1. remove the speed bumps and get photo radar back
2. remove the speed bumps and hire more traffice cops to patrol the specific areas all day every day. Not only would the speed decrease but we would have safer neighbourhoods and the officers would pay for themselves with the tickets

Reply:
I would go along with removing the speed bumps and have the police do patrols in this area. All day and everyday is not realistic. It would have to done randomly. Also with all day everyday you probably would not issue too may tickets as one would eventually know where speed traps would be. As for photo-radar, I am opposed to it because the driver may not be the actual registered owner. Photo radar would have to prove who the driver actually is. There are times when my wife may drive my car and vice – versa

Remove the bumps and have police inforce the speedlimit

Reply:

First a disclaimer. I live on Queen Mary Rd.

I agree with you 100%. These speed humps do not do the intended job. From what I understand, Queen Mary Rd is not officially designated as a major thoroughfare. From the traffic I have seen, it should be upgraded to a major road. Also, that section is in serious need of repair. I would like for this road to be without any humps / cushions and have it resurfaced. I would like others to comment on this please. Now some bad news, I understand that they will be making the humps all the way across the road some time in November. Lets hope they change their mind.

I’ll give you a chance. Give me 3 reasons why i should vote for you and what changes you want to bring to council.

My Reply
Wow. This is an interesting letter. I do admit that spelling and grammar are not my greatest strength. Don’t worry about it Mike, you made a few mistakes as well.

Here is your unedited quote “I was genuinely interested in your campaign as a resident of Portsmouth District, but then I relaized you’re just the village idot with no real campaign objective.” Note the word relaized and idot. I can not be an expert at everything. I do have pretty good knowledge with computers. I have excelled with mechanical aptitude test to a level to be accepted in the military as an Air Traffic Controller or Meteorological Technician ( first and second choices) so I do have some good skills . OK. You asked for 3 reasons.

1) I have worked for others and have been self employed. I do understand that the most important thing for any community is for the continuous introduction to new business. Businesses come and go. My very first business was in 1985. It was a video rental business. I sold it 2 years later because I realized the changing trend. You may say “So what. “ Because I was in a trend business I realized that there are times you have to get out while you can. I sold this business before it became a loss. As I said before businesses come and go. I worked for a well know outsourcing company providing tech support for a well know line of digital cameras. I was called Mr Negative because I said that they will not have the contact forever. I stated that the Cdn dollar was too high and made them non- competitive. They said we keep on getting good reports and the client would never switch. About three months after I quit they lost the contract due to … “Canada being to expensive”. Here is more prophetic news. I doubt this company will be in Kingston much longer. Here is why 1) Canadian dollar to close to parity 2) Possible tax in the US on any calls leaving the US that are outsourced. 3) This company is expanding in Asia. This is public information. I just hope I am wrong on this because lots of people will lose their jobs. I try and look at things from a realistic analysis, not emotional. So the short answer to this is that I will work to support business coming here. I want to make Kingston the first choice Not Bellville. We had first choice for the Casino. We blew it. Now another community is getting the tax benefits.

2) I believe the community makes better consultants than someone 5 hrs away . Granted there are projects that do need professionals, but I can not think of any reason why a consulting company in Fort Eire, need to tell people in Kingston what they want in a park ( Lake Ontario Park). I believe even the concept drawings can be completed locally. Is this a project that St. Lawrence students can do. Question: Do we not have the expertise in house?

3) Downtown. I am asking people why they do not go downtown (if applicable) The number one answer by a large margin is parking. I noticed four lots that have signs for development on them. If they do get developed, what happens to parking. I understand that some people would like to get others to take the bus. Realistically, if you tell people to take the bus instead of their car they will just ignore you and take their car else where. So I suggest that we have a serious local study on what prevents people from going downtown.

4) Bonus Answer : I do listen and answer to all comments – see previous comments

My Answer . No. No and No

As for race. I am a happily married in an inter-racial marriage. I also have friends in various social groups from well to d to a friend of mine that was previously homeless for 2 years.

Now lets get to part one of the question. First a little recent history.
Aberdeen Street.. Although this area is not in my district it has been home to the famous – Aberdeen Street Party. The last non- student resident had enough of the public drunkenness of the students in the area and decided to sell his house. I believe that after a few years of escalating problems such as cars being flipped over , small boat being
burnt as well as a couch being burnt, people being passed out on your lawn as well as using their porch as a bathroom. Now lets go to present day Cualderwood. Residents in the Caulderwood area are not happy with the behaviour. I have had some residents in the area say that there are students that are being loud after midnight and urinating on their lawn. When they get approached by some residents they get told to FXXX OXX . So far we have not had the larger street party on Caulderwood. All people regardless if you are a full time or transient resident deserve to live in a peaceful environment. As for judging groups based on the actions of a few. Yes, it may seem unfair Why could we not have the students police themselves. How about having a representative for the students come and talk to me. Give me your ideas on how everyone can co-exist. Bottom line – I do not care which demographic group you belong to but some of the behaviour is unacceptable.

Harold Hemberger

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Best regards….

You do realize how that sounds, don’t you?

My apartment is $950 a month, and climbing. I would hope that my opinion matters as much as anyone else, since I am paying as much as a mortgage to live here….

I like many of your opinions and ideas, but that sentence put me off a bit.

My Reply.

Sorry about that. It was not my intent. I will get to all apartments. What I planned to do is schedule apartments in about a one or two week block. (pending my work scedule ).I have already talked to Osgood, Brock King and Homestead regarding apartment visits. I will be posting notices approx 1 week before intended start dates. I will be honest if i plan to go out door to door and it is raining, would it not be better to be sheltered. Also, I am also shy of the $1,000 mark for my apartment as well so i did not mean any disrespect.

Harold Hemberger

First, what is your position on bike lanes, and a “pedestrian friendly” downtown? For the record, I oppose both, as a waste of money, impractical, a surefire invitation to more gridlock and less parking, and as blatant left-wing pandering to the vocal “Green at all costs” minority in this city…

Second, what is your ideas to improve life for those of us who do not live in Portsmouth Village? That is all the incumbent talks about, as if the rest of us don’t exist…

Hope to see you during your campaign…

My Reply.

Bike Lanes. I support a person’s choice on how they want to travel whether it is by bike or car and get from place to place in a sage manner. Rather than dedicated bike lane we should be able to make the lanes a little bit wider to accommodate bicycles. This would make it safe for both motorist and the cyclist ( potholes aside) If it is a 4 lane road than just the right lane could be made wider. I have heard some cyclist do not like the bike lanes as they tend to be confusing. One thing that really bothers me is there are cyclists that disregard the rules of the road. ( And yes motorized vehicle drivers are guilty as well but to a much lesser degree). We need enforcement to increase for cyclist going through stop signs and red lights at a high rate of speed. Although technically illegal, I could accept a bit of leeway if the cyclist comes to a stop first. I realise that you may not of asked about road rules but I decided to include it since they are both safety issues.

Pedestrian Friendly Downtown . – I am assuming you mean closing of blocks of downtown to traffic. I would support this only for special events such as Buskers Rendezvous not on a permanent basis. You are correct regarding taking away parking. We are losing one of the most important elements to down town and that is ample parking. If we tell people to take the bus, walk or ride your bike it will make people feel less welcome and shop elsewhere. I notice there is a sign for development at the parking lot at Brock and Ontario. Even without this being developed we still need parking. When I go canvassing in the Portsmouth District, there are three questions I will ask. One of the questions will be to determine why people do not come downtown ( or what needs to be improved). One thing I have noticed that parts of downtown looks atrocious ( Mainly the 300-400 block of Princess). I would like to do away with the ugly oil drum garbage cans and replace them with a nicer lockable garbage can. I would also like to see more recycling containers.
Improving life – This can be a broad topic . Do you mean in terms of jobs , the arts, infrastructure, affordable housing . ( I may of missed a few things) I will give a quick rundown. If you meant something else let me know

Jobs. Let me say that we cannot create jobs. We can only create an environment where businesses would want to set up their business . We have to welcome business opportunities. Although I do not like using the 4 pillars catch phrase. If we do not build the economic pillar than the social pillar will collapse.

Arts – Currently believe we have plenty of arts that are in the works so this may not be an issue

Infrastructure – I am a firm believer of a third crossing. Infrastructure has to looked at on a priority basis. I am not sure why some streets that have a very small crack gets resurfaced while some rough roads like Queen St, Rideau, Montreal , parts of Princess , Queen Mary Rd ( my district) and many others make for an uncomfortable ride.

Affordable Housing – First according to an US real estate group . – affordable housing does not affect housing values. Kingston does need more affordable housing . Perhaps we can learn from organizations like Habitat for Humanity for providing affordable ownership. As well co-op housing can be a partial solution.

Whoever is in council should represent their constituents. That being said, they should also represent the city as a whole.