Stoney Creek, ON – Yesterday, Mayor Andrea Horwath provided Council members and Acting City Clerk Pilon with notice of her intention to veto the Council’s vote regarding the disposition of the Downtown Stoney Creek City-owned parking lots at 5 and 13 Lake Avenue South, and subsequently Veteran’s Lane.
We, as the shared community of Stoney Creek, are disappointed in this action. We firmly believe that as Stoney Creekers, we have the ability to create our own proactive, locally developed solutions and implement homegrown plans to address the ever-growing need for affordable housing in our community.
This has been evident during the preceding weeks of debate, and since the subsequent decision by the Mayor, as members of the Ward 5, 9, & 10 Communities have consistently expressed their desire to be a part of a solution. As a result, our offices have already initiated a process to develop a “Made in Stoney Creek” approach with City Staff and will be bringing solutions and options to our communities in the very near future.
It is our collective hope that by collaborating as a team, with the support of Stoney Creekers from all parts of our shared community – including voices from Wards 5, 9 & 10 – we can develop our own plan to meet the challenges at hand and avoid having a plan developed elsewhere being imposed upon us again.
Although we are at a very early stage, we pledge to continue to communicate openly and transparently as we move forward. We will work together, rising to the occasion and find solutions that are beneficial for all.
Sincerely,
Matt Francis, Councillor, Ward 5
Brad Clark, Councillor, Ward 9
Jeff Beattie, Councillor, Ward 10