Mayoral candidate Jeff Huska, who works at Health Sciences North, says the debate over the Kingsway Entertainment District shouldn't overshadow other issues in the municipal election.
“I don’t mind telling you that I’m somewhat worried,” Huska writes in a letter to sudbury.com. “I’m worried that candidates are going to focus so much attention on the downtown/Kingsway Entertainment decision that other issues surrounding the city will be overlooked or forgotten.”
For example, the roads are “horrific,” he writes.
“I have yet to meet one driver happy with Greater Sudbury’s streets,” Huska says in the letter. “Ideally, for the amount of money that has been spent rebuilding, resurfacing or repairing our roads, you’d think this wouldn’t be a topic for the upcoming election, but it has to be.”
The health of the city's 330 lakes is also a big issue, and council should act on the findings of the watershed studies being conducted on Ramsey Lake and other area water bodies, he writes.
“When completed, we need to take the findings and implement them to protect the health of our lakes for years to come,” he says. “We need to be concerned about the salt and phosphorous in our lakes and how to control those levels.”
Full letter from mayoral candidate Jeff Huska:
The 2018 municipal election in Greater Sudbury will define what direction the new council will take pending the outcome of the Local Planning Appeals Tribunal meeting in November of this year.
Ask many residents around Greater Sudbury and you will find people that are pro KED and yes those that are anti KED. Both feel their arguments have more validity than the other and each side has some powerful vocal representation.
Surprisingly, one year after council’s vote, I have yet to hear or read about one new business signing on to the Kingsway Entertainment District.
I don’t mind telling you that I’m somewhat worried. I’m not nervous about the possible outcomes of the LPAT hearings, although the results will dictate much of how Greater Sudbury’s landscape will look moving forward. But I’m worried that candidates are going to focus so much attention on the downtown/Kingsway Entertainment decision that other issues surrounding the city will be overlooked or forgotten.
The roads. The roads are, and continue to be a sore spot with almost every single resident. I have yet to meet one driver happy with Greater Sudbury’s streets. Ideally, for the amount of money that has been spent rebuilding, resurfacing or repairing our roads, you’d think this wouldn’t be a topic for the upcoming election; but it has to be.
The roads are and continue to be horrific. I’ve spoken about super pave for major roads and arteries. City hall needs to shift their thought process on how roadwork in Greater Sudbury is going to evolve. We can’t and won’t accept sub work.
Our lakes. This is the city of lakes. There are 330 within the city limits and it’s vital that we do everything we can to keep our waterways healthy. Ramsey Lake serves as a drinking water source to roughly 40 per cent of Sudburians, with the other 60 per cent coming from the Wahnapitae.
Currently, the Ramsey Lake subwatershed study looks at everything from the stormwater entering the lake to the impact development and mining has had on Ramsey. When completed, we need to take the findings and implement them to protect the health of our lakes for years to come. We need to be concerned about the salt and phosphorous in our lakes and how to control those levels.
Seniors and taxes. Greater Sudbury needs to change the age that identifies seniors in our municipality from 65 to 60 years. Generally, the age at which senior discounts start is usually 55.
However, for civic discounts you have to be at least 65 years of age in order to qualify. Let’s split the difference and start senior discounts in Greater Sudbury at 60. With the current forecasted annual increase in our taxes, residents, especially seniors won’t be able to afford their homes let alone have an active healthy lifestyle.
We are currently facing the possibility of a $100 million arena; a $125 million art gallery/library called the Junction and a $1.3 billion water/wastewater project. This council must insure seniors have safe and affordable housing options as well as affordable and accessible public transportation.
Development in Greater Sudbury. Let’s be honest, new development creates new employment opportunities but local contractors and developers will tell you growth in Greater Sudbury is simply not happening at a rate that’s acceptable. Development charges and an overwhelming amount of red tape is hindering the economic progress we need.
I want to bring in the developers/contractors and work with them to remove these roadblocks and foster development in our city. I want to freeze development fees until we can come to some type of strategy can be established.
I could continue with issues on transit, cycling and the arts because the city has an impact on each one of these topics.
So please realize that although the KED project/debate may be taking up most of the conversation time, there are many pressing matters that should be just as important to any of the mayoral candidates in this election. Make sure you ask them.
Learn more about Huska on his campaign Facebook page, which you can find here.
