Globe hectors citizens trying to protect their community
What has happened to the Globe and Mail's proud tradition of defending local communities? Since Marcus Gee has taken over as the chief political columnist for the Globe focusing on local Toronto issues, we have seen a distressing right wing swing in the newspaper's coverage of local news.
In today's Globe Gee takes after a group of residents living on St. Nicholas Street who are objecting to the approval of a 29 story condo to be built on their street. St. Nicholas is lined with rows of charming, late nineteenth century, two and three story cottages. There is some infill housing but until now all new development has keep to the scale of the neighbourhood. These residents are trying to protect their neighbourhood from a mega development.
Gee calls the residents who have objected to the 29 story condo building, NIMBY. To him these "Neighbourhood groups that oppose development in their backyard always deny that selfish motives play any part in their campaign against that new building, widened street or bigger power station."
Of course people are motivated by their desire to protect their neighbourhood! Is that "selfish motives?" Until Mr. Gee came on the scene, trying to protect communities has been considered the strength of the type of local politics practiced in Toronto. Going back to David Crombie's tenure as mayor, strengthening and protecting neighbourhoods has been seen as central to good urban politics because it is the way that we protect our quality of life. It became practice in Crombie's day and protecting neighbourhoods continues to this day. Marcus Gee would have us retreat back to the days of "old guard" politicians when decisions on development were made in the back rooms, at the direction of the developers, over a card game and a shot of whiskey.
Gee's column extends the whole length of a page, but there is not one mention of what this development will do to St. Nicholas Street. There is no mention that the 29 story building is completely out of character of the neighbourhood. Gee does not talk about the traffic that this project will attract. If the developer designed the building with no parking it might make the neighbours a little more favourable.
He does mention that the project was originally announced to be 44 stories high and was cut back to 29 stories, but he fails to report that the neighbours feel that the original proposal of 44 stories was floated for the sole reason that it would make the neighbours feel that they had won a concession when the development was cut back to 29 stories.
What has happened to the reforming spirit of the Globe and Mail? Have the editors and journalists forgotten the history of community participation in Toronto that they played a major role in creating? Why has Marcus Gee and the Globe and Mail chosen to hector citizens trying to create a livable city?
Bill Freeman
In today's Globe Gee takes after a group of residents living on St. Nicholas Street who are objecting to the approval of a 29 story condo to be built on their street. St. Nicholas is lined with rows of charming, late nineteenth century, two and three story cottages. There is some infill housing but until now all new development has keep to the scale of the neighbourhood. These residents are trying to protect their neighbourhood from a mega development.
Gee calls the residents who have objected to the 29 story condo building, NIMBY. To him these "Neighbourhood groups that oppose development in their backyard always deny that selfish motives play any part in their campaign against that new building, widened street or bigger power station."
Of course people are motivated by their desire to protect their neighbourhood! Is that "selfish motives?" Until Mr. Gee came on the scene, trying to protect communities has been considered the strength of the type of local politics practiced in Toronto. Going back to David Crombie's tenure as mayor, strengthening and protecting neighbourhoods has been seen as central to good urban politics because it is the way that we protect our quality of life. It became practice in Crombie's day and protecting neighbourhoods continues to this day. Marcus Gee would have us retreat back to the days of "old guard" politicians when decisions on development were made in the back rooms, at the direction of the developers, over a card game and a shot of whiskey.
Gee's column extends the whole length of a page, but there is not one mention of what this development will do to St. Nicholas Street. There is no mention that the 29 story building is completely out of character of the neighbourhood. Gee does not talk about the traffic that this project will attract. If the developer designed the building with no parking it might make the neighbours a little more favourable.
He does mention that the project was originally announced to be 44 stories high and was cut back to 29 stories, but he fails to report that the neighbours feel that the original proposal of 44 stories was floated for the sole reason that it would make the neighbours feel that they had won a concession when the development was cut back to 29 stories.
What has happened to the reforming spirit of the Globe and Mail? Have the editors and journalists forgotten the history of community participation in Toronto that they played a major role in creating? Why has Marcus Gee and the Globe and Mail chosen to hector citizens trying to create a livable city?
Bill Freeman
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