Feb. 04, 2012
DOMB Chairman is the Problem
It is not hard to see who is the cause of the DOMB problems. Mariano Tulipano seems to have a great big chip on his shoulders against anyone who dares to disagree with him. In his quest to control this board as if it was a committee of one he has stepped over the line. As votes have shown Tulipano does not have the trust of his own board. He try's to ride rough over them but to date it has not worked. He loses a vote and proceed to viciously strike out everyone who dares use their own brain. A little man trying very hard to get into wearing long pants instead of shorts.
The following are correspondence forwarded to me by those who do not agree with Mariano just like the majority of the board and members of the BIA. After reading his venom it's easy to see why he has no support. Maybe Mariano it is you who should tender your resignation for the good of the board and BIA members. You do not have the confidence of the membership nor the majority of the board members. Mariano must Go! if peace and co-operation is ever going to be possible. Resign Mariano for the good of the DOMB, you do not have the confidence required to be the Chair.
Letter from Mariano Tulipano
Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 2:50 PM Subject: 1 Feb 2012 - An Open Letter to our BIA Membership An open letter to BIA Membership Well, they did it. I warned you that they might. We all hoped they wouldn’t … but they did it anyway. Last week, due to our long absence from the DOMB table, I agreed that a partial agenda of our missed January meeting should take place in order to pay bills and deal with day-to-day business. We had a “gentleman’s” agreement, as I’ve heard it referred to, that such a meeting should occur. Bills and Correspondence. Unfortunately, that’s not what happenedLast night, the Downtown management board met and voted to fundamentally change our organization’s structure after 35 years … without the input of the membership. Without any effort whatsoever to solicit that input. In the context of what has been happening over the last 5 days, this is an outrage. But first, a little context might be helpful. Councillor Kehoe’s crew had been jockeying for a January 31st meeting date when he would have returned from his holiday. By doing so, the monthly regular meeting of the Downtown Orillia Management Board did not take place in January 2012. For the first time since our board was elected, we failed to make quorum. The alternate date set for a week later was also rejected by the same group … but according to them, January 31st would do nicely. Coincidentally, January 31st was the same date that the Chair, Vice Chair, and board member Ed Nevala had indicated they could not attend. On January 31st, did those in attendance discuss ONLY day-to-day business as promised? No they did not. As I have been updated by BIA members who attended in the gallery, not only did the meeting become Councillor Kehoe’s soapbox for further expounding upon how much he knows and how little we do, but even worse - the board received a motion from Sarah Valiquette to rubber stamp Kehoe’s appointment and vote to add two more BIA members to the board … without input from BIA members and without argument from the other side. … without argument from the other side! (As an aside … I have not played competitive tennis since my high school days more than 25 years ago. But I assure you that I will beat Rafael Nadal tomorrow … if he can’t show up and play.) So now, without bothering to hear the input of its membership on a game-changing issue, our future has been placed in the hands of City Council. Without first hearing any reasons why a board of 11 is a good or bad idea. Without first hearing the answers to why Councillor Kehoe was really appointed to the DOMB behind closed doors and without public scrutiny? Without first asking why one councillor is incapable of maintaining reasonable communication? -- Without, it seems, even a basic understanding that the motion was controversial and required much more information before being passed. -- Last night, under the leadership of two city councillors, wheels have been set in motion to change our board and our BIA forever - without facing the membership first! Perhaps, in this particular situation, they decided it would be easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. I am sure that many of you are aware that finally, as of last night, there will be a public meeting of the BIA membership called on this issue. But there is one serious flaw. The board’s call for a public meeting AFTER their decision is already made flies in the face of common sense and basic logic! The purpose of a public meeting is to request and receive the opinions of the members in order to make an informed, consensus-building decision. Too late. That ship has sailed. However, there is one final hope. The decision made last evening by your Downtown Management Board is not final. It is not final until Council ratifies it. At our public meeting, we must make it clear why they shouldn’t do it, even though legally they can. In my opinion, this distinction will become highly problematic for the councillors involved once BIA members finally have their say. It is not possible to enact a “compromise” – without any effort to build it in advance. Kehoe must go. Mariano Tulipano, Owner – Downtown Computers Inc.
No doubt the venom flows.
Here is a response letter from Ms. Valliquett to this attack.
Subject: Re: 1 Feb 2012 - An Open Letter to our BIA Membership
Dear Mariano and BIA Members, I have sent an email to my fellow board members in hopes to initiate a meeting to discuss sending a factual response to you all in light of Mariano's most recent email. To be clear, from our board members that attended Tuesday's meeting, 6 out of 6 did vote in favour of DOMB board expansion to 11 seats. This, I thought was discussed at our special meeting in December where we proposed it could be a potential compromise for our board. In addition, I have never been opposed to further discussion on the matter where Mariano can put forward another motion to retract what we have recently decided. This has certainly happened on past matters. I feel confident our Board wants to move forward on a positive path as this was mentioned several times on Tuesday evening. If a resignation from myself is Mariano's objective, as I seem to be an ongoing target for him based on the multitude of emails and phone calls our business has received I would leave my seat for someone else to fill. This personal matter, I will ask to be added to the agenda. My only interest is to see the Downtown thrive, we at times will disagree but these emails are completely unfair and jeopardizing our business, the sad part, Era 67 is in the BIA. I hope to find resolution and am completely open for discussion on this matter. If you would like to contact me directly regarding your thoughts please do not hesitate at anytime. I will be at the restaurant all day tomorrow. Sincerely, Sarah-Jane ValiquetteGeneral Manager/Owner, Era 67 Restaurant
Obviously Sarah is a class act and should be leading certainly not following someone like Mariano.
Then there is the letter from Mariano's other target Linda Murray
Subject: DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT BOARD > >
I know that many of you may be sick of receiving so many emails with regards > to various viewpoints with regards to the Downtown Management Board. This > will be my first and last and I apologize, in advance, if you are sighing > with displeasure at this very moment. > > For those of you who attended last night's meeting, thank you for taking the > time out of your busy day to do so. I know how much time it takes to not > only run a business, but to be involved in extracurricular meetings, events > and family commitments. > > For all the downtown merchants that your board represents, I want to clarify > that I asked to be on this committee because I felt that I had the > experience, interest and excitement to do so. I realized that we would be > embarking on downtown and waterfront revitalization, and that a strong > downtown core makes for a stronger city. I have owned my own business for > almost 24 years, was a member of the Chamber board for eight years and past > president, and have known many of you for more than 20 years as well. > > There has been a lot said about me and my motives - many of the comments > that were slanderous, mean spirited and just plain factually wrong. I will > not address any of them and know that there are some people that are simply > not going to like me or anything that comes out of my mouth. For those of > you who do know me, I have not gone rogue, am not power hungry and did not > get stupid overnight. If ANY of you want to have a reasonable, professional > conversation to speak to me about anything pertaining to this or any other > downtown issue, please give me a call. I seldom read the Packet, do not > read the comments from the cowardly and nameless bloggers, but will always > have my door open for face-to-face conversation. If I'm in a meeting or > with a customer at my shop, I will get back to you. > > Sincerely, > Linda > > -- > Linda Murray > City of Orillia Councillor, Ward 2 > Director, DOMB
Another class act for Mariano to follow.
All these attacks by Mariano, the Cipolla's and other members of the self appointed not so secret committee I have been writing about, needs to be outed once and for all. This rabid desire to build on the contaminated lands on West St. is the primer for firing off the shots at good people who do not agree with them. The West St. site will never be built on until it is cleaned no matter how vicious these people get. In Italy all roads lead to Rome. In Orillia all troubles lead to 255 West St. It is a cesspool and unfit for anything in it's current condition. Sad part is that all the members of this not so secret committee know it. Yet they continue on. Why not put your energies into stopping the manufacture of DCA caused by the filling in of the pond with big chunks of cement. This Nervous System Toxin was not present until the thoughtless filling in of the pond, making this property even more toxic than before it was touched. Stay tuned folks there is more to come.
jim tolnai
We still Need a Forensic Audit
Followed by a Judicial Inquiry
Feb. 03, 2012
Orillia's Shame Part 2
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black' Law Dictionary as the Accepting , Giving or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or other person in charge of a public or legal duty.
The bribe is the gift bestowed to influence the recipient's conduct. It may be any money, good, right in action, property, preferment, privilege, emolument, object of value, advantage, or merely a promise or undertaking to induce or influence the action, vote, or influence of a person in an official or public capacity.
To offer or provide payment in order to persuade someone with a responsibility to betray that responsibility is known as seeking Undue Influence over that person's actions.
I started February off with Orillia's Shame and now will share more intimate details of who and why they bring such shame on each and everyone of us. On Tuesday I wrote that those with property interest on West St. S. have been and are involved with a highly organized and vicious attack of anyone who dares to go against their will by taking West St. off the table to build on, unless it is cleaned up. I identified Mike Davenport along with Ralph Cipolla , Mariano Tulipano, Tony madden, Pete Bowen and Paul Spears.
Davenport Subaru is the official meeting place where the rascals meet in secret to defeat the voters of Orillia who put in power, those on council who promised to shut this site down until it is cleaned. Those frequently at meetings are people who may or may not surprise you. Clive Ness who has his building beside Davenport's certainly is no surprise. No surprise also is the participation and very active member one Steve Clarke who so graciously was willing to accept a post on the DOMB. Yes the same Steve Clarke who ran twice if not three times as the local federal Liberal candidate. Anyone remember how indignant Stevie boy was against the Conservatives dirty tricks and dishonesty? Anyone remember how he claimed to be totally different and was honest to the core? Yeah! right and pigs can fly.
I started this rant (as some might call it) with an explanation of Bribery. Read a couple of times for this word is very relevant to what this group has done and most likely doing more of as I write this. You see folks councillors, some in pairs and some individually were invited down to Davenport Subaru for a friendly meeting. While some left immediately upon finding out the subject for this friendly audience with those who would rule if only given a chance, some stayed and heard them out. Once more I need to remind everyone that it is against the law to offer a sitting official money, gift or consideration in order that they vote favorably in the gifter's interest. It is also against the law to threaten any sitting official with harm whether physical, economic or political if that official does not co-operatedwith the thugs wish's.
So Steve Clarke in the true tradition of transparency and honesty would you please explain to the good people of Orillia why you attended at least one of these strong arm meetings and why you were actually the leader in explaining how the sitting officials would benefit if only they changed their vote and or mind about the MURF site, in favour of your and the groups position. In the interest of transparency share with your supporters who actually believed you to be a different choice for MP, when they voted for you in the last few elections. Remember your campaign where you said "this site must be cleaned before it is built on"? Funny how not once did you or any of the other thugs at the meeting mention anything about cleanup. Just that all of you would be giving favours to these councillors as you tried twisting their arms if they didn't tow the line. Totally illegal, immoral and down right despicable Stevie boy.
So we know who didn't take the bait as there was a majority of council who voted this property off the build table. They also voted to begin the process of cleaning this site by partnering with a couple of universities. But we also know which councillors voted to simply build on this cesspool at any cost. So was there the same consideration made to the likes of Bowen, Madden and Spears? Was the same strong arm tactics used on those who ended up crying uncle and actually took the consideration? Don't forget Bowen has your backs statement before you answer Stevie.
"When someone with power seeks payment in exchange for certain actions, that person is said to be peddling influence. Regardless of who initiates the deal, either party to an act of bribery can be found guilty of the crime independently of the other."
Tell me Stevie I am wrong about these meetings. Tell all the good people of Orillia who supported you through 3 elections that you are not involved in this vile behaviour. Tell us you were down at the Subaru dealership really just negotiating for a new car? Tell us how councillors showing up was as big a shock to you as the offer of considerations was a shock to the councillors? Tell us how when you realized what was going on your legs became paralyzed and you simply couldn't move to leave before the dirty began? Then tell us the words coming from your own mouth and in your own voice wasn't really you at all but possibly it was Rich Little impersonating you? And tell us Stevie boy how you really didn't suggest how your group would make sure the reward would be delivered via the Packet editorial section and wasn't really trying to imply that the punishment part for non response would come through the same venue? Please Stevie tell us it ain't so. Clear up any misunderstanding Stevie. Let's get your side on the record. Give me a call at 705-242-3271 Naturally the call will be recorded for accuracy and transparency reasons. There is a lot more to this story folks so please do come back.
jim tolnai
We still Need a Forensic Audit
Followed by a Judicial Inquiry
Feb. 01, 2012
Orillia's Shame
The well organized and cowardly effort to build on one of the most contaminated sites in the world continues. People of Orillia will once again be put to the task of defending the environment for this and future generations once again. Since the election in Oct. 2010 those who lost have run a concerted campaign with paid (political) assassins to destroy this mayor and council. Lots of trial balloons were let fly like the (Grinch), candidate C, Huronia Regional Center property, conflict of interest, library, firehall, and police building and now the DOMB, but Orsi and councillors have stood their ground and proceeded ahead.
There is only one and only one reason for these unjustified attacks by this highly organized and secret group. They want a rec center on West St. and be damned those whose health it will impact. Be damned those whose property values this plume is forced to travel under. Non of that matters to these people as long as they personally profit. Everyone knows the Orsi's own 95% of the developmental lands in Orillia. That means those who invested in the West St. strip must create the myth that those lands can be built on and vilify Westridge as some how anti Orillia. Now if cleaned they certainly can be built on but uncleaned it is impossible unless the city actually goes ahead and builds themselves without cleanup. That's right folks, this whole affair is nothing more than an end run around environmental sanity. If the city gets away with building without cleanup then private land owners get carte blanc. Be damned with the end results as long as profit is achieved for the few.
Folks since the loss of power, those responsible for the ten's of millions wasted have been very active in bullshitting everyone of you about this mayor and council. The latest is this DOMB farce against Pat Kehoe. It's time that people knew that some members of the DOMB along with Cipolla, Mike Davenport and others to be named, have formed a secret committee which is supposedly serving the DOMB? Yes a secret committee which some DOMB board members and 100% of the membership have not been informed of this, not even the 32 who sign Mariano's letter. The mandate of this self appointed secret committee is to first destroy mayor and any councillor who dares Speak Out and do the right thing. Their second mandate is to build on West St. at any cost. They are also in charge of destroying any DOMB board member and their business who won't go along with them. Hazzard County politics are back front and center once again.
Now here is something that may or may not shock people. From very reliable sources it seems that our friend Boss Hogg's finger prints have been found to be on this SECRET committee's mandate. Yup! the Boss is back. So Ralph, Mariano, Mike, Tony Madden, Paul Spears and Pete Bowen why don't you explain to the nice people of Orillia how it is you have become a secret committee of the DOMB and who gave you your mandate? Remember what Bowen said the other day via the Packet how he has the "DOMB's back"???? Why don't you explain to the people how it is that in a democracy using taxpayers money you go about such Skullduggery? And please tell the nice folk's about who you have recruited to destroy all downtown and waterfront revitalization plans for the sole purpose of forcing the use of the West St site? Would that be the man who has an axe to grind and claims expertise in municipal matters? So come on all you people who are demanding transparency while Skulking in the shadows as only cowards are capable of, Speak Out with transparency. If anyone believes that Cipolla slipped up at the Police Services meeting spilling confidential information I have some land on West St. ready to build on for you to buy. This was no slip, but part of this groups plan. Just like the paid assassins northward, warren, acolin along with the Packet's comment forum are part and parcel of screwing the taxpayers of Orillia.
And now while you are digesting this here is some more bad news. In Le Roy New York a train derailment spill of 35,000 gallons of TCE (trichloethylene) some 40 years ago is raising it's ugly head. Left virtually in place without cleanup this past August/September some young girls came down with tics. No not the living tics but the kind which makes one's body jerk and jive without music. These illnesses have now brought back to public attention the rail wreck. With a plume a mile wide and having migrated 4 miles underground all these girls who attend the same school started to show this illness. At the same time a yellow substance was perculating up in the football/sports field. For 40 years nothing? but why now? Well! this area of New York State was first of all, hit by Hurrican Irene rains followed by a huge tropical storm that dumped 1 3/4 inches of rain in a mere 24 hours. Not to mention they were also affected by that earthquake which was the largest in 100 years that cracked the Washington Monument.
I did some investigation and what I found is that while TCE may not have a definitive link to neurological problems DCA does. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichloroacetic_acid. So why bring up DCA? Well your friend and mine Mr. Ralph Cipolla may have made the former MURF site a huge DCA producing factory. That's right folks, Ralph the DCA manufacturer along with Boss Hogg, Stevens, Spears, Lori Koughan, Wayne Gardy and all the rest can lay claim to putting in place the ingredients needed to manufacture this terrible by product solely for their greed. You see, with Free Phase TCE it is really not hard to manufacture an abundant quantity of DCA, a known and proven neuron toxin. How did they mange to do this? Well it seems that the best way of manufacturing DCA is to have TCE make contact with wet cement. And how was it that the TCE was able to contact wet cement on this site? Why it was because the likes of Cipolla, Stevens, Boss Hogg, Lori Koughan along with all the other former councillors who insisted on taking cement footings from the former factory which, by the way were kept dry by a drainage system and using them as cheap fill for the pond. They not only got the cement wet but actually submerged it in the pond. Imagine that. Even though we begged them to leave the pond alone Mayor Pinocchio insisted there was no alternative and away they dumped with the blessing of their supposed experts. Who had to have known better even if the local dolts they served didn't. Which I find hard to believe as the experts would have covered their own assets by making disclosure and making sure it was the likes of Pinocchio and Cipolla made the decision to proceed. They knew exactly what the cosequences would be but went ahead anyway. That is why they tested for the DCA and then dismissed it as another rant from yours truly..
Interestingly enough about 9 months after the dig and dump testing actually found a DCA "stream" (yes stream) running into Ben's Ditch along the southern end of the property. I wrote about this in Speaking Out and informed them of this products neurological side effects but was told they would be sampling aquatic life forms and I didn't know what I was talking about. Which of course they never did do any as there are no reports that I have been able to find. With the information from Le Roy and the new research it is really time to stop this insanity. It is time for the likes of this secret committee to stop the bullshit and simply cleanup the mess they personally are responsible for. Here are some more links for you folks. Educate yourselves and whatever you do withdraw any support for using this site for anything unless it is cleaned up. And let the Cipolla's know to get their ass down to West St. and remove the cement from where they buried it as the DCA will not go away on it's own but only get worse until the TCE stops contacting it. And tell him to make sure all his not so secret friends give him a hand. And then contact your mayor and council to demand a Judicial Inquiry.
Do not allow these people to make a horrendous situation of their own creation and making it even worse. If you want your kids to be like those girls in LeRoy then do nothing. But if you care for your children put a stop to this insanity for this stuff never stops moving and never sleeps. It is coming to get it's first victim (if there already aren't any???) who might be a child trying to catch frogs in Ben's Ditch off the very popular trail behind this cess pool property.
jim tolnai
We still Need a Forensic Audit
Followed by a Judicial Inquiry
Nov. 14, 2011
Time to Clean 255 West St.
In a release issued on September 28, 2011 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that TCE (Trichloroethylene) is carcinogenic to humans.
Today Nov. 14 the release of a conclusive study claims there is a Link Between Parkinson's Disease and Trichloroethylene. Not only a link but a sixfold increase in aquiring Parkinson Disease from exposure to this chemical.
Each day that 255 West St. is left to simply bleed this chemical off site, the more people will be exposed to it. It's time to start the clean up and stop contaminating this entire area's water supply. Time is of the essence.
"We have the scientific proof — we're up to 13 different cancers that can be caused by TCE."
Wake up Orillia and area, this stuff flows for miles underground. It's time to stop the offsite flow, enough harm has already been done.
jim tolnai
Nov. 07, 2011
Orillia's Virtual Insane Assylum
I have made a point of no longer commenting on the Packet's forum for lunatics. It seems the insanity and mob mentality is simply getting worse. The same old cowards who hide behind ridiculous identities have taken over the Packet. Seems with the Packets blessing. There are those who submit under their own identity, but most are rabid mentally ill posters who need to get some help with their serious illness.
They get into the mob riot mood and attack it seems everyone. Just the other day, a lady wrote a letter thanking someone for returning her purse. to her. http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3355737. Great little story but not for the mentally ill attack dog Probably Wrong. This piece of human dodo can't say anything nice like "good I'm happy for you" but has to demean not only this lady but all women by his snide remark "Remind me again why women put their purses and handbags in the grocery carts?"
The same treatment was bestowed on a lady from Collingwood who dared write a letter on her parking dilemma. She was labeled as being stupid first by one who calls themselves North Ward followed by dodo two Probably Wrong. Totally uncalled for attack. http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=3302286 The lady simply suggested that maybe machines should not take anymore coins if the maximum time is already paid for. Then when I offered to pay for her parking and lunch next time she comes to Orillia these two mental midgets attack me for having offered, suggesting I am mentally ill somehow.
These are just the milder attacks. The story today which has unleashed the dodoo's http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3357415. Linda Murray a very intelligent, caring and curious individual asks some simple questions. She asks about how payments to the county works. Her question is answered and she asks can the city opt out. In other words what are the rules. She is told Orillia can opt out but only if it owns a long term care facility. She also asks if the city could purchase Trillium Manor. From these questions the dodoos start their attack. The piece of crap North Ward starts the attack with "Lets cut long term care for 75 Orillians? and to do so we will buy a nursing home and run it ourselves for under 900k? or better yet buy one with only two beds, staff it with 24 hour nursing staff to get around paying our share to the county and then what happens to the other 73 orillians? they and others in the future would be shipped off to penetang or anywhere else in simcoe county."
That is the story this mental midget weaved out of nothing. Without missing a beat other dodoos join the attack "where is Linda Murray coming from, it seems that everything she says is going against what Orillians want,what she is saying reminds me of the heartless sons of bithches that stole the "Poppy Boxes" in Toronto over the last couple of days, I dont think that she really gives a damn about seniors in this city......can we have another Municipal election SOON." this one from dodoo coward orilliaman. Followed by one of biggest piles of dodoo Probably wrong "too bad we can't opt out of Linda Murray." All this for trying to understand how the system works and is it possible to do a better job of it? Followed by the homophobic ProudOrillian demeaning of the female species with "And people are surprised that there aren't more women in politics? If Murray is typical of the candidates we get, I can't see voting any more in! She'll be out the door after the next election I predict!". Three simple little stories showing just how homophobic these cowards really are.
Anyway the reason I decided to write this is very simple. It seems the attack dodoos are missing me. That has to be it or why else would they be bringing my name into their sick conversations? The pile that is "trapeze" decided that if I wasn't going to take part he would make me. Only problem is that I have no interest. Here is what he wrote "@ConcernedforOrillia, aka Jim Tolnai:
You are once again expressing a minority opinion. And it's OK to do that, it's a free country, especially in Ramara. However, this report and the well-considered views expressed on this site yesterday put the purpose and civic value of a museum in better perspective. I suspect you actually know nothing about this or any other museum. But that's OK too, because as they say 'There's one in every village'." http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3355792 . Naturally other attack dodoos followed in an effort to reinforce the false use of my name by dodoo Probably Wrong. "I see your change to pseudonymic status has not mellowed your tendency to grossly distort and misrepresent what people have said, "concerned". Too bad." Not satisfied by their false comments they just keep carrying on with their innuendo.
As I read the stories and all these people's garbage comments, I simply am not interested in commenting nor have I. But let me be very clear to all of you. Put up or shut up as one commenter suggested http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3355792. If I wish to comment I will do it under my own name and identity as I always have.
For the Packet to keep accepting these insane attacks most without facts or merit is simply abrigating the papers responsibility to the public. Allowing Linda Murray to be compared to bitches is simply wrong. Nothing wrong with holding councillors and all public officials responsible but what these people are doing has nothing to do with any reality. There is something very wrong with the mental condition of the Packet management to allow this garbage day in and day out under false identities. The Packet has become nothing more than a cheap poorly written local National Inquirer.
jim tolnai
We still Need a Forensic Audit
Followed by a Judicial Inquiry
Oct. 11, 2011
325
Peter St. N.
Orillia,
ON L3V 5A4
October
12, 2011
Mayor
and Members of Council
City of Orillia
Orillia City Centre
50 Andrew St. S.
OriIlia, ON L3V 7T5
Dear
Mayor Orsi and Members of Council,
Re: Waste Reduction Week – October 17th to October 23rd
The City of Orillia
has received numerous awards over the years for waste reduction efforts, has
been at the forefront of adopting innovative waste diversion programs, and has
been instrumental in influencing positive changes across the province.
This year, the City
of Orillia could make a commitment during Waste Reduction Week (WRW) to follow
the lead of Tiny Township to ban the sale of bottled water in civic
places.
Tiny Township recently made an important
commitmentto recognize water as
a human right, ban the sale of
bottled water in civic places, and support public ownership of water utilities.
This commitment brought with it the 1st Blue Community Award in Ontario.
More importantly theleadership demonstrated
by Tiny Township Councillors will help to reduce waste, as well as protect
water now, and for future generations.
It would be wonderful if the City
of Orillia followed Tiny Township’s lead by supporting the same commitment. Your
decision will help influence other
municipalities to follow suit.
Will you adopt the Tiny commitment
during Waste Reduction Week to reduce waste and protect water?
Thank you for considering this
positive solution.
Sincerely,
Kelly Clune
Oct. 7, 2011
I see the loony's are back
I see the Packet is up to their mis-information and getting the inbred natives into a frenzy. We've had a bit of peace as these shadows had been silenced by the sane decision of council to put an end to 255 West as an option, to build without cleaning it up. Then this same forward thinking council decided to actually start the cleanup process. Good on you.
"A minority of councillors have shown sound judgment. Part of the acrimony is due to their refusal to accept their colleagues' nonsense.
Orillians should be thankful these black sheep leaders are only guilty of dysfunction and not complacency."
So the Troika councillors Spears, Bowen and Mad Madden show sound judgment by wanting to poison not only people but a whole rec-center. But the majority who don't are labeled blacksheep, dysfunctional and speak nothing but nonsense.
Then we find out that not only is Teviah and Packet management nothing more than cowardly weasels who have simply not even contacted those they attack before writing this nonsense. Pat Kehoe took the time to set the record straight about Teviah and his ratpack. Within literally minutes all the loony posters who had disappeared were back at it again. Teviah and his ratpack had sent out the word for all weasels to report back to work. It's so funny but then it isn't. Here is what Patrick wrote:
What is most unfortunate is that we have an individual in a very prominent position with the only daily publication in our city that has not so much as once (to date) requested a meeting nor communicated in person or by phone with anyone but those (I assume) he purports have shown sound judgment. By choosing to assume to have a clear understanding of the issues after listening it seems only to the select few he entrusts, the opinion reported is distorted and lacks objectivity. (Objective – defined as being undistorted by emotion or personal bias)
I passed Teviah in a grocery store a year ago; we greeted each other and then went about our daily business. This chance encounter stands as the only direct communication between the two of us since being elected and is no more a foundation of understanding than would it be as the only basis on which I would form an opinion as to his integrity.
This council does not agree on all issues and for that I am grateful. Though we may disagree on occasion that does not mean that my level of respect or trust in them falls victim. Debate, discussion and disagreement is the very foundation of our democratic process. If any “team” were always on the same side of the boat, the boat would surely tip.
Teviah; my door is open, my phone number is below and I am available any night or day to talk. I challenge both of us to seek to understand before jumping to any conclusion.
You may question my judgment, and that is your right and your privilege but to understand my motivation and commitment requires a little extra effort.
Patrick F. Kehoe
Councillor Ward 1
City of Orillia
(705) 329-8708
I stopped to read the headline on the Toronto Sun this morning. The headline says in relation to the election results that Ontario is now going to hell because McGuinty and the Liberals won. Now if the center piece paper in the Sun Media empire says that, is it any wonder why and how the weasels on West St. N would simply mislead on local issues with impunity? It's time for local people to ask, where is our local paper that served this area for over a hundred years? It's time for local people hungry for proper and factual reporting to be served by a real and impartial local news organization. For sure over the last 8 years the Packet that I purchased faithfully every day for over 40 years is gone. It's time for people to ask the only real local paper (Orillia Today) to contemplate going daily. It's time for people to stop reading this rubbish while paying for it. I know old habits are hard to break and I went through a bit of withdrawal myself. After all a forty year habit is not easy to break. So I weaned myself by reading the web version. But as each day went by my disgust with the Packet weasels simply grew. I even tried to comment on their outrageous misleading stories over the last year but that just encouraged the loony's to surface with the Packet's blessing.
I thought maybe, just maybe the publisher and his band of weasels would actually see sense and become a real newspaper again. But my wish was for nothing, as they have just become worse. Today's story by Teviah is nothing short of an attack on democracy and freedom of the press. The Packet has crossed a line and needs to be held accountable. They may print on newsprint but the Packet is anything but what a newspaper in a democracy should be. It has been taken over by the loony right and rednecks. It is anything but a community paper. So let's support Orillia Today and encourage them to at least print twice a week if not daily, so that there would be more timely and balanced reporting on local issues.
jim tolnai
We still Need a Forensic Audit
Followed by a Judicial Inquiry
Sept. 25, 2011
What about that Dump Eh!!!
The people of Orillia are about to get a rude awakening over one of the stupidest ideas this town has ever had. In a string of stupid with the latest being, building on 255 West St. the mother of all dumbness is about to rear it's ugly head. Back in the sixties some genius convinced mayors and councils to locate Orillia's Super Dump at the end of Kitchener St. Instead of doing a proper evaluation of such a concept, town fathers and mothers pushed ahead. Now I suppose people could take comfort in the words, they didn't know any better. But for me it rings hollow. Information was there and available so I believe they did it in spite of knowing better. After all who in their right mind drinks from their toilet even back in the sixties?
After all, this dump was replacing the dump which now is Kitchener Park wasn't it. But that dump was tiny in comparison to what was planned and what it has become. And all these decisions by all these past mayors and councillors was made in the name of saving money. The land there was worthless swamp and they actually believed it would become valuable because it was filled in. So increase the land value and save money on garbage. What a plan? And Orillians bought it, hook line and stinker. Not unlike how people bought the MURF on West for a buck. Seems the more things change the more they stay the same.
One Jeff Holec wrote a letter to the Packet editor http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3310639 "Cost of Lake Simcoe cleanup need not come as surprise to city". In his letter Jeff claims he had visited ten years ago with Ron Stevens and made him aware of the future to come, if Orillia did not deal with the dump/sewage issue. He wrote "I personally met with then-mayor Ron Stevens, who appreciated the seriousness of the issue, and made a presentation to the council of the day on behalf of the board of directors of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA). " But nothing was done and there certainly was nothing from city administration or council informing the citizenry. So how serious could Stevens have taken the situation? Especially when one takes into consideration the destruction of wetland both on and off 255 West. Especially since 40,000 tons of highly toxic soil was deposited at the dump, approved unanimously by council and endorsed by subsequent Stevens councils. Once more, money had taken precedence over the environment. Short term thinking which has resulted in longterm failure.
Last Monday night Mayor Orsi questioned the over $5,000,000 cost of dumping soil at the dump should be included, in the cost of the MURF. The likes of Spears, Madden and Bowen disagreed, because they didn't see it as a cash cost. Even today these three Bozos keep denying that a cubic meter of dump space is worth $125. Because the two (Spears & Bowen) were intimately involved in the MURF fraud, they still deny taking responsibility for what they did. Madden! well he's just Madden who simply doesn't see because he refuses to look.
There is a lot more to this dump issue, which goes back over twenty years ago. When during the hearing on license renewal it could have been dealt with. Many people took part and warned those councillors to stop and start doing the right thing. They were marginalized, ridiculed and most important they have now been proven right. Not unlike those who warned of the West St. property who were ridiculed and marginalized are now proven right. Orillia it seems hell bent on it's own financial/environmental destruction.
In his letter, Jeff praises the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) as having had the answer 10 years ago. But the truth is LSRCA backed Stevens and Orillia in their dumping of the 40,000 tons of toxicity. How did they do that? Politics. Back in 2005/06 Kelly Clune managed to get the opportunity to present our concerns for what the city had done (dumping soil) to the board of LSRCA. We drove to New Market and those board and staff members whom, Jeff Holec was part of gave us the bums rush. They weren't interested in hearing any criticism of Orillia mayor, council or management. They went to great length to shut down our presentation, to stop people from hearing the truth, of just what the dumping of 40,000 tons or toxic material really meant. Back then it could have been reversed.
Needless to say we were miffed as we left the chamber. In the lobby, we met up with Michael Waters Director, Watershed Management LSCRA. I along with Kelly, Millard and Marsden directly asked Michael what was going on. How could this body not take seriously what had happened in Orillia and what was about to happen with building on West St. He apologized and said that the board would not hold Orillia accountable because it was thought Orillia would actually join the organization if the issue would be buried. Yup! fine bunch of environmentalists on that board back then wasn't there? So once again money won out over the environment. Needless to say Orillia never joined even though LSCRA kept their part of the dirty filthy backroom agreement.
For Jeff Holec to now say that Stevens took the lake seriously is anything but the truth. It sickens me and others to read this letter, when we, who were there to ask for help were dismissed and ignored. Folks, nothing has changed in all these years. The effort to put off doing the right thing, will be continued until all of us, together force them to actually do something, instead of paying just lip service to it. Jeff Holec who came from the other side of Lake Simcoe was appointed to wmac by Stevens to do his bidding but then promptly left. But not before becoming the chair. Now how ironic is it, that Jeff who was at least partly responsible for shutting down Kelly's presentation to LSCRA seven or eight years ago wanted to shutdown Kelly from working on wmac when, she challenged what was going on with issues under his Chairmanship? Jeff told Kelly to not return to the next meeting as she was being dismissed. Totally out of his responsibility. When Kelly took exception to the high handed chair, it was Holec who ended up resigning as Stevens did not want the issue made public. Now Holec comes out as someone who actually gives a Rat's Ass. Acting as if he wasn't or isn't responsible for where we are today.
I have always said the truth eventually comes out, one only needs to connect the dots when it does.
jim tolnai
We still Need a Forensic Audit
Followed by a Judicial Inquiry
Sept. 24, 2011
Finally people are waking up to Fox News North reality
Over the last eight years in the fight for cleaning up the West St. quagmire before anything was built, I came to realize how the Packet manipulates the truth in their reporting. No matter how much evidence or how many documents I and others handed to them they always managed to either dismiss it's relevance or simply to ignore them as if they never existed. It was clear that the Packet Puppet was moving to their masters manipulation. While they dismissed any and all our efforts for transparent reporting of both sides it rarely ever happened. Now, this isn't sour grapes as the war on West St. has been won by us. In spite of the huge amounts of money wasted by the city fighting us and in spite of the Packet denigrating our efforts and outright supporting those who would poison people/water/ environment if they succeeded, we did prevail and a number of those working for the Packet back then are gone.
But there is a new breed of Packet management, editors and reporters that now disgrace the profession of journalism. Over the last couple of years the Packet has increasingly become anti everything that is not Redneck, Tea Party, Conservative. If Rupert Murdoch owned this paper he would be proud. Here is an excerpt from a recently sent letter by me to mayor, councillors and the Packet letting them know once more what I have been observing.
"Dear mayor and councillors who actually care
The Packet has finally hatched the rotten egg they have been incubating. The result is a bouncing piece of Fox News Orillia piece of crap. The Packet has been working hard to hatch their little Fox News scheme for quite a number of years and now finally it is visible. Monday night the little piece of crap came sliding out of the assholes who make up the Packet/Fox News North management and staff and the town stinks even worse than before. As of now Orillia has a 100% Redneck paper that the Glen Becks of the world and such will be proud of. Take heart councillors, right is on your side and nothing good ever comes easy. I urge you to keep going. Your good solid judgment will hold you in good stead. In a matter of days people will see the Packet for what it has been over the last 6 years and realize what it actually is now. "
It is with great pleasure that I have seen in the last couple of days people starting to Speak Out about what the Packet has become. In a letter to the editor from Dave Town, regarding his disappointment of the Packet, he speaks for an awful lot of Orillian's feelings. He writes.
"That our local paper saw this as fit for publication is appalling, but not surprising. Since the takeover of The Packet by Sun Media, there has been a steady stream of far right-wing opinion fed to us; see, for example, any column by Brian Lilley, Christina Blizzard, Charles Adler or Ezra Levant that seem to be in every paper.
As an open-minded, informed and concerned citizen, I find this bastardization of our once proud paper deeply disheartening.
David Town,"
Others all of a sudden are now also criticizing the Packet for their headline and story "Council won't back Park St. site for new high school" a gross misrepresentation of what actually took place at council Monday night.
wildrice: "Another Misleading Packet Headline. Council did not reject the Park Street site. They only decided to not become involved in the location decision."
Glad to see Orillian's finally waking up. Speak Out folks, stand up to those who are Bastardizing. Put an end to the Bastardization, false/ misleading information they disseminate to our community. Demand the Packet allow participation by those who challenge their misleading reporting/headlines in the comment forum of their website. Make sure those favoured participants in the forum, who do nothing but attack because the Packet allows them are permanently removed or in the least made to carry out the attacks in their own identity. Why does the Packet allow these attacks under false/non existing identity to spread pure lies with false accusations. You know those PW/NW/trapeze/poulboy/acolin/warren and more, who attack and spread lies about mayor and council. Who the Packet management are politically against. A free press is only free if both sides of an issue is allowed. Otherwise it is only free for the chosen. So Packet, either change or stop pretending you have anything to do with being a community newspaper or journalism. You have not been nor are neutral.
jim tolnai
We still Need a Forensic Audit
Followed by a Judicial Inquiry
Sept. 23, 2011
Reasoning for Kehoe's MURF Site Motion
After reading yesterdays attack against Pat in the Packet comment section, I asked him to let me publish his presentation, for all to actually be able to read it. I was at council Monday and heard every word. I understood his concerns for I have had those very concerns these past eight years. With information like this how can anyone not come to the same conclusion or concern? No building until it is cleaned. Yet they attacked him simply for the sake of drawing some blood.
Here are the comments Fox News North is encouraging.
orillianeedsapool: "Wow...what a stupid council and mayor we have, except for 3. Not sure how Orsi got them in his pocket, but its pretty obvious with every vote".
warren: "It seems as though the majority on Council was hell-bent on abandoning the site regardless of its viability, and that reason had nothing to do with their decision".
cabanna: "Really, really.... my questions is when did the five umpa lumpa's get phd's and when did reading portions of a document out of context become clear evidence. I did learn a few things today that according to the fab five public consultation is not important and bullying and fearmongering is the way to get ahead".
probably wrong: "A lot of Kehoe's stuff was made up. (scary).
Orsi didn't give his own report, (scary) he read selected excerpts out of the CPU.
Paul Scott was a staunch supporter of Kehoe and Orsi during the anti-library campaign. Some things just don't change".
In answer to the fringe group, read the following presentation. Take your time and read it again. Any big words use your dictionary. Check Pat's sources. Do some due diligence, before you open your traps and spew hatred and lies. But that is asking too much from this group of whatever or whoever they are. Don't worry. the Packet believes in all of you. That is all that matters.
So everyone read it tell me which of your children or grandchildren would you send into a building on that site before a proper cleaning?
Here is Pat's entire presentation.
I must begin by stating clearly that I have no issue with the construction of a MURF, my only issue is only with constructing on the highly contaminated 255 West St. site. The fear mongering you have heard as of late is being used as a careful ruse by some to convince you that by removing this site from consideration, the only option left is West Ridge. I have no less than 4 recreational facility sites in mind including the one we are currently acting on (174 West) and two we would negotiate with other partners for. None are in West Ridge and no one will oppose more vehemently than myself, the use of any employments lands, such as those owned by the city in West Ridge, for recreational purposes.
I should preface my introduction of this motion by stating first that I have over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, I have been directly involved in Brownfield remediation/redevelopment initiatives and have worked for one of this country's largest chemical companies, so my concerns are not without legitimacy or foundation.
My position on the 255 West St. issue has remained steadfast from day one; this site is not suitable for recreational/residential building construction without substantial containment and remediation and though there are many issues surrounding this proposal that are being disputed, there are 3 facts that are not:
First: This site was once a wetland that connected two lakes that are in turn connected to one another and are in fact the principle source of drinking water for ourselves and many others.
Second: There are highly toxic chemicals in unimaginably high concentration located on this site and this toxic plume is moving.
Third: Containment of the contamination from offsite migration has not yet been addressed and when and if it does, the cost to do so IF there are buildings, hard surface areas and infrastructure in place, will rise exponentially; not to mention the facility may have to be decommissioned while this work is in process.
The current proposal before this council is to NOT remediate the site in whole or in part; NOT to address the offsite migration of the contamination and NOT to provide any measures whatsoever to change and/or improve the current conditions. Not only is this environmentally irresponsible but in failing to address the problem prior to development, council would be subjecting the taxpayers of this community to substantial risk and liability in the future given the uncertain conditions. Whereas the rest of the world is remediating contaminated sites prior to development; utilizing the latest in technologies to remove or lessen the contamination to acceptable levels, we here in Orillia have come up with a better idea!, let's leave the site as is and instead make the building safe. We are not proposing the construction of a simple recreational building; we are proposing the construction of a 100.000 sq/ft Biosphere to protect us from the toxins and contamination in the soil that surrounds it!
The Environmental Industry Business model in Ontario is flawed. For those not familiar, we lack federal oversight, regulation or even a national strategy as that in the US for example with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Superfund program. Every province makes their own rules and our industry here in Ontario is an entirely “bill per hour or per diem” consultant driven model that consists either of “digging and dumping contamination elsewhere” or negotiating a strategy on how to work around a problem rather than solve it (Risk Assessment). If you're billing out at $ 200.00+ per hour, where is the incentive to embrace new technologies. As a consequence, methodologies and technologies that could be utilized to remediate “in situ” have not developed, matured or gained wide acceptance as they have in both the US and in Europe.
With full credit to Mr. Allan Millard for summarizing the concerns associated with this site so succinctly; No Risk is acceptable if it can be avoided
Webster's Dictionary defines risk as the possibility of loss or injury; someone or something that creates or suggests a hazard
The MOE has issued a Record of Site Condition based on a legally binding Certificate of Property Use agreement where the individual risks are identified. The MOE by way of this agreement is communicating the risks associated and governing our actions when or if the possible, not impossible, happens. The MOE makes no guarantees that this or any other site is safe, only that our paperwork is in order. There is no assumption of liability; if a plan fails, the taxpayers are on their own!!
As long as 255 West St. remains an option, every other proposal brought forward will ignite this 7 year long debate once more. 255 deserves to stand or fall based on its own merits and risks, in isolation so the legitimate environmental, fiscal and community wellness concerns associated with its development do not get overshadowed in a comparative analysis discussion of other less important issues.
Further, we need to consider the cost of not remediating. The city like any other corporation must declare all of its liabilities and this site is no exception. What is the cost to the city by having its overall value negatively affected to the tune of 20 to 30 million dollars from this point forward?
Orillia also needs partnerships to help subsidize the expected operating cost deficit. As you are aware there has been substantial progress in partnership discussions with the surrounding municipalities and we are in agreement in principle on several key areas. Unfortunately no potential partner wants any part of the 255 debate.
Next, apart from the obvious, lets deal with “what taking this option off the table advances” Taking this option off of the table will finally allow us to move forward expeditiously and focus together on alternative sites and solutions to address our recreational deficit NOW. In short, the longer the 255 West St. debate drags on, the longer it will take us to address this deficit. Recent history has demonstrated as much, as have mistakes made with the sale of the Lion's Oval property and the Community Centre closing; all due to, in no small measure, our continued delay and debate of the 255 West St. site.
Where do we go from here?
My intention is not to abandon the 255 West St. site but to have it repurposed and re-naturalized as parkland with open recreational and event amenities; however it must be made safe first.
Contrary to popular belief there are both existing and emerging remediation technologies that can be employed in a long term strategy to the benefit of the community.
The area known as the DNAPL zone needs to be contained and off site migration of the contamination addressed. This area can be restricted to the public but remain assessable to those conducting experiments on new remediation technologies. Vapor extraction and chemical oxidization of the toxic gases can ensure a safe coexistence with the adjacent public space and access to the public space can be controlled or restricted as required.
With this in mind I have initiated discussions with Lakehead University on the formation of a research partnership. My goal is to take the consultants out from behind the wheel of the bus and place them instead in a support capacity. Lakehead will take the lead role in researching, bench testing and overseeing on site treatability studies with companies and individuals with promising in situ remediation technologies. With special thanks to Councillor Hill as well as we now have two researchers from Western University interested in participating in just such a program.
Yet another reason for bringing the motion forward tonight is that we are now in budget mode and the timing is especially opportune. If my motion is successful tonight, in two weeks I will be stepping forward with a motion to formalize this research partnership. The funding we anticipated using very shortly to relocate the surcharge on this site can be directed instead to research and develop “made in Orillia” solutions as well as serve as a leadership example to the rest of the Province.
In addition, I will be drafting yet another motion as the City is unfortunately not the only property owner in Orillia burdened with contaminated land and the associated. It is in our collective interest to see these properties cleaned and reactivated. I will propose to this council that we extend to other landowners the ability to participate in this research and treatability program. They will of course receive a research and development tax credit for doing so and in addition, as an added incentive, I would propose funding, by way of a development charge rebate, a portion of their research participation.
Orillia, 100 years ago was a leader in industrial manufacturing in Ontario. We can now, by way of our example of Environmental Stewardship, become a leader in remediation research and innovation starting in 2012; coincidentally the one hundredth anniversary of the tag line “Progress Orillia”
Why I oppose this consideration
I have an unfortunate advantage over most on this council; in fact most everyone in this room. When it comes to contamination and placing the health of others at risk, there are few with more blood on their hands than I.
Prior to learning about the adverse health effects of chemical exposure, the link to a variety of cancers, autoimmune disorders and other health related ailments, my company was one of the largest non-agricultural/municipal users of toxic chemicals in our area. Following a series of lectures I attended, I was invited to visit to Sick Kids in Toronto where I was granted unprecedented access to their research department and spent time with many of the oncologists and immunologists who were volunteering in their spare time to educate others like me of the near epidemic levels of ailments associated to toxins in our environment. The information and education I received had a profound impact on me and made me so aware of just how physically destructive our environment had become. I was especially struck by the near epidemic rates of cancer and autism and the direct links to our environment.
This experience and education changed my view in ways I could never have imagined.
My company discontinued the use of chemicals and we set up a new company to develop environmentally responsible alternatives. In 2000 through 2005 I had the opportunity to spend a great deal of time with a number of individuals from The Ontario College of Family Physicians, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and others from the medical community as we lectured to municipalities across southern Ontario that were then contemplating individual cosmetic pesticide by laws prior to the Province implementing uniform province wide legislation.
It is not without some irony that yesterday; over 600 of us participated in the Terry Fox run for a cure. For those that are not aware as well, September is also Childhood cancer awareness month and the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario will be visiting Orillia on September 25th for a special chalk drawing Campaign to promote awareness. We are raising funds for treatment but we need to keep in mind that we also need to raise awareness of the cause.
Our Environment is now suspect in over 75% of the cancers diagnosed!
We have to recognize the relationship between our environment and our deteriorating health and that combined chemical exposure even at very low doses is now a direct contributing factor.
Consider what is happening:
Cancer is now the number one disease killer of children under the age of 15
Breast and cervical cancer has risen by 300% since 1980
Both Asthma and Autoimmune disorders are now at epidemic levels
Childhood Autism in the 1970's affected 1 in 10,000 - today it affects 1 in150
With special thanks to Dr. John Draper, Manager of Education and Research for The Ontario College of Family Physicians who this morning brought my attention to a report from the Canadian Environmental Law Association, the Ontario College of Family Physicians and the Environmental Health Institute of Canada that encapsulated the concern as to the causes of the dramatic increases in some forms of cancer
“Beyond the approximately 5% of cancers for which a direct genetic or hereditary cause is identified
and understood, there are important recent advances on cancer causation, arising from chemical, physical or biological agents in the environment. Carcinogens have a mutagenic mode of action, that is, they cause a mutation in cellular DNA which then causes normal cells to become malignant, new cancerous cells to proliferate, and ultimately spread to other parts of the body. Examples of mutagenic carcinogens include radiation and vinyl chloride.”
The risk based exposure limits that the MOE has stipulated in the Certificate of Property Use are based on an average; The data is transposed from animal experiments and is based on an average 130 lb person. NO chemical is tested in combination with other chemicals that may already be present in our system. Chemical exposure, even in small doses can interact with other chemicals already present in our system and form compounds that place us at risk in other areas.
The World Health Organization in a report published in 1999 under the joint partnership with the United Nations Environment Program states clearly that “evidence suggests that there may be early-life sensitivity to Vinyl Chloride.” Further the United States Environmental Protection Agency studies support this concern; “experiments show a pronounced early-life susceptibility to the carcinogenic effect of vinyl chloride; early exposures are associated with higher cancer incidence than similar or much longer exposures that occur after maturity”
In short; there are no agreed upon and established safe limits of exposure for developing children to the Vinyl Chloride found at this site.
Once again, I remind all of council; No Risk is acceptable if it can be avoided
Tonight our decision as a council is simple
Does Orillia lead or do we follow?
With that, this motion is now on the floor.
Thank you
We still Need a Forensic Audit
Followed by a Judicial Inquiry
Sept. 22, 2011
We're Back!!!!!
It seems like only yesterday that I wrote about retiring. Wait a minute it was only yesterday??? The West St. site is off the table to build on without a cleanup and I was finally free.
But it seems that those, who have lost are not taking it graciously. Instead they have ramped up the volume spreading their crapola with even more viciousness and vigor.
For years I have claimed that the Packet, in what can only be seen as a partnership with the likes of, Brown/Stevens and their henchmen came out swinging Monday night. Not only did they do a dis-service to journalism but kept up their incessant attack on mayor, councillors and supporters of their well thought out decision to end the West St. tragedy.
The very first article written in Tuesdays paper regarding council the headline read "Council won't back Park St. site for new high school". This headline is so dishonest that I have a mind to report them to the Press Council, if they only belonged. It is tantamount to a lie. No wait it is a pure and simply lie. But then the Packet which has been operating under the guise of being a community newspaper, while misleading that community, could not be expected to do anything less.
Councillors in fact support the Park St. site and said so plain and simple. As of this writing ARC which chose Park St. and whose choice was accepted by the board, is the only choice and only site on the table. Councillors, Spoke Out about their support for the boards decision in plain language Monday night.
But that wasn't good enough for the likes of Councillor Madden, who with chip on shoulder attacked Linda Murray and Pat Kehoe accusing them of having a plan to move the high school to Westridge. That accusation also carried over to Angelo Orsi. Only the fringe would see the visit of two councillors to Bracebridge, in order to learn how partnering between a school board and municipality looks and works as a conspiracy? Based on this visit Madden accused them and mayor of a conspiracy to somehow thwart the decision of ARC and school board, which has already been made.
Bad enough that there are two councillors who are just as paranoid as Madden (Spears/Bowen) but then MIRANDA MINASSIAN writes this tripe of a headline and totally misleading article. With great emphasis on conspiracy and sheer speculation the article clearly attacks councillors ,who dare do their due diligence by traveling to Bracebridge. Truth is council said, wait a minute, we can not tell the school board where they need to put the new school.? We accept their decision made by the ARC report, which favours Park St. Out of that, the Packet writes a grossly misleading headline and article. But then the Packet goes even further. They have been courting, over the last year or so a fringe group of anonymous commentators on their web-site, in preparing for this day. You know the day Fox News Orillia makes it's official coming out.
Here is what the fringe are saying.
North Ward: " The school board has already approved the Park Street site, We are now the top priority for the school board, and now we have Kehoe and Murray taking it upon themselves to tour Bracebridge and possibly put a wrench into the plans?"
acolin: Nobody's actually surprised by this, are they? We have a majority on council that has consistently put the interests of West Ridge ahead of those of the city as a whole. Why would we expect this decision to be any different?"
Trooper: "If they keep this kind of thing up, the next high school facility to serve Orillia's students will be built in BARRIE!"
ProudOrillian: " Clearly, many councillors strive to turn East Orillia into a slum. Madden, Bowen, Jenkins, and Spears are the only ones representing the city that elected them imo."
Those are the Packet's chosen commentators. Not only do the reporters mislead, but then the commentators who hide behind fictitious identities with the Packet's blessing, are left to run amuck. So out of retirement I come, as the record needs to be set straight.
Whether you agree with me or not, unlike the Packet you are all welcome to send us your comments and thoughts. Send them to mailto:speakingout@speakingout.biz and I will post them to the story you are commenting on. Simply use your own and real name and identity. That is the only rule.
For those of you on Facebook I have started a new group where you can comment as well. Speaking Out Orillia is just another way for everyone to be able to communicate their feelings, ideas and desires. Open and honest communication has never hurt anyone unless they didn't want honest and open communication about themselves and what they are doing. So join the group and let's get on with making Orillia a progressive, bountiful place for everyone, not just the chosen few backroom insiders.
jim tolnai
We still Need a Forensic Audit
Followed by a Judicial Inquiry