The Bay Beach Properties (at least the south portion) are safe from sale or development until at least after the Municipal Election on October 27.
That is thanks to a bold move by four councillors on Fort Erie Town Council on Monday, May 26, 2014.
They used their power to push through a motion that protects our public beachfront property. Don Lubberts brought forth the motion:
THAT: No further consideration shall be given to a possible private residential development on the Bay Beach uplands located on the south side of Erie Road, and further
THAT: The Bay Beach uplands located on the south side of Erie Road shall no longer be marketed for sale.
(Carried with Steckley, Hill, Lubberts and Collard voting in favour)
The built up to the vote was the best part of the evening for those of us who sat through years of being ignored by town council over the fate of the Bay Beach Properties. The audio is available now on the town website. It's short, so enjoy listening to Martin bluster and Passero doing his best Eddie Haskell impersonation.
As if they knew it was now safe on Bay Beach, the Fowler's Toads have reappeared! About fifty toads were spotted along Bay Beach and toad tracks were seen at the public beach. While others make fun of our concern over the Fowler's Toads, they may not be aware that the endangered species acts as a indicator of a beach's overall general health. It is very important that the Fowler's Toads are allowed to flourish and share the beach with us. They were in great danger if the Molinaro Project was to continue. Their natural habitat at Bay Beach would have been destroyed during the construction. The MNR did sign off by allowing the plan to include a Toad Habitat on the property, but most believe that would have not worked.
So, the toads and the people will have the run of the public beach, thanks to the courage of the four councillors. Brave, because they have endured almost savage attacks since they were clearly elected in the election of 2010. Compliance audits, conflict of interest lawsuits, bad press, stalking, phony police reports, and the venal ministrations of a group of sore losers from the north end of town have been done to thwart the four from doing what they were elected to do: represent the people whose voices were ignored by the previous council.
MORE GOOD NEWS: The Molinaro Billboard sign at Bay Beach has come down and the sales trailer will be removed, according to CAO Tom Kuchyt, by June 14.
MORE GOOD NEWS: The Molinaro Billboard sign at Bay Beach has come down and the sales trailer will be removed, according to CAO Tom Kuchyt, by June 14.
The voters need to show their gratitude to them for the saving of our public beachfront property on October 27.
The ninjuice are saying "the 4 cost the town 2.5 million? Really? Is this what we can look forward to everytime a senseless, ill planned, expencive development doesent sell the way it was supposed to? There may be somemore of this whining if things keep going the way they are. What next? The track? That looks like a ninij star coming out of that horses ass on that logo. Alive and kicking indeed! Thats painfull to look at. Except if you support those fools.
ReplyDeleteHow, it's not as if the developer was paying for the property!! as for jobs, what jobs?? will they be full or part time and what is the pay? no one can answer that!! What is the real reason for Martin, Passero and others like them to try to GIVE away waterfront lands??
DeleteYou didn't mention that the FOUR had death threats as well.
ReplyDeleteKim Craitor took the threats against him so seriously that he cancelled his planned attendance at a Shorewalkers meeting in Fort Erie.
These four men should be applauded for their courage and conviction.
Forgot about that. We know that such behaviour isn't coming for "our side" despite being accused of vandalism by Mia Russell. There have been "incidents" that were not even reported because, to do so, would encourage the great unwashed. One need only visit certain Facebook pages to see their mindset.
DeleteWe all worked to save our beachfront property for future generations to enjoy as a parkland. Now, can we get on with fixing it up? I would like to see it renamed as Rebstock Park or something similar to remind people of its rich history and its legacy.
Rebstock Park has a nice ring to it, and their wish was, that the people get to enjoy this pricless jewel known as Bay Beach, I can't thank the brave four, on Town Council, that with class and resolve, carried out the wishes of the people that elected them .I can hear the gnashing of teeth from Jarvis Street for miles around.
ReplyDeleteSpoiler Alert: expect a hit piece from James Culic in this week's Niagara This Week. He tried to get a comment from Don Lubberts after the meeting and was told, "No comment." What did you expect, James? Maybe leaking confidential information to the ninjas because you are getting flack from some people is not a good idea for a so-called journalist. Did I mention that another journalist was using his newspaper computer to write nasty things about me on a blog? He still has his job thanks to me not reporting him to his boss. I also hear that Mike Cloutier acted up at council, bellowing from the press desk about what was going on. Great representatives of the press you all are. (Yeah, and I do remember, Mr. Culic that you couldn't wait to run to Bonito when I took a picture of other people that accidentally included a mound of material that turned out to be his sleeping child. And then reported on it like it was "news." Did you learn that at journalism school?")
DeleteAnd I got sued by Jim Thibert for slander with taxpayer money.
I see that the other blog people have lost their minds over this latest turn of events. Had to do an number of revisions of their "facts" about the situation. At one point, they stated as fact that Shirley Grace signed a cheque to FEWPA from the FOCB. Wrong. Shirley says, "The so-called ninjas wouldn't know a bloody fact if they fell over it." Cripes they couldn't even get the state where Marcia is from right. But they know all and never lie. Ha.
ReplyDeleteGet over it. The people won this round and perhaps the whole enchilada. The beachfront land is the people's and it will and should stay that way.
Maybe some day Gregory Micheal will learn that when his blog is picked up by a rss feed reader app it sends out the original. And it does say that M. Carlyn is from West Virginia. Either they are just stupid or they have become more stupid, not really sure which.
ReplyDeleteAnd why have they not said anything about the refab of the Vertis plant in Stevensville. I think they are to obsessed with the goings on in the beach. And funny that none of the complainers on their new FB complaining page are even from the beach.
I fully expect the ninny ninjas (™ Shirley Grace) to ramp up the nastiness now that the Bay Beach Properties have been declared off-limits to development. Just in time for summer! Word is already spreading that the Bay Beach Properties have been saved and people are very, very grateful to the four. Crystal Beach has come out of a long, cold, dark period and things are happening. It will be THE place to be this summer, thanks to the many volunteers and people who care about The Beach. Maybe the ninny ninjas can work their magic (LOL) and revive the flagging Jarvis Street area and leave us alone.
DeleteI wish I could revel with you all and I am not trying to take the wind out of anybodys sails but the fact remains that the dark side scumbags will be back with a vengeance come October. It has nothing to do with what is right just dirty money for the ring leaders and wounded ego for their lowlife wannbes being so invested in something (so wrong) then failing.
ReplyDeleteBig apology to Mr Jardine for any heartache I have caused you as dirty dougs storm troopers are certain we are one and the same. I am sorry.
If it helps Sir, I will make it yet again official, HEY DARK SIDE SCUMBAGS I AM NOT MR JARDINE !! yeah that means you Bonito, Peter k, Marina,Leslie, little jimmie and dougie. There is a bus leaving for Burlington, be on it all of you. Asswipes.
I know that you are not George Jardine. I am also very much aware that the voters cannot become complacent. They must vote and help these guys to victory again. We don't even know for sure whether they have the will to run again. No one would blame then for walking away. They were elected by the voters and they have incurred thousands of dollars in legal bills because of the sore losers in this community who don't like the change in the balance of power.
DeletePS.
ReplyDeleteand a very BIG well done to the FOUR. The beach should be named after them and all the little people who have fought so hard to keep it public.
Yeah ..... call it 1812 Bicentennial Beach. Works for me.
DeleteIt is very important that the Fowler's Toads are allowed to flourish and share the beach with us.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the MNR directed that a safe haven be built on the beach to protect them from human contact. Has that just gone away?
If you would read up on the Fowler's Toads, you would find that they are shy creatures. At present, they do not need a "safe haven" on the Bay Beach Property to protect them from human contact. They just need to be left alone where they now reside, which would have been destroyed by the massive high rise project.
DeleteSomehow we just blew $2.5 milion. Yet there is a beautiful waterfront property sitting pretty in the asset column of the Town of Fort Erie balance sheet right where it belongs. What does it look like when you blow $2.5 million? It looks pretty much exactly like the stupid P3 deal we've been trying to unwind for the last four years which impossibly proposed that the good people of the Town of Fort Erie give this land to a private developer for free ! In which case, the town balance sheet would be showing zilch in the liquid asset column. This is basic accounting and no finance professional ever came out on the record to say that the P3 deal represented a good return on investment to the Town of Fort Erie. Lots of spin doctors sure did but … where are they now …
ReplyDeleteFunny you should say that. I was spring cleaning and trying to get files in order and I came across the notes I took at the Superior Court hearing in Toronto (expensive loss for some brave local residents.) In his remarks to the judge, the lawyer for the Molinaros stated that the "adjusted value" of the amenities offered in the P3 package was $4 million. Whoa. What ever happened to that? we all know that, after the plan was whittled down, the town was going to get a whole lot of nothing. Maybe a washroom down at the end of a corridor in the high rise main floor and a meeting room that could be rented for a price. Everything else was pretty much gone from the original proposal with its bandstand, pavilion and public washrooms in the sand.
DeleteOh, and the beach would remain public, although the people would have to walk through a gauntlet of flora and the toad habitat that would be designed to make the whole property look private, to access the beach. And the parking lots would be cleverly disguised as private lots as well. $4 million they said? Really.
That beach would be very hard to access especially for seniors and the handicap!! Their first problem would be trying to find an easy accessed, close parking spot!!!
DeleteThe Fort Erie Racetrack opened for its 117th season yesterday. So, I thought I'd take a look to see how it went. Couldn't find a word about it in the local papers on line. Not even a mention in the Buffalo News. I did find that CHCH-TV had a story about the opening. It was mentioned that "they had a pretty good crowd."
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is that a similar sentiment was expressed on the opening day of the track in 2013. "Favorable turnout" was the expression used back then.
What do these terms really mean? How many people make up a "pretty good crowd" or "favourable turnout"? And 37 racing days (two per week) for the $500,000. the taxpayers of Fort Erie sent directly to the track plus the provincial (tax) funding makes poor business sense. As much as we would all like to see the Fort Erie Race Track survive and thrive, it must be able to do so without massive infusions of taxpayer dollars.
I recently was at Vernon Downs for a meeting and enjoyed staying in a 6-storey hotel that was right on the track. Even though there were no races the day I was there, it was beautiful to watch the horses train right out my window. The hotel had an indoor pool, kids' activities, restaurants, and conference facilities, making it an attractive year-round destination. Maybe something to think about for Fort Erie? On the way home I also passed by Finger Lakes Raceway and Batavia Downs. It seems there are plenty of racetracks in New York State, but I'm pretty sure the latter two don't have the nice hotel facilities that could attract people for longer stays. http://www.vernondowns.com/hotel/
ReplyDeleteI am one of the last to desire the tracks closing and hope somehow through a minor miracle it survives but you are right Nature Lover, something has to be done to make it far more attractive to an out of town crowd as local patrons cannot keep it afloat by ourselves.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately our local leaders of business and politics(thats u jimmie n dougie) are far too busy either feathering or protecting their respective nests to see outside the box on this( as you have just done). They have instead employed the first rule of politics which is when you are doing a real shitty job, divert the publics attention. Thus we have the Great Rape of Crystal Beach. This is win win for our 2 losers er leaders as they not only divert attention from all their failures but also give reason to draw breath to the dregs of our society, to say nothing of the bag of dirty money they will receive by ramming through the GIVING of a beach away. Now just throw the jobs word in there and you have the recipe for all the unthinking, ill informed, a few idiots, a lot of opportunists or the desperate to believe anything... to jump all over it.
Fort Erie Politics 101
Karma is looking for you dougie n jimmie
The local media did cover the opening of the race track, highlighting the campaigning that took place at the embattled oval. Photo ops galore for Andrea Horwath, Bart Maves and Wayne Gates. (I'm sorry, I had to LOL at a picture of Jim Thibert, all pimped out for the day.) Oy veh. Both Horwath and Tim Hudak have promised the return of the slots to Fort Erie if their respective parties are elected a majority. While it is true that the Liberals shut down the slots program at Fort Erie, there was no opposition from the NDP at the time to stop it.
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope that the race track can get to the point where it can pull its own weight, but I seriously doubt it - even if the slots are restored.
I am still concerned that the FOUR were only ONE HORSE PONIES. Get over the celebration over THE FOUR saving Bay Beach. Where are they over flooding in Crescent Park, services in Stevensville, the Kinsman pool, assistance to the obviously suffering North End? And don't forget all of the road and infrastructure proems that every are of GREATER FORT ERIE is in need of ? They have a majority, or don't they know that! Are they done? If they don't act soon to try and mend the obvious tear in the different districts in TOWN of FORT ERIE, why should they be re considered for another term? Time for them to use their power to benefit all areas of GREATER FORT ERIE !!! I an wondering whether you only print things that you agree with, If you nt to maintain an open opinion blog instead of an edited blog or whether you are actually trying to get a positive conversation going about how to move our area forward.
ReplyDeleteBig G: you think that the four are the only councillors. What about the others? I believe that if Passero or Shular brought up an idea or solution to a problem, there would be agreement. The budget was a good example of responsible representation: the lowest tax increase in years. True, the North End is suffering, yet the bloggers and pundits who live in the area spend all their time attacking the four. I was called out by them when I made a suggestion regarding the NPC marina in the comment section of local news source. They are so busy being negative about Fort Erie that they can't seem to get motivated to do something to improve their own end of town. Both Crystal Beach and Ridgeway have had citizens' groups working hard to assist local BIAs to make their end of town a better place. Stevensville has many community-minded people in its midst. Paul Collard has worked hard to get more services to Stevensville. It's a very complicated problem.
DeleteIf you've been here as long as I have, you probably know that poor planning (Thanks, Ron Reinas) has had a lot to do with the flooding problems in Crescent Park. The situation has improved, but it needs a lot more infrastructure upgrades to make the problem go away. The Kinsmen Pool is in the process of being taken over by the Underwater Recovery Unit. The study that was commissioned about the pool talked about the massive amount of money needed to refurbish the pool. Do you think that giving $500,000. to the race track was a good idea? I don't, but council approved the gift. That money was accrued by cost-saving by this council. It was in the reserve fund. Could that money have been used for the Kinsmen Pool? Perhaps, but I didn't see any councillor ask for that money to go towards the pool. You must also know that for years the pool was not properly maintained and it was allowed to fall to ruin. Whose fault was that?
Like everything, there are no easy, quick solutions.
maybe there Big G you should asking these questions to a mayor and his entourage who has been around DECADES and watched all this happen, not a couple of coucillors who have been around a short while fighting vicious personal attacks from the old guard who caused all of this......
DeleteNice Try on honest open dialogue ....
Don't expect the ninny ninjas to hold "their" councillors accountable for the lack of growth in the North End, they're too busy reporting about me getting pulled over for expired tags. Cripes, even the local crazy-guy-everyone-is-scared-of was on hand to take pictures. The problem is being resolved. Have to bite the bullet and expect to pay large for my old car to pass the e-test.
DeleteLet me make sure I understand this correctly. You were driving a car with an expired sticker. A car which you know will not pass an e-test and is illegally polluting our air. I would like to hear Nature Lovers comments on this.
DeleteI know that you're just trying to stir up trouble but the fact is that I have ready spent $1000. to replace entire exhaust system, but it still won't pass because of the "service engine" light is still on. Common problem but it can be expensive as I was informed by the e-tester that it would automatically fail. I paid for extensions but ran out of time and money.
DeleteNow, go play with the ninny ninjas.
You know people have too much time on their hands when they are "reporting" on someone having an expired licence plate tag. Oh no, mine is about to expire...I better watch out! Don't even waste your time responding to these fools. Having been fallowing the various local sites the past year or so, without making a comment, I find it absolutley insulting that these jackasses claim to represent the majority of the town of Fort Erie and they are trying to improve it for the "community".
DeleteHold on Sharon, I am NOT a ninja. I am a reputable vehicle driver. I keep my cars maintained and do whatever is necessary to make sure that they comply with the Ontario emission standards. So don't go bad-mouthing me for expressing my concern.
DeleteBottom line ...... you drove a car on the road which was not only polluting the air, but without the current year's sticker. You got caught, you knew you were breaking the law, but you got caught. I would NEVER put myself in that position. I won't even go to the insurance issue, because if you were involved in an incident, there is no insurance company in the world that would have covered you.
$1000.00 for an exhaust system ..... boy, did they see you coming. "Service Engine light" .... common problem ....Yes. Expensive to remedy ........ NO.
To " Something in the Water" ..... what are you, a farmer? " FALLOWING the various local sites" ....... sorry Something ..... just kidding. I frequently post with typo's. Hey we are only human. Have a good weekend.
Hah I was waiting for someone to call me on my spelling mistake!
DeleteIan, I am glad that you are so law-abiding. I have always been as well. This time, I had some very tough choices to make and I chose to pay other bills rather than paying for the e-test that I knew my car would fail, merely because of a Service Engine Soon light. The exhaust system was done at a very reputable place and I knew that it would be pricey. I thought that I would be able to get it passed after that. Then I heard that the Service Engine Light indicator would automatically fail it on the test. I am a senior citizen now, receiving Canada Old Age Pension and Social Security from the US. It is all pro-rated so that, ultimately, I get as much (or as little) as the average pensioner. There is little room for extra expenses and the new exhaust system blew my budget all to hell. Don't even qualify for a refund after I paid income tax this year. This is my reality. When I became a landed Immigrant several years ago, my background in the States was thoroughly vetted, so much so that it took a few years to get all the paperwork in order. Not one blemish on my record or I would have been rejected. This year, I hoped to finally become a Canadian citizen. That costs about $200. Right now, I can't afford to do it. (There was some question about whether I could still vote in US elections and that question had been unanswered to my satisfaction until recently.) I apologize for thinking you were one of the ninjas, but they seem to be more concerned about what I do (or don't do) more than is healthy. And you must have gotten your information from the ninja site, so I made an assumption. As to their photographer friend: he's been charged with assault and other issues over the years. He has a long and troubled history of aggressive behaviour. His neighbours are afraid of him. He considers himself a "police snitch." I don't like that he and the ninjas know where I live. My car has been vandalized (I know, how can I tell?) Believe me, I am aware of their little games and drive-bys. The ninjas have engaged in a campaign to discredit me in this town. Actually, from what I'm hearing, their campaign has backfired on them.
DeleteNot to worry; our beachfront property is safe until at least October and that is a major victory for "our side." I'm trying to stress the positive that will happen now that the public beachfront is safe. I'm Happy!
M. Big G., think a moment, you have got to be kidding with your statement "If they don't act soon to try to mend the obvious tears in the different districts in the Town of Fort Erie, why should they be re-considered for another term?" Duh,
ReplyDeleteMAYOR MARTIN INIATED A COSTLY LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FOUR FOR A "CONFLICT OF INTEREST" WITH TESTIMONY SUPPLIED BY PESSARO AND SHULAR!
I believe Mr Big G is trying to perform what shrinks call transference of guilt on the most juvenile of levels.
ReplyDeleteThis Council carried out the endorsement of the renovation of the Point Abino Lighthouse that was started in martin's first term and carried then. There was a matching grant. It would not have been nearly as costly had the previous Councils spent some funds for upkeep. Sounds similar to the Kinsmen Pool.
ReplyDeleteOf course there is roadwork to be dealt with WHAT MUNICIPALITY DOESN'T HAVE POT HOLES?
This Council voted to go ahead with the new fire hall as well. They stopped the tread of escalating taxes, 35 % that martin approved of in his first term.
What about the significant rise, most in 15 years, of new permits in Fort Erie, in spite of martin's shout out that "Fort Erie is Closed for Business".
And Bob Steckley's reason for running for Councillor was to address the issues of basement flooding in Crescent Park, He LIVES there.
Ridgeway finally got it's facelift that I know had been in the works for years. There is a new police building or something as well.
Remember we lost Douglas Memorial on martin's first watch.
When people in Fort Erie had zoning issues, they were listened to. That is something new!
In response, this Council has done a fantastic job in my opinion, no more Ron Tripp or Heather Salter to give away Town property and they just had to get elected for Rino Mostacci to leave!
Ron Rienas as the Town Manager faciltitated the building of homes on lot's too small for septic tanks, so he came up with raised Septic tanks combined with Town water has caused flooding, down towards the Bernard Road, The Region does not sanction raised septic beds on small lots , the soil should be replaced after ten years, this has not happened , so the flooding continues, because of poor engineering, the storm water flows onto the beach and streams directely into the lake Erie . There is a problem of Green/Blue algae blooms on the shore, this stuff harbours some very nasty toxins along with E-Coli.The health of beach lovers, is at risk.!!
ReplyDeleteYou guys seem to be way off bas here. Just as the FOUR are. If this is your logic, then why did they vote against a Councillor at large solution. Then every taxpayer could be properly represented, and we could get rid of this one area against the other mentality. Or maybe Ridgeway, Crystal Beach ,Crescent Park, and Stevensville could separate and have their own municipality. After all is said and done you could call it THE FOURVILLE.. You people can't see past your own special interests. I had a conversation a few years ago with a past councillor, G.B, and he told me about all the corruption and issues with council He also said it will all be proved in a court of law and I would see what he meant. Six or seven years later the only ones that are in court are THE FOUR. I know you probably think they are being picked on, or there is some other drama involved. What if the are just plain dumb? Will you still idolize them for being one trick ponies. They spent all of their time on Bay Beach instead of trying to help the rest of the town. We have lost a number of staff at huge cost to the taxpayer because of THE FOUR, We may be sued by a developer who was not given an extension by the One Trick Pony Four, and I hope they fade into the past ASAP because they are basically not helping my taxes to decrease because of new development assisting the bottom line. They are actually scaring any development away with their stupidity. They have made us look foolish to anyone who would want to invest anything in this town. I was born in this town 65 years ago. My best summer job was running rides a Crystal Beach. I know what it was. and what it is today, and I honestly believe that THE FOUR and their followers must be blind. WE need development to drive municipal costs down per capita, otherwise the only ones who can afford to live he will be summer residents with lots of old family money and power. Maybe those are the real friends of THE FOUR.
DeleteWHAT, The reason the same four councillours are in court is because your Buddy G.B's friends - other council members and that is because they don't always vote with them or what the mayor or Jimmy T wants!! Council at Large well ask the folks in Niagara how they like that an I know Quit a Few that say it isn't working!!! Maybe you need to take your blinders off and look at what Doug Martin and his friends have done to this Town since he became Mayor!!
Delete