Parking the profits
After the recent mess with the Police building vote (for Peel Plaza), you would think that Council would be more inclined to think more about the ramifications to the taxpayers in the city!
The next messy vote coming up is around the parking garage that the city wants to build for Peel Plaza.
It sounds like a fine idea, except for the fact that this parking garage will cost us (the taxpayers) every year that it operates:
Should common council approve a new garage for Carleton Street, the parking commission would own, operate and finance the structure.
To cover construction and operating costs, the commission would have to put about $300,000 of its annual surplus revenues into the project. The commission typically generates surpluses as part of its regular business of offering parking services in the city.
This means that we, as taxpayers, will be subsidizing people driving into the city center and parking for the day.
At least one Councillor can be counted on to represent us – Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase.
“Peel Plaza is going to be a sponge that will sop up all the available financial resources of the parking commission,” Chase said.
The deputy mayor said he’s opposed to the parking garage and plans to vote against it once the matter comes before common council. He said he’s not happy that taxpayers would have to spend $300,000 a year to subsidize a new parking structure.
“Everything about this project is like taking a round peg and trying to smash it into a square hole,” said Chase, who was also among three council members who voted against a $20.6-million police station. “It’s costing valuable revenue that could otherwise be spent on curbside services and recreational needs.”
Unfortunately, there are still those Councillors out there looking to make a name for themselves.
I’d typically advocate contacting them to let them know what you think; however, I’ve recently found that most don’t care what you think.
Until we can get the silent majority to stand up and fight, Peel Plaza is a done deal – one that we will be paying for many generations over.





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