The Public Meeting Bombshell

At the Public Meeting Tuesday night, Mayor Strauss had the last word, and oh what a word it was.

For two or more weeks, the question, "why is this happening?" and "are you doing this for the money?" met with the answer, "oh, we're looking at all township lands, looking at possibilities -- but nothing is planned, so don't panic. We do this every year."

In marked contrast, Mayor Strauss ended the meeting looking straight at the Planning staff across the room, who are responsible for preparing the report and recommendations on what to eventually do about the "disposal" of Victoria Glen Park, and told them "when you prepare that report, keep in mind that if you agree with preserving the park, you need to come up with a way to pay for the shortfall for the new arena, since all along, that has been the goal of selling this land." (not a direct quote - but the meaning was clear).

Needless to say, the rumbling in the room was vigorous. So many people have been saying this all along, but tried to take the word of the township and township councillors at face value.

There was a definite sense that the people of Elmira felt betrayed.
(Destroying the woods to pay for an arena: I'm trying real hard not to use terms like "blood money", since that might be a bit melodramatic. But it's close, really close.)

On the other hand, I realized some time after that meeting that Mayor Strauss may have been showing a great deal of courage making that statement in public. He could easily have waited until Thursday morning and sent an email to the staff, telling them the same thing. Instead, he did say it out loud in a public forum, knowing exactly how the audience would react.

So - the story unfolds.
We'll definitely be keeping an eye on this one!

[Note: the photo above is of three of the letters written by pupils at Riverside Public School about the park. The top one begins: "Dear Mayor Strauss, Don't disstroy Victoria Gleen park. If you distroy victoria gleen Park because it will kill all the animals that live in the park and it will kill ever thing that lives there."]