St. George’s candidates focus on Facer St.
Regardless of who St. George’s residents elect to represent them at city hall, Facer Street will be a priority for the Ward 3 councillors in the next term of council.
The rejuvenation of the area was one of several topics discussed by the four candidates vying to represent St. George’s, including the ward’s sole incumbent Sal Sorrento and newcomers Brody Longmuir, VickiLynn Smith and Kevin Townsend.
The candidates also shared their opinions on issues that included job creation, poverty, accountability and transit while answering questions from an audience of about 100 people during the debate, hosted by the Canadian Polish Society at the hall Monday night.
Asked about redeveloping the Facer Street district while ensuring it remains an inclusive community that recognizes the diverse backgrounds of residents, Sorrento said he’s pro-development, and “definitely all for inclusiveness.”
He later added Facer Street revitalization is going to take seven to 10 years and cost $7 millon to $8 million as of two years ago.
“Good luck trying to get that out of the private sector,” he said.
Townsend said he hopes to involve the community as well as Brock University and Niagara College students, and hear what their ideas are for business plans for developing on the street.”
“What else can we do? What else can we include on the street?” he asked.
He said Facer Street “is a district for one and it’s a district for all, and all people should be welcomed to this street and everybody should be involved in it.”
Longmuir said Queen Street in Niagara Falls, where the community “did a fantastic job revitalizing that area,” is an example of what can be done on Facer Street.
Offering incentives to businesses can help accomplish the same sorts of changes locally, he added.
Longmuir said it’s very easy to recognize and maintain the contributions of all ethnic groups
that contributed to the development of the historic district.
Smith said she wants to ensure that living there remains affordable.
Most people, she said, wouldn’t be able to afford the house they live in at current prices.
Although Townsend said there are plenty of jobs in St. Catharines, good jobs that allow workers to purchase a house, car, live comfortably and raise a family are rare.
He said Amazon is building a distribution centre in Caledon, bringing hundreds of full time jobs to that community.
“Why are we always the last dog to the bowl?” Townsend
asked. “We’re close to the border. We should have been a city that was considered for something like this.”
Longmuir said there are a lot of seasonal, part-time jobs in Niagara, but “I don’t think there are reliable full-time jobs with benefits, with a pension.”
“I think those jobs have evaporated.”
While Longmuir said all politicians promise to bring jobs to Niagara, the 22-year-old stressed the urgency of ensuring jobs are available to allow young workers to remain in the city.
“If our young people leave, there goes the tax base and we won’t be able to afford the services to take care of our aging population,” Longmuir added.
Smith agreed.
“Nobody can live on minimum
wage. Even if they work full time they will not have enough money to pay their rent and eat,” she said.
“There are a lot of people who are paying their rent and going to the food bank.”
Sorrento, too, said he’s “100 per cent” behind recruiting employers.
“What person in office isn’t for attracting business and not wanting to do something good for your community. We’re all on board.”
Bringing employers to the city “is not as easy as you think it is.”
“We are competing with everybody around the world,” he said. “Good luck.”
Allan.Benner @niagaradailies.com 905-225-1629 | @abenner1