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Reposted by Sam Hersh

Transit Action Alliance of Guelph (TAAG) @taaguelph.bsky.social · 3d

12 days until the Transportation Summit #Guelph on October 18! Presentations from @chanface.bsky.social, @ttcriders.bsky.social, @transportaction.ca, @cyclewr.ca, @cgreysongaito.bsky.social, @bicyclemayorguelph.bsky.social, @samhersh01.bsky.social & more!

Free Event! Register @ taaguelph.com/summit

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · 14d

In reality, there hasnt been any change under a Sutcliffe council term - truly what has been different from Jim Watson?

He continues to enrich developers and the wealthy at City Hall and invests millions in police instead of crumbling services.

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · 14d

This is so shameful.

For those not watching council today, as you'll see below Mark Sutcliffe is pulling the same EXACT tactics as Jim Watson would in the last council, pulling the rug out from under councillors and trying to derail debate at the last possible moment.

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · 23d

The Ottawa Business Journal founded by and formerly owned by Mark Sutcliffe has come out in defence of his city-wide RTO mandate.

The article is also written by a commercial real estate boss.

He argues that forcing workers back to the office is "city-building."

Op-ed: Return-to-office is a city-wide imperative — Ottawa can’t afford to be left behind

Will we embrace the return-to-office as a catalyst for growth, or will we cling to a remote-first mindset that isolates us from the global conversation?

obj.ca

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Reposted by Sam Hersh

Jeff Leiper 🛴🚲🚇♻️🚌📊 @jleiper.bsky.social · 28d

At today's Council meeting, I brought a motion forward to reverse the City Manager's five-day-a-week return-to-office order. We'll debate that in two weeks. I've heard from many City staff about the diminishment in the quality of both life and work the order will create, with too little benefit.

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Reposted by Sam Hersh

KGE hockey fan 🇨🇦🍁 @kbyrd.bsky.social · 29d

As always, @samhersh01.bsky.social is blunt. This city could be so much better, especially on issues like transit. @otttransitriders.bsky.social ottawacitizen.com/opinion/hers...

Hersh: The mayor has made our public transit mess even worse

OC Transpo riders are suffering the consequences of a growing budget hole, writes Sam Hersh.

ottawacitizen.com

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · 29d

It's fair to say Mark Sutcliffe inherited a mess of a public transit system when he was elected, but throughout his term as Mayor, despite running on a pledge to "fix transit" he's done everything he can to make that mess ten times worse.

From me today in the @ottawacitizen.com:

Hersh: The mayor has made our public transit mess even worse

OC Transpo riders are suffering the consequences of a growing budget hole, writes Sam Hersh.

ottawacitizen.com

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Aug 26

Forcing municipal workers back to the office 5 days a week to take Zoom meetings serves absolutely no purpose.

If Sutcliffe really wanted to "revitalize" our downtown he'd stop cutting public transit and other services.

Workers dont just exist to service downtown businesses.

Horizon Ottawa @horizonottawa.bsky.social · Aug 26

Mayor Sutcliffe's decision to force all city staff back to the office will worsen congestion, burden workers, and waste taxpayer money.

Ottawa should be embracing remote work, not fighting it.

Read our full statement: www.horizonottawa.ca/returntooffi...

PRESS RELEASE: Horizon Ottawa Condemns Mayor’s Mandatory Return-to-Office Policy

www.horizonottawa.ca

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Reposted by Sam Hersh

Jeff Leiper 🛴🚲🚇♻️🚌📊 @jleiper.bsky.social · Aug 26

I want to express my profound disappointment today that the City has ordered its workers back into the office five days a week. It is a short-sighted decision that serves no one well in either the short or long term. (1/6)

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Aug 21

Sutcliffe just announced a potential 6.5% increase for Ottawa Police in next years budget (the largest increase in 15 years) and ANOTHER potential transit fare increase.

Sutcliffe has made his priorities clear - and it's not Ottawa residents.

We have a transit budget crisis, not a policing crisis.

Mayor asks council to limit next year's tax increase to 3.75% | CBC News

Policing and transit remain critical factors that will determine the final balance as the months-long municipal budget process gets underway.

www.cbc.ca

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jul 30

Opposing new sidewalks? Really?

I've been to Manor Park and if you're on foot it's a pain to get around because of the lack of sidewalks.

Sidewalks don't "destroy greenspace" they encourage sustainable modes of transport and make neighbourhoods more accessible.

Why some Manor Park residents don’t want sidewalks

The city has undertaken a road, sewer and watermain rehabilitation project on several neighbourhood streets, including installing sidewalks.

ottawacitizen.com

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jul 28

Our feminist Prime Minister

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jul 24

The cuts from Mark Carney on the public service will decimate Ottawa's local economy but not a single small business, local politician or city councillor have spoken up about it.

Where is the same outrage they had around letting people work from home?

Ottawa and Gatineau will 'bear the brunt' of public service cuts: report

A new analysis finds the government could cut the equivalent of more than 24,000 full-time jobs in the National Capital Region.

ottawacitizen.com

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jul 24

A woman died last week after being hit by a truck near City Hall, now two children were hit - when is this going to stop?

We need Vision Zero now not Vision "20% less cycling deaths."

Shame on our Mayor and council who allow this to keep happening.

2 children struck by vehicles in separate incidents Wednesday: Ottawa police

Ottawa police say two children were struck by cars while riding two-wheeled vehicles in separate incidents on Wednesday.

www.ctvnews.ca

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Reposted by Sam Hersh

Ecology Ottawa @ecologyottawa.bsky.social · Jul 24

This is appalling.

Children should—must—be safe in our city.

While at least one of these drivers is charged with fault, our infrastructure also fosters a bad road culture, since it privileges cars.

#OttCity isn’t doing enough fast enough. #VisionZero #Ottawa

www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...

2 children struck by vehicles in separate incidents Wednesday: Ottawa police

Ottawa police say two children were struck by cars while riding two-wheeled vehicles in separate incidents on Wednesday.

www.ctvnews.ca

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jul 23

And public private partnerships have worked so well for us here in Ottawa! /s

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jul 23

Extremely problematic motion from Councillor David Brown and new Osgoode Ward councillor Isabelle Skalski who want staff to look into options to privatize parts of our public transit system.

The only way we will improve the system is by investing in it not selling it off.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT....Council direct staff, as part of the development of the TMP, to identify and report back on opportunities to further leverage private and not-for-profit transportation service providers

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jul 22

On Canada Day, Mark Sutcliffe boasted about high transit ridership - he forgot to mention one thing: it was free.

Detractors of free transit argue we must chose between affordability and reliability but it's a false choice - we can and should have both.

From me in @ottawacitizen.com:

Hersh: Free Transit isn’t just possible, it’s popular

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe boasted that Canada Day had record-breaking ridership on the LRT Line 1. He forgot to mention OC Transpo was free.

ottawacitizen.com

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jul 8

Have posted to Twitter and will try and amplify elsewhere - thanks for doing this Marna.

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jul 8

Hey Marna! How can I (we) help amplify? Let me know.

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jul 8

Terrible, senseless and 100% avoidable tragedy.

The City of Ottawa needs to fund more active transportation and cycling infrastructure instead of endless road expansion.

Everyone deserves to feel safe on the road. For details on a commemoration see below:

Marna Nightingale — ICE gets the skates. @marnanightingale.bsky.social · Jul 8

This Friday, July 11 at 6 p.m. the #Ottbike and #Ottwalk community will place ghost shoes in Marion Dewar Plaza City Hall to mark another senseless death from road violence, stupid red tape, and dangerous infrastructure.
All are welcome.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Woman hit by pickup truck downtown dies | CBC News

A woman in her 20s who was critically injured when she was hit by a pickup truck Monday afternoon near a crosswalk at Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue W. has died.

www.cbc.ca

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jun 27

Egregious abuse of power by the Conservative Ford government taking over the schoolboard here in Ottawa.

The financial issues boards are facing are the fault of provincial underfunding.

No doubt they will try and force back cops into our schools among other things.

Ontario taking control of 4 school boards, including TDSB | CBC News

Education Minister Paul Calandra says supervisors have been appointed to the boards after financial investigations showed growing deficits, depletion of reserves and ongoing mismanagement.

www.cbc.ca

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jun 25

Zohran's victory should ignite excitement not just in the US but everywhere including in Ottawa.

We don't need to keep electing boring, uninspiring mayors or city councillors who want to hold back what's possible here.

Start organizing and join @horizonottawa.bsky.social as a member:

Become a Member

www.horizonottawa.ca

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Sam Hersh @samhersh01.bsky.social · Jun 20

Thank you for sharing and being part of this important work! :)

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Reposted by Sam Hersh

Ecology Ottawa @ecologyottawa.bsky.social · Jun 20

Great op-ed by @samhersh01.bsky.social.

#OttCity Council is willing to assume legal risk with the problematic “bubble bylaw,” but not with fossil fuel advertising.

Allowing fossil fuel promotion contradicts the City’s commitments and responsibilities.

ottawacitizen.com/opinion/otta...

Hersh: Ottawa Council must take a risk and ban fossil fuel ads

More than a year ago, civil society groups campaigned to get the City of Ottawa to ban fossil fuel ads from city property. It's time to act.

ottawacitizen.com

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