Citizen activism is no stranger to St. Albert politics. Lately, the city council chambers have been host to concerned, even angry, residents of the Erin Ridge area opposing the school being built behind Sturgeon hospital.
Conversations get heated and often tempers flare. Inevitably, there are always the voices who call for every St. Albert resident to, in effect, “occupy” city council chambers. Stop what you’re doing, and attend all the city meetings to make sure those elected officials are doing exactly what the public wants.
Well, more accurately, what some vocal members of the public want. And some rather idealistic ones at that.
If city council, or the provincial government or the feds for that matter stopped what they were doing every time one vocal opponent came forward, local, provincial and federal governments would be paralyzed. It happens all the time in the legal world, as nuisance lawsuits grind everything to a halt. Same story with the ever-tense development appeals.
Do you really want to make city council the best it can be? There’s an easy way, much more effective than hollering at councillors during a public meeting.
Do your research on candidates for the upcoming city election. Attend forums where all of the candidates are speaking and ask them what their vision is for the future of this community.
And most importantly, show up on election day. Most communities in Alberta, St. Albert included, have only about a third of registered voters show up to vote.
Traffic issues
The Gazette has an eye-opening article on its front page today about an electronic eye in the sky, if you will.
The city has been installing cameras at problem intersections, particularly along St. Albert Trail. The trail is the lifeline of the city.
RCMP traffic services recently told the Gazette about 80 per cent of collisions in the city occur on St. Albert Trail. RCMP also stated three quarters of collisions in the city occur in intersections.
A letter in this issue of the Gazette involved a shameful incident of road rage that is unacceptable in a civilized community of adults. Keep in mind also a recent news item in a Crimestoppers article, where a pedestrian was run over in a crosswalk on St. Albert Trail.
For the wise, these are warnings. Take this information to heart and be alert and careful when driving in the city in areas of heavy traffic, especially St. Albert Trail.
