Acclaimed as a city councillor for my third term in office

I am not sure if it is record, but Mayor Anthony Housefather and seven of eight members of city council were formally acclaimed to office on October 4, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. I was among them and I now look forward to my third term as the city councillor for District 2.

  

Congratulations to Mayor Housefather and Councillors Steven Erdelyi, Dida Berku, Allan J. Levine, Mitchell Brownstein, Glenn J. Nashen and Ruth Kovac. Best of luck to District  1 Councillor Sam Goldbloom, who must continue to campaign for re-election on Sunday, November 3. He will face two opponents:  Marissa Sidel and Stewart Wiseman.

Sam Goldbloom (top second to  the right) shares a moment of happiness for the seven acclaimed councillors. Mayor Housfather was out of town on business.

I wish to thank my family. Reuben Spector, my father in law, is three for three as my official agent and campaign manager. Big hugs to my mother in law, my wife and daughter and my mom for all of their support. To my late father Larry, who  was very proud to see me on council, I know you are smiling somewhere.

Officially being sworn in by Jonathan Shecter.

While the formal installation of our reconstituted council will take place after November 3, City Clerk and  Director of Elections Jonathan Shecter did swear those of us in who were acclaimed. For Allan J. Levine, the noted former math and science teacher from Wagar High School, this was the first time he has been acclaimed in 25 years. I had that distinction four years ago, after first winning office in 2005 with more than 92 percent of the vote.

I worked hard on my campaign, going door to door several times a week and meeting with constituents. It is a very rewarding experience. It has all been chronicled in my special campaign blog. I look forward to representing District 2 for another four years. We have a remarkable council and clearly enjoy the full support of our electorate.

The Hermitage Condominium on Rembrandt

I first visited the Hermitage Condo on Rembrandt Avenue about a decade ago. The late travel guru Gerda Rosner invited me into her beautiful unit to share some of her adventures. Soon after, when I decided to run for city council, Gerda helped put the word out and an amazing gentleman named Kek Rosenblatt took me door to door. I become close with Kek, a war veteran who had a lot to say and contribute about local traffic. Sadly, he passed away during my first term in office.

Four years ago lawyer Martin Bogante,a member of the Hermitage board, took me to every door. It was through that process that I met Howard and Arlene Mayers, who since that time have been among my eyes and ears on that street. They even joined my Cats Committee this year.

Here I am flanked by Martin Bogante and Howard Mayers.

So, as I continue my election campaign tour I made a point of sitting down with Martin, Howard and Arlene to discuss local matters of concern. I explained to them that a meeting will be called in the very immediate future concerning Hydro work on Rembrandt and Merrimac. We spoke about the traffic lights at Kildare and Cavendish, the improved situation with traffic from Bialik, Rembrandt Park and yes, cats.

There are 64 units in the Hermitage, which at 26 hardly looks its age.

A visit to the Excelsior apartment buildings

The Excelsior, located at 5775 Cavendish Boulevard right next door to our City Hall/Library facility, is perhaps one of the most attractive rental highrise buildings in our community. Opened about a decade old, there are 185 units here spread about two wings.  There is an attractive lobby, complete with a 24 hour doorman, a party room, an outside deck for entertaining and barbequing and a workout room.

I was happy to visit on October 2 and meet with a number of residents  who accepted my offer to discuss some of the issues on their minds. A big thanks to Lucille Rechil, the property manager, for staying late to welcome me and providing refreshments. Lucille was given high marks from the residents for her excellent work.

Here I am with some of the residents.

Those who attended had a lot to say about traffic, turning around on Cavendish to head back out of the community. Right now they must either go straight towards Mackle and Cavendish and find a way to turn around, go into the City Hall parking lot and turn back around or try and get in the far left lane and turn on to the Avenue at Quartier Cavendish. Some asked for U-turn to be implemented or to go through the City Hall lot and for the boulders blocking cars from going through Sir Walter Scott to be removed. These requests will be looked at by our Traffic Committee.

Shirley and Reuben Spector, Lucille Rechil, myself and Connie Gail Saloman.

I made a point, backed up by my campaign manager Reuben Spector, that we have made a lot of progress over the last number of years in terms of managing traffic on Cavendish. Our lights have been synchronized, double left turns were implemented on Kildare turning on to Cavendish and at Cavendish and Fleet.  We maintained a crossing guard at Kildare and Cavendish. Indeed,  we continue to listen to concerns of pedestrians and drivers.

Will Cavendish Boulevard be extended? We know that a new special project bureau has been established so for that at least we are hopeful.

One lady said that she lived in St. Laurent for 53 years, came here six years ago and could not be more impressed with how our city is run. Another, who resided in Hampstead for over 40 years, echoed the same sentiments.

CSL adopts resolution opposing Quebec Charter of Values

Here is a copy of the resolution CSL Council adopted on October 1, 2013.

 

RESOLUTION ON THE OPPOSITION OF THE CITY OF CÔTE SAINT-LUC TO THE ADOPTION OF THE QUEBEC CHARTER OF VALUES

 

WHEREAS the Government of Quebec proposed passing a Charter of Quebec Values in to law;

 

WHEREAS in the opinion of the Cote Saint-Luc City Council, the proposed Charter infringes rights granted under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Quebec Charter of Rights in a way that is not reasonable in a free and democratic society;

 

WHEREAS the Council of the City of Cote Saint-Luc believes that the state can be secular while still supporting all religions and those who have no religion and that the way an individual is dressed as a result of their religious beliefs in no way impacts such individuals ability to provide services in a secular state;

 

WHEREAS the proposed Charter will make our civil service, less diverse, as the law forbids employees from wearing religious attire even when such attire is required as a result of their religious beliefs;

 

WHEREAS the City of Cote Saint Luc is composed of people of many cultures, languages and religions, and has no difficulty supporting all such cultures, languages and religions and has no difficulty with civil servants who wear religious head-coverings and/or religious symbols;

 

WHEREAS not one of the residents of our city has ever complained about the clothes/jewelry worn by our civil servants wearing religious attire;

 

WHEREAS our city wants to have diversity in our civil service;

 

            It was

           

                        MOVED BY COUNCILLOR 

                        SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR 

 

            AND RESOLVED:

 

“THAT the City of Cote Saint Luc:

 

·         will vigorously oppose the adoption of the Charter of Quebec Values as proposed by the Quebec Government and firmly states that this proposed Charter of Values does not consist of our values;

 

·         will use all legal means to contest such Charter of Quebec Values if ever adopted into law,

 

·         will invoke any exemption existing in such a law given our opposition to the law;

 

·         will never terminate or punish any employee of the City of Cote Saint-Luc for wearing clothing required by their religion irrespective of any adoption of the Charter of Quebec Values into law;

 

·         will continue supporting our churches and synagogues and other religious institutions as well as those who profess no religion and will continue to maintain all traditional practices of the City including the presence of a Christmas Tree and Menorah on the City Hall lawn at winter holiday time. ”

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

 

National Seniors Day recognized in CSL

Along with Mayor Anthony Housefather, Councillor Ruth Kovac and Mount Royal Liberal MP Irwin Cotler, I participated in a noontime flag-raising  ceremony at Côte Saint-Luc`s Veteran`s Park presented by the Canadan Association of Retired Persons (CARP) Montreal Metro West Chapter 37.

 

This is the first time I remember us  celebrating Canada's National Seniors Day and the United Nations International Day of Aging Persons. This same event took place in 44 communities from St-John's to Victoria across Canada. A big thanks to CARP president Marcus Tabachnick for thinking of us and sending his chapter vice-chairman Lee Royko to preside over the ceremony.

 

Mayor Housefather, Cotler and our CSL Senior Men`s Club president Sidney Margles addressed those in attendance. It was a small crowd, but I see this type of event growing in future years. We need to include students who can better understand the vibrancy of our seniors.

 



Here I am (far left) with Lee Royko and Lenny Miller from CARP,
Sidney Margles, Mayor Housefather, Irwin Cotler and Councillor Kovac.



 

 

Cotler, who was accompanied by his reliable chief of staff Howard Liebman recognized that he himself is a senior  and recalled how he felt when he turned 65 just less than a decade ago.

 

Margles  thanked D'Arcy McGee Liberal MNA Lawrence Bergman, who has been a great supporter of the Men's Club. Bergman was in Quebec City.

 
Royko introduced  a new term to me: zoomers. That is what he calls Canadian seniors. Good for me to know as I approach my 51st birthday.

Here is a short video of the ceremony.

 

 

 

 

Meeting with senior condo management

I spent some time  these last few days with some of the leadership from highrise condominiums in District 2.
 

With Valerie Gibson.

Valerie Gibson, an athletic trainer originally from Russia, met me in the lobby of the grand 5790 Rembrandt building. Valerie and an entirely new executive were voted into office last year. This facility is more than 40 years old. I recall going to a bar mitzvah there 37 years ago when there was a party room, since converted to a gym. There are 96 units.

At Le Marquise on Marc Chagall, Mike Cuplowsky is the past president with Martin Goldsmith now at the helm. Mike, who has been a tremendous contact, remains on the board. I sat down with him and Eddie Bornstein, a resident of this building and the manager of the Bellagio and Le Rothchild I condos next door. 
 

With Mike Cuplowsky.

In this area of Marc Chagall people want to know what we are doing with the land across the street, news about the snow dump and whether there are any plans for development on the land between the Marquise and the Rothchild.

With Eddie Bornstein.

Well, the construction people see next to Les Cours Chagall townhouses is actually for some beautiful and permanent park benches we promised some time ago. For the snow dump, an agreement to allow Hampstead to continue to dump there will be up for a vote at our Tuesday, October 1 public meeting.  We will once again place money in the budget to chop the thick snow up in the spring to make the ugly hill disappear. As for the vacant land, we do not hear anything about possible construction.  When I was first elected, developers planned to build two 16 storey twin towers. It did not sell, they abandoned the project and we have not heard from them in years. With the Quartier Cavendish housing development and soon Griffith McConnell on  Parkhaven, there is probably time before someone takes a look at the Marc Chagall land.

Introduction to Computers and Email a must for those in the dark

Most recently I was in conversation with a constituent of mine. He is 77 years young and for the past few years I have been sending him emails, without getting any responses. So I asked him, "Do you receive my emails?"

 

The gentleman looked me in the eye with a look of sadness on his face. "I am ashamed to tell you that  I do not know how to work the email," he remarked. "My kids set it up. They check it for me."

 

In the eight years since I have been  elected to council, more and more seniors have become comfortable on the internet. But there are many like this gentleman who are simply intimidated by the entire process.

 

Well it does not have to be this way, as I have been telling many people during my door to door campaign. Our Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc Public Library offers some excellent courses and from October 1 to 18, there is an Introduction to Computers and Email. It is $90 for CSL residents and $120 for non-residents. The courses run from 10:30 a.m. to Noon Tuesdays and Fridays and this is for absolute  beginners only.

 

It is never too late to learn this skill.

 

For more information call 514-485-6900.