James Younger for councillor ?

[Smokey©]

I was interested to hear that you plan on running.

What is your platform, plans and projections on topics currently before City Council?

Cable Bay?
Bowen Road expansion?
Casino expansion?
Northwest Properties South-end proposal?
Busking bylaw?
Nuisance Property regulations?
Mega Sports complex?
Cruise ship facility?

[Rickj]

Dont forget

Level of Taxation?
Social Housing?
South end social issues?
Expansion of the water system (ie dams etc approx $200 million)
Police enforcement
Expansion of walking/biking trails
Changes/expansion of bus system
Expansion of Nanaimo pollution control centre to secondary treatment
Incentives to create low income rental housing

It isnt all about making Nanaimo bigger but about making what is here better. Making Nanaimo a liveable city as opposed to a large strip mall with neighbourhoods of "haves" and other neighbourhoods of "have nots"

While some of these items are under the governance of the RDN they certainly are controlled by the Nanaimo directors on that board.

[Smokey©]

I was interested to hear that you plan on running

Let's hope we did not scare James away! I know there are many issues but thought we could start with the ones most recently discussed here on the message boards.

[James Younger]

I am not going to go into to much detail at this time, just touch on some issues to begin with.
CABLE BAY:I am not for it but my business will profit from it. I spoke at the meeting last week. The developer told the crowd that water from the city was already there so there would be no cost to the tax payers. I thought we were saving 45,000,000 for up grades, another poster says 200,000,000. My question to the developer was " why don`t you feel are water expansion needs include Cable Bay."
My problem with cable bay is :all info should be on line., not enough info out there, why are we trying to amend a by law that dos not exist yet,
Once someone has land zoned for something they should be able to build.
Cable Bays developments do not always come threw as planned.They have a record of flipping and there is nothing wrong in profit.
WATER: We are saving now for are expanding water needs they will be needed
CASINO EXPANSION: I have never been in a casino and there are social issues. I think more social issues could/should be cured with gaming revenue and needed jobs from the expansion are great. I have seen were that money goes,and I would put more to wards social issues.
Busking BYLAWS: Tim Flanders recently spoke before council and asked some very reasonable requests. I think Bylaw listened. I have found all by-law staff and Randy Churchill to be helpful people
MEGA-SPORTS PL EX: I think we have to pay off the money we owe before we borrow more.
The PNC should and could have been paid for mostly by upper levels of government if we just moved a little slower.
CRUISE SHIP FACILITY: Is not the port of Nanaimo and upper governments paying for most of that. We need the jobs this will provide, cruise ships have great economic advantages
SOUTH END ISSUES: I live at ground zero Milton and Victoria. I was co-chair of the Neighbors of Nob Hill for two years.This is why I am running because I saw the south end get the shaft. Councilors not having a real idea of what some people have to put up with and what our children see. Yes I live here because it costs less.I real do enjoy the downtown and the atmosphere .
I know that there are ways to increase security downtown. I hope to get endorsements from downtown community associations. I have tried to work with the councilors and found it hard. They should be more open. Bylaws and the RCMP are much better and many times effective.

[Piper]

Very good James, Its the first time I have seen anyone running for council mention busking. It is a serious issue that needs attention and god knows we have tried. I was before council March 27th 2006 asking for a review of the street entertainers bylaw and I'm still waiting.

[Piper]

Hey James I watched you at the council meeting last night you done a fine job as you had a legitimate argument about building a deck. The deck you had wipped out was built in 2003 by a guy called Joe Hart Joe didn't get a permit. When I lived there I modified it and didn't get a permit either. Rules only apply to certain people in Nanaimo it's called discretion.

[Piper]

--
Thats ok TH you can watch it on Sunday morning channel 4 9AM

[queen of the waterfront]

It was not on streaming video anyway. Why?
Anyone know what happened with the in camera stuff?

[Smokey©]

Anyone know what happened with the in camera stuff?

Usually the 'in camera meeting details' become available at the correct time or in the 'mayor's report' in the next council meeting. There are times when that information never surfaces as the subject and motions may be defeated.

[Piper]

James I have a couple of questions for you related to busking.
(1) If ellected to council would you consider working with licensed buskers to stop unlicensed buskers from disobeying the street entertainers bylaw of the day?
(2) Do you believe that the current street entertainers bylaw is fair and enforced in a proper manner?