Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 2h

Quote: Education should lead to informed action, and informed action should lead to liberation, justice, and repair. If we built the walls on purpose, we need to tear down the walls on purpose.

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 2h

bsky.app/profile/robs...

Robson Fletcher @robsonfletcher.com · 4d

Police in Airdrie, Alberta (just north of Calgary) say this driver hit a 17-year-old girl in a marked crosswalk, got out of the vehicle, and appeared to get upset at the teenager before driving away.

They released this video and are now trying to identify the driver.

Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 2h

"Liggett did not respond to a request for comment."
This seems to add insult to injury. If there are legitimate concerns that require city hall to be closed for a period of time - then speak up about that. Remaining silent only stokes concerns that this closure is not truly needed.

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Reposted by Melissa Bowman

John Roscoe @johnroscoe.bsky.social · 21d

"It's a cash grab!"

Oh my sweet summer child. Come, let me show you how much a dedicated police officer — trained in the application of *deadly force* in upholding the law! — is paid to poke a button, read a number and deliver a ticket that could have been sent through the mail...

Average salary, OPP = $125,104
https://www.ontariosunshinelist.com/positions/law-enforcement-officer

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 7h

Vrbanovic "said that machines do not operate with the same discretion as a police officer, who may decide to let the driver off with a warning for minor speeding infractions." And that's what makes everyone so mad - that they don't have an opportunity to evade a ticket when caught.

Waterloo Region forges ahead with speed cameras despite looming ban

The Region of Waterloo will go ahead with turning on six speed cameras despite Doug Ford’s scathing condemnation

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 19h

Perhaps, there are good reasons for the ongoing restrictions to municipal buildings, however, there should be a very high bar that needs to be met when limiting access to what should be public discussions at City Hall. It's unclear if that high bar is being met here.

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 19h

So, #CambCouncil was to finally discuss it's long-delayed accessibility plan this past week, but due to unspecified threats several weeks ago, Council chambers are not open to the public - which is problematic for those with disabilities. The solution? To postpone the meeting to a future time.

In Cambridge, concerns grow about lack of public access to meetings

Two city councillors and an advocate for people with disabilities are now raising concerns about the public being continually shut out of meetings. It’s time for the city to offer an explanation and a...

www.therecord.com

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 20h

“Those who are using terms like ‘nanny state’, and this is a ‘cash grab’, I hope they look at these numbers and realize this is absolutely not. This is about the safety of our most vulnerable, including little kids to older adults and everybody in between." -Waterloo mayor McCabe

Regional committee discusses speed cameras

Regional committee members discussed how the speed camera enforcement program has progressed in its first six months of operation at a meeting on Tuesday.

kitchener.citynews.ca

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 1d

"The story of America in the twenty-first century is the story of chosen scarcities. Recognizing that these scarcities are chosen—that we could choose otherwise—is thrilling. Confronting the reasons we choose otherwise is maddening." As quoted in

The Abundance Doctrine

How modern liberalism became too obsessed with saying no—and can learn to say yes again.

buff.ly

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 1d

Well, it wouldn't need to be a very big loophole for it to drive through, at least! 😉

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 1d

I'm not used to seeing so many people wearing Blue Jays attire this late in the year 😉 #GoJays

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 1d

More of this, please!

Black Sawn Brewery's teeny tiny but useful delivery truck.

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 1d

Link to article www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...

Parking issues in Cambridge River Mill Community result of bad planning: resident

Cambridge resident Vince Cipriani highlights parking challenges in the River Mill Community due to provincial housing goals, poor planning, and insufficient parking regulation enforcement.

www.therecord.com

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 1d

Because none of these options seem ideal for many reasons.

Residents may request changes to the parking regulations on their street through three parking programs, Walter noted.

The first is lower driveway boulevard parking, which allows residents to park vehicles on the paved or concrete portion of their driveway between the curb and sidewalk. Another is extended on-street parking, allowing residents to park on-street for up to 24 hours. The third is cul-de-sac centre parking, allowing residents, outside of the winter months, to park in the centre of a cul-de-sac bulb.

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 1d

We're focused on trying to solve the parking problem but we should be focused on how to build convenient, affordable, and plentiful alternatives to people needing to drive everywhere. Fund more transit, cycling, and pedestrian infrastructure.

Text: “Two parking spaces should have been the standard. Most residents cannot rely on public transit to get to work, school, or the grocery store.

“Moving forward, we need to take a more realistic look at how people live today. Future planning goals shouldn’t come at the expense of current taxpayers.”

Cipriani said the solution is the city giving more consideration for parking based on density.

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 1d

“A total ban on (automated speed enforcement) would reverse years of progress on safety ... It would place more pressure on police, increase enforcement costs, and most critically, endanger lives,” said a letter from 20+ Ontario mayors to Ford and Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria.

20-plus mayors urge Doug Ford to compromise on speed camera ban

“A total ban on (automated speed enforcement) would reverse years of progress on safety,” said a letter signed by 22 mayors and sent to Ford and his Transportation minister on Thursday.

www.thestar.com

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 1d

Much better than the time I was at Kitchener Council and a delegate referred to multi-residential buildings as vertical slums and no councilor addressed it in the moment (Fortunately some did later in their comments).

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 2d

"Independent mobility builds confidence. A child who can walk to school learns to navigate space, manage risk, and take pride in independence." -Andy Boenau

The dehumanizing school car line

America’s morning ritual is treating kids like packages instead of people

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 2d

Oh, maybe this is Ford's plan to stop speeding in Ontario...just ask each person who speeds to promise it will 'never happen again'. That should fix it! globalnews.ca/news/1146702...

Text: Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office appears to have forgiven a staffer for repeatedly violating Ontario’s stunt driving laws, Global News has learned, after the government was told it would “never happen again.”

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 2d

Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to connect with council on this important issue!

a man applauds with the #schitts creek logo behind him

ALT: a man applauds with the #schitts creek logo behind him

media.tenor.com

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 2d

Yes to this! This letter writer received a speeding ticket and yet, still sees the value in the speed camera program AND took the time to reach out to #WRcouncil about it. You love to see it! pub-regionofwaterloo.escribemeetings.com/filestream.a...

Text: As a constituent of Ward 4, and someone who was ticketed by a speed camera, I am writing
to add my continued support for their use.
Speed cameras are not a "cash grab", they are an effective way to reduce speed, provide a
massive safety boost to pedestrians and non-car road users, and shows just how bad our
driving habits have become.
I urge you to work with your fellow councilors and Ontario mayors to push back against
Doug Ford's once-again misguided attempts to distract from his governments long list of
failures and corruption.
Thank you.

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 2d

"Building market-rate housing actually protects existing renters. Because it absorbs demand from people who would otherwise be bidding up prices in older buildings.
You don’t have to like that. I don’t love it either! But it’s just… math." philwalkable.substack.com/p/why-buildi...

🏙️ Why Building Fancy Apartments Actually Helps Everyone (Yes, Even Renters)

If rich people don’t get new apartments, they’ll take yours.

philwalkable.substack.com

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 2d

"Our streets are deliberately and inequitably designed. In cities like Toronto, over 80% of street space is dedicated exclusively to motor vehicles. This is not a natural state; it is the result of decades of policy choices that prioritize vehicle throughput above all else." Lanrick Bennett

An Open Letter to NPR: Our Streets Are No Accident

In a world where we are constantly seeking self-improvement, National Public Radio’s Life Kit positions itself as a friendly guide…

medium.com

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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 2d

Council: We've noticed that most drivers ignore traffic signs. Maybe bigger signs will help!

a cartoon of spongebob squarepants giving a thumbs up and the words problem solved .

ALT: a cartoon of spongebob squarepants giving a thumbs up and the words problem solved .

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Melissa Bowman

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 3d

"Are flashing lights as effective as the cameras?" asks Councillor Lily Cheng.

"We had flashing lights before we had automated speed enforcement. And through the introduction of automated speed enforcement we've seen a much more significant safety improvement," say transportation staff.

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