Gravenhurst Municipal Election; A Little Advice On How To Relate To All Constituents

Stay Tuned For Tomorrows Blog

WHILE I'M ON THE SUBJECT - PROPERTY, BUSINESS, AND INDUSTRY OWNERS NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN

CONSTITUENTS DON'T HAVE TO OWN PROPERTY, TO DESERVE COUNCIL ATTENTION

     IT IS A COLD, RAIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON, AND I'VE BEEN HUDDLED HERE, ON THE VERANDAH OF BIRCH HOLLOW, BECAUSE I LOVE IT THIS WAY. I HAVE ONE OF SUZANNE'S BRIGHTLY BLOCKED AFGHANS, DOUBLED ON MY LAP, AND A HEAVY SWEATER OVER MY SHOULDERS. I VERY MUCH LOVE A RAINY DAY, AND ESPECIALLY FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT, OVERLOOKING THE LITTLE SLICE OF PARADISE, WE CALL WITH CONSIDERABLE AFFECTION, "THE BOG." IT IS SO CALMING TO WATCH OUT OVER THIS BEAUTIFUL URBAN OASIS, AND WATCH AS THE MIST MOVES SLOWLY IN WAVES ACROSS THE MOOR. IT IS A VERY HAUNTED PLACE, BUT NOT BY GHOSTS. I CAN'T TELL YOU, HOW MANY STORIES, AND FEATURE ARTICLES, FOR PUBLICATION ALL OVER THIS PROVINCE, HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY SCENES JUST LIKE THIS, RIGHT FROM THE BOSOM OF GRAVENHURST. THE COLD AND DAMPNESS ISN'T UNCOMFORTABLE WHATSOEVER, BECAUSE WHAT MAY CAUSE ME TO SHIVER, PHYSICALLY, IS ALSO INSPIRING ME TO WHIP OVER THIS KEYBOARD, LIKE A COB OF CORN, IN PROFITABLE COMPOSITION; ANY WRITER WOULD BE FOOLISH TO RETREAT FROM SUCH AN ABUNDANT SOURCE OF INSPIRATION. I BENEFIT VERY MUCH FROM THIS LOCATION, AND OUR HUMBLE ABODE'S POSITION ON THE LANDSCAPE ABOVE THE BASIN. I AM NEVER WITHOUT A REASON TO WRITE, LIVING HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW. LOOKING OUT ON THE MISTY PINE AND BIRCH FOREST, ON OUR SIDE OF THE WETLAND, REMINDS ME, SOMEWHAT PAINFULLY OF LOCAL POLITICS. I RECALL A FORMER COUNCIL HAVING AN INTEREST IN SELLING OFF THIS BOG, POSSIBLY FOR RESIDENTIAL LOTS, AND IT UPSETS ME, THAT WE COULD HAVE FIVE MEMBERS OF THAT PREVIOUS COUNCIL, RETURNED FOR THE UPCOMING FOUR YEAR TERM. I WANT TO BELIEVE THEY'VE GIVEN UP AMBITIONS TO SELL THIS WETLAND OFF, BUT IT WOULD BE DAMN FOOLISH ON OUR PART, TO GIVE THEM THIS MUCH CREDIT BASED ON PAST PERFORMANCE. IT HAS INSPIRED ME TO WRITE ONE LAST POLITICAL COMMENTARY, PRIOR TO THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION LATER IN OCTOBER. I DON'T LIKE WRITING ABOUT POLITICS, ESPECIALLY OF THE LOCAL KIND, BECAUSE I WIND-UP MAKING MYSELF ANGRY; AND RAISING MY BLOOD PRESSURE. THAT CAN'T BE GOOD. BUT TO HOLD IT ALL IN, ISN'T A GOOD IDEA EITHER. I HAVE A NUMBER OF PERSONAL, HOT-BUTTON ISSUES, COUNCIL MAY COME TO TANGLE WITH, IN THE NEXT TERM OF OFFICE, SO I CAN'T PROMISE TO NEVER TAKE UP THE PEN AGAIN, TO FIGHT PERCEIVED INJUSTICE TO TOWN AND ENVIRONMENT. SUFFICE TO SAY, I'D RATHER WRITE ABOUT THE NATURAL ATTRIBUTES OF OUR TOWN, VERSUS THE POLITICS OF OUR DISCONTENT. THERE ARE TOO MANY POSITIVES OF LIVING IN THIS TOWN, TO BE BURDENED BY LOCAL POLITICS. TODAY, I'M UNBURDENING!
     THE NEWLY ELECTED GRAVENHURST COUNCIL, WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SHARP TEETH OF THIS BLOGGER, DURING ITS COMING TERM OF OFFICE. UNLESS THEY SET THEIR SIGHTS ON "THE BOG," OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WETLAND, OR PLAN ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DESECRATION, THAT STIRS MY PASSIONS. MY EDITORIAL BITE ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE. MY TEETH ARE A LITTLE DULLER THAN FOUR YEARS AGO, AND HONESTLY, I HAVE A LOT LESS INTEREST AS A MUNICIPAL COUNCIL REFORMER THESE DAYS, BECAUSE LIFE'S TOO SHORT. THE PRESENT COUNCIL WAS GOOD AT DEFLECTING CRITICISM, LIKE AN ALL STAR GOALIE TURNS AWAY SLAPSHOTS FROM THE POINT. THEY DECIDED EARLY ON, THAT GOVERNING WAS BEST DONE WITHOUT ANY ANNOYANCES FROM SQUEAKY WHEELS LIKE ME. BUT THANKS TO THEM, AND THE FACT I ALWAYS HAD A LOT TO WRITE ABOUT, DISAPPROVING OF THEIR WAY OF CONDUCTING BUSINESS, I GAINED A SIGNIFICANT READERSHIP OVER FOUR YEARS, AND BEFORE NOVEMBER, I WILL HIT 250,000 VIEWS; PART OF THIS NUMBER, BEING THOSE POLITICAL WATCHERS WHO AREN'T BEING SATISFIED ENTIRELY, READING LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE. SO THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION. IT DOES DEMONSTRATE, POSSIBLY TO THE LOCAL MEDIA, THAT THEY COULD INCREASE THEIR NEWS RELEVANCE, BY EXPENDING A LOT MORE INK COVERING COUNCIL BUSINESS. I WOULD RECOMMEND MORE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. THERE ARE A LOT OF STORIES SEEDED AT TOWN HALL, BUT IT TAKES SOME TIME TO FERRET THEM OUT. THIS NEW, SOFTER MEDIA, IS A DRASTIC REDUCTION, OF WHAT USED TO OCCUR IN SOUTH MUSKOKA, EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING, WHEN POLITICAL FIGHTS WERE THE GOING FARE, AND THE READERS LOVED IT! THE PUBLICATIONS WERE NOT IMPROVED AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, AND I WAS THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD-GAZETTE IN A CONSTANT DOG-FIGHT WITH THE BRACEBRIDGE EXAMINER; AND OUR KEEN AMBITION TO OUT PERFORM THE COMPETITION, GAVE THE READERS SO MUCH MORE NEWS FOR THEIR DOLLAR INVESTMENT. BOTH PAPERS HAD NEWS STAFF WHO COULDN'T BE FOBBED-OFF BY PRESS RELEASES. I'VE MADE THIS CLEAR TO A NUMBER OF COUNCILLORS, THAT THEY HAVE HAD A FOUR YEAR SAFE HAVEN AT TOWN HALL, BUT THAT COULD END SOME TIME SOON. THEY SHOULD PREPARE IN ADVANCE, FOR GREATER SCRUTINY. IF I WAS ASKED TO OFFER JUST ONE BIT OF ADVICE TO THE LOCAL MEDIA, IT WOULD BE TO COVER MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT THREE TIMES AS INTENSE, AS THEY DO AT PRESENT. CUT DOWN COUNCILLOR'S ABILITY TO GET OUT OF TIGHT SITUATIONS, WITHOUT ANSWERING QUESTIONS. TO DELVE BEYOND WHAT THE PRESS RELEASES CONTEND, TO FIND THE REAL STORY SMOKING IN THE BACK ROOMS.
     IT'S TIME FOR OTHER EDITORIALISTS, AND REPORTERS, TO UNSETTLE THE COMMONPLACES, AND STATUS QUO OF TOWN HALL. IT'S TIME FOR THESE COUNCILLORS TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUE WEIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THEIR POSITIONS, AND KNOW HOW INTENSE IT COULD BECOME, UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. I'VE TRIED TO WARN THEM ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, BUT THEY'RE SELF ASSURED, AND APPARENTLY, DON'T NEED ANY BARKING FROM THE CHEAP SEATS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE WHOLE REALM OF WISDOM, IS THAT IT IS OFTEN ACQUIRED TOO LATE; SORT OF LIKE SHUTTING THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSES ARE LONG GONE, AND SAYING "DRAT," BUT NOTHING SO PROFOUND AND ALLURING, TO BRING THE LIVESTOCK BACK. GRAVENHURST COUNCILLORS IN THE COMING TERM, NEED TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE DEBACLE STILL UNFOLDING, IN OUR NEIGHBOUR MUSKOKA LAKES, REGARDING THE DAM PROJECT AT THE BALA FALLS. THIS IS A MUNICIPAL IMPASSE THAT HAS COST TAXPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY, AND DIVIDED THE COMMUNITY. THE SAME THING CAN HAPPEN IN GRAVENHURST, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WHEN MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS ARE PRESENTED; ONE INVOLVING THE FUTURE OF THE FORMER MUSKOKA CENTRE. HONESTLY, THESE COUNCILLORS NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE ROSENEATH RESORT PROPOSAL, NEAR-DISASTER INVOLVED, BACK IN THE EARLY 1980'S, THAT DID DIVIDE THE PERMANENT AND SEASONAL RESIDENTS, OVER LAKE FRONT PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT. WHETHER OR NOT THEY KNOW IT, THAT DEBACLE INFLUENCED MANY POLICY DECISIONS THEREAFTER. OUR COUNCILLORS WILL NEED TO UNDERSTAND, HOW EASY IT WAS, TO POUND A WEDGE IN, BETWEEN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND THE INTERESTS OF THE MUSKOKA LAKES ASSOCIATION, AND ITS MEMBERSHIP. NO ONE WAS LAUGHING IN THOSE DAYS, EXCEPT REPORTERS, HAVING LOTS OF ABOVE-THE-FOLD NEWS STORIES EVERY WEEK. ROSENEATH WAS A MONSTER STORY, AND WE BLED-IT, FOR ALL IT WAS WORTH. BUT IF A COUNCIL, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE FOR THE INEVITABILITY, ANY MAJOR DEVELOPMENT ON THAT PROPERTY WILL CAUSE A STIR TO SOME GROUP, IT WOULD THEN SEEM REASONABLE, TO START INVESTIGATING THE POTENTIAL PITFALLS, BEFORE FALLING INTO ONE OR MORE, BECAUSE IGNORANCE WAS THE PREFERRED FORM OF BLISS.
     THE EDITORIAL PIECE BELOW, IS PRETTY MUCH THE LAST CLEAR DROP, OF MY CRITIQUE AND ADVISORY AMBITION, IN THE POLITICAL SENSE, DIRECTED TO THE FUTURE COUNCIL. IT IS ADVICE THAT I'VE PICKED UP, FROM FRONT LINE EXPERIENCE, WORKING AS A REPORTER FOR THE MUSKOKA MEDIA, COVERING NUMEROUS MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, DURING FAR MORE CONTROVERSIAL PERIODS THAN AT PRESENT. WHAT INFURIATES ME, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, IS THE FACT NEW-AGE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES, ALSO DEFLECT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRECEDENT; AS IF TO SUGGEST, ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED BEFORE THEM, ISN'T A BIG DEAL. NO NEED TO REFLECT BACK. AS AN HISTORIAN, IT'S HARD NOT TO BE OFFENDED BY THIS RECKLESS INDIFFERENCE TO THE WAY WE WERE, AS RELATES TO WHAT WE HAVE, AND WILL BECOME. IT DOES MATTER. ONLY A FOOL WOULD THINK OTHERWISE. NOT USING HISTORY AS A PLATFORM, IS THE EQUIVALENT TO TRYING TO RUN IN QUICKSAND. TRYING TO MAKE COUNCILLORS SEE THIS, AND APPRECIATE WHAT IT CAN MEAN TO HAVE HISTORY REPEAT, IN A MOST NEGATIVE WAY, JUST BECAUSE PRECEDENTS WERE NAIVELY IGNORED AS BEING IRRELEVANT. I'VE BASHED MY HEAD ABOUT THIS SO FREQUENTLY, IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THAT I'VE NOW GOT A FLAT SPOT ON MY FOREHEAD.
     SO HERE IT IS. MY LAST ADVICE TO CANDIDATES FOR COUNCIL. RETURNING OR NEW, DOESN'T MATTER. IT'S ADVICE BASED ON EXPERIENCE. I COME FROM AN ERA, WHERE EXPERIENCE WAS WORTH SOMETHING. I HAVE LITTLE RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T SEE THE VALUE OF EITHER EXPERIENCE OR PRECEDENT. I HAVE MY EYE ON A COUPLE OF COUNCIL HOPEFULS, THIS COMING TERM, I SUSPECT OF BEING OF THIS ILK, WHO SHOW EARLY SIGNS, THEY WOULD LIKE TO RE-DESIGN AND RE-DIRECT TOWN POLICY, TO SUIT THEIR OWN AGENDAS; THEIR OWN BELIEFS WE SHOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN WE ARE. I WILL BOUNCE BACK MANY TIMES IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, TO REMIND THEM OF THE CONSTITUENTS' DEMOCRATIC RIGHT, TO KICK THEIR ASSES OUT OF COUNCIL! THINK IT CAN'T HAPPEN? I'VE BEEN KNOWN TO MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLE HILL BEFORE. I CAN DO IT AGAIN. THERE'S A LOT OF ANGER OUT THERE TO HARNESS. I'D PREFER THAT WE COULD ALL WORK TOGETHER, BUT EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, AN ISSUE LIKE "THE BOG," PUTS US ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF GOVERNMENT POLICY; A PLACE I'VE GOT A GOOD, STRONG FOOTHOLD. HISTORIANS NEVER FORGET.
  
     JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T OWN PROPERTY, RUN A BUSINESS, OR OPERATE AN INDUSTRY IN GRAVENHURST, DOESN'T MEAN YOU ARE ANY LESS A CONSTITUENT. I HAVE CONCERN, THAT MANY COUNCILLORS, AND SOME COUNCIL HOPEFULS THIS COMING TERM OF OFFICE, HAVE A FAIRLY NARROW CONCEPT OF WHAT THE ELECTORATE ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE, WORKS AT, AND HOW THEY'RE FARING IN THIS REGIONAL ECONOMY. THE MOST FREQUENT REQUESTS OF COUNCIL, COME FROM PROPERTY OWNERS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS RATEPAYERS. YET EVERY RESIDENT OF THIS COMMUNITY, WHETHER THEY OWN THE HOUSE OR CONDO IN WHICH THEY DWELL, OR RENT IT FROM A LANDLORD, ARE RATEPAYERS; CONSTITUENTS, HAVING A VOTE IN THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION. THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH THE TOWN THAT ARE SELDOM ADDRESSED, BECAUSE FRANKLY, THEY ALSO BELIEVE, THAT UNLESS YOU OWN PROPERTY, YOU AREN'T ENTITLED TO HAVE A GRIEVANCE WITH LOCAL GOVERNANCE. THIS HAS BEEN A SITUATION GOING BACK CENTURIES, SO I CAN'T REALLY BLAME THE PRESENT TOWN COUNCIL, FOR NOT SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME WORRYING ABOUT CONSTITUENTS, WHO PREFER NOT TO OWN THE PLACE, IN WHICH THEY RESIDE. MY OWN PARENTS WERE LIFE-LONG RENTERS, AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAD LOTS TO SAY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND POLICIES, THEY NEVER APPEARED AS A DELEGATION TO COUNCIL, CAP IN HAND, ASKING FOR ANYTHING. THEY LEFT THAT UP TO THE LANDLORD TO DEAL WITH PRESUMED INEFFICIENCIES.     THEY WERE LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER CONSTITUENTS, WHO DON'T FEEL THEY ARE ENTITLED TO CONTACT THEIR WARD COUNCILLOR, TO ASK ASSISTANCE FOR ANYTHING. WE'RE STILL IN THIS SITUATION TODAY, WHERE MOST RENTERS, FEEL IT'S NOT THEIR PLACE TO TAKE A GRIEVANCE TO TOWN COUNCIL. THUS, IT'S QUITE EASY TO FOR COUNCILLORS, TO MOVE ON WITH OTHER BUSINESS. YET MANY OF OUR QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, STIR DEEPLY WITHIN THIS SILENT GROUP, AND IT BECOMES EASY TO ADOPT THE ATTITUDE, THAT "IF THEY WANT HELP, THEY'LL ASK FOR IT!" SOME TIMES THEY DO, AND MOST OFTEN, THEY DON'T. THERE ARE FOLKS WHO WILL GO HUNGRY, BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO REGISTER AT THE SALVATION ARMY FOOD BANK. THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE EMBARRASSED ABOUT ATTENDING THE LOCAL SUPPER CLUB AT THE UNITED CHURCH, BECAUSE OF PRIDE; AND THE FEELING THAT THEY AREN'T AS BADLY OFF AS SOME, AND SHOULDN'T BE TAKING UP A SEAT AT THE TABLE (BUMPING SOMEONE MORE DESERVING). THERE ARE MANY CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY, WHO NEED HELP, BUT WON'T ASK FOR ASSISTANCE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE A BURDEN ON SOCIETY, OR THE MUNICIPALITY. WE ALL NEED TO BE PERCEPTIVE TO THESE SITUATIONS, AND WHETHER THEY ASK OR NOT, THEY DESERVE OUR ATTENTION. THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS. THEY ARE CONSTITUENTS OF THIS TOWN, AND THROUGH THEIR LANDLORD, THEY ARE PAYING TAXES, ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT NOT REALIZE HOW MUCH. IT'S A PRETTY FAIR WEIGHT, BUT YOU WON'T SEE THIS STATISTIC COMING FROM TOWN HALL.
     NOT EVERY RENTER, OR CHILD OF A RENTER, HAS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. NOT EVERY PROPERTY OWNER, IS FINANCIALLY WELL OFF. IN THE MIX OF FOOD BANK CLIENTS, CAN BE RENTERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS, WHO HAVE FALLEN UPON HARD TIMES. THE SAME AT THE SUPPER CLUB. PROPERTY OWNERS CAN COME TO FACE DRAMATIC DOWNFALLS IN PERSONAL ECONOMY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. HARD TIMES KNOW NO BOUNDS. WE ARE ALL CONSTITUENTS, AND SUSCEPTIBLE TO ALL OF LIFE AND SOCIETY'S WOES; YET IT'S COMMONPLACE THESE DAYS, TO SEE OUR TOWN COUNCILS, IN MUSKOKA, AS HAVING THE ELITIST MINDSET. MUCH AS IF TO SUGGEST, THEIR ONLY CONCERN IS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF BUSINESS, AND NOT WHAT THEY CONSIDER, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SOCIAL AGENCIES, GOOD NEIGHBORS AND VOLUNTEERS TO CHARITABLE CAUSES. HOW MANY OF THE PRESENT COUNCILLORS HAVE ASSISTED THE FOOD BANK, WITH ANYTHING, OR HELPED OUT AT THE SUPPER CLUB? WHAT DO THEY KNOW OF THE TOTAL CLIENTS BEING SERVED, AND THE NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE, SOMETIMES WEEKLY? ARE THEY CONCERNED AT ALL, ABOUT THE RECENT REQUEST BY THE GRAVENHURST SALVATION ARMY, PUBLISHED IN THE LOCAL MEDIA, FOR MORE FOOD DONATIONS, AS THE DEMAND HAS RECENTLY INCREASED." DONATIONS ARE DOWN, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY MORE OF US, WHO HAVE LOST FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY, WITH INCREASING COSTS OF DAY TO DAY SURVIVAL. SOME ARE OF THE NEWLY UNEMPLOYED. MANY HAVE NEVER GOTTEN BACK ON THEIR FEET, AFTER LOSING THEIR JOBS IN THE PAST YEAR.
    THERE'S MORE TO RUNNING A TOWN COUNCIL! THERE IS GOING TO BE AN ESCALATION OF DEMAND IN THIS TOWN, FOR SOCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND THE GENEROSITY OF THE COMMUNITY, WILL BE NEEDED TO INFILL THE VOID! IT IS A TOWN COUNCIL ISSUE, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MANY OF US CONSTITUENTS, THAT THIS CROP OF COUNCILLORS HAS TOO MUCH INTEREST IN GETTING DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY, OF WHAT IS MOST NEEDED IN THIS TOWN, AS REGARDS SOCIAL SERVICES. HOW MANY MEETINGS HAS THE TOWN COUNCIL REQUESTED, IN FOUR YEARS, WITH THE CAPTAIN OF THE SALVATION ARMY, FOR EXAMPLE, TO GIVE THEM THE ASSISTANCE DETAILS, AND PROJECTIONS, OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE, TO SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS? WE NEED TO KNOW THIS, BEFORE WE ELECT ANOTHER GROUP THAT FEELS IT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY EITHER. WELL, I'M TELLING THEM, IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, THAT IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW THESE DETAILS ABOUT THEIR MUNICIPALITY. IT WEIGHS ON OTHER DECISIONS THEY PLAN TO MAKE. SO IGNORING THE TRUTHS OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY, TRICKLES DOWN THROUGH THE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE WING THAT HANDLES TAX PAYMENTS. WITH SO MANY LOCALS UNABLE TO PAY THEIR TAXES, WELL SIR, THIS SHOULD BE A BIG ENOUGH SIGNAL TO START ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THE SOLUTION IS TO REFER IT TO A COLLECTION AGENCY. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE ROOT ISSUE, OF WHY POVERTY IS SPREADING IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND YES TAXES ARE A BIG BURDEN, AND SEEING AS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DECLINE IN THE FUTURE, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THOSE FOLKS WHO CAN'T ESCAPE INDEBTEDNESS TO THE MUNICIPALITY? TAKE THEIR HOMES AND PROPERTIES, FOR TAX ARREARS? WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHY THESE PEOPLE ARE FALLING BEHIND, BECAUSE THEY'RE OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND THEIR VOICES SHOULD BE HEARD. INSTEAD OF THREATENING MULTI COLOR NOTICES, OF TAX ARREARS, MAYBE THEY NEED TO CREATE A TASK-FORCE TO FIGURE OUT A BETTER WAY OF COLLECTING, AND MITIGATING THE TAX BURDEN IN THE FUTURE.
     THERE ISN'T A COMMUNITY ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH THAT DOESN'T HAVE ISSUES WITH POVERTY. THERE ISN'T A RURAL AREA ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, THAT DOESN'T SHARE THE SAME SITUATION, OF HAVING WORRIES ABOUT THE WELFARE OF SOME OF ITS AT-RISK CITIZENS, YOUNG OR OLD. SO IT IS PRETTY MUCH A STANDARD ISSUE, THAT TODAY, SHOWS NO SIGN OF ABATING; BUT IN FACT, SERIOUS SIGNS OF ESCALATION. THESE UNFORTUNATE PERSONAL SCENARIOS, TRAGIC IN  MANY WAYS, ARE A BURDEN ON THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL ALWAYS BE THE EVASIVE DREAM. THE IMPOVERISHED ARE HERE NOW, AND YET WE FIND VERY LITTLE TIME, TO INVESTIGATE HOW TO MITIGATE THEIR MISFORTUNE, AND HOW TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY MORE RESPONSIVE TO THESE NEEDS. WE ALL LOSE WHEN THESE SITUATIONS OF POVERTY, ARE ALLOWED TO FLOURISH, BECAUSE WE DO LITTLE TO MAKE IT BETTER. IT ISN'T THE TOWN THAT HAS CREATED THESE INEQUALITIES; WHICH HAVE BECOME OBSTACLES TO THE SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY WE DESIRE. COUNCIL HOPEFULS WILL ALL CLAIM, IN THIS PRE-ELECTION BLITZ, THAT IMPROVING THE LOCAL ECONOMY IS A PLANK IN THEIR PLATFORM. ELIMINATING POVERTY? WHO CAN REALLY CLAIM THAT THEY CAN RID POVERTY FROM OUR COMMUNITY? SO IT ISN'T AN ELECTION ISSUE. FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, IT WON'T BE AN ISSUE EITHER. AND IT DOESN'T TAKE A SOOTHSAYER TO FIGURE THIS OUT. YET EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, THE ISSUE WILL DOG COUNCIL IN HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT WAYS; AND FORCE THEM TO TRY EVASIVE STRATEGIES, TO GET ON WITH THEIR BUSINESS WEEKS, WITHOUT TRIPPING-UP OVER THE REALITIES.
     THE FIRST STEP, IS TO HAVE A MORE ACUTE AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM, AROUND THE COUNCIL TABLE, WHICH TAKES IMMENSE LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT. A WILL TO ADDRESS THE WELFARE OF OUR HOME REGION, FROM THE GROUND UP, NOT THE TOP DOWN.
     I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WALKING THE BEAT. I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM GOING INTO LOCAL BUSINESSES, BECAUSE THEY SINCERELY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR COMMUNITY; AT ALL LEVELS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO REPRESENT THE CONSTITUENTS. WE DON'T SEE THIS TODAY. WHILE MORE THAN A FEW COUNCILLORS LIKE TO MOUTH-OFF ABOUT THE STATE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF THEY SPENT SOME TIME TALKING TO BUSINESS OWNERS; HOW ABOUT EMPLOYEES OF THESE BUSINESSES, BEING ASKED THEIR OPINIONS, IN ORDER TO GET A GOOD PROFILE OF JUST WHAT STRESSES ARE OCCURRING. WHAT ARE CUSTOMERS SAYING ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESS? HOW ABOUT FINDING OUT THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME, AND THOSE THAT ARE DOING EXCEPTIONALLY WELL, WHEREVER THEY'RE LOCATED? WHILE COUNCILLORS MAY NOT SEE THIS AS PART OF THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION, THEY CERTAINLY INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN IT ENOUGH, WEEK TO WEEK, ESPECIALLY THE PHOTO-OPS AT BUSINESS OPENINGS; AND THEN FEEL NO COMPUNCTION, CASUALLY OVERVIEWING HOW WE'RE DOING AS A MAIN STREET. WITHOUT FIRST SOLICITING OUR OPINIONS ON THE MATTER OF ECONOMIC REALITIES. IN MANY YEARS OF BUSINESS NOW ON THE MAIN STREET, WE HAVE HAD ONLY BRIEF VISITS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND EVEN THEN, THEY WEREN'T IN THE SHOP LONG ENOUGH, FOR US TO EXCHANGE ANYTHING MORE THAN A PASSING "HELLO," AND "GOODBYE." IF THEY REALLY CARED ABOUT THE FULL PICTURE, ABOUT THE LOCAL BUSINESS ECONOMY, THEY'D STICK STICK AROUND TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS, AND ALLOW FOR INPUT; WHICH IS NOT THEIR STRONG SUIT.
     THERE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES FAILING THROUGHOUT CANADA FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS. I THINK MANY CLOSE, OR ARE FORCED INTO CLOSURE, BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN INTIMATE FAILURES; NOT THE INADEQUACIES OF THE HOST MUNICIPALITY. WE CAN'T BLAME TOWN COUNCIL EVERY TIME A BUSINESS CLOSES, OR THAT A NEW BUSINESS BYPASSES US, TO LOCATE IN BRACEBRIDGE OR HUNTSVILLE. WIN SOME, LOSE SOME! AND WE SHOULDN'T CONGRATULATE THE TOWN, EVERY TIME A NEW BUSINESS LOCATES IN GRAVENHURST. A LOT OF OPENINGS HAVE NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH A TOWN OUTREACH PROGRAM, BRINGING THEM TO TOWN. BUSINESS INVESTORS ARE USING MANY ECONOMIC REALITIES TO DETERMINE WHETHER OUR TOWN COULD OR WOULD PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE, OR EXCELLENT STREAM OF INCOME, FROM WHATEVER SERVICE OR PRODUCT THEY REPRESENT. SOME TIMES THEY WIN, AND WELL, THEY CAN LOSE TOO. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN BUSINESSES ARE BEATEN DOWN BY COMPETITION, AND OTHER TIMES, THEY AREN'T UPGRADED TO KEEP UP WITH THE MARKET DEMAND. ONCE AGAIN, IT'S GROSSLY UNFAIR TO LOOK BACK AT THE MUNICIPALITY, AND BLAME THEM FOR THE MISFORTUNE WE MAY HAVE INSTIGATED BY FAULTY LOGIC AND DELUSIONAL THINKING.
     I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT SOME COUNCILLORS SEE THEIR PLACE AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, AS A REGULAR JOB. A MEANS OF INCOME. TO ME, IT MEANS COMPLACENCY. THEY ARE TOO EASILY SATISFIED WITH WHAT THEY SEE AS THE JOB AT HAND, AND HAVE MASTERED THE WAY TO MAKE IT RESPOND TO THEIR IDEALS OF AN INTERESTING JOB. I'M SORRY FOLKS, BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOME PASSION HERE, AND IF THERE IS ONE FAILING LARGER THAN ANYTHING ELSE, ITS THIS LACK OF SINCERE EXCITEMENT, AND DESIRE, TO CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER NEIGHBOR COMMUNITY. I HAVE IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY, THAT BEING A COUNCILLOR IS A PART TIME JOB. AT LEAST THAT WAS WHAT I WAS TOLD. MY HEAD NEARLY EXPLODED. FOR ONE THING, IT'S NOT PART TIME, REGARDLESS WHAT A COUNCILLOR MAY THINK OF THEIR ELECTED RESPONSIBILITY. THEY ARE OUR GOVERNANCE 24-7, AND IT ISN'T A JOB. IT'S A SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY, AND FOR THERE COMMITMENT TO GOVERN FAIRLY, WE AGREE TO PAY THEM A STIPEND, AND EXPENSES IF AND WHEN REQUIRED. I DON'T HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THEY GET PAID TOO MUCH, AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS MORE CITIZENS DON'T REGISTER AS CANDIDATES. THE "JOB" MISCONCEPTION IS IMBEDDED SO DEEP, THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SHAKE LOOSE, AT LEAST THROUGH A BLOG, THAT PROBABLY ISN'T BEING READ BY ANY ONE AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, OR PLANNING TO BE THERE, FOLLOWING THE ELECTION. BUT ANYONE I CAN REACH, WILL HEAR THIS MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR. IT IS DENYING OUR TOWN THE PASSION IT DESERVES; BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE NEED MOST OF ALL. INSTEAD WHAT WE GET, ARE COUNCILLORS WHO ARE CONTENT TO SIT AROUND A COUNCIL TABLE, OR IN A COMMITTEE MEETING, CUTTING A FEW RIBBONS, POSING FOR SOME GRIP AND GRIN PHOTOGRAPHS, AND COLLECTING THEIR PAY CHEQUES. IT'S NOT ENOUGH. IT'S NEVER BEEN ENOUGH. BUT DAMN-IT, HOW WONDERFULLY REWARDING IT IS, TO PROMOTE THIS TOWN FROM THE HEART, INSTEAD OF BY OFFICIAL POSITION AND MESSAGING, THAT HONESTLY, IS COLD AND GETS LOST IN THE QUAGMIRE OF ALL THE MESSAGING OF THE ENTIRE WORLD. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. COUNCIL MAKES THE CHOICE, AND FROM WHAT I KNOW OF THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE NEW TERM OF OFFICE, I HAVE LITTLE FAITH ANYTHING MAJOR WILL CHANGE.
     WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, IS THAT CONSTITUENTS HAVE TO DO THE WORK THEMSELVES; JUST AS THEY HAVE BEEN PERFORMING, AS THE DUE DILIGENCE OF SURVIVAL, FOR MOST OF THE TOWN'S HISTORY. THEY HAVE TO RALLY WHEN TOWN COUNCIL MIRES ITSELF DOWN IN ITS OWN VIEWPOINT OF PRIVILEGE. BEING TOO BUSY TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND, AND LEARN ABOUT THE TOWN FROM ITS CITIZEN ROOTS. LEARNING FROM IMMERSION IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY. NOT JUST BY TAKING THE ADVICE OF OTHERS ON THE TOWN PAYROLL, WHO SAY THEY KNOW, BUT NOT REALLY! BUT THEN WATCH THEM (COUNCILLORS) TAKE CREDIT FOR THE HARD WORK, AND INVESTMENT ENTHUSIASM OF OUR CITIZENS, WHO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA HOW A HOMETOWN SHOULD RUN, IN THE NON-POLITICAL SENSE. WHEN THE TOWN AND ITS OFFICIALDOM, BOASTS, DURING PRESENTATIONS, ABOUT THE "PROGRESS,' THEY'VE HAD A HAND IN, THEY DON'T OFTEN DEFINE WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS. HOW MUCH EXACTLY DID THEY DO, TO INSPIRE A POSITIVE OUTCOME? MOST OF THE TIME, IT WAS A TINY CONTRIBUTION IF EVEN THAT. THANK GOD WE'VE GOT A TOUGH POPULATION, WHO KNOW HOW TO GET THE JOB DONE EFFICIENTLY, AND WHO HAVE CONFIDENCE ABOUT INVESTING HERE, GARNERED FROM THEIR OWN INVESTIGATIONS AND TRIAL RUNS. HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH TOWN INCENTIVES OR ENCOURAGEMENT. THE TOWN NEEDS TO KNOW, FOR GOSH SAKES, WHAT CONSTITUENTS THINK ABOUT THE DISTANCE GAP, BETWEEN COUNCIL AND DAY TO DAY LIFE HERE. EVIDENCE OF THIS, WILL BE THE VOTER MAIL-IN NUMBERS. HOW MANY WILL BOTHER TO VOTE, KNOWING THERE WILL BE LITTLE CHANGE FROM THE PRESENT COUNCIL, AND THE COUNCIL BEFORE THIS?
     WE, AS A FAMILY, ADORE GRAVENHURST, BECAUSE OF WHAT IT HAS PROVIDED US IN OPPORTUNITY. NOT WHAT THE TOWN COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED TO US, AS INCENTIVE, OR SUPPORT, BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN NEXT TO ZERO. IT CERTAINLY ISN'T BECAUSE COUNCILLORS HAVE COME INTO OUR SHOP, TO OFFER THEIR CONGRATULATIONS, OR EVEN A HANDSHAKE OF SUPPORT; REGARDING THE FACT WE BRING LOTS OF FOLKS TO TOWN, BECAUSE OF OUR MUSIC RESOURCES, RECORDING STUDIO, MUSIC LESSONS, ANTIQUES AND HERITAGE SERVICES, ALL OF WHICH WE OFFER SIX DAYS EACH WEEK THROUGHOUT THE FOUR SEASONS. WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR OTHER BUSINESSES, IT SURE WOULD BE NICE IF THEY (COUNCILLORS) SPENT SOME TIME VISITING, AND LISTENING, TO THE WORD ON THE STREET; INSTEAD OF SPECULATING WHAT IT IS! THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR BEING IGNORANT ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS TOWN. IF YOU ARE AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE, IT IS INCUMBENT THAT YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE WHOLE LANDSCAPE, NOT JUST WHAT IS PREFERRED VIEWING. WE WON'T IMPROVE IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, EXCEPT WHEN COUNCILLORS WRITE THEIR OWN PRESS RELEASES, AND PREVAIL UPON US, THOSE SELF-SERVING SPEECHES, THAT ARE NOTHING MORE THAN WORDS SPEWING FROM THE CHARACTERISTIC MANTRA, THAT WE'RE "MOVING FORWARD, DESPITE ROUGH SEAS, AND PROGRESSING WELL." I'M A WORDSMITH SO I KNOW BULLSHIT WHEN IT ROLLS OFF THE TONGUE.
     THIS IS AN UNSOLICITED MESSAGE TO COUNCIL HOPEFULS, RETURNING OR NEW, BUT MOSTLY TO CONSTITUENT READERS, OF THIS MUNICIPALITY, OR ANY OTHER ON THE CONTINENT OR BEYOND. PROGRESS CAN ONLY TRULY BE ATTAINED, WHEN EVERY REALITY OF FORTUNE AND MISFORTUNE, GOOD TIMES AND BAD, ARE WEIGHED AGAINST EACH OTHER; UNDERSTOOD AS THE NECESSARY CONFLUENCE OF CURRENT, THAT WHILE SMOOTH AND NAVIGABLE ONE MOMENT, CAN MORPH INTO A DANGEROUS UNDERTOW WITHOUT WARNING. "PROGRESS" IS AN OVER-USED WORD, THESE DAYS, BY THOSE WHO CAN'T VALIDATE IT ANY OTHER WAY, THAN BY THEIR OWN INSISTENCE IT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED; OR BY SLICK PROMOTION, AND SELF ADVOCACY, THE CLAIM BECOMING NOTHING MORE THAN A CONVENIENT FACADE, THAT ANY COMMUNITY MINDED INDIVIDUAL, CAN TEAR THROUGH EASILY, TO REVEAL THE HOLLOWNESS ON THE OTHER SIDE. EVERYONE IS HURT BY FALLING FACADES; THINKING WE'RE BETTER-OFF THAN WE ACTUALLY ARE. FINDING OUT LATER, WHEN ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE RETIRED TO BEDLAM, WE'RE NOT AS WELL OFF AS WE HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE.
     YOU HAVE A VOTE. DON'T WASTE IT! DON'T BE AFRAID OF CALLING UP A COUNCIL CANDIDATE, AND INSISTING ON A MEETING, OR NO HOLDS BARRED DISCUSSION. IF THEY APPEAR DISINTERESTED, AND LACKING IN ENTHUSIASM, WELL, YOU HAVE THE POWER OF THE BALLOT. AND ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT HAVE THE OPINION ONE VOTE DOESN'T CHANGE THINGS, YOU'D BE WRONG. THERE ARE MANY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, WHERE VOTING ISN'T A CITIZEN RIGHT. THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A SAY IN WHO GOVERNS THEM. SO INSTEAD OF THROWING THE BALLOT OUT, MARK THEM APPROPRIATELY, AND PUT THEM IN THE MAIL. EVERY VOTE IS A PRIVILEGE THAT SHOULDN'T BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. MANY LIVES WERE LOST, GUARANTEEING OUR FREEDOM, TO ELECT OUR REPRESENTATIVES WHO WE BELIEVE WILL BEST SERVE OUR DESIRED FUTURE. WE OWE IT TO THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION PROCESS.