Feb 7
Here is my campaign commitment. “I will personally try and attempt to visit every single resident in the Portsmouth District.” I need to know if there are any other common issues that my possible constituents are concerned about . I look forward to speaking with you.
Harold Hemberger
Nov 13
Hello
My name is Harold Hemberger and I will be running in the 2010 election for city council in the Portsmouth district of Kingston.
Like a lot of people, I have been playing the role of an “armchair general” providing my own comments on how council should conduct its business. After a few debates with people I know, I kept on hearing “Why don’t you run for council”. After providing some personal thought, I decided to put those words into action. I have officially registered myself as a candidate on January 4th.
I will provide on this main page the core reason why I believe we need to take a new direction for November 2010. I will ask this simple question. What is the most important idea for having a more prosperous city? Answer. Business! We must make business more welcome and remove barriers that make businesses go down the highway to another community. The best example that sticks in most people’s mind is the casino in Gananoque. Our loss, Gananoque’s gain. However, will still drive there supporting another city’s economy. This has to change. Business is the backbone any community’s economy. Businesses employ people. Employed people spend money to contribute to our economy. The more people we employ the more people that can get off social assistance. We also have to be flexible with zoning changes but at the same time be sensitive to residential zoned areas.
Another reason that I am running for city council is that I strongly believe that we need to act on a third crossing near the LaSalle Causeway. The volume of vehicles demonstrated by wait times should be proof that we need this crossing.
Another major issue is consultants. It is my belief that we are spending way too much on outside consultants. We should be using the talents we have employed at City hall as well as consulting with our own citizens.
This is just a small sample on my beliefs. Please explore the rest of this website to see various topics to have a better understanding on where I stand on various issues. Registration is only required if you want to leave a comment.
If there is a topic that I did not cover, register and ask it in the section below.
If you have Twitter you can follow me. Twitter Name: haroldhemberger
Nov 13
Here is the spot to ask me some questions (even if you disagree). Questions will be moderated before being posted. This is to prevent offensive post from being shown. As long as it is clean I will post any view point. Update. I decided to chance the name of people to thier initials. This is for privacy. This may encourage more people to comment
Jul 19
Lately I have been getting a few comments about my postings on student issues mainly related to late night partying. I am not censoring any of the letters that were posted. I have posted them in there entirety as well as replying to them. Now what I would like from the student population is to contact me. I would like to hear ideas on how relationships can be improved between full time residents and the students. Let’s talk and work together
Email me at harold@haroldhemberger.com
Jul 2
I have released my campaign flyer. For those of you that would like to look at it before it comes to your house you may see it below.
Jun 17
I have noticed that traffic has picked up on this site on a daily basis. It is sooner than expected but that is great. I am in the process of planning on of the most important items on my to do list before the election. That is meeting with you the people. As part of my commitment it will be personal. By personal, I mean you will not speak to a volunteer . You will actually get to see me out on the road – working for my vote. No summer holidays for me. If you want to know which street I will be on just follow me on Twitter “haroldhemberger”.
If you have Twitter you can follow me. Twitter Name: haroldhemberger
The current traffic calming measures on Queen Mary Rd / Johnson St (between Bath Rd and Portsmouth Ave. do not seem to be working. I have noticed that vehicles do not tend to slow down on these speed cushions due to the fact that some vehicles wheelbase allows it to go very easily over the edges of the bump. I have also seen people go to the bicycle lane to avoid these bumps. I may also add that the bumps are smoother that the rest of the road. The way I will handle this is when I am out campaigning I will ask each person what they would prefer. My ideas are
UPDATE: It is my understanding that these speed humps will be extended fully in the fall. Hopefully the rest of the road will also be smoothed.
Jun 4
The Princess St Promenade is a special event to see how closing a stretch of Princess St from Division to Ontario St will pan out. If this is a success it could be made an annual event. Lots of merchants in the downtown area were in support of this so let us show them some support. It will be on Saturday July 31st from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Here is a facebook page on the topic.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114123971945133&ref=ts
Apr 23
One project that I would like see happen, is to improve the downtown area even more. In order to improve downtown we first have to determine why someone would not come downtown to shop. This is a project that does not require out of town consultants. One of the questions that i will be asking people as i go door to door during my campaign will pertain to why you may not go downtown. Here are a few of my personal concerns. I have noticed a number of times ( mainly in the 250-low 400 block of Princess Street) that there is an awful amount of litter all over the sidewalks and roads. In my opinion we need to do two things (1) Replace the ugly used oil barrels with a nice garbage containers that lock. 2) We need recycling containers downtown as well. Another area that may need attention is parking. It is unrealistic to say to people to use other modes of transport such as bicycles or the bus. This would just make people go to where it is more accommodating for them.
So when I come knocking on your door, I will be asking you if shop or visit downtown, and if not , why. I will also ask how would YOU would like it improved. You will be the consultant.
Mar 6
Some things in this article may be a repeat of some others. I will layout why we should build a third bridge.
1 )I have had to cross the causeway a number of times for work during various times of the day ( day, evenings and midnight shifts) so I have seen traffic volumes during different times of day as well as different days of the week. From the west of the causeway, traffic can be backed up on Queen Street to Clergy as well as some parallel streets such as Princess St.. Adjusting light timings will not help. The lights on Ontario Street are timed OK if you get them just right. One problem is people making turns and then stopping in the intersection. Even if we try and teach people good driving habits this will still be an issue. On the east I have seen traffic backed up on Hwy 15 near the old Base hospital. CFB and RMC does have some staggered time (3:00, 3:15, 3:30, or 4:00). Even without the construction going on, traffic is a problem. In a March 12th Kingston Whig Standard article, the fire chief ( Harold Tulk”was quoted as saying “It’s common sense that a bridge will be effective,” said Tulk. “In the meantime, we recommend these traffic signals controlled by technology. It could be good for many years, for 10 or 12 years out.” – end quote . After 10 years the environmental study will have to be restarted and will more than likely cost even more.
2) The causeway is a major crossing point for ambulance and police. Even though there are fire departments on both sides of the water, There are fire trucks coming through with lights I have seen emergency vehicles get delayed because of traffic.
3) when i first arrived in Kingston in 1982, I was posted at CFB Kingston. There was talk for a crossing as well. During this time many subdivisions in this area did not exist.
4) From my vantage point at work (RMC) as well as getting to and from work, I can see how traffic backs up. It is not just a CFB /RMC problem.
5) Before I became a resident of Kingston, I lived in St. Catharines. For anyone that does not know, the Welland canal goes to Lake Eire to Lake Ontario passing through St. Catharines. The Welland canal also has a few bridges exactly like the current causeway bridge. I remember the bridge getting stuck in the up position a few times. Luckily St. Catharines has a few other bridges including on tunnel nearby.
6) We also need a by-pass for the 401 in case it is closed due to an accident from Hwy 15 to Montreal St.
( This may even help to argue a case for funding). Navigating an 18 wheeler through the causeway then downtown may be tricky. Even more challenging would be through Kingston Mills. If traffic currently would be diverted through downtown it could create a big problem.
7) This crossing would also complement the John Counter widening.
In conclusion, I believe that this bridge is a requirement to reduce traffic, increase public safety and reducing pollution from cars stuck in traffic. I would encourage the city to seek out Federal funding through such programs such as ” The Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund” as well as similar Provincial funding.
While talking to some full-time residences in the St. Lawrence College area there was a great concern about houses being converted to house students. The homeowners do not want Calderwood Dr. to become another Aberdeen St. Those not familiar with Aberdeen St. it is the site of an unsanctioned event that use to coincide with Queen’s Homecoming. Here is a link to a partial listing of what happened in this area last year http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=1224962 . The last non-student house on this street was just sold a few years ago because it was getting to much for him. (As a side note: Even though last years party had less people, There were more arrest per 1,000 people and also there was lots of rain that day so i think it is too soon to label it a success). Another concerns is late night parties, public drunkenness, loud music late at night, etc. This is a very valid concern. If you are a resident in this area, and you have some concerns ( and that includes students) , I would like to hear from you. You can contact me via email at feedback@kingstonelection2010.com . I can also be reached at (613) 877-4540.
Update – I do track where hits on my website come from. – I have noticed that i was referred to from Craigslist. Someone was asking if I am against student housing. The answer is no. The problem is in one neighbourhood is public drunkenness, and i hate to be graphic but, urination and defecation outside on other people property and loud parties way past midnight. Nobody is against having students. It is always the behaviour of a small group that ruins it. I do not believe the poster on Craiglist contacted me, so if you are concerned about what i have written, I welcome for you to contact me. Lets Talk
Harold
Jan 20
This is a letter that was submitted today to the Whig Standard
Looks like council is trying to kill the Poker Run
While I was at the Council meeting on the 19th of January, I observed various councillors saying good bye to a popular event. – The Poker Run. I am not sure if these councillors think of the economic implications this decision may have. Here is what I observed.
One councillor made a blatant class warfare, racial, sexist comment – His quote ” Poker Run is a rich white man’s event” . Guess what!! People with money will spend money which helps hotels and restaurants (plus other shops) – that means more hours available to work .Some one that spoke to me said ( not a councillor)” It will just be a few days lost work. My comment: If there are more events banned that that is even more hours. and also some people may really need and want those extra hours. Another councillor (paraphrasing) hinted that the reason the Poker Run is being selected was timing. Someone had to be first. So reading between the lines we can expect more.
Some councillors just do not want the Poker Run
One member of council is for carbon offset credits but realizes that if the boats go elsewhere that will not force them to pay for offsets, It is not going to help the environmental cause ( hats off to Councillor Foster for this piece of common sense) . I have to give credit to councillor Hector for asking if just the Poker Run is being targeted. I did also get the impression it is a class warfare among some councillors . While another councillor mentions the cycles of the government scaring us with climate doomsday and he reads off the years 50’s 70’s and 90’s, he failed to mention that the 70’s was about global cooling – nice job leaving that out. There were also a few that wanted to spend more time to determine what effect offsets may have ( at least they do not want to rush into that.) Since one councillor did hint that this could just be a start ( last month they did mention the Snowbirds) I have a question? How much of a “carbon footprint” will be left by the celebrities and people coming to visit for FebFest. . What about the bid for the Memorial Cup. What about all the cars and buses and the refrigeration for ice. Will council end hockey games at the arena for the same reason. We cannot ’Sustain’ a healthy economy if we do not allow event to come here that bring much need money to the economy. The usual strategy when banning things is incremental change because it is harder to notice. Let’s stop this banning things before it gets too late.
Harold Hemberger is running for council this year in the Portsmouth District
end of letter
One item that i would like to ad reference carbon footprint. How do they come up with the calculations. You can not honestly say engine size. If that was the case there would be no need for my car to get hooked up to get tested every 2 years. It gets hooked up because they do not know my emmissions. Right…
