It’s not exactly targeted this year thankfully. This is a carryover from last year. Thankfully arts and community funding has stayed status quo in the budget.

For the price of four cents, we can strengthen an arts sector that drives jobs, events, tourism, and downtown activity.

Small investment. Huge return

It's hypocritical, she says. "We don't tell people we respect that we will carve them like dinner fowl," she says (referring to the mayor once saying something similar to @alexbierk.bsky.social in debate)

@alexbierk.bsky.social says he's glad to live in a city "where heritage was prioritized," and some buildings are designated and protected.

All this would be "reasonable," says @alexbierk.bsky.social ... "What we're doing instead is accepting GE's plan, on GE's terms," and trusting the same MOE that has allowed this brownfield to sit "for generations."

GE "built and then abandoned this city," says @alexbierk.bsky.social .... And to not hold them accountable "is a missed opportunity."

@alexbierk.bsky.social amendment carries 6-5; in favour, along with @alexbierk.bsky.social, are @joylachica.bsky.social, @mattcrowley.bsky.social, Coun. Don Vassiliadis, Coun. Andrew Beamer, Coun. Keith Riel.

*health and safety for the site and the broader impacts (offsite) not attached to the demo specifically

There are families "that live on the fenceline of that property," says @alexbierk.bsky.social. He says "we can't fumble our way through" the safety aspect here; they need to rethink this, and ask for details. He calls it an "atypical" application for demolition.

@alexbierk.bsky.social says most councillors understand this site to be "deeply contaminated" - and he wants to ensure there's a plan for cleanup.

"My hope is that site could someday be reimagined - and I think the buildings could be part of that," says @alexbierk.bsky.social - he adds it makes him "nervous... that we are inching further toward that site being a flattened" brownfield.

Maybe the city needs to put pressure on GE to "meaningfully remediate the lands" and even consider alternatives to demolition, says @alexbierk.bsky.social

"I feel sad for our community and for the history of that site," says @alexbierk.bsky.social. "We're not even willing to look, with our heritage committee, at the whole site - that's wild, to me."

Ann Farquharson found the exact colour of paint the City used, orderd it up, and called me down to help with the application. Thaaank you Ann for pushing us on this and proving how simple it is! Looks great

Ya, exaxtly