Here's the story. Please see Bucky at Bay Beach for confirmation. It seems that one day last week, late in the day, Martha and a gentleman in a business suit arrived at Bay Beach. She was standing before the fence gesturing to the man. Two guys who had been sitting on the beach near the snack bar approached Martha and told her to get off the beach and take her friend as "we don't want no developers on our beach."
Martha might want to reconsider her support of the staff recommendation regarding the Bay Beach Properties. Some of the very people she is now confronting may have voted for her, but they certainly would not do that again, given the present circumstances.
Of course The Strand will remind voters constantly of Martha's support of the recommendation as long as necessary until she either starts working for her constituents or an election ensues.
As one veteran council watcher noted, the Corporation of the Town of Fort Erie was established as a not-for-profit corporation. The province is now conducting forensic audits on not-for-profit organizations. There is a push to include the Town of Fort Erie on that audit list. A direct appeal by residents of Fort Erie to MPP Kim Craitor is encouraged.
If the town needs money so badly to bail the PBA out of Menthogate and can't afford to keep the Bay Beach Properties, perhaps a forensic audit would be in order.
30 comments:
So a group of angry people asked Martha and others to leave the beach. Under who's authority were they acting? What legal right do they have to decide who stays and who goes? What is next vigilantes?
Private militia? Everyone, including THE EDITOR, should deplore and object to the actions of these people. Are we not a nation of free people governed by law?
Personally, I think it was very rude of them to ask her to leave the beach, if that is what happened. But it could also be an indicator of the anger of some beach goers to what they think is a betrayal by their councillor. This is just a rumour at this point that I'm trying to verify, but public rudeness to the Ward 5 Councillor, no matter how misguided she may be, will not accomplish anything. She will only dig her heels in more.
How about escorting the Mayor out of town haull.
Council beware! the people put you there
The people will remove you.....under the peoples authority.
Tick tock
Hey editor
Is it true that the "Corporation"of the Town of peace bridge......I meanFort Erie
is a public non-profit?
if this is true this opens up a new can of worms, also ANY citizen of Ontario can and has the right to examin , review and AUDIT every aspect of the towns function.
It sounds too good to be true.
I am glad that we can agree that such public rudeness (if it occured) has no place in the current debate. Kudos to you for that.
Well now I guess that the unwarrented rudeness did occur. At least according to "Bucky". What a magnificent display of bravery by the stalwart guardians of the beach. And what a foolish act that can only be detrimental to there cause.
I agree re: rudeness. But it won't hurt their cause as far as the save-the-beach proponents go. The two guys have now achieved somewhat of a folk hero status as having stood up to the councillor and the "suit." Martha doesn't seem to realize that her constituency is not at all happy with her support of the staff proposal to look into a public/private partnership regarding development of the Bay Beach Properties. There is a very high lack of trust towards town officials in Crystal Beach right now.
Yes, subjecting elected politicians to public rudeness is an excellent way to rally the decision makers to your side. Brilliant! Your so called "heroes" are nothing but a couple of ill-mannered, obnoxious punks.
I take it you've been to council meetings. That's where you'll see some great examples of public officials being rude to each other and to delegations. Or perhaps you only see rudeness when it's directed towards those you support.
As written in the Welland Tribune:
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1113383
Bay Beach is Fort Erie's jewel
RESIDENTS SAYS BEACH SHOULD NOT BE SOLD
Posted By RAY SPITERI, OSPREY NEWS NETWORK
Posted 1 day ago
Despite some uncertain looking clouds, Bay Beach was awash with people Saturday morning.
And most of those who spoke with Osprey News had a clear message for town politicians: No Way.
At a council meeting last month, the majority of Fort Erie's elected officials voted in favour of possibly opening up most of the publicly owned beach property, with the exception of the beach itself, to private development.
"Bay Beach is the jewel in Fort Erie's crown," said Rick Gaulin, a Buffalo native who visits the 4.5-acre property on Erie Road as often as he can in the summer.
"It's a public area. It belongs to the people and it should remain that way."
Proponents of exploring some form of public/private sector partnership in hopes of stimulating growth and business in the area are quick to point out nothing is set in stone and the beach itself is not for sale, just the adjacent parcels of the property, which are currently used for public parking.
Those opposed say it's a road the town has gone down before, only to be dead-ended by public opinion.
"The last thing we want are all these glorified promises only to eventually have condos or buildings blocking the lake," said Gaulin, who enjoyed some hours at Bay Beach over the weekend with his friend, Ann Shaul. "We've been coming here for years," added Shaul, also from Buffalo. "We just love it and would hate to see the atmosphere change."
The town purchased Bay Beach, which includes some 400 feet of sandy Lake Erie shoreline, from the Rebstock family in 2001 for $2 million.
At the outset, the idea was to buy the whole property to acquire the public beach then sell off the inland portions of the property on either side of Erie Road to recoup the town's investment.
In 2002, citizens were invited to participate in workshops aimed at helping conceptualize what kinds of development would be appropriate for the property.
Initial attempts to sell or lease the property were unsuccessful, and as time passed, a majority of Crystal Beach residents and business owners became convinced the town should retain most, if not all, of the property for public use.
The issue featured prominently in the 2003 municipal election.
The issue of what to do with the property finally came to a head in December 2005, when council voted to keep all but a tiny portion of the property and rejected, in a 4-3 vote, leasing part of the site for a hotel or condominium complex.
But at a council meeting in June, Rino Mostacci, the town's director of community and development services, said the town doesn't have the $3 million it would cost to build public amenities on the site in keeping with public expectations.
He said going forward, proposals could be solicited from pre-qualified, high-quality developers, who have previous expertise in public/private waterfront development partnerships.
There would be clear stipulations about what is expected of any development scenario, he said, including: The beach remains under public ownership; proposals conform to the Crystal Beach neighbourhood plan; and public parking is provided for, with the number of spaces to be determined by council.
Coun. Martha Lockwood, who represents the Crystal Beach ward, said council would be "foolish" not to explore its options given current budget constraints.
But Coun. Bob Steckley said it wouldn't be long before opposition to private development of Bay Beach mobilized again.
Steckley, along with Coun. Ann- Marie Noyes, were the only councillors to vote against staff's recommendation.
The following week, Paul Lewis, president of The Friends of Crystal Beach, asked council to step back from their plan until the community group and the public at large had a chance to digest the issue and come forward to council with their own opinions.
Since then, about 2,000 people have signed a petition in support of keeping the entire Bay Beach property in public ownership.
The Friends of Crystal Beach, who will head up what is expected to be a series of presentations and delegations regarding the issue at a July 21 council meeting, stand by their position that selling off the adjacent parcels of Bay Beach would be a mistake.
They argue the Bay Beach property gets more use than any other recreational venue in Fort Erie and point to the town's own commissioned parking study, which concluded that on a warm sunny day, the beach has approximately 1,000 people on it. On a warm sunny weekend day, it attracts about 2,000 people.
One family that enjoys some weekend time at Bay Beach is the Ternovas.
Kenny Ternova, along with his family, live in Brampton, but also own a cottage near Bay Beach, where they can get away from all the hustle and bustle from back home.
"I come from a subdivision and I fear that with any private development, you'd have another Brampton on your hands and that's not something you want, believe me," Ternova, sitting along the beach with his wife, child and father-in-law.
"We used to go to Florida until we found this little beautiful place, which we love. Don't let it fall into the wrong hands."
Doug Ramstead, who lives close to Bay Beach on Elmwood Avenue, said he can't say whether or not he agrees with selling most of the property to private development.
"It all depends on how it's done," said Ramstead. "I'd need more information on exactly what they intend to do and build there before I'd say yes or no."
Ramstead said the area surrounding Bay Beach "has tremendous potential," something town hall hasn't been able to capitalize on to this point.
"The shops and community businesses don't seem to be thriving as you'd expect on such a nice beach property," he said. "If what is planned will make the whole of Crystal Beach elevated, then that could be a good thing, but if public access is negatively impacted in any way, then that's no good. I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
Our current council should be shackled and whipped. They have done nothing for our community since election day when all their election promises vanished, as did the integrity of Fort Erie. We, through the current council are the laughing stock of the Niagara Penninsula ..... I am embarrased to be a citizen of Fort Dreary.
Personally. I would like to see the entire coucil and Mayor IMPEACHED, with the exception of Noyes and Steckly. They ( Noyes and Steckly) are the only ones that have kept their heads on their shoulders and not stuck up someone's butt.
What has it cost us since the election? We cannot wait another 853 days until the next election to curtail this path of doom ..... the town will be bankrupt !!!!!! Even though they RAISE our taxes to a rediculous amount.
Stop the insanity now !!!!!!!!
I try to get to as many council meetings as possible. Not with an agenda but to keep informed. I watch everything that is on Cogeco as well as reviewing all posted agendas and minutes. I do not always agree with anyone on council and when I don't I make my feelings known to that member either by private e-mail or by personal discussion.
I also believe that the "Queen of Rudeness" is calling the kettle black. You rudely insult some members of council and some members of staff continuosly.
While I think that that is wrong, in a free society you have the right to be rude. But at least be honest and admit that you are rude.
The Crystal Beach Strand is a blog that is intended to be provocative. I intentionally make fun of certain councillors and the mayor in the same vein as satirists have done for centuries. (I can only hope to achieve the level of cleverness as exemplified by The Daily Show; This Hour Has 22 Minutes; The Rick Mercer Report and even my personal favourite, Mad Magazine.) Whether it is rude is certainly in the eye of the beholder. I would admit to being disrespectful. The rudeness shown at Bay Beach was, IMHO, due to the fact that Martha & friend were in a public place and had every right to be there. The person who confronted her had a right to express his opinion, but had no right, IMHO, to throw her off the beach. Just as I've seen certain council members, during the course of the public proceedings, interrupt and call other councillors names. They are public figures in a public place and to act in that way is, to me, rude and unprofessional. I may say rude things (according to you) in a blog that I pay to keep active in a place that can or cannot be accessed by free will that you can also choose to ignore and not visit. Or you can give your opinion, which you have done.
I am not an elected official; I am just a blogger, giving my opinion and poking fun at people who I think deserve it. If that's rude then so be it. YMMV.
To accuse people of being (allegedly) corrupt of misappropriating funds (alledgedly) of having their hands in the pockets of outside interests (allegedly), etc., etc. (allegedly). is not rude. It is far beyond the pale of rudeness.
It is rabble-rousing (allegedly), fear-mongering (allegedly) and tending to incite violence (allegedly).
THE EDITOR who claims she is only a blog owner and community activist is guilty of these things and more (allegedly).
One can allege that people are corrupt, etc. which I have done. I do not accuse. To do so, I would have to back that up with a police report and certain documents. That's not to say that it won't happen. It's just that I do not, at this time have the proof that I need to go further. I do not incite to violence; my only weapon is my words, as in, "The pen is mightier than the sword."
I take my cue from other investigative journalists who smelled smoke and provoked until someone came forward with the truth and the proof. I am convinced that there is something very rotten in the state of Denmark and I'm not alone; not by a long shot. Obviously you don't agree with me, but, if you are the person who goes to meetings and watches Cogeco, don't you sometimes get the vibe that a lot of things are too pat and that it looks like everything was decided long before council meets. Don't you want to know why your taxes are so high? Do you talk to business owners? Have they told you of the difficulties they've had getting their businesses up and running? Have you talked to people who don't have cars about the transportation problems? Have you talked to young children who are worried that there won't be any trees left by the time they're grown up? Have you talked to seniors who are having a great deal of difficulty making ends meet? Not all these problems can be put at the door of the town policy makers, but those are the issues facing the residents of this community. It seems that the present administration has its priorities all out of whack, IMHO. I'll continue to do what I do and you can call it anything you like; anything but violent or fear-mongering - unless you consider fear of town bankruptcy - a very real possibility - fear-mongering. Every town needs a rabble rouser (I'll proudly take that title)- and a village idiot. I hear there's an opening for an assist-to-the-village-idiot, BTW. The Village Idiot-in-Residence (fill in the blank) I hear just returned from the Annual Village Idiots Convention. (tm Woody Allen.)
To the critic of the editor
I may not always agree with the editor but shew an I have some thing called.....
Freedom of thought and expression- Charter of Rights and Freedoms( try reading it someday)
I say the town council and staff ARE CORRUT AND INCOMPENTENT!!!!
and since thay refuse to conduct a forensic audit of the town, they are confirming my acusation and if that is rude...TOO BAD!!!
23% tax hike and all the other damages done by these idiots ( steckley and noyes need to grow balls and take on these thieves)
The editor and i and ANYONE ELSE CAN SAY WHAT THEY FEEL!
if you cannot handle the freedom of thought MOVE to North Korea.
most of the rest of us that THINK will continue to speak out
just like you do aginst the editor-eh!
to bad you STILL have not addressed the ISSUES AT HAND
It is violation of my rights under law for anyone to call me thief without proof. It is a violation of my rights under law for anyone to call me corrupt without proof.
Maybe you ought to read the Criminal Code of Canada or has your lawyer advised you of it whenever he visits.
Does that mean that you work at town haul or are an elected official? Sounds like it. Here's the deal: It is my opinion that there is rampant corruption in Fort Erie Town Hall. It is my opinion that there is massive incompetence in Fort Erie Town Hall. It is my opinion that a forensic audit will bring a lot of this to light - if people at town hall don't get to their shredders before they are locked down. I am soooo glad that Andre Marin's office will be investigating nursing homes. YAY! But I suppose, those who have accused some nursing homes of being corrupt and incompetent were in violation of the Criminal Code according to your interpretation of the code. Whomever they are, as well as the ombudsman's office, should be hailed and encouraged in their investigations. They are true heroes. Don't you understand that the great advances and social changes were brought about by people who had the guts to come forward and draw attention to abuses and demand investigations? I call for a complete investigation of the Economic Development and Tourism Corporation as well as the Gaming Development Corporation because I am of the opinion that those separate and unaccountable rogue corporations are corrupt and have been for several years. They should be abolished, and all records sealed and subject to a criminal investigation. Is that clear enough for you?
Your position regarding corruption has always been very clear to me. However I doubt very much that anyone will investigate anything just because you THINK they should. I believe any investigation will only take place if you or someone else privides bonifide cause rather than rumours or idle speculations.
Why don't you take up action yourself (like peole who buy their own beachfront). Gather your toops and collect some cash. Sue the town, the development commission, the gaming commision. File criminal charges against these alleged thieves.
I know, I know, you would rather just hurl ubsubstantiated charges instead of actually have to do something and offer proof.
Actually that's very good advice - and it is being done. Make no mistake, this newsblog is not just a vehicle for my own opinions. It has galvanized support and there are definite plans and efforts in the works to expose and charge those who are corrupt, but it takes time and it takes guts for people to forward in this small town and risk public condemnation for being a whistle blower. Stay tuned. There is much at stake, in particular, the future of Fort Erie. You may see things differently; that everything is just hunky-dory. Good for you. Bad for the next generation.
BTW, there are national news organizations that have picked up the scent of corruption in Fort Erie and certain of us are working with them gathering information and offering leads and people to interview. Apparently Fort Erie has a very dicey reputation in some powerful circles on the provincial and federal levels - across party lines. We may soon find ourselves in the eye of a storm and notoriety well outside the confines of Fort Erie.
Aha! Now we have national news organizations. With the reputation they have developed over the years of being scandel mongers, ambulance chasers and planting snakes under any rock that doesn't have one (See: Talking heads on CBC, CNN, etc.) I would rather trust the ladies that gather in front of the post office every morning.
You aren't gathering any "leads". Your investigating journalism is about as credible as Heraldo Rivera.
National news agencies? Your sorry little group has neither the brain power nor any factual evidence. What you do have, as you have stated on numerous occassions,is your opinion! You truly are dilussional
A bit off topic, but was there a Frienship Festival this year? Heard nothing about it !!!
We're not playing slo-pitch anymore. We've been scouting by the bigs and they are appalled at what's going on in Fort Erie. That's what happens when people from the GTA move down here, people who know better and people who have contacts in the national press. Hopefully, it won't be long before the lid is blown off and I can sit back and write that book I've been working on for several years.
You can't believe how terrified everyone is at town hall. I hear they are digging bomb shelters behind the arena.
The big city boys are coming to get us. Oh me, oh my. They have connections with the national press. Oh what shall we do.
The last time I saw one of them guys he was getteing his Mayoral aspirations shoved up his keister.
They'd have trouble digging bomb shelters behind the arena since the land is on a stone escarpment. That's why they had to fill in an entire hill so that town hall could be built. Oh, and BTW, in the Ron Reinas piece where he bragged about the Leisureplex and town hall complex as his shining moment, he forget to let us all know what ever happened to the performing arts centre that was supposed to be part of the package. We're just getting started. Wait until people start looking at the bingos going back to when Russ Wilson and Doug Martin were conveners for the local hockey teams and the Friendship Festival. Good times.
So, like I have to ask again .... was there a Friendship Fesival this year?
Yes.
To the Town Brown Noser and Kiss Ass:
Do you really believe that you morons have a free run on this community?
Is it possible that higher levels of government and media are not paying attention? They are.
Have you not seen what is happening to the mayor of Vaughn?
Are you not aware of the scandals and criminality that has been exposed recently in many municipalities? As reported in the National media?
It would seem to me you are very afraid by the FACT that attention is now directed at the corruption in Fort Erie town haul.
It seems all you can do is attack anyone who has the right to question the failures of this council and staff- past and present.
As for your cowardly comment on the mayoralty candidates - EITHER ONE OF THEM WOULD DO A FAR BETTER JOB THAN THE "EXPERIENCE" WE HAVE SEEN IN DUG ROTTIN.
YOU FEARED THEM GETTING ELECTED BECAUSE YOU ARE LIKELY ONE OF THE CRIMINALS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED AND IN JAIL NOW IF THEY HAD BEEN ELECTED.
SO BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID BECAUSE FOR THE SCUM OF TOWN HAUL THEIR DAYS - AND POSSIBLY YOURS ARE COMING TO AN END. JUST WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
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