[Image-1] Mysteriously, Halifax doesn’t know how many security cameras are on public property, and they wouldn’t tell you even if they did. “They’re overseen by a number of different companies contracted for security purposes,” writes city spokesperson Jennifer Stewart-Stairs in an email. “Even if we had the number though, we wouldn’t disclose that or the […]
City Council
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax wants an open data relationship
If you love something, set it free and maybe it’ll come back as a cool app. So hopes city council, which today will give first reading to a proposed administrative order designed to release multitudes of imprisoned data from within the city’s towering servers. It’ll mean Halifax will finally formalize an “Open Data” program which […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Khyber may go up for sale
[Image-1] After 126 years on Barrington, the Khyber Centre for the Arts building could be at its end. City staff is recommending Halifax Regional Council declare 1588 Barrington St. surplus and put it up for sale. Officials assessing the Victoria-era building listed poor conditions and hazardous materials (including a failing floor system and asbestos in […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The Forum’s uncertain future
Everyone has a Forum memory. It’s been home to Nova Scotia’s first professional hockey team, and has played host to everyone from Reba McEntire to Mohammad Ali, Hulk Hogan to Waka Flocka Flame. History aside, on any given day the humble Halifax Forum holds world-class music, university sports, community skates, the region’s largest flea market […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Councillor Bill Karsten objects to council live-blogging
Yesterday, mayor Peter Kelly had other commitments, so deputy mayor Bill Karsten took over duties of presiding over the weekly council meeting. As usual, I was there and live-blogged the meeting via Twitter. Today, I received the following email from Karsten: Tim, I saw your crap on twitter last night, and I have had about […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
City Hall round-up
Halifax council met for 12 hours Tuesday, dealing with a handful of weighty issues, mostly by kicking them down a road a piece. First, council reviewed a consultant’s report on transit options for connecting the Bedford-Hammond’s Plains area to downtown; the report compared commuter rail, fast ferries and express buses. Bottom line: either option might […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Politicians on the bus!
[image-1]Let’s be clear: Halifax city council is making significant headway in improving our feeble bus system. Some 15 new articulated buses will hit the streets in coming weeks, with 30 more coming over the next two years, and councillors appear committed to even more exciting expansion as laid out in the Five Year Transit Plan. But as the first new buses were rolled out Tuesday (two hybrids costing a total of $2.6 million, with a $600,000 contribution from the province), and as councillors used the opportunity for a photo op, I realized I’ve *never* before seen a politician, or a
Posted inNews + Opinion
Power elite strike back with bogus statistics
HRM council debated the “tax reform” proposal for nearly three hours January 26 before defeating it on a 13-10 vote. But, in a widely circulated email sent out after the vote (on the web, here), Malcolm Fraser, chair of the political group Citizens for Halifax, says it’s a “fact” that “40 percent of the recorded […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
“Tax Reform” proposal is dead
It started innocently enough. Concerned that rapidly increasing and uneven property assessments were resulting in big tax increases for homeowners, three years ago HRM councillors established the Tax Reform Committee and charged it with finding a better way to fund government. Along the way, however, the committee went off track. It embraced the concept of […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
What do you think of the city’s Citizen Survey?
I received a copy of HRM’s much-celebrated citizen survey today. I have my own reactions to it, but before I speak, I’d like to hear what readers have to say. So, have at it; please leave your thoughts in the comments. The survey is here.
Posted inNews + Opinion
Counting “tax reform” votes…
Having talked with most of the Halifax councillors about “tax reform,” and otherwise listened to their public statements, I can pretty much forecast how each will vote next Tuesday, when “tax reform” finally comes before council. As follows: Streatch: No Dalrymple: ? Hendsbee: Yes Nicoll: No McCluskey: No Fisher: No Karsten:No Barkhouse: No Smith: No […]
Posted inLifestyle
Booze A-OK with city
Dartmouth councillor Gloria McCluskey’s effort to ban booze at city events is dead in the water. McCluskey, who has long objected to beer companies setting up tents at Natal Day and Canada Day celebrations, asked the HRM council to disassociate alcohol vendors from city-sponsored events. The council rejected that request at its Tuesday meeting, on […]