14%20Agenda/MeetingPackages.htm

This is the first thing that should be addressed to ensure an open and transparent government.

Toronto takes a lot of heat for having an expensive local government. But these are the small things that make it so.

Planning in London - Introduction

2010-02-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

I’m going to attempt to write a bit of a primer and to keep personal views and biases to a minimum in this series of blogs outlining Urban Planning. Entire Masters theses have been written on tiny aspects of Urban Planning and that’s not appropriate or easy for a Blog format. Urban Planning includes the analysis of statistical data, private property rights and law as well as concepts of urban design and architecture.

To make this all a bit more readable and so that I can publish this within a reasonable time-frame while also attending to other important matters, I’ve decided this will be a 4-part series (at least, that number may grow based on thought, writing and responses.)

1. The basics of Planning in Ontario
2. Communication Breakdown – London
3. The Wortley proposal in context
4. Planning philosophy and reform

Urban Planning in Ontario is regulated by a number of Provincial Acts, Court decisions and local regulation. Furthermore, municipalities are limited in their ability to control local decision making by the Ontario Municipal Board. Property development is at the core of our rights and liberties and is a crucial element of a capitalist system. Private property rights can be tempered but we must also ensure that laws are applied equally and consistently with a somewhat scientific approach. Planning decisions and policies must be based in rational thought rather than emotion.

Taste is certainly no small part of the issue either. Architecture, as with any creative endeavour is subject to differences of opinion and taste. Certain building designs, styles, materials and colours may please some while highly offending others. The Use of a property may make immense sense to some while seeming to be entirely irrational to others.

Development is also a major employer in any advanced, growing economy. Development is both an indicator and a function of economic growth. Development can have massive impacts on a local economy – too little supply of new housing has an impact on values and rents. Development is also impacted by land values (and development can impact land values) and the economic health is both affected by and effects the local economy. I’m not trying to be difficult here; The chicken-egg question of development remains whether tall buildings increase land values or whether increased land values cause tall buildings.

We are a capitalist economy. We generally believe in rewards for those who take risk and a profit margin for those who engage in business. Our pension plans are invested in development. The greatest single purchase most people make is their home. We have an interest in creating an ownership society where people see the value of their investments increase rather than paying rent forever. All of these factors affect how we see development in our communities. Economics is also a study in contradictions and counter-intuitive thought. Rent controls can limit investment in the creation of new rental units and the improvement of existing units. Similarly, overly restrictive growth and zoning policies can limit the supply of new housing.

All this is to say that governments constantly struggle with how to respect local sentiment while allowing for reasonable, responsible and measured growth.

I will try to address all of these issues as well as to explain the facts (as I know them) to examine possible problems with the existing system both in Ontario and in London specifically and to propose any solutions that might create a ‘better’ system for Urban Planning in Ontario and London. Keep in mind there is about 150 years of legal precedent and principles, countless OMB decisions and local issues of growth as well as the economic realities of property development that cannot be simply summarized for easy consumption.

I will do my best.

The Basics of Planning

This blog will describe the existing legal and regulatory framework. How are Zoning By-laws established? What is a Committee of Adjustment and how are Minor Variances determined? How many days does a municipality have to consider an application for development approval?

Communication breakdown

This will require some work to assess how London’s development process works. I am most familiar with Toronto’s system and I’m not sure that London invests the same amount and I know full well that the political culture at London City Hall is very different from Toronto’s.

The Wortley proposal in context

A discussion with a friend from Toronto who has a great degree of experience in dealing with planning issues revealed a funny point of agreement; “I’d fall on my knees and thank the heavens if a 4-storey proposal came forward.” While Toronto is about 9 times larger than London and I have no desire to transplant Toronto development to London, I do think a 4-storey development is never something to get entirely excited about, particularly in a City with such an unsustainable pattern of growth as London’s. Old South is an interesting study. One cannot simply cite the buildings they like as the character of a neighbourhood without acknowledging the ones they aren’t crazy about as being part of that same character. How does this proposal fit and not fit and what is the legal framework, as described above. I’ll try not to make judgments about the good or bad nature of the development though as you have just read, I’m fairly non-fussed about the proposal.

Improvements

Given all the above, what does London need to better process planning applications. Some of the ideas will involve costs and I won’t provide such information here as it will have little hard evidence to prove or disprove costs. Some may be impossible to achieve and some may require an entire overhaul of the political culture at City Hall. But I’ll do my best.

I welcome comments about all of my blogs but particularly about this one. I’ll try to address questions in future blogs on the topic and as always, I’ll publish the links on Facebook and Twitter. Feel free even to make suggestions as to how to improve the blog itself. Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy, learn and discuss!

Too many topics, not enough writing

2010-02-09T12:12:00.000-08:00

I’ve got at least 4 blog posts, some with multiple facets on the go now and haven’t been able to coherently finish any of them. Sometimes events eclipse my ability to write. I also have multiple blogs so perhaps I should change that but I don't want to over-blog either. Hmmm.

Here’s a list of (hopefully) soon to be posted blogs:

1. Urban Planning in London
a. Basics of The Ontario Process
b. Communication Breakdown
c. The Wortley proposal specifically

2. Giambrone’s personal troubles

3. Should I stay or Should I go (thoughts on the future)

4. JP Personal Wellness – update on how I’m feeling/coping

Rather than belabour this post, I’m just sticking it up to whet your appetite. I’ll get going on the others after posting this. Suffice it to say, a certain couple of comments on the London Free Press’s website have me once again questioning what my life’s purpose is. I could stay in London and battle what seems sometimes to be an overwhelming opposition to sensible growth and urban planning or I could move back to Toronto where more people seem to agree with my worldview, the dating pool is significantly larger and (condition of my move) a job in Ontario Politics would await.

Today an old, younger friend retorted on Twitter that he thought unemployment and sedintarism (new word) had ruined my sense of humour – because I objected to his comment that the Giambrone affair was almost as embarrassing as his campaign video. A – Affairs are devastating for all involved and not a matter that I think should be joked about. B. I liked the video C. There’s something very misogynist in stating that a campaign video could in any way be more embarrassing or hurtful than an affair. I’ll forgive the kid for both comments and chalk it up to his being in his early 20’s. I can’t forgive the smugness of his retort.

Okay. Off to do some writing and finish off at least one more blog post. The Planning stuff is enjoyable for me but also requires a deep amount of thought. Now if only someone would pay me for this bottomless font of knowledge and talent! (London Free Press, I’m looking at you!)

Career Decisions and Inspiring Developments

2010-02-04T20:21:00.000-08:00

A couple of recent events have me thinking again about remaining in London rather than looking for work back in Toronto. To be a little more accurate, I was verbally offered a job by a friend and now that he's won the by-election in Toronto Center there's a stronger chance of that job becoming a reality. However, 6 weeks after speaking with this person, I'm not sure going back to Toronto is the right choice for me.

I've also applied for a job at a small web development firm who do some great work both for their customers as well as the community partners they assist as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility plan. And there are other self-generated possibilities to find happiness, challenge and reward as well.

I have a world of debt right now. Its a fairly daunting thing. London makes sense in this regard because, a) living is cheaper here and b) lots of free meals with the folks c) incomes aren't that much higher in Toronto relative to the cost of living and d) I really can't afford the amenities that Toronto offers anyway. I'd rather drive 2 hours to the rare concert I can't afford to go to if I live in Toronto.

That said, its all kind of abstract and academic if I can't find work or figure out how to earn a living in London. There are simply more jobs in Toronto for my background in politics and then government-focused business development. But I've also come to the conclusion that while I love politics, I don't enjoy Party politics and may indeed lack the party loyalty (blind allegiance) to work in that world.

So what to do?

The events I referred to above were TVO's Agenda Camp (which I didn't actually attend but watched on Twitter and online) and Wednesday night's Geek Dinner. I love my hometown for a variety of reasons but I make no bones about my frustrations with London Ontario. This is a white bread community.

But I wonder what I can do to try and change London. London is not poised well for the challenges presented by a post-Carbon economy. From its sprawling subdivisions to a lack of Creative Economy jobs and the sort of Big Box suburban commercial development that makes an Urbanist want to commit suicide, this City is in trouble the minute we hit the back end of Peak Oil.

So it is with those things in mind that I ask: How can I help? How do we get Londoners more engaged in their City? Londoners are active in community organizations but few of these present the opportunity to bring together people of diverse interests and lifestyles - its mostly people who sing from the same hymn book.

London is surely not alone in being a suburban City. How can we learn to grow inwardly and exploit the resources and infrastructure we already have? How do we unite people and interests and build the capacity of our City - socially, economically, culturally?

I take much of my inspiration from authors/economists like Jane Jacobs and Richard Florida. Community is more than a collection of homes and employment opportunities. It is diversity and tolerance and people with different ideas clashing and communicating to grow.

I hope you'll reach out. If there are community leaders I should speak to or you know, let me know. I want/need to become more active. Ideally, this leads to some kind of paying work too!

An Open Letter to London Ont'ers re Density and Taxes

2009-11-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

Dear London,

This I think is part 1 in an ongoing series of posts/articles about London Ontario and its development patterns, public spaces and the community in general. Perhaps this will grow into a more significant undertaking but that has more to do with my own personal search for meaningful employment (perhaps self-employment.)

Love sometimes means being tough. It means looking at truths square in the face and confronting them. It means telling it like it is and letting the consequences fall as they will.

I love my hometown. When I grew up, I remember watching the population gradually climb through the 200,000-300,000 plus mark. I left when I was 27, freshly graduated from Western and ready to tackle Toronto. I returned almost exactly a decade after I left it at the age of 37 - 2 weeks shy of a 10-year love affair with that big "Center of the Universe", Toronto. My time in Toronto included a 7 year stint working for a City Councillor (and being paid more than any sitting member of London City Council I might add.)

I love being back here save for one big fat factor (well, maybe 3.) The big fat factor is that I currently reside in Westmount. About a block away from Southdale Road and 5 away from Wonderland near Farnham Road. When I say blocks, I mean typical city blocks, not sets of traffic lights which in this case would be 1.

Moving from Toronto's west-end, High Park area has made for a significant cultural change. But its also made me quite angry about the way this City has been managed. More specifically, I'm angry at the way London has grown and continues to grow in the face of global trends.

Its often been said that cities grow organically. That is to say that they are naturally occurring phenomena and that density occurs quite naturally over time. However, the growth of the post-war period has been skewed by inexpensive gas, a change in farming techniques and food production and of course through globalization. Recently traditional types of employment, from manufacturing to book-selling to service jobs, such as those in banks have been moved around the globe, out-sourced or made redundant through technology.

A bigger, more potentially dangerous trend to our way of life comes from the loss of cheap, abundant non-renewable energy sources and our growing awareness to its damaging effects. We've become obese, in some cases isolated and in short, the 'Canadian dream' is not turning out the way many had hoped. Our taxes are high, our public debt is growing and our infrastructure is crumbling. In the face of these pressing problems we can chose two courses. We can continue to grow as we have or, we can make a decision to be smart about the way we use resources. From gas to water, from sidewalks to land, the choice is ours to continue to be wasters, the second largest consumers of energy in the world, and threaten our own sustainability, or we can learn from mistakes of the past and vow to change them through vision and action.

Our city covers an immense amount of Land. Threatened by greedy development practices and pro-development review, our city leaders have chosen in the past to gobble up surrounding communities through annexation. This practice, while topping-up current revenues through development charges, has created a vast city with very low densities.

It doesn't take a Jane Jacobs to understand the consequences of our growth patterns. At the same time as we've grown out, we've lost chances to increase the value of inner-City property and already-developed land. We now see city planners scrambling to intensify downtown through massive tower developments, suitable in a city like Toronto. This all-at-once development style threatens to create its own new problems.

The problems associated with London's post-war development patterns are apparent all over and not just in the residential sector of development. Residential sprawl has gone hand-in-hand with commercial sprawl, with a majority of London's arterial roads lined with low density housing and commercial development. In many cases, Londoners have little choice but to use their cars. However, the choices we make, about shopping, about where we new businesses are located, about the people we elect are everyone's responsibility; we can all make a difference as individuals.

Wharnecliffe and Wellington Roads in the south end are prime examples of how problematic poor development can be. The most obvious sign to us should be the number of curb-cuts providing access from properties fronting on these roads. This causes the need for further widening where possible or the need to simply learn how to live with traffic tie-ups and the resultant smog.

These types of low-density development, particularly on major arterial roads create the need for increased subsidies for public transit and worse, make us all car dependent. Low density has lead to unsafe neighbourhoods, including the downtown area and in the suburbs. News of muggings,'jumpings' and fights seem to be frequent leading City Council to consider closing public walkways in some cases or to install more cameras.

Another prime example of the unseen cost of sprawl is the vacant strip-plazas and malls, like Westmount which now are being re-purposed or changed to be more like their 'power' or 'smart' center cousins. If ever there were a reason for a law against misleading commercial nomenclature, its the 'smart center', possibly the dumbest style of commercial design we've yet to come up with.

But the big problems are right in front of your eyes anytime you get a property tax or water bill in your mailbox. Often people will complain about incompetence at City Hall without taking a look at where they live, how the shop, the problems we face as a city and the level of service we desire and need. We seem not to want to ask ourselves the tough questions, like 'how did we get here' or 'why are there problems when my taxes are as high as a Toronto homeowners on way less assessment?"

London's population density is somewhere in the low-to-mid 800's/km sq. Toronto's is about 5 times that number, just under 4,000 people per square kilometre. While in some instances, the number and cost of services will increase with density, the vast majority of a City's costs are related to hard infrastructure like roads and sidewalks, water and sewers, and costs that can increase by geography such as policing, garbage and fire services.

In the municipal context, sustainability is not just about the environment, though it's a nice and beneficial side-effect. In this context, it's about social, economic and fiscal responsibility and stewardship.

Put it in your own personal context to get a simpler understanding; If you own a home and can't afford to heat it, would you then build an addition to it?

So...who's with me to start making a more sustainable city by increasing the amount of information and providing voters, residents and consumers with the power of ideas.

The Glut of Self-Help profits, er prophets.

2009-11-23T08:31:00.000-08:00

It’s always occurred to me that $30.00 books that tell you how to save money probably should begin with “Lesson 1: Don’t buy $30.00 books that tell you how to save money.”

Similarly with ‘self-help’ books, life coaches and many of the one-line online gurus who spout off their quote of the day. I wonder sometimes what kind of hardships someone with a Masters and PHD has ever had to endure. That’s not to bemoan my own situation too much. No one likes self-pity, but there appears to be a new industry of people who just earn money off of relaying tidbits that can be found, rather, should be found in their original source materials.

A recent Twitter post sums it up: “Life attracts Life.” What the hell does that even mean? Even though it’s written out to be read, the Tao Te Ching must be lived, it cannot really be taught. So do these people who quote Lao Tzu even understand the Tao? One famed Buddhist monk gave a lesson of the path to enlightenment by silently holding up a Lotus Leaf. Somehow one-liners fail to reflect this greater lesson: “The way to enlightenment is to watch my podcast.”

I find many of these self-helpers are probably helping themselves, to your money and time, as much as anything. But there’s something tawdry and seemingly somewhat fraudulent by peddling and re-packaging age-old wisdom in 140-character Tweets. Can you imagine Plato’s Republic written 140 characters at a time? Or read that way?

If I were to offer help to someone I’d honestly have to say that life is a process of learning. Just like working out, the failures, pushing oneself to the stressful results of testing one’s boundaries, tearing at the emotional muscles, is what gives way to true growth. I doubt that simply offering simple rubrics about life force, energy or ‘god’ (whatever that means to you), without truly understanding the underlying emotional pain that someone has felt can actually cut to the quick of solving someone’s troubles. So it’s either, go into therapy and counseling or engage yourself in a deeper search for meaning.

Perhaps I’m wrong. Perhaps there are Shamans walking amongst us? However, a quick review of LinkedIn shows a troubling number of ‘Life Coaches.’ There were never that many wizards in ancient societies. Perhaps that too indicates the source of some of my dilemma with today’s self-help industry. Going back to my opening statement, if I could offer one piece of advice to anyone seeking solutions to life’s questions it would be that there are no short-cuts. You have to read and think to grow. Don’t pay me. Spend money on a few good books that will lead you to the true great works of literature that others prostitute under their own Twitter identity. Better yet, take them out from the Library.

People have suggested and I’ve briefly considered this line of work. What else is an Arts major to do in these trying economic times where communications and government relations jobs, particularly in a small community like London with seemingly little interest in civic discourse? Helping others seems easy enough – particularly with some of the traumas and issues I’ve dealt with in my 38 years. That being said I’m no Plato. Or Freud. Or Jung. And those three really didn’t earn a living off anyone else’s thoughts repackaged as their own. Well, except for Plato but he was Socrates’ student so you get my drift.

Symbolic of my questioning of the field of life coaching, I recently started a blog about personal wellness. Unlike my political and urban-development focused blogs, this one was an attempt to create a living journal of my journey back to peak health. Perhaps it’s simply a symptom of my late 30’s career confusion that I haven’t posted anything to it very recently.

In the words of Neil Postman, celebrated media critic and writer, we are living in a time of information glut. Our culture is overwhelmed with information and yes there are people who can benefit from a little self-help without deeper analysis or thought. However, it seems to me from the reading I’ve been doing most lately, that bigger and more is not the solution to the issues that so many people face today. People are already overwhelmed. How long have there been “Thought of the Day” desk calendars. Twitter has made it "The Thought of the Half-Hour". The blogger's need to attract traffic makes it overwhelming.

Today’s Machiavellian Tweet: “Keep your enemies close and your Twitter followers closer.”

This all leads me to the thoughts I’ve been struggling with recently about how to earn a living and why I am on this earth. How does one make one’s way as a bit of a writer, critical thinker, contrarian and somewhat philosophical type? Is there a need for another amateur blogger who seeks incessant ‘traffic’ to generate money for large corporations that advertise online? I’ve thus far resisted ‘monetizing’ my blogs and I really would like to keep it that way but I guess that’s just a form of pious self-righteousness.

However, it’s also a comment that there is already too much advertising and part of my life’s desire is to reduce the commoditization of the world. We’re inundated in every part of our lives with ads, product placements and lifestyle-oriented sales pitches. The envy industry is everywhere, hoping we’ll find that the answers to life’s shortcomings are to be found in the next purchase. (and thanks to Mark Kingwell for pointing that out.)

Oh London. What do you think that button that says 'Reply' means anway?

2009-11-12T12:09:00.000-08:00

A Contrarian by nature

I went to Western in the 90’s. I say 90’s because my career started in 91 and ended in 98. That’s a total of 6 years living around the world of Western students. I took the years between 93 and 96 off and worked in kitchens, partied a lot but also had a radio show at CHRW.

I enjoyed my time at Western if for no other reason it concreted my feelings about revolution and well, not quite fitting in. A friend once said she thought I was aloof while I was there. That’s probably accurate. In that instance it may have had to do with the fact that I thought she was quite attractive but had a girlfriend at the time. My aloofness at Western had more to do with my political views. Western’s always been a school of the privileged and that was particularly true in the 90’s.

I’ve never been poor (until now) but I’ve also had to work for every penny I’ve ever had. At the same time, my brain seems to not have an ability to turn off and work for means that I don’t totally agree with. I worked for Greenpeace for a time for instance. I enjoyed challenging people’s ideas and assumptions. Still do. I’m a contrarian. This hasn’t always made life easy – quite the opposite in fact.

For a time, I think I packed up my views about social justice. I worked for the richest of the rich in Canada, protecting their property values from the encroachment of development that in many cases would serve the larger purpose of adding to the supply of housing. Forest Hill, Lawrence Park and other wealthy neighbourhoods in Toronto were home to the constituents that I served. I recall a meeting at the foot of Avenue Road with residents opposed to a home for persons with depression and other psychiatric needs – not violent people by any means. In fact the President of the Ratepayer’s Association had a son who used the services of the group trying to establish the home.

While I enjoyed the work, former colleagues will relay the stories of me challenging, nay, shouting at constituents on the other end of the phone, testing their positions instead of being a good boy and simply agreeing with whatever heinous statement the person was making. I can’t say I slept well in those years – not that I sleep well now.

So that is what I deal with. I could probably go and get a job at any old place but there are a number of reasons I find this difficult. One – I’m not a fan of impersonal Chain stores that I have now begun to believe harm our culture, our City, our environment more than they help. Two – I feel as though I have a greater contribution to make than any old minimum wage job can enable. Perhaps this is some illusion or narcissistic view but I’ve had some significant mentors in the past who’ve praised my intelligence and need for a challenge. I’ve also met with a US Secretary of Transportation, a Washington State Governor and various other high-ranking officials and know that I am capable and intelligent.

Three – Many jobs serve purposes that I don’t agree with or don’t feel comfortable promoting. A luxury perhaps and I should keep this in mind when I’m complaining about not being employed or having money.

I’m committed to staying in London. I love my hometown. I’ve met a number of tremendously interesting and active people here already and look forward to making more new friends. It’s difficult though. The number of cool, empowering employment opportunities is definitely limited. I have some ideas for things I’d like to do but they require an entrepreneurial spirit that I admittedly sometimes lack. I don’t think its laziness. It might surprise some people but it’s mostly an issue of self-confidence.

So where does that leave me? Perhaps at this point I’m just a complainer, if I’m not an activist? If I could identify some way to ensure that I’ll eventually be able to pay bills – I don’t need a lot of stuff but a place of my own and food on the table would be great, then I’d be happy. I’m impatient. I’ve spent so long thinking and the best ideas I can come up with are related to doing what I love – raising awareness, raising consciousness and pointing out those things in our society that I, and many others, take issue with.

How do we fund that? London certainly has the population to support civic action. Does it have the willingness though? What is the vehicle in which to conduct this sort of activity? I’m certainly meeting lots of like-minded people. People who like me, don’t fit into any simple box – round pegs for square holes I suppose. Can we form some sort of collective? A non-profit. I like the idea of creating a BALLE network here in London. I’m stuck on the Business Plan though.

I’m also frustrated by what I’ve learned is a London communication style. Whether its’ a potential employer, an old friend or a potential lover, people here don’t answer e-mails it seems. They’ll get around to it when it suits them. WTF? Is it just me? Is it a Toronto thing to, at the very least, acknowledge receipt of an e-mail and say, I’ll get back to you when I’ve had some time to think? Do people in this City not really understand the purposes of social networking? Computers? E-mail? If I see another Private Facebook profile, it might make me snap!

I’ve wandered. That’s not unusual for me. I guess I need to light a firecracker; under my own butt and under the butts (and buts) of Londoners? Who’s with me?

Or do I just go back to Western and learn more, take out massive loans and figure out how to raise awareness through academic papers?

Another New idea

2009-11-12T03:38:00.000-08:00

Everything happens for a reason, right?

People keep telling me this but its often hard to believe it, particularly when you've endured a number of months of unemployment. However, last night's Beers with Jas (perhaps the title of an ongoing discussion) has given me faith once again in the marvels of our universe.

When I was 17, it was a very good year, but alas, that's a digression. Ahem, when I was 17, I had the good fortune to indicate positively in response to my Accounting Teacher's question: 'Who likes Baseball' and again to the question: 'who is looking for a part-time job this summer?' Turns out old Ken Hernimen knew Bob Eamon who would be leading the Ticket-selling efforts for the start-up Double A Eastern League Baseball Team, The London Tigers. Providence was smiling.

For the next 4 years, I would work for the London Tigers as a Ticket Seller and Parking Attendant at London's Labatt Park. Its how I met my ex-wife and while that didn't turn out so well (though there are many good memories too) it seems that fateful summer love may lead to something new and much greater.

While out with Jas, it came to mention that Jim Chapman, host of AM980's Jim Chapman News Hour, recently discussed his interest in hiring someone, or creating some entity that would provide Londoners with information about the activities at London City Hall. It's an idea I've had from time-to-time since returning to London in August.

For those of you unfamiliar with London History and currently scratching your head wondering how these two seemingly random events connect...Jim Chapman was also the bane of my existence for a number of years - but in a very jovial and positive way. Jim wrote a song that for years played on a constant loop in my brain. If you haven't already guessed, Jim wrote the famous lines..."Its the crack of the bat, the smack of the glove, the sounds of the game that everyone loves, it's London Tiger Baseball! Tear 'em up Tigers, Let's Go!"

21 years after that fateful summer, I am back in my hometown, with a head full of knowledge about City government, ideas about the causes of London's ills and ways to solve them. I've been wondering recently how to get Londoners informed about what is going on at City Hall.

For instance, my parents consistently wonder how Toronto taxpayers can complain when their City taxes are equivalent to London's and yet enjoy a multitude of services. This of course at the same time as all properties are taxed based on their Current Value Assessment. This means a house worth 300,000 in Toronto pays the same dollar in taxes as a 150,000 home in London.

The answer of course is obvious to anyone with a knowledge of Property Taxes and Urban Economics. The answer lies in the question of population density. Toronto packs 'em in. This is why Toronto residents can get an answer from their Councillor who represents a similar number of residents as a London Councillor while having a staff of 3 to assist her. The question is not "why are Toronto's taxes the same" but rather "Why are London's taxes so high relative to the services provided?" Simply put, urban sprawl costs more to service and London has urban sprawl like Horton's has donuts!

This is but one of the areas that I wish to educate Londoners about. We can choose to all live on cul-de-sacs in sprawling subdivisions but we have to understand the trade-offs of inefficient services, expensive taxes, poor air quality, poor transit, low quality jobs in car-oriented business places, un-walkable neighbourhoods, traffic gridlock, etc.. These problems only get worse as infrastructure ages without the density to pay for its replacement.

So...how do we get Londoners to care? How do we get behind the garage and into the living rooms? Civic Engagement. We can fight for a City that works or we can sit back and allow developers to continue to build highly profitable subdivisions further from the center of town, while 'brownfield' lots get skipped over. Or we can challenge our City's Mothers and Fathers to think of a post-carbon (its coming) future where driving is the last choice, not the first. We can redevelop existing lands within the City's boundaries while preserving valuable green space on the edge of town from being paved over. We can stop forcing deer to commit hari-kari off bridges in the Northwest end of town. Soon enough, the high costs of our wasteful energy use of the past 30 years will catch up, as resources are depleted and those green areas will prove valuable for small-scale farming and recreation.

There are, I'm sure, great things at work, fantastic ideas about London's future that we cannot even explore due to the costs of servicing our sprawling City. The deep thinkers, the Richard Floridas and Jane Jacobs of the world know that Cities are the future and that the successful ones are those that enable arts, culture, sport and creativity.

Its time to ask Londoners to think more deeply about how we grow. But they can only be expected to think wisely if they have the information necessary to do so. Current news media does a poor job of informing Londoners about their civic government. The London Free Press is run out of Toronto and carries little deep coverage of London City Hall. A Channel News, is run, more or less, out of Toronto and carries little deep coverage about London City Hall.

So...how do we grow City Think London. Jim? If you've got the funding, I've got the ideas.

We start with Civic Engagement 101. We cover City meetings of all kinds. We profile the existing Councillors. We profile City bureaucrats and let Londoners know who they are. We delve deeply into the issues about taxation and growth. We look at who funds election campaigns. We seriously look at the amount politicians are paid compared to what is asked of them, we ask how much they have at hand for staffing and serving constituents. And we track the votes and report them. We create transparency and accountability of politicians, developers and residents.

And we hold our own meetings. We engage the residents of this City by inviting guest lecturers to meetings that get us to think more deeply about the kinds of communities we'd like to live in. The London Urban Institute might be a name we use for that work.

So...Jim. I hope you'll remember me, 21 years after the year we met, in the Press Box above Labatt Park, that field of dreams that represented my hopes for a better future. And I hope, like me, you see Providence smiling as the sun rises on this day after Remembrance Day. Let's make London an engaged City.

Determined to London

2009-11-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

Odd title I know. However, this signals a new intention to be absolutely 100 percent satisfied and happy with my decision to relocate my life back to London Ontario and to make the most of my move and to help, if possible, better develop the most of my chosen City.

As I've previously written, I was born and raised here in London. My parents came here from England in the mid-60's. I was born in '71. We lived in Berkshire Village from the time I was born until I was 13, when we moved to Rington Crescent which sits delightfully under the glowing cross of the London Gospel Temple on Commissioners road west of Wharnecliffe. I attended Woodland Heights, one of 6 students to go all the way from K-8 at that school. I then went to Westminster, home of the Wildcats and one of the best (at the time) hockey schools in London - not a great esteem builder for someone who never played hockey and preferred basketball, but oh well, we won City Champs the year I was in Grade 13 (the first time.)

When I was 27, I got married and moved to Toronto. I was just happy to be with my ex-wife and to follow her there. It was good for me, though perhaps not a path I would have chosen for myself. Who knows?

I loved my life at Western. That's perhaps why I took two years off in the midst, while remaining a dedicated volunteer at the Campus Radio Station CHRW. I quite enjoyed the London music/punk/skate scene even if I was only an observer and commentator rather than a full-fledged participant (since I have the balance of, well, something with no balance.)

I took political science which has always been a natural interest of mine and something I've taken to quite intuitively. I think I either have a pretty large chip on my shoulder, a very sensitive bullshit detector and sense of fairness or a combination of all three. I am interested in economics and politics and where the two collide. My maternal grandfather probably has something to do with this inclination. He was a letter-writer and rabble-rouser, a mechanical engineer who joined the Union while at his firm in England (Douty-Rotol, Division of Rolls Royce and manufacturer of Spitfire Engines!) I recall attending NDP functions when I was young, seeing Bob Rae play piano at the Western Fairgrounds and campaigning door-to-door for David Winninger's election.

In High School I rather enjoyed the study of Social Sciences and the Arts (as well as the informal unmarked study of the rise of Nike, Air Jordans and girl-watching/swooning/crushing - if you were in High School with me, I no doubt had a crush on you for at least a week.) I shunned the sciences and maths even though I excelled in Accounting and kept the books for my Father's business. The life of an accountant didn't appeal to me though. Debits, Credits and depreciating Assets just didn't set my heart aflutter.

I'm also not a politician. Many have asked if I would run for office to which I normally reply "What kind of an asshole do you take me for?" While that is glib, it does tell you that I have no desire to seek the approval of people I don't know and am a bit too honest in saying that I don't have all the answers. I think someone who pretends to have all the answers, or even the lion's share of them, holds a lack of understanding about the study of politics, economics and law. There cannot by nature be absolutes. And absolutes are unfortunately, what most voters look for today. Nothing is worse than the flip-flopper, even if that's what is required most often to find pragmatic solutions.

I also have become quite agnostic and think that most people engaged in a deeper study of politics and economics, who puts thought rather than ego into the study, cannot help but become this way. Just like the study of religion, hence the use of the term agnostic, one can never know the answers to the big questions in absolute. For instance, Is Cuban communism bad? While one might rebuke the lack of freedom one might also wonder how successful any economy might be that relies solely on sugar cane, cigars and tourism. Does Honduras have universal Health Care?

And so, my wandering continues but I am thrilled to be able to do it. It is a luxury of our economy that today I can sit in bed while my mother goes to the hospital (with dad) for her meetings with Oncologists and I remain, unemployed. I am blessed indeed, even if I don't have a 'job' - though perhaps I'm just not meant to be a worker in the sense that today's global economy might require me to be. Things are changing in our world. Perhaps 30 years ago I would have chosen to pursue the path of journalism, but that world is shrinking and changing, the revenue model of the big paper broken.

So that is why I am simply determined to London. Maybe I'll go back to School and seek massive debt to enable that in hopes that some truer revenue model magically appears on the other side of more serious study than my 3 hazy years at the ages of 21-27. I can say, my last sets of marks were markedly better than my first sets, prior to my time off. Now with maturity, life experience and a host more knowledge and determination, enjoyment of reading to a greater degree, it might be quite enjoyable to delve deeper questions on my quest to be published.

I will gradually become more involved in the local political scene. I am looking forward to attending some up-coming events and public consultations. London has too much at stake to allow the dim-witted City Hall types to simply keep this car on cruise control. There are some who seem to get the challenges we face - the Killer B's as they're called and some of the City's staff. But it seems to me this town needs some serious questions answered.

Why are Big Boxes, Power Centers and House Farms being built on the edge of town while there's an apparent need to create good local employment and to be more inclusive to newcomers. Is London bound and determined to be a City of haves and have-nots, of a monoculture and lack of a creative economy? We shall see. These are the questions that interest me. How does public transit work in a City where apartment buildings are located in the middle of farmer's fields instead of on the edge of major roads, close to the public transit it uses?

One idea I am batting around at the moment is whether or not my next path lies in the development of a group that supports London-owned, independent business. Known as a BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) such an endeavour would be a non-profit organization aimed at promoting all things local, from arts to small business to other non-profits. Think Local campaigns are being waged as part of the growing resistance to what many people see as the unfair tipping of scales towards the few ultra-rich globalizing forces. So far the response from those I've met in local business has been luke-warm, leading me to wonder if the Londonness of London is too much to overcome.

Perhaps 11 percent unemployment isn't a loud enough siren for people to understand that as it currently stands, our systems of Finance and local Economic Development, particularly in a City like London, are broken. Perhaps people want a beggar-thy-neighbour local economy where homeless people stand with cardboard signs begging for spare change? I doubt it and the significant contributions to local charities tells me that's not the case. Perhaps people aren't connecting the dots - between the house farms, the Mega-Stores and the high unemployment and working-poor? Guess I'll have to ask first to find out.

One thing I'm sure of. When the Mayor of London says "We need to do more to attract business to London" people should be very worried, grab their wallets and look out for new billboards and ribbon cuttings. This kind of short-sighted, jobs at any cost mentality has caused us to find ourselves where we currently are - talent leaves town, local farms sell to developers, people sit in their TV rooms wondering why crime is growing and Transit fares and Property Taxes are increasing.

Sounds like a challenge for a contrarian!

Back to life

2009-11-10T09:15:00.000-08:00

It's time to get this blog going again. For those who don't know me, I am either an interesting person with crazy ideas or a crazy person with interesting ideas. I'm indecisive but I'm Libran so I'm okay with that. I'm a happy angry young man. One person said of me that I was full of opinion but lacked knowledge, though I think that's just fine too since it is the person who admits he doesn't know that truly knows.

My background.... born and raised in London Ontario. From Westminster I went to the University of Western Ontario. I took two years off in the midst of my degree, spent a lot of time working late nights in restaurants cooking short-order meals, then returned to University to complete my degree in Political Science. The 7-year 3 year degree. I studied politics due to my simple attraction to the field, not because I intended to ever run for office. I also figured it would develop my critical thinking skills and broaden my horizons; preparing me to work in nearly any field.

Soon after that, I got married to a girl I'd known since High School and dated on-and-off. My love for her was in retrospect, more like an addiction, covering up the pains caused by sibling abuse (not assigning blame, it was just boys being boys in the 70's) a dominant overbearing mother and a quiet father who acquiesced on most matters. I was a late bloomer - something very difficult for 13/14 year old boys is to be at the end of the line from 'smallest to tallest.' In the absence of strong male role models, I created troubles for myself that until later in life I did not fully understand the ramifications of. I still carry a lot of anger, self-doubt, low self esteem, etc., but I'm learning every day to appreciate that these events have created who I am and that in the end, I'm sure it will all be valuable. I'm probably the most sensitive, honest person you'll meet, even if at times my shell is hardened and my tongue biting.

I am, by nature, a contrarian. I resist. Until recently this caused me a great deal of anguish. However, having read numerous 'self-help' and spiritually enriching books, I have learned to accept what is and work to change it. You can watch that process unfold on the posts on www.jppersonalwellness.blogspot.com

I've had an interesting few years of self discovery, not all of which I have been comfortable about or at peace with. Working backwards, what brought me here today was a period of self-doubt, soul searching, couch riding, job searching, resume submitting that began in April after 2-job offers really didn't pan out. In March, I'd been offered a job as a Vice President Sales and Marketing with a Maryland firm who's technology senses bluetooth devices in passing vehicles to provide traffic flow information. Nerdy stuff.

Prior to that, I'd worked for a UK publisher that puts out Thinking Highways magazine - a periodical detailing the workings of gadgets related to Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and the public policy issues surrounding their deployment. This had come about as a result of my skills as a networker, my interests in transportation and my experience at Skymeter Corporation, a Toronto firm with a fascinating technology to charge vehicles for the roads they use, when they use them, thereby meting out road capacity in the fairest fashion possible.

Skymeter laid me off in September 2008, after about 20 months of sending me around North America to build their presence in the ITS world, to argue at industry conferences and Think Tanks for the rationalization of road payment systems and attempt to sell their wares to governments seeking to actually solve problems rather than place blame or make people feel badly about their limited transportation options. Guilt has never worked to get people to use public transit - they'd rather have their own music to listen to in a comfortable car if it's going to take forever to get anywhere anyway. Apparently we value money more than time.

I had started with Skymeter shortly after leaving the employ of Councillor Shelley Carroll in 2006 and after a lengthy discussion with a Toronto Law firm that had sought a lobbyist. These delays caused significant financial hardship due to the expensive lifestyle I 'enjoyed' in Toronto at that time. In retrospect, I might have given up the lease on My Nissan Altima a little sooner but hindsight as they say, is a jackasses game.

I split with my ex-wife in 2005 which was also around the time that I had moved from Councillor Michael Walker's office to Councillor Carroll's after a 6 year stint with Michael. I had a significant disagreement about the politicization of the issue of how the City of Toronto could best provide help in the relief of those who'd been faced with human tragedy in the Tsunami in South East Asia in Christmas 2004. Michael had been grooming me to run after he retired, though he ended up running again in 2006. I'd also passed up the opportunity to seek election with the support of various Ratepayer Associations against Anne Johnston in Eglinton Lawrence in the wake of the Minto Development at Yonge and Eglinton. All good things happen for a reason and I thank my lucky stars today for the decisions I've made in the past.

So...that is the story. Since April I have looked in vain for jobs, or rather for opportunities to build my career in a more fulfilling way. I suppose there are various reasons nothing has really worked out or that I sit here in my bed, at my parents house, avoiding the phone calls of collection agents seeking a pound of flesh. Those reasons have still not become clear to me but I am sure in good time, they will.

I wanted to quickly write a blog to hold a place and re-introduce myself or introduce myself whichever the case may be, to those I've not yet met or those that follow links from various pages that I have or will post my blog address on.

I will shortly post another blog about what my ideas are for the future. I live in the Now and believe that the universe will eventually provide me with answers to the deep questions I ask. Til then, my love and respect to you and thanks for reading and taking an interest!

London Lunacy part 3

2009-09-10T07:51:00.001-07:00

The long-winding, short-sighted new sidewalk or walking into a drainage ditch of death!

A few weeks ago I complained about the lack of a Sidewalk on the stretch of Southdale Road between Pine Valley Crescent (that is neither in a valley or a piney retreat) and Farnham Road/Bostwick Road in South London. Even though there's a townhouse complex on Dalhousie Drive, it seems the developers never foresaw a day when people would walk along Southdale Road. My walk to the newly built (3 yrs ago) nearby Power Center with Starbucks therefore involved a portion of soft shoulder or grass walking - fine at my age and fitness but not so much for the elderly.

As if my voice was some sort of Midas Touch of Infrastructure, within days of my Facebook post, a bobcat-like tractor appeared near Farnham Road. It began clearing sod and dirt for what I instantly knew was to be a sidewalk. Brilliant, I thought. People remarked that I was now to be known as 'Infrastructure Man' for my clearly magical powers!

As the process continued, I began to become a little concerned. Let me paint a picture of the pre-existing condition to set-up the story a little. Like many suburban roads, for most of the length of the stretch there were two lanes for vehicles and a soft shoulder of about 5 feet on both sides. On the south side there was a drainage ditch about 10 feet wide and a further 10-15 feet of grass and trees until the backyards of the townhomes and in some cases parking lots. Just east of the townhomes is a Right-of-Way, then about 500 feet of Hydro Property where a fairly large Transfer Station sits, setback as far as the row of townhouses. To the west of that, there sits a small commercial strip mall about 200 feet wide. It would appear that when all of these developments were approved, planners took care to ensure the setbacks were of a similar distance. This is mosy likely to accommodate future road-widening.

So, with that picture painted let me continue. It seemed to me that the logical route for a sidewalk would be behind the drainage ditch for the entire length. My walking route followed this straight path from the Right-of-Way (I used to walk through one of the townhouse parking lots) to the commercial strip. In fact, there was a fairly well-worn strip of grass where other pedestrians clearly had the same idea.

The sidewalk started out with this set-up for the entire length of the townhomes. For some reason though, it now takes a swing towards the roadway and replaces most of the soft-shoulder until it gets east of the Hyrdro Station, at wich point it cuts back away from the road, closer to the commercial strip plaza's parking lot and the small grassy knoll that sits in front of it.

So, while I was a bit disturbed by this, it only just occured to me last night that there might be some drainage issues. The sidewalk was sitting a good 4 inches above the soft shoulder for this stretch of road, but at least there was still some soft shoulder. Today, my worst fears were confirmed. (well, not really worst fears, I fear bear attacks slightly more than poorly planned infrastructure!) The builders of the sidewalk did not put-in any storm sewers or drainage, which I at first worried (and still do) would lead to ponding of water along the side of the road leading to the inevitable drive-by soaker.

However a drive-by soaker may now be the least of the pedestrian's worries. Today, I watched in horror as the rest of the soft shoulder was asphalted over and get this, raised to be at the same grade as the sidewalk that now runs right next to the 80K roadway!!! In other words, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, to prevent cars from driving onto the sidewalk for about 400 feet! In addition there is a turn-lane for the Home Depot and a very slight merge just to the west of Pine Valley Crescent!

I can see the close-calls and potential deaths already! No white line can prevent a car from driving over a significant portion of this sidewalk. Let me explain again - the road is on the exact same level as the sidewalk - it is an asphalted/concrete hard shoulder - not a sidewalk guarded by a 4 inch curb designed to kill a car's suspension! I cannot for the life of me imagine the stupidity behind this piece of road/sidewalk design! I'd rather have no sidewalk then a nice smooth transition into my legs!

The engineer who designed this should be fired, preferrably from a cannon!

The blatant disregard for pedestrian safety ought to be enough to strip him or her of any certification in his/her chosen field!

Not only is this situation unsafe and potentially deadly, its a short-sighted waste of taxpayer dollars. There is no reason this sidewalk needed to be built in this fashion save for current expediency. I can only guess that the City was unable to secure the portion of road allowance (see, makes little sense) in front of the Hydro Transfer Station. But a Road Allowance is exactly that! It allows for future Road Widenings. And sidewalks!

So, in the eventual case that this portion of Southdale is eidened from 2 to 4 lanes, this sidewalk will have to be torn up and relocated where it should have been built in the first instance - in line with the rest of the sidewalk on the outside of the drainage ditch!

Oh, and did I mention its all unlit?

So I'll feel relatively safe while the construction barrels are in place but guess when they go, I'll be back to using the well-worn path in the grass.

Meanwhile the City's part-time City Council wrestles with tough issues, like whether or not to hold public meetings to discuss the issue of putting content filters on Library Computers. Idiots and Asshats!

London Lunacy part 2

2009-09-09T11:32:00.001-07:00

Part 2 in my possibly ongoing series about the stupidity that exists in London's City Hall deals with Traffic. Specifically, Traffic Lights.

First, there does not appear to be any central control or coordination of traffic lights. For a City that thinks its big and will soon be quite large, this is a gaping hole in the City's Infrastructure.

Secondly, while I admittedly do a lot more walking, particularly at odd hours, like 3am, I'm appalled by London's system of traffic lights and a significant lack of sidewalks. How does any property get developed in this City ever without the landowner being required to put down sidewalks. If not the developer, then the City should use the powers of The Ontario Planning Act to at least get the funding for sidewalks. Perhaps this has already changed and I'm crying over spilled milk that's already been cleaned up but the absolute dearth of sidewalks in South London makes me suspicious.

Its not that there aren't patches of sidewalk - there are. Unfortunately, these patches are the orphans of infrastructure, connecting to nothing at all. Its bad enough that any neighbourhood constructed in the 1980s turns its back on main roads but when they're next to older sidewalks, its also sad. One wants to hug the sidewalk to make it feel less isolated from anyone who might be inclined to use it from time to time. Late at night the pedestrian plays a sort of blind Russian Roulette or walks head on into oncoming traffic, depending on the desire to cross an 80K road to determine whether there is actually a wide and tame enough soft shoulder to walk.

You might ask 'who walks on an 80K roadway?' I do. A couple of other intrepid souls do. But without sidewalks, what could one be expected to do? I'm fairly cavalier sometimes towards my own safety. But for the safety conscious, a soft shoulder just doesn't encourage use of the most natural form of transportation. Don't the local Starbucks and Horton's wish to attract more traffic, perhaps from the neighbourhoods adjacent to the Power Centre? What hopes do pedestrians have for a peaceful, safe co-existence with cars without a thin strip of concrete to walk on? How complex is this notion? I tend to assume London's transportation Planners skipped all classes related to sustainability, safety and pedestrian-related infrastructure.

Sidewalks in this setting also serve more than just pedestrian needs. The cyclist faces a choice of soft shoulder (fine on a Mountain Bike but who commutes on knobby tires?) or riding on the same 80K road as cars going upwards of 100K! So the notion that no one walking doesn't support the infrastructure is clearly faulty - both needs can be served with proper signage and respect between sidewalk users.

Anyone who has paid for gas in the last 2 years, save for the post-crash period when oil prices dipped drastically, knows that the new trans fat of driving is idling. While London's Council passes expensive-to-enforce By-Laws against this atrocious act, they neglect to act to reduce it themselves. As I also occasionally drive late at night, I wish I had a nickel for all the minutes I've been forced to wait up to 2 minutes for a four-way Light to change in my favour! There's an easy fix to this and in case London fears being compared to St. Thomas, a great example exists in Canada's second largest City, Vancouver. There, traffic planners realize that there's no point requiring drivers to wait while nothing passes them perpendicularly.

Anyone who's driven in Vancouver at night knows that a flashing yellow in one direction means caution while a flashing green in the other direction assigns right-of-way. Hell, anyone anywhere knows that's the rule when there's a power outage. In fact, a majority of London's traffic lights could be fully powered-down overnight. But if that's too scary for the control freaks that have diplomas in Traffic 'engineering', then I'd settle for the flashing option.

And this solution would address where cars and pedestrians meet (one hopes metaphorically only.) At some of the major crossroads, light cycles are barely long enough for 2 or 3 cars to get through. So the pedestrian has enough time to get halfway across one half of a 4 or 6 lane roadway. Now, I do recognize the unique nature of my late night walks. Not every insomniac or ass-itcher goes on 90 minute walks to look at infrastructure and new cars. But if the Traffic Planner is concerned enough about the safety of vehicles to leave lights on that often cycle for no one, then shouldn't they be as concerned about the occasional walker? There are no crosswalks. There are no 'helping hands' to get one safely from one side to the other. A wrong step or a drunken hike can result in certain death where the predominant road has a limit of 80k and a bend.

So here's a new challenge for London. Try it out somewhere. Let's see what happens at Waterloo or Colborne and Oxford at 3am on a Wednesday night. Surely control boxes have such settings - since these lights in the suburbs have a 5-second cycle function that doesn't exist during the daylight hours?

Next post: the long-winding, short-sighted new sidewalk or Walking into a drainage ditch of death!

London's Obsession with Tall Buildings

2009-08-22T09:06:00.001-07:00

I've lived in Toronto for 10 years. I have no problem with Tall buildings per se. In dense areas, height is necessary to pay for the land it sits on. London however, does not have such a problem.

One of the biggest chicken-and-egg questions in Economics is whether Tall buildings cause high land values or if high land values cause tall buildings. As with all things economic, the human nature of developer greed is left out of the equation all together. So too is the ineptitude of local politicians and their aspirations of greatness.

London has seen its share of tall buildings in the downtown core. Unfortunately, London City Council seems to have failed to learn the lessons of the negative effects of too much development on any given site. Take for instance what should have been learned from the building of One London Place, a 42-storey commercial building that sucked all pressure for redevelopment out of the downtown core by adding a vast amount of Gross Floor Area.

One London Place was built in the late 1980's, just prior to the marvelous recession that hit in 1987 and lasted until about 1991. As a result, there are more surface parking lots and empty malls, run-down apartments and vacant buildings than one could possibly attempt to shake a stick at! Nothing sucks life off a street like a surface parking lot.

Turn the page to today, 15 to 20 years later, in the midst of a deep recession and we see the beginnings of another upswing. In tough times, developers buy land knowing that prices will only begin to rise back to pre-recession levels and climb steadily after that. One new condominium tower has been built at the corner of Ridout and King Street and continues to have units for sale. That building is 27-storeys and sits by itself, a sort of sore thumb saying 'look at me', refusing to be a team player in the pattern of urban development in downtown London.

Today's London Free Press has on its front page (never a sign of rational development review) a picture of a new condominium to be built on Dundas Street East, in an area known as the East Village, on the site of the old Embassy Hotel. Like so many potential heritage buildings in London, The Embassy was razed by fire a few months ago. It now sits as, you guessed it, a vacant lot. Vacant lots offer developers a fantastic revenue opportunity in themselves, requiring nothing more than a shovel to begin construction.

On the Embassy site is proposed an entirely suitable and desirable development, an 8-storey, loft-style building built up to the street line, most likely with retail opportunities on the ground floor, apartments above (since there's still a great deal of commercial space available closer to the core.) This site should be the model for redevelopment in London. By building a shorter building new housing will be offered without overwhelming the surrounding neighbourhood. This building will have 150-units.

Unfortunately, the other part of the story is not so rosey. On the south side of Dundas Street in a block bounded by King Street to the south, Lyle Street to the west and Hewitt Street to the East is proposed a podium and tower style building that could have just as well been built in Liberty Village in Toronto by its developer Medallion Development. In fact, I think that's precisely what they've done. In a City starving for downtown renewal, this building will feature two towers, one 21-storeys tall and the other 24-storeys tall. It will contain 600 units.

I have a major beef with this development. Unfortunately, due to the swooning, non-critical nature of the article in the London Free Press, one really doesn't get an understanding of where this development is in the approval process though an indication that foundations will be built as early as this fall gives me a shudder to think it's already been approved. A note says "Also working on two businesses that face Dundas Street" - in the midst of the development's site that will actually front onto King Street to the south. So two huge towers will sit on the south side of the street casting significant shadow on Dundas Street, particularly in the shoulder seasons of Spring and Fall, when sunlight is most desired. The shadow will presumably fall directly on the nice, 8-storey building facing Dundas, one of London's prime downtown streets.

It's difficult to tell too from the pictures included with the article, an artists rendering that appears to show one solid frontage onto a two-way street. Unfortunately, King Street is a one-way thoroughfare that lacks the kind of pedestrian activity shown in the sales-picture. The map and the pictures don't really make any sense and the article fails to take one glancing look at the appropriateness of the urban planning considerations. Instead of asking whether its a fitting way to add density, it seems to fawn like people in a small town would over the new mall with its first escalator!

With 750 new units of housing one has to wonder where or when the next development will occur. Will these new buildings sit amongst a still mostly two-storey neighbourhood for the next 30 years? Surely, with other buildings still having vacant units, this must start to create questions about the pattern of development in the downtown core. Another peaky building to stand alone - with its twin tower, if its built at the same time, though one suspects it will be a phased development and that a second tower may be as fictitious as the second building planned at One London Place.

There seems to be no connection between the fact that so many parts of London remain underdeveloped, vacant and/or neglected. I'm convinced that these kinds of buildings will continue to create a City of peaks and valleys, unrelated to each other with no sense of cohesion. London City Council seems to have refused to ask why these buildings need to be so tall when they are being built on vacant lands, with very low land values in a City that is suffering to identify solid economic development opportunities for the future.

Instead of allowing too much density on singular sites, the City should pursue a more even redevelopment pattern that creates a gradual increase in building heights, forcing property values in the core to rise and putting pressure on other landowners to make changes, redevelop or sell their properties. In addition, this would be good for London homeowners whose homes are generally stagnant in value, rising only as fast as the rate of inflation. Density is good but not on singular sites that create their own problems. It also creates a less than pleasing pattern of urban design, with gaps of unowned, underdeveloped properties.

Clearly some developers understand this. Terrasan, the developer of the site on the North side seems to get it. But given that the Medallion property is approved for such ridiculous heights (what's wrong with 8 and 12 or 12 and 16-storeys?) it's clear that London City Council and its Urban Planners don't get it. And it seems that some developers in London are only too happy to take advantage of this ineptitude and get away with as much filthy lucre as they can.

When will London stop trying to be Toronto? When will they force new developments to be team players and form part of a consistent, denser urban core? These are questions Londoners need to ask instead of swooning. London clearly needs a new City Plan that calls on development to be part of an urban fabric, not stand-alone eye-sores borrowed from a much denser downtown Toronto.

New Blog New Purpose

2009-08-08T01:17:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new Blog! Hopefully you've found your way here via Twitter or Facebook or perhaps even through a random search of Blogs related to London Ontario.

Let me introduce myself and explain what the Blog's purpose will be.

My parents:

My parents immigrated to Canada from England in 1966. While others turned back after a short time, Harold and Janet Peters made a home in London Ontario, living for a time on Stanley Street where my older brother Adrian was born in 1967. My maternal grandparents eventually followed their only daughter and came to London in 1969.

My mother worked at the Toronto Dominion Bank at the corner of Dundas and Wellington Streets in the early years. She later became a Tupperware dealer and manager until the late 80's when she 'went back to school' and entered the world of Life Insurance and Investments eventually becoming a Certified Financial Planner. I'm very proud of my mother's commitment to lifelong learning.

Soon after arriving and working on various large commercial framing jobs, my father and grandfather formed the Home Doctor Inc.. The Home Doctor has an outstanding reputation in London Ontario and is now frequently referred to by the City of London's Heritage Preservation staff for heritage restoration work. My Dad is an outstanding craftsman and artisan and I've got a few pieces of furniture as evidence.

The Home Doctor worked predominantly in aluminum siding installation; in 1975 my grandfather founded the London Area Siding Contractors Association to combat what he saw as undue regulation by the City of London. So I come by it honestly. The Home Doctor continued to thrive, working on homes throughout the City and surrounding areas and in particular in the downtown, Old North and Old South areas of London. The progress of my Dad's work has been impressive; from aluminum siding to custom storm doors and windows to full additions and now as my father continues to learn and hone his craft, he's done a built-in Wine Cellars (for my former Economics Prof Dr. Parkin), to built-in Bookcases and Custom Kitchens. My Dad's truly is a find for owners of London's finer homes and someone homeowners can trust with their largest investment.

Me:

Born: St. Joseph’s Hospital, London Ontario,
October 1, 1971

Schools Attended:
Woodland Heights Public School, k-8
Westminster Secondary School, 1985-1991
University of Western Ontario, 1991-1993, 1997-1998

I was born and raised in London. I lived in Berkshire Village until early in Grade 9 when we moved to Rington Crescent, just behind the London Gospel Temple (no relation, just so you know where). I did an extra year of High School as I did not feel prepared to go to University, nor did I want to start at the age of 18. I also had dedicated a significant amount of time and energy to basketball and wanted to be a 'starter', which would only occur the year after our City Championship. I stayed and we performed beyond expectations, went 9 and 6, made the playoffs and I had a pretty good year personally. I also managed grades high enough to get into Western, which was the school of my choice for financial reasons as well as academic.

I enjoyed the first two years of University but took a fairly light course load. Unsure of what I wanted to ultimately pursue in life, I took 2 years off and moved into downtown London. I scraped by until in 1996, I returned to school with OSAP loans for the first time and had my best year. I finished my course work in May 1998. During that time I enjoyed some great relationships, made new friends and tried to become part of the London hipster/music scene (it exists.)

In September 1998, I was married to a woman I'd dated on-and-off since High School and that same month we moved to Toronto to pursue better career options. While we had a great friendship and generated lots of good memories, we separated in March 2005 and divorced one year later due to irreconcilable differences. After a great deal of introspection, counseling and the advice of others, I have accepted our failings and simply wish that we had waited longer before making such a substantial decision as marriage. We were 27 and 25 respectively and I now believe most people should wait until they are at least 30, particularly men. The man should always ask the woman to marry him too!

Career:

I have worked many jobs in my life. I began working at age 13, delivering Pennysavers and Seasonal Catalogues to residents in Berkshire Village. I was the student caretaker/groundskeeper at St. Michael’s And All Angel’s Anglican Church on Springbank Drive. At age 17, I worked as a Sailing Instructor at Boy Scouts London’s Lean-to-Sail Program at Lake Fanshawe, contributing back to a program that had given me many years of enjoyment. I worked for the London Tigers for 4 summers, both managing vehicle access and parking and selling tickets to the public. I started working in London’s Restaurants at Age 18 until I left in 1997.

In 1997 I became Manager of Promotions at CHRW Radio Western, eventually also taking over as Music Director. In September of 1998, at age 27, I moved to Toronto working first at Sam the Record Man’s on Yonge Street, then as a Camera Operator for an Animation studio.

In the spring of 1999 I followed my passion for politics and took a job at Toronto City Hall, where I began my work for Councillor Michael Walker. I progressed from entry-level Administrative Assistant to Constituency Assistant and eventually served as Executive Assistant between 2002 and 2005. Councillor Walker served as Chair of Administration Committee, Tenant Defence Sub-Committee and initiated a review of Campaign Finances based on a report that I authored on his behalf.

In early 2005 I left Councillor Walker’s office to take a position as Executive Assistant to first term Councillor Shelley Carroll. Soon after, Councillor Carroll was chosen to lead the City’s Works Committee, one of the most complex and demanding Committees of City Council. In 2006, I realized it was time for a bigger change and that I was ready to broaden my experience and perspective. In my time at City Hall developed a lasting impression and built many new friendships on all sides of the political spectrum. I believe I had a reputation as a straight shooter and someone with a high degree of integrity who served his bosses well (though I stand to be corrected!)

From late 2006 until August 2008, I served as Manager of Business Development for Skymeter Corporation. Skymeter’s GPS-based system provides a new way to finance roads and manage capacity, employing basic economic theory to transportation systems. My responsibilities included building a brand, a personal reputation, a network of industry contacts, assisting in the selection of a VP Business Development and providing strategic advice about the politics of road finance and approaches to government sales. Unfortunately due to lack of investment, time-to-market of such a ground-breaking, paradigm-shifting technology, I was laid off. I remained a consultant to Skymeter, attending the World Congress of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Association in New York City in November.

In early 2009, I worked on various short-term contracts as a Marketing consultant, including one for a Maryland company who made me an offer of employment as VP Marketing/Sales. Unfortunately, I could not accept due to US Visa rules and the uncertainty of getting a Visa. That has lead to a pursuit of freelance writing opportunities. In July 2009, I made a decision to return to London from Toronto. I am now hoping for a position with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Goals:

I am moving back to London after nearly 11 years in Toronto. I've had a great time here, made great friendships, enjoyed Toronto's great multi-cultural neighbourhoods, it's various attractions and the other benefits of living in a large City. Through my work I gained invaluable experiences and learned a great deal about Local Government as well as more about how the private sector operates. More specifically I understand the many challenges facing business, particularly those businesses that interact with government and new companies.

As much as I love it, Toronto has also run me down. I find it less hospitable than London, with vastly more distractions there seem to be less personal relationships. People are always on the go, always in a rush and overly scheduled. While I have found that great at the times that I was also in that mode, I have found it difficult to be single and meet the demands of Toronto living. My health is not good. I have lost about 20 pounds since my divorce 4 years ago, including significant muscle loss. I've let myself go. So a new fitness regime is definitely part of my plan. I may return to Toronto but I have many other options that I am going to pursue.

London offers so many recreational opportunities as well as a fairly tight-knit community, at least that's how I remember it. It's always possible to go out and see people you know or make time to go visit them. Unfortunately, I may need a car soon to get around from my parents house in Westmount where I'm landing for a short time until I am earning some money.

Career wise, I believe it is now time for me to return to London to see what kind of a difference I can make on my hometown. I want to engage Londoners in a new kind of local politics. I want to create linkages between the University of Western Ontario Local Government and Urban Development programs to re-imagine our City and create a medium-sized City of the future. If London acts boldly now, in partnership with the private sector, London can enjoy the kind of economic development advantages that it currently does in the years to come.

More political platform to follow. Please sign up, add as a favourite and I look forward to starting full bore on this Blog on Tuesday - my first full day back in London.