Disqus - Friends of denvan

Re: Go Green Expo

James O'Grady — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:49:54 -0000

How did it go at the show on Saturday? What kind of feedback did you receive about the Green Party from visitors?

Re: Hitting the campaign trail

James O'Grady — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:47:57 -0000

Make that 2000 and counting!

Re: 1st group mail drop

James O'Grady — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 10:33:50 -0000

You showed up as Phil Brown so I think its working but I'll check with Kevin. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Re: Campaign on the Move!

James O'Grady — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:26:52 -0000

Great job David in organizing Saturday's event!

Re: Campaign on the Move!

James O'Grady — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:18:33 -0000

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the question!

I am running as an independent. While I have been in the past, I am no longer a member of any political party.

I am running as an independent because the municipal level is about issues and solving problems, not about political philosophy or parties and slates. Constituents need representatives who will represent their best interests at all times.

In order to get to a position where we can start to properly address the issues this city is facing, we need to fix the dysfunctional nature of City Hall and start moving the City forward in a way that best reflects the character, values and needs of the residents living here.

Check out the website, especially the 'Vision' and 'Meet James' sections to learn more about me, my background and what I stand for.

If you have any further questions or would like to get involved, please don't hesitate to contact me at any time.

Thanks,

James O'Grady
Candidate for Ottawa City Council
Ward 9: Knoxdale-Merivale
james@jamesogrady.ca

Re: Vision

James O'Grady — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 11:10:15 -0000

Thanks Ben! Great to hear from you!

We can always use an extra set of feet on the campaign trail. Let me know when you're coming and I'll make sure my team puts you to work. :)

Cheers!

James

Re: Staff need to learn how to do more with less

James O'Grady — Sun, 09 May 2010 11:04:19 -0000

Thanks for your comment Gord. Yes, ROI (Return On Investment) is a very important filter by which all decisions should be evaluated before they are approved.

Re: Staff need to learn how to do more with less

James O'Grady — Sun, 09 May 2010 11:35:06 -0000

Thanks for the comment Jim!

Re: Staff need to learn how to do more with less

James O'Grady — Mon, 10 May 2010 11:01:26 -0000

Thanks for your comment Bob. I hope that the City is hiring qualified people, but if they are, why do managers constantly go to outside consultants for help? Its as if the City managers don't believe their advice will be accepted by Council or the public if it doesn't come from a consultant. However, in doing so, they are driving up the cost of many projects they should be able to complete internally.

Case in point, the Orleans 'cow on the roof'. The answer is a simple one, putting anything on a roof that violates building height restrictions is not allowed. While it may not be an issue for the building in question, the City can't make an exception to a rule that would set a precedent and cause a nightmare across the City.

Sure its an interesting marketing idea, but instead of the roof, why not place the cow somewhere else, like at the entrance to the parking lot? There was a steak restaurant just off of Pinecrest Rd. that did that for many years. It was an effective marketing tool and it didn't violate any by-laws.

Its time to start using some common sense. Staff should be consulting internally as much as possible and only hiring consultants for projects where industry expertise does not exist inside the City.

Re: CFRA Afternoon Edition - Challenger's Panel Part 1, 2 &3

James O'Grady — Sun, 23 May 2010 15:40:38 -0000

Thanks Qais!

Re: Banner Park project may get funding from Shoppers - News - By Kimberly Lochhead Nepean/Barrhaven Community News

James O'Grady — Sun, 30 May 2010 22:15:39 -0000

Its now been confirmed and Shoppers Drugmart did donate $3,000 to the Trend-Arlington Community Association to help pay for a climbing structure for Banner Park. We would like to thank Shoppers Drugmart and Councillor Gord Hunter for reaching out to our community in this way.

Re: Speech to supporters at O'Grady Campaign Kick-off

James O'Grady — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:41:30 -0000

Thanks Mark!

James

Re: Make bus bays work, transit advocate says

James O'Grady — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 09:42:36 -0000

I agree with David Jeanes and Trend-Arlington resident Joanna Crandell 100% on this issue (see her letter to the editor on this website).

This is an old policy (pre-amalgamation) which appears wasn't reviewed when the provincial legislation mandating drivers to let buses merge, was brought in. There is no reason why bus bays can't work. The point behind them is a good one... removing an obstacle to traffic flow from the road while it is stopped.

The amount of anger that is generated by drivers from a policy like this is completely unnecessary if the issue the City is trying to solve is maintaining the bus schedule (keeping buses on time).

I commented on this in a Nepean This Week article a few weeks ago before construction began and I'll say it again, this policy will make traffic flow worse on Greenbank Rd., not better.

And, I have heard from a number of people living off of Merivale Rd., who want their bus bays back in order to improve traffic flow on Merivale Rd., something that is now negatively affecting business as a restaurant owner told me when I asked him about it.

The City's answer to solving this problem is like taking a sledge hammer to solve a problem that requires tweaking, not major surgery. And at what cost?

This city is very diverse... different regions have different issues and problems that need to be resolved in ways that are unique to their problems. This is even true within my ward of Knoxdale-Merivale. A "One size fits All" approach to solving problems in a City this big is not working.

We need a new approach to governance in Ottawa. This is why I am advocating for 'Borough Councils' to be created to handle local matters.

There is no reason why some decisions can't be made locally and by the councillors for a specific region of the City. Its a good way to get people more involved in local governance and it will hold the councillors more accountable.

Look for more from me on the 'Borough Council' over the course of this election campaign.

James O'Grady
Candidate for Ottawa City Council
Ward 9: Knoxdale-Merivale

Re: Letter to the editor: City bus-bay removal makes gridlock worse

James O'Grady — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:11:07 -0000

See my blog on this topic at: http://jamesogrady.ca/index...

Re: Council approves new Lansdowne park

James O'Grady — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:01:51 -0000

I agree with Council Bedard in this instance. Getting a new stadium and redeveloping Lansdowne Park are great achievements for the City but they shouldn't have been combined into one project because doing so means our new stadium will not be in the best location to ensure the greatest number of people will be able to access it through mass transit. The most important factors in starting any new business are... location, location, location! The Lansdowne Live initiative ignores this fact.

Unfortunately, this is what happens when you don't follow a proper process that allows for competing proposals to come forward. Had the City engaged in an open and transparent competitive process, I believe it would have become apparent that the Lansdowne Live proposal would be better suited to Bayview Yards, the location that finished first in the City's new stadium study last year.

To read more about my position and involvement in the Lansdowne Live debate, please read my blog post on it at: http://bit.ly/bu4jtK.

James O'Grady
Candidate for Ottawa City Council in Ward 9: Knoxdale-Merivale

Re: Vision

James O'Grady — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:46:14 -0000

Thanks Richard! I appreciate your support!

James

Re: Bus Bay update

James O'Grady — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:55:08 -0000

Hi Craig,

Thanks for your comment.

I have ridden down the new asphalt lanes beside Greenbank Rd. on my bike and I can't say that they provide for a safe cycling experience. The path is very narrow and is elevated right beside the road. I had to dodge a number of obstacles and weave my way through pedestrians and cars a like.

This is not the cycling solution I support. Rather, I consider the removal of the bus bays and this shoddy, last minute implementation of strip asphalt on the side of the road to be a waste of tax dollars.

If you're gong to do something, do it right the first time so you don't have to redo it at an additional cost at a later date.

Re: Cyclists and motorists will benefit from segregated bike paths

James O'Grady — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:23:59 -0000

Idiotic? I can understand that you don't agree with me but insulting
me personally doesn't add anything constructive to the discussion.

I am a recreational cyclist and like many recreational cyclists that I
have spoken with, I don't feel safe riding my bike on major arterial
roads like Greenbank Rd. I didn't feel safe as a youth and I don't now
as an adult. I am not saying anyone is at fault, I'm saying we need to
look at other alternatives because people are dying. I don't know
about you but I consider people dying to be a rather serious issue
worthy of discussion.

Cyclist and motorists in this city have been educated about cycling
safety and the rules of the road since I was a child, yet nothing has
changed in the attitudes of both motorist and cyclists. This is more
about respect and a lack there of, as you have clearly demonstrated
through your response to my blog post, than it is about not being
educated on this issue.

So, I am suggesting an idea that I have seen work very well in Europe,
where I lived for two years while playing semi-pro hockey and where I
cycled to the rink daily for practice.

While it won't be possible to create segregated lanes everywhere, I
think it is important that we recognize that we have a serious issue
that needs to be addressed. Turning a 'blind eye' to the issues facing
this city is not the style of city councillor that I will be if I am
fortunate enough to be elected.

And, yes, I did consult with cycling experts in Ottawa before writing
this blog.

Thank you for your feedback.

Sincerely,

James O'Grady

Re: Cyclists and motorists will benefit from segregated bike paths

James O'Grady — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:28:49 -0000

Hi Jack,

Yes, my suggestion is to offer an alternative to cycling on roads.

Thanks for the feedback.

James

Re: Biography

James O'Grady — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:30:56 -0000

Thanks Tiegan! Much appreciated!

James

Re: Tunnel or no tunnel?

James O'Grady — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:58:20 -0000

Hi,

Thanks for the comment.

I would like to see the full plan implemented yesterday but that's not
in the cards right now. If you believe that we will need a tunnel
sometime in the next 100 years then we may as well do it now because
it will never be less expensive than it is now.

Going door-to-door in ward 9 I can tell you that most people support
LRT and the tunnel even though it doesn't touch us. This is because
they realize that it is an important city-wide project that we can't
afford to keep putting off. 'Just do it' is a popular theme in Ward
9. :)

James

Re: My position on Lansdowne

James O'Grady — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:54:01 -0000

Hi,

Thank you for your comment.

What is it that you disagree with and why is this one issue, which has
little to do with the Ward of Knoxdale-Merivale, a deciding factor for
whom you vote?

I have commented publicly that I would not vote against it if put in
that position but would work to improve the Lansdowne Live proposal
because the current proposal still has problems, especially a lack of
adequate onsite parking for football games. Ultimately, if it is going
to be deemed a success, the football team needs to succeed. Because
Lansdowne Park is not easily accessible by mass transit, Lansdowne
Live will require more than the 1500+ spaces they currently have
allotted.

James

Re: Strong fiscal leadership - OTAG questionnaire

James O'Grady — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:46:49 -0000

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback.

I think OTAG's intention here is to ensure uniform police are on the streets rather than in the office doing administrative work when that work could be handled by civilians. They see it as a way of deploying resources more strategically.

If I am successful, I will be cautious and consultative in my decision making.

Thanks for the support!

James

Re: My position on Lansdowne

James O'Grady — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 18:55:01 -0000

Hi Teresa,

Thank you for your question. I opposed Lansdowne Live because I felt it was not a fair and open competitive process. I also don't think its the right location for a new stadium since its not easily accessible by mass transit.

I fought against it last fall and even went public with a website called Lestsgetitright.ca in order to provide people with the opportunity to write to the mayor and councillors directly with one push of a button.

But unfortunately, we lost. While I still don't believe its a very good plan and will ultimately fail from the football team perspective, most of the residents I have spoken to have bought into the 'ends justifies the means' argument that the proponents of Lansdowne Live put forward.

As a councillor you need to listen to your constituents and represent their views even if you don't agree. You also have to be able take your lumps if you lose a vote and be able to move on.

Because the majority of people I have spoken to support the current plan, I recognize this, and have said I wouldn't vote against it. But that doesn't mean I support it.

What happened with Lansdowne, is a very good example of poor governance. And, this is why I am advocating for a Borough Council. The communities of the Glebe and Ottawa South should not have been vilified the way they were and they should have had a real opportunity to discuss and debate it, be heard and have their opinions hold influence over the final result.

Unfortunately, the opposite happened. I believe a Borough Council would have provided the opportunity for proper public consultation to take place. Of course it wouldn't override a City Council decision but I believe it would have provided the forum for concerns to come forward and be considered in a way that respects residents opinions rather than run rough shod over them.

What happened with Sylvia Holden Park proves my point. It was a blatant land grab and I personally feel that the planning department stepped way over the line. Council should never have approved it.

I don't know if you are aware, but the two lawyers I am running against support the current LL plan and don't seem to mind the flawed logic that was used to push it through. Both Vanier and Egli have said in public at the Fisher Heights All-Candidates debate that they think the OSEG team are good guys and therefore its ok to hand over a $130 Million deal to one group without an competition. You can't have real accountability when you ignore your own rules. I don't know what you think but I know that I have had to prove myself every step of the way in my life. This is one of the lessons of life that I have learned. The OSEG group have done nothing to earn this contract. As a result, the current LL plan is seriously flawed.

As I have said many times, if we the taxpayers want the best bang for our tax dollar, then we need to be able to negotiate with suppliers and that means holding competitions for contracts.

Not to do so is irresponsible.

I hope this helps answer your question.

James

Re: Vision

James O'Grady — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:43:39 -0000

Absolutely Pat. I agree with you. You will see tomorrow when I release
my platform that I do not support the widening of Prince of Wales
Drive in Ward 9 as it stands now. Yes, I will call meeting and we'll
have an open discussion about it with all concerned stakeholders. I
will also invite city officials to join us.

I attended the public information meeting on it in the Spring. I
wasn't impressed. I'm hoping to improve these type of Open House
events so that they are more two-way discussions and problem solving
events rather than 1-way... here's what we're doing... events.

I hope this helps answer your question.

James