By Pepper Parr
July 20th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The number of people who send the Gazette pictures and notes about issues in their communities has increased significantly – this was before the floods.
People are chaffing at some of the city spending; they see it as unnecessary and something that doesn’t really return much to the community overall.
The City Neighbourhood program that will give a group of people $500 to hold a small community event has been around for some time. City Staff are available to take people through the process – oddly – they seldom report on the events that take place; something about privacy matters.
The explanation is that Parks, Recreation and Culture is working to improve the way communities get together and build stronger relationships. The picture of the sign, shown below, outside the Brant Hills Community Centre, was seen by some as a little over the top.
This ward 3 sign may have been something Councillor Nisan wanted to see happen. Given that he no longer lives in the ward that he represents, he may need city funded events to take place so he can actually meet with his constituent.
I’ve attended a few Neighbourhood Parties. They’re usually held in a local park and are a fun way to meet our neighbours. People who we wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet otherwise. Knowing our neighbours helps keep our community safe.
We can help each other : exchanging baby clothes – cutting grass – shoveling snow, complaining about speeders and on-street parking, etc. The good stuff.
The BEST cities are those built with vibrant neighbourhoods.
I’ve also been to cities in the USA – with burned down houses and boarded up store fronts and unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to tip a thriving town into a dead zone.
$500 is a pretty good investment which goes right back into the heart of the community.
Alan the city can help organise parties, without the need for the $500. We have “parties” all the time in our community. The community donate items they don’t need any more and we have found a great online seller volunteer to raise funds we may need . We agree communities who get together improve their city or town. However, we don’t agree what is happeningt is prudent fiscal responsibility, which is a must these days.
The “Love Your Neighbour Grant Program” was started by our present Mayor and Council years ago. It has been in place for at least 5 years or longer.
I would like to know how much this has cost Burlington Tax Payers since its inception?? And is there a maximum number of these Grants being handed out each year?? And how much Staff time was and is involved and being spent to help these “Neighbours” with planning the event and organizing it??
And how much of our Tax money has been spent in Advertising and commissioning Signage and Bill Boards to promote this!?
I’m sure Tax Payers in Burlington want to know and should know how our tax dollars are being spent by our present City Council.
Just one more item to add to the ever increasing Grand Total of how much money our Mayor and Council wastes each year!!!
We have a growing class of homeless people in Burlington. We have an estimated 800+ residents trying to put their lives and homes back together after the flood. We have seniors, recent immigrants and others on fixed income trying to make ends meet while struggling to pay increasing municipal taxes. We have massive traffic congestion and gridlock everywhere. And what is the City’s response to all this? Giving $500 grants to hold parties.
Kirk to Enterprise. Beam me up Scotty! There’s no intelligent life down here!
This is a classic move by governments going back through the mists of time. keep the people from thinking about their situation in life and it’s mismanagement.
This is not the prudent use of funds the province demands ; especially when there qrema y residents who have to choose between heat,/cooling, hydro or putting food on the table. How nauseating this sign iis to our vulnerable fami.ies,or to those who work hard to meet the needs of these vulnerable families in Burlington.
There are signs All over Burlington advertising this “Love Your Neighbour Grant”.
I assume that the more money our City Council gives away to their “Neighbours”, that more Residents will Vote for them in October 2026.
This doesn’t work for me!!