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.

 

Missing Montreal senior found in Côte Saint-Luc

There is never a dull moment on the election campaign trail. On this night, I took a break from my door to door activities and headed towards Pharmaprix at the Quartier Cavendish. As I entered via Mackle Road, I noticed a number of police cars on the scene, an ambulance and our Emergency Medical Services and a crowd of people circling a white car.

 

On Saturday evening an 87 year old man from St. Laurent went missing. He had left his home to go pick up dinner. At one point during the night he called his wife and indicated he was lost and in Repentigny. That is when the communications  ended. The family went frantic. There were no more calls and everyone thought the worst. Then tonight, the man ended up at the Esso station in Quartier Cavendish. Family members were contacted. As I arrived they were all hugging each other as the man got medical attention. He sat in the driver's seat smiling.

 

"I think that is the last time he will driving his car," one person was overheard saying.

 

"Thank goodness he is ok," said another. "It is a miracle!"

Chabad CSL holds big celebration at Trudeau Park

Mayor Anthony Housefather and members of city council  were pleased to participate in Beth Chabad CSL's Simchat Beth Hashoeva celebration at Trudeau Park on September 23.  Hundreds of people gathered  to hear renowned Israeli singer  Shimon Sibony perform.

There was a festive atmosphere in the park and weather conditions were pretty good for the affair. CSL resident Amir Toledano was there with his mobile food truck, serving up items from his Mega Burger Glatt Kosher Restaurant -a real hit on Decarie Boulevard.

Congratulations to Rabbi Mendel Raskin and his team for another wonderful event.

With Rabbi Mendel Raskin at his concert.

New police commander meets with council and hears District 2 concerns

Over the course of my door to door campaign, I have received many requests and concerns related to traffic safety, moving violations and areas in need of police surveillance. Police Station 9, which covers Côte Saint-Luc, Hampstead and Montreal West, has a new commander in Marc Cournoyer. He succeeded Sylvain Bissonnette at the beginning of September.

While members of council had the opportunity to meet Commander Cournoyer recently, I thought it would be appropriate to have him meet us in a caucus session with his lieutenant Jean-Pierre Theoret. Such was the case on Monday evening, September 23. We spent 45 minutes with the commander. Each of us provided a brief introduction of our roles on council and the constituencies we cover. Furthermore, we all touched upon hot button issues in our district. This was a very productive exercise. Commander Cournoyer and Lt. Theoret were taking notes feverishly.

Commander Cournoyer and Lt. Theoret take notes.

Where District 2 is concerned, I spoke about traffic safety and parking violations around Bialik High School; stop sign infractions at the corners of Kildare Road and Merrimac and Sir Walter Scott; speeding on Marc Chagall in front of the new Les Cours Chagall Town Houses,  on Rembrandt Avenue and on Cavendish near the overpass turnaround at Heywood; loitering in Rembrandt Park and suspicious behavior during certain hours.

We spoke about the busy corner of Cavendish Boulevard and Kildare Road, asking for his evaluation about automobile and pedestrian traffic.

Lt. Theoret has been with Station 9 for three years and previously worked with Commander Cournoyer in St. Laurent.   He also has a number of key staff who have served the community for many years. I believe we are in good hands.

Councillor Mitchell Brownstein speaks out against the Charter of Values

Bravo to Councillor Mitchell Brownstein for this wonderful opinion piece against the Quebec government's proposed Charter of Values. Below are copies in English and French.

“Immigrants not welcome here?”               

 

By Mitchell Brownstein

 Immigration Attorney and Cote Saint Luc Municipal Councillor

As an attorney practicing Immigration Law since 1990 and more recently representing clients in wrongful dismissal claims, it is clear that the proposed Quebec Charter of Values is a wanton aggression on fundamental rights. In a province with such a rich diversity of communities I cannot believe that this is something that could ever come into law. The Parti Quebecois government is sending an insidious message that some people are not wanted here. As responsible Quebecers we must oppose it and let all Quebecers know what the dangers of such a proposal are.

Lawyers from our firm have travelled on business missions with the Government of Quebec (Team Canada and Equipe Quebec Missions) and have watched our provincial governments whether Liberal or Parti Quebecois promote Quebec as a multi-cultural community that welcomes individuals from around the world, offering them the opportunity to become full members of our society, while maintaining their religious beliefs and culture. They have encouraged immigration and presented Quebec as a place that welcomes individuals of diverse religious beliefs and culture.  It is ironic that after such solicitation and encouragement, that the Marois Government has now decided that these same individuals are not welcome. 

 Many of our clients, who have chosen Quebec as their home, wear Hijabs, Turbans, Kippahs, ornamental crosses and other religious symbols. They are doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, business people, and students and come here with the greatest desire to contribute to Quebec society.  They work in the private and public sector and chose Montreal as the place they thought welcomed them as full members of society, including their right to religious freedom. 

Should this Charter come into law individuals working in the Public Sector as teachers, nurses, doctors or other professions will be told to take off their religious/cultural garb or resign. Quebecers should not have to choose between their religious beliefs and economic well-being.   In Labour law this is called constructive dismissal and under existing law,  provides the individual with the same rights and recourses against their employer as wrongful dismissal, since changes in the terms of employment that force an individual to quit are tantamount to being fired.  This argument is one that the Federal Government should use to illustrate the unconstitutionally of this proposed Charter of Values, should it come in to law, as it clearly infringes on an individual’s religious rights as guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In my other job as a Municipal Councillor for the City of Cote Saint Luc, I am very proud to be a part of a Council led by Mayor Anthony Housefather, whereby we always speak loudly in order to protect individual minority rights.  We will defend the rights of our public sector employees who wear any form of religious clothing or jewelry.  It is a sad day for all Quebecers that our government is creating laws to divide us rather than unite.

 Mitchell Brownstein is managing partner of the Law Firm Brownstein, Brownstein and Associates specializing in Immigration and Wrongful Dismissal Law.  He is also a Municipal Councillor for the City of Cote Saint Luc.

 

: Mitchell Brownstein with Premier Lucien Bouchard on Team Canada trip to the Philippines January 1997.

 

Les immigrants ne sont pas les bienvenus ici.

Mitchell Brownstein, Avocat en immigration et Conseiller Municipal de la Ville de Côte Saint-Luc

Je suis avocat exerçant le droit de l'immigration depuis 1990. Récemment, je représente des clients dans leurs réclamations pour congédiement injustifié. La Charte des valeurs québécois proposé est une agression flagrante aux droits fondamentaux. Dans une province avec une telle richesse et diversité des communautés ethniques, je ne peux croire qu’une telle chose pourrait être acceptée comme loi. Le gouvernement du Parti québécois envoie un message insidieux que certaines personnes ne sont pas souhaitées. En tant que Québécois responsables, nous avons le devoir de nous opposer et de faire connaitre à tous les citoyens les dangers d'une telle proposition.

Des avocats de notre firme ont participé a des missions d'affaires avec le gouvernement du Québec (Équipe Canada et Missions Équipe Québec) et ont observé nos gouvernements provinciaux, qu'ils soient Libéral ou Parti québécois, promouvant le Québec comme étant une communauté multiculturelle qui accueille les personnes du monde entier. Ainsi, elle leur offre la possibilité de devenir membres à part entière de notre société, tout en conservant leurs croyances religieuses et leur culture. Le paradoxe est qu’après une telle sollicitation et un tel encouragement, le gouvernement Marois décide que ces mêmes personnes ne sont pas les bienvenues.

Plusieurs de nos clients, qui ont choisi le Québec comme patrie, portent le hijab, le turban, la kippa, des croix ornementales et autres symboles religieux. Ils sont médecins, avocats, enseignants, ingénieurs, gens d’affaires, étudiants, et viennent ici avec le plus grand désir de contribuer à la société québécoise. Ils travaillent dans les secteurs privés et publics et ont choisi Montréal comme lieu qu'ils pensaient, les accueillerait comme membres à part entière de la société, y compris leur droit à la liberté religieuse.

Si cette Charte entre en vigueur, les personnes qui travaillent dans le secteur public comme les enseignants, les infirmières, les médecins et autres professions seront incités à soit renoncer de porter leur habit religieux ou culturel ou bien de démissionner. Les Québécois ne devraient pas avoir à choisir entre leurs croyances religieuses et leur bien-être économique. En Droit du travail, c'est ce qu'on appelle un congédiement déguisé. En vertu du droit existant, un congédiement déguisé confère à l'individu les mêmes droits et recours contre ses employeurs qu’un licenciement injustifié, puisque les changements dans les conditions d'emploi, forçant l’individu à quitter, équivalent à un congédiement. Cet argument est celui que le Gouvernement Fédéral devrait utiliser pour illustrer la nature inconstitutionnelle de ce projet de la Charte des valeurs québécois. Si ce projet devait entrer dans la loi, elle va clairement violer ​​les droits religieux de l'individu tels qu'ils sont garantis par la Charte Canadienne des Droits et des Libertés.

En tant que Conseiller Municipal de la Ville de Côte Saint-Luc, je suis très fier de faire partie d'un conseil dirigé par le Maire Anthony Housefather, où nous parlons toujours à voix haute dans le but de protéger les droits des minorités individuelles.

Mitchell Brownstein est Directeur Adjoint au cabinet d'avocats Brownstein, Brownstein et Associés, spécialisé en immigration et en droit du licenciement injustifié. Il est également Conseiller Municipal pour la Ville de Côte Saint-Luc.

A visit to the Parkside 21 Condominium

With Barry Rotschild.

The Parkside 21 Town House Condominium Complex got its name for being next to Rembrandt Park and having 21 units. Seven are on Rembrandt Avenue, with steps to climb, while the remaining 14 share a nice common courtyard. They also have a seasonal outdoor pool, a common indoor garage and a guest parking lot.

I knocked on every door and many of the residents had me come inside and sit down to chat. It was a real pleasure to formally meet Barry Rotschild, his wife Patricia and their beautiful nine month old daughter Sofia. is part of the six-person board which manages the complex. That is quite a responsibility given the fact there are absolutely no paid staff.

Sofia really likes that Mike Cohen electoral card Patricia is holding.

Questions and concerns dealt with issues related to Rembrandt Park, speeding in the area and traffic at the busy corner of Kildare and Cavendish. A number of the residents here have communicated with me regularly by email and that I truly appreciate. One such case involved restricted parking on Kildare Road for certain days of the week. Over a period of time I repeatedly brought this to the attention of our Traffic Committee and council, ultimately working out  a resolution to the problem. Now, when those living on the Kildare side of the complex come home from work they can leave their cars on the street for the evening instead of always having to go back in their garage.