My (slightly) Revised Platform Has Been Released!

FOR RELEASE TO THE PRESS:

James Phieffer for Belleville City Councillor

613-242-6506 or jphieffer@gmail.com

Platform

• I will work to bring a university campus to Belleville – having one will enable our citizens to earn a degree while avoiding much of the crippling debt associated with studying at institutions in another city.
  • This is the core of my plan for downtown revitalization, as I will work for it to be located in our downtown, initially purchasing, renting, or leasing properties already there, and hopefully moving on to add new facilities downtown over time.
• As another part of my long term plan to revitalize downtown, I propose that the parking area along the Moira River and at the Pinnacle St. Lot be made free. This would be no time limit parking, while front street parking would retain the current time limit.
• I will work to make Belleville a fully accessible city for our physically challenged citizens
• I will work to bring GO Bus service to Belleville
• I will always work to keep Belleville city government as efficient and in-obtrusive as possible
• I will work to reform Quinte Health Care so that it becomes more responsive to the needs of our community, and far more responsible with the funds entrusted to it
• I will work to raise our city's profile in the areas of tourism and securing new investment
• I will vote against any pay increases (aside from mileage cost changes made as a result of significant fuel cost increases) for the mayor and city councillors – any future pay increases should be subject to a referendum held as part of the regular municipal elections

Time to get this Show on the Road

     After a period of planning and discussions with various members of our community, the time has come to get the campaign underway.  There is less than a month to our Oct 25 municipal elections, and starting next week I will be going door to door meeting with the people who make up this great city.

     First, though, on Wednesday, Sept 29, I invite everyone interested to join me at the park(ette) beside W&R Greenley Booksellers (258 Front St, Belleville) for the combination campaign kick off and press conference.  I will exercise my lungs for a few minutes, after which the press will have an opportunity to ask questions.  Then I will be available for questions from the public.  Eventually, we will make our way to the Cosy, whereupon we shall make like the Lord on the 7th day and rest.

     In kicking off the campaign, I will be making a major announcement as to what is important to me in our city and how I want to bring back downtown Belleville.

     I hope to see lots of you out, and I look forward to meeting you.

Playing 'Telephone'

Remember the kid's game called 'telephone', where you sat in a circle, and a message was passed around from person to person, and the fun was in seeing how the message had changed from the beginning to the end?  Well, I had the chance to see a game of that play out today, when I saw this article by Colin MacKay, a member of the Intelligencer Writers Group:
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2748415

Councillors promise to make election entertaining
Posted By COLIN MACKAY


     Unlike Baymount, it looks like the municipal election will be able to deliver a horse race on Oct. 25.
     A lot of jockeying will take place over the next few weeks particularly among those running for councillor in the Belleville Ward. Five challengers are running against the incumbents for the six seats in the Belleville ward.
     The newcomers face an uphill challenge because for the most part the incumbents have done an admirable job of moving the City of Belleville forward.
     Decisions made by this council have been good ones. Applying for and receiving money for infrastructure projects has benefited the city. Working toward eliminating red tape for businesses has begun.
     Still, the next council will face a number of key issues. Voters need to know where each potential councillor stands with regard to a new police station, fire station, a new arena for the Belleville Bulls and how they propose to revitalize downtown.
     It is early in the race but all potential councillors, incumbents included, have been speaking a lot without saying anything of substance.
     Voters have not heard one candidate speak directly about any of the above mentioned issues.
     Voters need to know which potential councillor will support a new police station as well as those who are opposed.
     Voters need to know which potential councillor believes that Belleville simply can not afford a new arena for the Bulls.
     Which councillor supports building a new fire station?
     Revitalizing downtown seems to be on every potential councillor's mind yet voters have heard little about how to go about it. Is parking an issue? Should new novelty or artsy shops be given tax breaks? How are you going to change perceptions of those that fear going downtown?
     The incumbents all have reasonable track records and name recognition from four years on council and in the news. Other candidates may make wonderful councillors if given the chance but its tough to break through.
     The challenger's perspectives can be whittled down to a few issues.
     Richard Beare would like Belleville to grow in industry, commercial and residential areas to keep taxes lower. Richard Courneyea understands Belleville's strengths and weaknesses from a global business perspective. Jodie Jenkins wants sustained growth and to be a youthful addition to council. Stanley Jones wants to make sure taxes do not rise. James Pheiffer wants spending to be watched, have QHC dismantled and add a university campus to Belleville.[emphasis added]
     Voters need to find out specifically what all this means and how it might be accomplished.
     The incumbents are running on their track records and stating they feel they have done well but there is more left to do. But voters still have not heard where they specifically stand on some major issues.
     All candidates are just out of the starting gate and rounding the first bend toward a possible seat in council. Nearing the finish line, voters will want to know specifically where they stand on major issues.


Colin MacKay is a longtime resident of Belleville and a member of the Intelligencer Writers Group.


     My response (added to the comments section on the Intell's website, and shown below for your convenience)) will hopefully clarify the matter, as what was included in this article was not a clear representation of my platform (posted here earlier):


As I told Mr McVicar when he talked to me for his article, I have not stated that my goal is to dismantle Quinte Health Care - my goal is to see the organization start providing the kind of service our city needs, which it currently does not. If necessary, I will push for it's dismantling - but that, in light of the inevitable costs involved, should be the last option. For a view of my full platform, (with more specifics to come, naturally), I would suggest Mr. McKay see my full platform at 

http://jamesphieffer4be​lleville.blogspot.​com/
or on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com​/#!/group.php?gid=​156794827667948

I hope that will clarify the matter some. As to the other issues mentioned, I am considering the issues - all of them important - and will make concrete statements soon. 


And my name is spelled Phieffer - not Pheiffer, as the Intell seems to have taken to...

This article is from the Belleville Intelligencer

I had the opportunity to sit down with Belleville Intelligencer reporter Bryce McVicar at a local Tim Hortons.  Here's a link to the article he wrote afterwords:

http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2739409