Archive for Jordan Press

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The Other End of the Bridge

To spend, or not to spend?
That’s the question facing councillors as they debate whether to continue with an environmental impact study on a long discussed third crossing of the Cataraqui River.
The debate ended without a concluding vote after the last council meeting. It now looks like the debate will reignite next week when council meets [...]

12May2010 | Jordan Press | 7 comments | Continued
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Leaving the Chair

The flag of the city hung to his right and the exit sign just above it.
With the backdrop of a darkened council chamber, Mayor Harvey Rosen announced he would not look for a third term in office.
“What I am about to announce is what I see as a need for a change for the city [...]

27Apr2010 | Jordan Press | 1 comment | Continued
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Readying for the Plunge

Will they take the plunge?
That is the question that faces a city hall committee this week as it prepares to enter the final stage of a nearly three-year debate about whether to build a new aquatic centre in Kingston.
Councillors have gone back and forth on the proposed project, at one point asking for numbers about [...]

22Mar2010 | Jordan Press | 8 comments | Continued
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Digging Up History

Princess Street is about to change and not just the surface.
While the reconstruction of the bottom two blocks of Princess Street gets a lot of attention for its intrusion into our lives, what gets lost in the talk is how a little bit of Kingston history is going to give way to modernity.
The reconstruction, which [...]

1Mar2010 | Jordan Press | 16 comments | Continued
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A Win For Williamsville

One block of Frontenac Street was what created a neighbourhood association in Williamsville. One development on one block led to one big planning battle that ended this week with the city and the neighbourhood coming out on top.

17Feb2010 | Jordan Press | 4 comments | Continued
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From Market to Park-it

Take a drive by Market Square at night, or anytime for that matter, when skaters are buzzing around the artificial rink and you’ll see that Market Square has somehow become Park-it Square.

11Jan2010 | Jordan Press | 7 comments | Continued
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Taxing Times

I have a confession: I love budget season at city hall.  Sickening, isn’t it?
The  draft 2010 budget was released over the weekend at city hall, two weeks ahead of when budget meetings will actually commence. (I should clarify that the entire budget was not released on the city’s website — the staff reports with high-level [...]

16Nov2009 | Jordan Press | 2 comments | Continued
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Thoughts of the Ballot Box

Remember, remember the eighth of November…
In one year’s time, on Nov. 8, 2010, voters in this city will cast a ballot that will shape the next four years of Kingston’s evolution. Many council members will by now be considering whether to seek re-election, but may not declare for months. Indeed, some have already decided whether [...]

9Nov2009 | Jordan Press | 2 comments | Continued
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You Get What You Pay For

How much is good political representation worth? In Kingston, it could be $27,500 a year for a councillor, and $84,500 for the mayor.
In case you missed it somewhere, a citizens’ committee is reviewing the pay that city councillors and the Mayor receive for doing their jobs. Currently, councillors earn $18,730 each, plus travel and work [...]

26Oct2009 | Jordan Press | 6 comments | Continued