Early this summer, Halifax had given and missed its own deadline for removing shelters from the old Halifax Memorial Library grounds. The next steps were unclear, but tensions on all sides were rising and it was clear the city was gearing up to do something. In early July, councillor Shawn Cleary told The Coast that […]
Sam Austin
Posted inNews + Opinion
Three local organizations get government cash to provide affordable housing
Halifax Regional Council gave the green light to three affordable housing projects this week. The city got money to pay for the projects from the federal government’s rapid housing initiative; the funding was earmarked for at least 28 units to the tune of $8.65 million. And with the number of people who are unhoused in Halifax doubling […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Here’s what happened at council this week
Another day, another dollar, another look at the use of Micmac instead of Mi’kmaq in Halifax. As usual, The Coast live-‘grammed Tuesday’s council meeting on our Instagram stories—click here to see what happened in real time—but we hope you enjoy this recap, too. On the heels of the landmark report from the Task Force on […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The not-ready Centre Plan strikes back while moving forward
HRM’s Centre Plan is marginally closer to actually existing. The community design advisory committee reviewed all the land use bylaws included in the Centre Plan on Wednesday, and gets two more meetings to pick it apart, a version of progress that’s coming too late for councillor Sam Austin’s constituents, who blame “broken” bylaws for a […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Councillor
Gold Winner Lindell Smith Silver Winner Waye Mason Bronze Winner Sam Austin The councillor disputes these rankings, for the record. Smith assumed the winners would go Sam Austin in first place, Waye Mason for silver and then, maybe, himself. Don’t get him wrong. He’s “100 percent grateful and thankful” to all the people who voted […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
City Council Report Card 2018
There’s a renaissance of buffoonery at City Hall. Whatever goodwill towards fellow councillors existed two years ago, when this self-righteous clique was elected, seems to deteriorate daily. There are spiteful remarks and passive aggressive attacks, on social media and in front of TV cameras. Some turn the other cheek. More than a few dig in […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Sam Austin takes Dartmouth Centre
[Image-1] Urban planner Sam Austin is the new councillor for Dartmouth Centre, with 30.6 percent of the (unofficial) vote. The wide open race had eight candidates vying to replace longtime incumbent Gloria McCluskey (who stepped down this month). Behind Austin came Tim Rissesco at 21.6 percent, and Kate Watson at 20.4 percent. Austin celebrated the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Councillor Jim Smith bows out, heating up Dartmouth Centre race
Late Friday afternoon, councillor Jim Smith announced that he was dropping his reelection bid. Smith currently represents the existing District 9, which stretches from the Burnside business park all the way south to Thistle Street, including the new Bridge Terminal. In the newly re-jigged council districts, however, Smith found himself with a difficult choice. Burnside […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Who is running for council in District 5: Dartmouth Centre?
The district District map: (Click here for a written description of district boundaries.) Candidates Sam Austin Website Twitter Facebook Email Ken Bowman Website Twitter Facebook Email Bryn Jones-Vaillancourt Website Twitter Facebook Email Gloria McCluskey Council report card Website Twitter Facebook: None Email Sonya Dudka Website Twitter Facebook Email Kate Watson Website Twitter Facebook Email Bill […]
