Streets and Buildings Names for Political Legacies and Future Perks

Van Bynen Boulevard - it could happen

One thing that has always irked me is the naming of buildings, landmarks and streets after politicians like it's some kind of sacred right. If I'm elected, I will will propose that no naming of buildings or streets would be allowed until 20 years after death. One needs only look at the Ray Twinney Centre as an example wherein council voted in the community centre name even after the former Newmarket Mayor had been charged (and in all likelihood about to be convicted when he died) with embezzling the town. Outrageous decision. And arguably, those not knowing the sordid history might equate Councillor Jane Twinney with being connected to our town's history somehow. The Barrie native who married into the name is not. In fact, she even moved out of the ward she represents recently.

Tom Taylor Trail is but one town asset named for the former mayor

One reason is that in some cases the name lives on beyond their political lives and gives them special status in the private or non-profit / charitable sectors. Tom Taylor Trail lives on to assist John Taylor throughout his political career through continual branding, and as well Tom Taylor who is still very active on boards and social service connected organizations that access government and public fund donations, such as Habitat for Humanity York Region and Neighbourhood Network.

I have no issue with those wishing to purchase a street name such as candidate Bob Kwapis did, if they can afford to do that, and if having their name on a street makes them feel good. The problem with that though, is some may believe he "earned' his name on the street sign when he bought it. Still, if the process were changed and street name buying became a branded option, we could perhaps raise town funds through implementing such a program. Right now it may appear he 'earned" it and that may be an unfair advantage in elections. So we need a new, transparent process.

Why don't they name this neglected historical asset on Tom Taylor Trail after themselves?

But for politicians there should be no more naming things after yourself or friends or pet projects - like Belinda's Place where one is very hard pressed to see a connection between Belinda Stronach and homeless single women...but it's that all important facade of a legacy you see. Most people have no idea she has no $ invested in this and that it was funded by public money. Just her name. I suppose to reward her for all the work she's done fighting for local homeless people. Er.

Integrity

I'm the breathe of fresh air this town council needs to help keep these characters in place and our town developing towards the best interests of its residents. I tell it like it is, something this town deserves to have as a representative of, and I have real fears about the direction of this town under this mayor and it is a key reason why I'm running. We need a native son in there to protect our town.

Building legacies - all $10 million came from public money

I'm Tom Pearson. I'm running for Ward 5 Councillor of Newmarket and I really do care. Do they?

Click here to access more of my plan and ideas.

Food Bank Drives, Photo Ops, Not Enough for Food Insecurity

Community Gardens may become a need in the future with diminishing farmland

At the municipal level of government there is only so much control we have over the services that may be available to our town or wards, and regardless, we must do all we can with the tools we have to enable things to work in unison and not in silos.

Food insecurity is one such issue, and, to that end, I believe we can do a more effective job by just better coordinating, enhancing, and partnering within some of our existing programs right now.

For example, all we often seem to know in regards to food insecurity is promoting food banks as a sole solution with politicians and wannabes lining up to initiate drives and get a photo op doing so, or a tweet to let people know about....donating. This is a woefully inadequate response, and I believe we could be utilizing our present assets more efficiently to attain considerably better results.

Food Banks 

Food banks are used to assist in food insecurity, a big need, but they are not nearly enough. 

Our Newmarket food bank is top notch as far as food banks go, but we can do more.

Firstly, the local (most any) food bank only give 3 days rations per month of mostly unhealthy types of canned or boxed food, and many people won't use them because of the stigma, special diets, or cost to travel for little return. So we are not alleviating the problem through food banks but supplementing it for some, therefore we need do more if the goal is really to aid people in need to be healthy. And short of them getting more disposable income to buy fresh food, we need do more with what we have by utilizing more another nearby community asset that we can turn to as a partner, the York Region Food Network.

A diminishing local sight

GOOD FOOD BOX PROGRAM 

Often confused with the Newmarket Food Pantry, or for a food bank, the York Region Food Network is not a food bank, but have operated food insecurity programs in the past that I personally was involved in, one in which we delivered free food to those unable to get to food banks including a seniors building in Ward 5, and another that still delivers healthy fresh garden food to residents which I actually dubbed,  "The Good Food Box", the name which they've now adopted, as I was involved at it's birth. The Food Network also manage the local community garden, having been involved with it since before it moved from Yonge and Eagle St.'s to its now Mulock Dr., east of Yonge St, Newmarket location.

I believe more coordination between the YRFN and the Newmarket Food Pantry will result in more healthy options

The problem traditionally with community gardens, from my observations, is those in need having to travel often to the garden sites to ensure watering and care of their plots, which can be difficult for them, even almost impossible, and for those with small kids or disabilities, it adds another barrier. Sometimes great sounding ideas work on paper but on the ground level there are flaws - like a school planting trees that won't get watered over a hot summer. That's why I've long advocated for more grass-roots members on our services boards, and we'd be much more efficient and effective. A person coming from experience can help us avid wasting $ by helping us better avoid potential problems that force future change or cancellation from lack of use -

 " People would have a hard time accessing it because of X", or "They won't use it because of Y" - saving us from creating an ineffective or under-effective program.

The healthiest meal is fresh and on your own table

In recent times I've come across other models of community gardening that have a less centralized model and one encouraging more backyard, or smaller, closer to the community areas. Knowledge of growing is also essential, as are the raw ingredient needed to make it all work, and to that end I'd look to work with both the YRFN and the Newmarket Pantry to collaborate to optimize participation, and better fill food insecurity needs. And as we lose more and more of our local farms, it's increasingly important we learn how to grow sustainable, fresh food for ourselves and preserving.

YR Farmer removed from farm, increasingly frustrated

The YRFN has also organized farm crop "gleaning" outings in the past where buses take residents out to glean what was not picked on some farms and I would hope to expand communication and add more such programs so more can participate and eat more healthily.

FUN FACT - Did you know 80% of all food bank donations in Canada come from corporations? You do now! 


Click Here to access more about Tom Pearson, Ward 5 Candidate, Newmarket

Vote Tom Pearson for Ward 5 Councillor, Newmarket. I Really Do Care.

The Great York Region Restaurant Race could be a Multicultural Event

Anyone remember The Great York Region Restaurant Race? It raised $100,000 in its life span in Newmarket and was a live event that pitted mostly Newmarket restaurants against one another in friendly competition of taking orders and delivering drinks through obstacles set up outdoors. At one point it was held at the Upper Canada Mall parking lot and they dumped tons of sand there for effect.

I arrived representing Muskoka Moes ( now Mama Mia's location) dressed as Elvis, in a Limo as I was the General Manager, and sang a tune introduced by then local karoke Host Bubba Blight. He would go on to become a Councillor.

I first got involved though, several years previous while Entertainment Editor for Coverstory, covering the restaurants and clubs entertainment in print and had sat on the organizing committee for the Great York Region Restaurant Race from its beginning, run as part of the Persechini Run-walkathon. I also started Sing a Tune for a Tuney as an added fund raise option for restaurants to participate in pre-event fundraising.I had previously participated in a similar one run in Toronto, it's a great way to raise funds and it makes for a fun event for everyone.... and I'd like to resurrect a form of it.

Multicultural festival needs a boost and I'm also pushing for more grassroots committee members in all YR.

Multicultural Festival and More

With all the restaurants on and around Main St., I think its very reasonable that such an event could be held again, and my thoughts are what better way to bring it together than using the Multicultural Festival as its launch pad?

I attended this years Multicultural event at Riverwalk and it could use an infusion of liveliness which I believe such an addition could muster. Even if the restaurant race portion was held also on nearby Main st for the duration of ' competition", maybe even have the start or finish area at Riverwalk, then patios on main could fill up with spectators and patrons cheering on their fave team as they went through the obstacles carrying their drinks, possibly even using them to place orders as part of the obstacles! And music piped out to keep the atmosphere festive. It's a hoot, and would seem a natural way to invite not only Main St's great representatives of diverse restaurants, but restaurants of every nationality and flavour from across town as other restaurants could set up food booths at Riverwalk, alongside the other Multicultural booths, and maybe also hand out passes or discount coupons and info about their restaurants or suppliers. Beer reps too.

We'd fill this area with patrons cheering on the restaurant race teams as they go by.

Think about it. What other reason to people seek out other nationalities or cultures but through getting Chinese or Indian or Mediterranean other ethnic cuisines from their favorite restaurant. So let's bring them all on board and raise some money while attracting hundreds to Main st. and Riverwalk Commons. Staff attendees alone will boost local businesses! And I know the beer guys would go for it as far as sponsorships and supplying..well...beer!.

Click here for highlights of the Multicultural as well as the south Asian/Caribbean Festival by TPE.

The Friendly Nneighbourhood Youth Roadhockey Challenge will bring business to Main St off season

I have produced 20 public events at Riverwalk Commons and Fairy Lake Park over the past 10 years and dozens more inside locations and have produced live and trade-type shows, even at Canada's largest convention centre, so I don't have a learning curve to go through in regards to not only permits, but how to produce and market a successful event.

It is also not my first kick at the Multicultural can - all one need do is look at Character Matters and now in TV commercials portraying road hockey as a great way for cultures to meet. Our Friendly Neighbourhood Road Hockey Challenge was the first- before the hospital tourney and before Tim Horton's or Scotia bank ever got involved. It is they who have tried to copy our model and i take that as a compliment just as i did when we made page 3 of the Toronto Sun because we'd put road hockey on our Main st. while they were banning it. The first time I saw a mom with a burka come out to watch, and her little girl trying to play with a tree branch before we gave her a real 'hockey stick", I knew I was onto something more than just kids and youths playing games. It was started to create a bridge into the broader community and that is exactly what it does. I'm a bridge builder. That's what I do. Because I really do care.

Using a crosswalk we make and a Wrap on a wall people, would love to get a famous shot of themselves crossing

No music band crosses more cultures than The Beatles who are loved across the world and now symbols of peace. What better theme to draw visitors too including Markham where they attend in droves whenever their Bealtlemanians play in town. I also have plans to bring BEATLE MAIN ia to OUR town, turning Main st into a 60's era mecca with booths maybe Timothy St w into Penny Lane and top notch clone Beatles entertainment.

Vote Tom Pearson for Ward 5 Councillor because i have the know how and experience to do the job better than anyone else and because I Really Do Care.

Read more of my ideas for the Town of Newmarket and my background here.

TP 's Plan To "Clean Up" Main Street Newmarket

From afar everything looks great on Main St but...

I've often heard people say they'd like to see Newmarket's Main Street and nearby surroundings cleaned up. And depending on whom you are speaking with, " cleaning up", means different things to different people - from sometimes overflowing garbage can complaints, to boarded up units, to graffiti, to people 'begging' for money, and my plan would cover them all.

Frequently hit spot - current wall camera faces wrong way to catch them

Garbage & Waste Pick-Up

Main St. should be recognized as a tourist area, in summer especially, as that increase in visitors in summer, means an increase in waste tossed out both by stores and by visitors to Main St.. Often our containers are overflowing for days in a row which is something that needs addressing immediately to make it more eye appealing and attractive for visitors. It makes little sense to dress up our streets with beautiful flowers as we do, only to have overflowing garbage and refuse strewn on the streets ruin the experience.

Notice no graffiti? Image taken in Toronto

Beg Off Main

There are a number of domicile units and shelters located within walking distance of Main St. - homes that house and feed people who cannot manage it on their own - and they are left with little money after the providers take their share of their incomes, often asked to leave their 'homes' during the day, and thus you end up with some needing more money or hanging out, either unable to work or to find work. In winter, homeless men gather, because warm areas exist around Main. So my plan is to engage anyone hanging around and see if I can't get them something else to do. Sounds simple huh? Indeed.

Engage Them

Sound far fetched? I'm a doer. I've created similar "programs' in the past, getting an entire crew of homeless and "at risk of homelessness" workers, in renovating the House Of Hope, which is now ready and available for a housing provider to operate, and which could house 18 persons, located at Newmarket's border with Sharon. I've also successfully placed borderline homeless workers into restaurants and into catering and maintenance - paid training need be - and plan to concentrate efforts for placement from Main St, the library and the Riverwalk commons public bathrooms - another spot they often use to get warm. One of my Newmarket clients recently showed interest in setting up a program that trains and puts guys like this to work for which I'll be sitting down with him to look at grant options I'm aware of to help make it so. Perhaps a street cleaning and maintenance partner program utilizing these guys could be arranged if the budget is not there.

Only I have a plan to stop the boarding up of Main St. businesses and residences

Some also make for great food bank volunteers, especially if you feed them and send them off with something when they've helped. It was also I who raised the story of a homeless father and son living in Ward 5 and who ultimately located them a place to live and a job for the father - cleaning up the ward if you will. That Era Banner story was one of the biggest in their history - in fact so much so they wrote a follow up to it the 2011 story in 2015, as reaction-wise, Newmarket residents had responded in droves with offers of food and sleeping bags, but connecting them to their basic needs, like a home first, was the key. Community building again.

Wall in " rundown" are of Toronto on King St West

Graffiti

I've written about numerous times in which I've mentioned dressing up hard hit spots to reduce " tagging" and creating areas that actually encourage graffiti art - controlled areas if you will that allow for youthful expression Engage, instead of just criminalize, and then perhaps connect them to arts or help put them on the right track through that engagement. I've noticed Markham and other areas are now picking up on Toronto's lead for dressing up electrical boxes and other smaller targets as well, which I've also mentioned in the past we should adopt here. And create some wall murals on walls such as those leading to River Walk Commons ( often targets for tagging) that depict Jazz Playing and music and farmers market stuff and skaters etc., similar to Aurora's flagship wall. Stats show that these types of methods do reduce graffiti and I see no reason why Newmarket would be any different. We can also light better and aim exterior cameras more effectively in trouble spot areas to catch the perpetrators. One such area that is often hit has a camera but it faces the wrong way to capture anyone tagging the walls. See more great examples of my vision here.

Pathway leading to railway trestle

Railway Trestle Project

One project I'd love to see done is a site right near the youth centre ironically enough, an old, now rundown looking and graffiti laden, historic, railway trestle that features a plaque explaining its historical significance. Anyone read it? It's an eyesore that I believe could become an amazing attraction if we allowed youths to get artfully creative - and again, use that opportunity for engagement, which leads to holding them accountable as part of the community. A bridge into the community if you will. More Community building 101.

Historic graffiti-ed Trestle could be used as a rallying beacon for youthful expression

Boarded Up Units

No one else running or in council has a viable plan to end the boarding up of buildings on Main St and elsewhere in town but I do. Follow this link to learn more about it.

Vote Tom Pearson for Ward 5 Councillor Newmarket

 I Really Do care

To view the complete platform please visit www.tompearson4newmarketcouncil.blogspot.com
 or Email @ tompearson4council@gmail.com

Dress up frequent targets

Tie in some mural / graffiti art into Main St Art Festival

A similar walls / alleyways could be created leading to Riverwalk Commons from Main St

Ideal spots for a wall mural

Everyone need do their little part. Clean this up when it happens immediately.

Can be seen from River Walk Commons still - 6 months later

Forced out of business, residents removed, and has now sat empty two years

Emptied, then boarded up and left decrepit looking. Only I have a plan for ending this!

Newmarket's Clock Tower Issue a Non-Issue Really

Clock Tower a symbol for what is happening to our town

For many, it seems the clock tower development issue is an important one. It's just too bad none of us matter in the scheme of things. And that has to change. Firstly our opinions and council vote on the issue matter not one iota right now - something I'm keen on changing for future town / Main St. development by striking up a committee tasked to identifying loop-holes in our Planning Act - presently used by developers to control what is being built in our town, on our farms and on our Main Street. B.C. has recently legislated one such loop-hole, making it tougher for residences to be made vacant, boarded up and neglected to forcing zoning changes for condo building, without penalties.

Right now, we can complain all we want but the decision will still come down to an adjudicator deciding, based on the law and no one's opinion. So that is number one. This needs legislated through our provincial parliament and to get it there we would need a committee comprised of various individuals including M.P.P.'s, municipal politicians, York Region Legal Clinic and Real Estate Lawyers among some partners at the table.

The Clock Tower attracts movie productions to Newmarket right now

I have a long standing, amicable, working relationship, with Dennis Bailey, CEO of the YR Legal Clinic and I'm sure I can get them on-board. This would be similar to the non-partisan "Square-Table" on Poverty" that I organized and chaired which had representatives from every level of government and included Belinda Stronach and Frank Klees as well as Regional Councillor Taylor, only our focus will be closing or narrowing loop-holes in our Planning Act that are frequently exploited by developers on unsuspecting towns and cities. Until we do this, any and all of our town's Main Street buildings and farm residences will continue be at risk.

Why Have An Official Plan if they can just do what they want? Why invite the public to participate in the plan process if they are just going to do what they want anyway? Tom Pearson

Nothing stops a developer now from buying up Main St and boarding it up until we do as they wish. Only TP has a plan.

Evening entertainment attractions need addressing

Unfortunately Sparro Restaurant closed down after less than a year. Did parking woes play a part?

TP has a graffiti plan

As far as my opinion goes, my opinion is we follow whatever our official plan states before the town's desire to amend it - which means 3 floors,  however, as I say, our opinion matters not in the process - only that of the law.

Not everyone understands how planning works, as we invite the public to the first meeting if they wish to participate, as interested parties, as participants and they can attend all planning meetings from then on unless asked to leave by the adjudicator. At that point anyone not named as a participant or interested party can no longer attend unless invited to do so, even a Mayor.

So that official plan is then formed, taking a number of variables into effect, such as for parking and access to highways, infrastructure and a number of variables most may not be privy to, so councils have no right simply waltzing in and changing a plan such as this - which also has the provincial stamp on it after its been approved. I feel there should be stringent criteria before official plans can be amended by a council as they can be used to appease developers or council's own wants over the town's Plan's or residents wishes without going through the proper process. We have a planning process for good reason, like to protect against future councils, mayors and property owners from imposing their personal wills on us - another loop-hole that needs addressing, again through amendments to the Planning Act and in some cases amending The Heritage Act as well.

Just outside Newmarket sitting empty

Right now no laws stop this from happening, on YR Road

In fact the Heritage Act and heritage bylaws designed to 'protect" heritage buildings are in fact being used by developers to destroy, not save, heritage homes. How? Well a heritage home not yet designated for it can be emptied of residents, then left empty and its repairs ignored until such time as they apply for demolition. Since the property has no official designate they may very well be granted a demolition permit without going through the process. even buildings designated are right now being held, unused, just waiting until they are no longer repairable - with virtually no process in place to hold the owners accountable. For example a tree growing in to a roof left unattended to will eventually destroy the roof and expose the home to the elements further ensuring it's demise. And we have nothing in place to stop this! Main St is not an exception - look at at Davis and Main - how long have those historic buildings been boarded up? Years and years now of eyesore-hood because no one has acted. But I will.



The developer is obliged, by corporate law essentially, to try and get the biggest return possible on that property within our laws and that is what they shall do. And we cannot fault them for that, so whatever is decided we must all get along and move forward, and I will support whatever decision the legals decide. I worry though about brick colour esthetics or a claim again in a few years that is not " sustainable", and then them applying to expand again (more loop-holes). 

 

Did you know the Town of Newmarket cancelled its after hours bird and reptile rescue service recently?

But I do hope they do their homework this time, as last time around we had numerous seniors displaced who had to move after the owner decided it wasn't " sustainable". All, presumably, after they'd done the math to find the maximum $''s they could get from a full seniors residence.

So with that in mind, I believe they can build something "sustainable" within the 3 floors designation of the original Official Plan, but that that, is a pipe dream.

Picture this Street off Main as Penny Lane for Beatle MAINia

With new high-rise buildings on Davis within walking distance of Main slated to open in 2017, and future redevelopment of a few other sites around Main, I believe we can achieve the  intensification sought without building grandiose, sky-scraper types all around our historic Main St. and we need to get that control back. We can't turn back time but we can act responsibly now that we are where we are.

Meantime we need an informed decision made now before we lose anymore time and ultimately tax $'s.

Click here for TP's up-to-date clock tower development info - Soil sample now in!

You can read more on Tom Pearson's vision for Ward 5 and for Newmarket here. 
Email: TomPearson4Council@gmail.com

Vote Tom Pearson for Newmarket Council  - I Really Do Care