God I really hate to do this... it's about the Common Roots Urban Farm which I really love in all it's urban farm-y-ness and all the neo hippies and wonderfully creative people who hang out there. It's an amazing movement that's brought together a big bunch of nice people who work tirelessly for their community. Now that I've buttered you up, my beef is this: Why is there a huge corporate advertising banner up on the property? Have they sold billboard space or something? Yes I know that company "donated" dirt and stuff, but if they get to erect a huge ad on this prime public land in return, it's one hell of a cheap billboard. It really shouldn't be allowed and if need be the farm should cut all ties with corporations that won't make donations without this hook. I feel like the farm people were taken advantage of here. I think the company knew exactly what they were getting into when they "donated" piles of dirt. They knew there was no way they could be turned down for this really cheap corporate billboard on public land. It's not too different than the skating oval except they got it a LOT cheaper and probably without any kind of official approval process. Is it in violation of the HRM's signage bylaw? I suspect so. I love the farm so much I would never call, but the whole thing makes me a bit pissed at how easily corporations weasel their way into our public spaces. Maybe that sign will disappear one night.
Very interesting backgound to all this. The popularity contest mentality basically runs school student represented groups and organizations from the very youngest grades. It hold for much of sports, Scouts and all sorts of team activities. I degenerates into subtle bullying that those of us who were square pegs in a round hole world just learned to accept. Thankfully in adulthood you can find success with needing to be on the insider track of popularity. Not always mind you; in some cases you'll experience it in job competitions and in watching the loud self-promoters climb the corporate ladder while the introverts just sit there. A lot of the time that popularity approach just doesn't 'work' anymore. The SMU kids hit that point with this fiasco, and hopefully the students association will elect someone with a better grounded set of values and a somewhat smarter platform.
It's obscene that the WDC has this level of control over property they have a business mandate for from the taxpayer. Between them and the Halifax Port Authority it's a tiny clutch of overly 'important' and focused people who forget what they are supposed to be doing.
They're starting to run OUR land like some kind of a private theme park instead of acting as stewards of the waterfront. The HPA in particular is a cabal with some secrets behind closed doors and far too much authority over what is essentially public land. I'm not sure how we got to this state but the way the cops act like another private security good squad for the WDC and HPA is shameful and disgusting.
I bet the biggest issue was the guy's face covering and that he didn't bend down to lick the boots of the comic book heroes who trampled his rights. Come on folks, get the video cameras rolling when you see cops and security going after your fellow citizens. record everything so we can see if these asshats lie about phony laws etc.
Wow this letter is just all over the map. Calling Fred a 'barber' and a 'wanna be mayor' kind of contaminates her case with barely hidden personal contempt before she even begins any kind of discussion of issues. That aside, how can she possibly argue that Fred's property improvements, including chickens, have had anything other than the net positive effect on the neighborhood property values. That place was a complete and total dump before he move into his house. Things are changing these days though and people are looking around and taking care of their properties and trying to rebuild the community. This letter seethes with disdain for Fred and throws all the rest in trying to make an argument stick.
While I hate to agree with her on any points she does make a valid argument that's the cities by law enforcement regime is a complete and total farce. On one hand they forced Lousie Hanavan to get rid of her hens, and they went to court with Trevor Smedley, and in this case they are leaving Fred alone because they are afraid of him? Meanwhile there are several chicken coops in the city all doing fine with no complaints. The citys bylaw people seem to just make it up as they go. Bullies one day, asleep at the switch the next. How they could allow Fred's shed without a permit is a mystery as well. They came after me for my 8x10 shed like a bunch of jackbooted thugs a few years ago. The lesson here is to ignore the pricks as much as possible.
Bring on a special ruling that chickens are pets and allow people to keep them on their property!
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They're starting to run OUR land like some kind of a private theme park instead of acting as stewards of the waterfront. The HPA in particular is a cabal with some secrets behind closed doors and far too much authority over what is essentially public land. I'm not sure how we got to this state but the way the cops act like another private security good squad for the WDC and HPA is shameful and disgusting.
I bet the biggest issue was the guy's face covering and that he didn't bend down to lick the boots of the comic book heroes who trampled his rights. Come on folks, get the video cameras rolling when you see cops and security going after your fellow citizens. record everything so we can see if these asshats lie about phony laws etc.
While I hate to agree with her on any points she does make a valid argument that's the cities by law enforcement regime is a complete and total farce. On one hand they forced Lousie Hanavan to get rid of her hens, and they went to court with Trevor Smedley, and in this case they are leaving Fred alone because they are afraid of him? Meanwhile there are several chicken coops in the city all doing fine with no complaints. The citys bylaw people seem to just make it up as they go. Bullies one day, asleep at the switch the next. How they could allow Fred's shed without a permit is a mystery as well. They came after me for my 8x10 shed like a bunch of jackbooted thugs a few years ago. The lesson here is to ignore the pricks as much as possible.
Bring on a special ruling that chickens are pets and allow people to keep them on their property!