By Staff
September 9th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington has a new community organization. Rather than report we will pass along to you what they passed along to us and give you some time to read it over and decide if this interests you.
A city or town can never have too many community organizations Oakville has more than a dozen and they are the better for it.
Community engagement in Burlington has problems getting the oxygen needed to stay alive. ECoB – Engaged Citizens of Burlington proved that the public interest is there – sustaining it over time seems to be the problem.
Effective today a new community wide residents association has been launched in the City of Burlington. The Association is called the Burlington Residents’ Action Group (“BRAG”), and has been created after several months of intensive discussions with a number of concerned citizens, stakeholders and ratepayers’ associations in other communities.
ECoB filled a church hall.
BRAG’s mission, as outlined in its Constitution, is “To identify, advocate for and promote strong, definitive and effective measures to advance the interests of all Burlington citizens.” Its mission is to promote measures that ensure Burlington becomes a community “….in which citizens are respected participants and partners in all decisions that affect their interests.”
BRAG’s primary objectives include the following:
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- To promote greater awareness and understanding amongst residents on local and regional issues that impact residents.
- To actively lobby politicians and civic officials on behalf of residents, and to ensure the interests of residents always remain a paramount concern.
- To advocate for measures to enhance and protect Burlington’s unique history, culture and character.
- To support the election of local and regional representatives who support the aims and objectives of our association.
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BRAG’s creation came about in response to a number of growing concerns impacting Burlington residents such as increasing taxation, development intensification, urban transportation, flood abatement, Strong Mayor Powers, and a heightened sense that civic leaders are not really listening to residents’ concerns.
BRAG’s first priority will be the City of Burlington’s municipal budget. An online petition has been launched calling for three important changes in Burlington’s 2025 budget and related processes:
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- A zero percent increase in taxes for the coming year;
- Clear language when communicating tax increases;
- The creation of a transparent and user-friendly process that enhances understanding and awareness.
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Citizens gather for budget discussions. This meeting involved a number of city firemen who were attentively listened to by Councillor Craven, on the right in the blue shirt.
A hyperlink to the online petition can be found here: https://change.org/Burlington2025
Regarding the City’s 2025 proposed budget BRAG’s President, Eric Stern commented:
If the proposed 2025 increase is approved, for every $1,000 in Burlington property taxes you paid in 2022, you’ll pay $1,387.20 in 2025.
For comparison, the Region of Halton increased the R-Region line, on your final tax bill, by 2.52% in 2023 and 3.05% in 2024. Compounded over two years that’s a 5.65% increase compared to Burlington’s 27.39% increase over the same two years.
“Our Burlington City Council has a spending problem”.
To this end, BRAG members will be actively engaged in the budget review process in the coming months. Preliminary indications are that the City is proposing an 8.9% increase in municipal taxes for 2025 which, BRAG contends, is wholly unacceptable. BRAG will be actively participating and attending budget discussions throughout the City, as well as promoting greater community awareness on this and similar issues.
A budget meeting held by the city on a cold January night – three people showed up – two of them were running for office. Getting the public to take part is often a challenge.
BRAG encourages concerned residents to sign this petition. Moreover, we welcome residents who, like ourselves, are deeply concerned with the current direction of this City, and feel there is a compelling need to change the overall policy direction. Those seeking more information are welcome to contact us for further details.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Eric Stern President
Burlington Residents’ Action Group (“BRAG”) E-mail: eric.stern@gobrag.ca
Glad to hear this is a serious issue about the tax increase, I moved from
Toronto to Burlington hoping to avoid the out radgious increases that has happened in that city and now to hear of the same here in Burlington is very
Unsettling after working hard most of my life just to live comfortably.
Eric, good for you! This is exciting news!!
Jim makes a good point with his comments and we have shared the names of the board of directors with the Burlington Gazette. The website has been updated to more accurately show how to become a member (top right). The Help Us Out page has been updated to make sure everyone understands the website is free to use. Jim, thanks for your feedback, you were very clear (-:
Waiting for the next election to show your displeasure is too little too late. No one is really listening to our concerns. To have an effect our messages have to be magnified as they once were under ECOB to have an effect. If you care about democracy and want to be really heard, join now.
Joe
Very encouraging.We need a unified voice to take on these blind councillors.
Absolutely
The BRAG website is well worth visiting. Well-written and researched articles on subjects that should be of common concern to all Burlington residents.
Let’s hope that BRAG can become an effective advocacy voice for Burlington citizens – a welcome successor to ECoB.