The special council meeting held on Wednesday, Sept. 29 to address Habitat for Humanity’s ultimatum was something I never thought I would witness in a Canadian city.
It seems council saw fit to replace openness, fairness, and transparency with pseudo-American, ram-it-down-your-throat politics.
This council called a special meeting giving barely 24 hours notice to communicate information that Habitat for Humanity stated it would not build if the number of units stayed at 24. Habitat for Humanity threw a little weight around and showed everyone what a spineless, witless city council St Albert has. City council reversed a motion that was passed Sept. 20 at a public hearing and allowed Habitat for Humanity to dictate what is best for St Albert and her citizens by turning 24 into 30.
For the members on city council that have chosen not to run in the coming election, I give a tremendous thank-you. You will certainly not be missed. I find it quite disheartening how Lorie Garritty and Carol Watamaniuk show no compassion for resident stakeholders since they don’t really care about the residents; after all they’re not trying to win any votes. Your obligation to represent your residents must have vanished the day both of you decided not to run for council in the next term.
Nolan Crouse has been repeatedly blowing the proverbial horn at how this council has been completely transparent, honest and open with the public. What does he call what happened in chambers on Wednesday Sept. 29? This was anything but what Crouse has been adamantly preaching. This was a total blind-side, underhanded, do-it-when-nobody’s-looking approval of a proposal that is highly sensitive and controversial. This is the last way it should have been handled.
What is wrong with this council?
Yes Crouse, “the process needs to change,” but off the record nothing will change because there is zero accountability and any insight that council may have gained from public hearings was trumped by the divinity of Habitat for Humanity. It is painfully obvious that council sides with the Capital Region Board and Habitat for Humanity rather than with its own residents. There is no balance here. Nobody really cares that council is within their right to do what they choose to do as Crouse is usually quoted after a controversial decision (and during the meeting of Sept. 29). Council probably has the right to raise taxes by 20 per cent too. Procedural rights can be taught to primates. It is critical thinking and the unbiased ability to listen to those that have intelligently researched a proposal that is lacking from this council.
After the meeting of Sept. 29, all is exposed: call an emergency meeting with virtually no notice, rescind a previous motion passed at the last public hearing, hope nobody shows up, do not allow public to speak, pass a motion for 30 units and completely disregard anything that was said at the last public hearing. This looks unquestionably pre-determined. Any trust the public had in this council is surely gone. How can Akinsdale residents feel anything other than ignored?
I sincerely hope that none of the current council members remain after Oct. 18. I will be doing my best to make sure that everyone I know votes on Oct. 18 and votes for change. I am only one person but there are hundreds of residents, especially in Akinsdale, that will be doing the same and mathematically speaking, this is an exponential advantage for the challengers.
I would like city council to know that this project will be a black eye, not because of the fact that it is affordable housing, but because of the way in which it was handled. It will never be embraced by the surrounding homes and it will be talked down upon for years to come. Ask yourself if that sounds like a pleasant environment for lower income families to be thrust into, then give yourself a pat on the back.
Leo Sanelli, St. Albert
