It’s ironic — these out-of-town protesters are starting to get pretty down with what’s going on locally. I’m not sure whether they’re protesting anymore, or just like spending time in town.
Perhaps both.
Regardless, the idea that jamming up a well-respected local business is a good way to get a message across is laughable, and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake should step in.
Sure, it’s a right to protest, and it’s a right to be outrageous in your beliefs — but it isn’t a right to impede the business of another citizen who also has a right to operate peacefully without the feeling of being threatened by cameras and defamation.
The Sentineals treat their horses better than most humans treat themselves. I’ve seen it first hand, talked with Fred and Laura at their farm, and known carriage operators my whole life.
Most, if not all of them, were animal people who would have been holding a protest sign themselves had anything or anyone been harming the horses.
It says a lot when Sentineal employees are jumping to defend their bosses.
That doesn’t happen often, and when it does, short of there being some mass conspiracy, you’d best bet those business owners deserve the loyalty.
It saddens me that nothing has been done about this, and that our former lord mayor decided to give these protesters as much credence as he did. There’s a difference between respecting people’s rights to protest and catering to people who you’re not actually representing, but that’s beside the point.
Solutions? Well, as we know these protesters love to throw the Charter of Rights back at anyone who dares infringe on their rights to ugly up Old Town, so, we’re going to have to come up with solutions.
I’ve got a good one — a one-year contract with Sentineal Carriages, granting them ownership of the entire sidewalk for that time, during which time they’d be allowed to operate the carriage business as usual, but will have the ability to remove anyone obstruction they please from the premises.
Take away their main spot, and have them head to the park. It’ll get old pretty fast. And if that’s not good enough, find something that works, and find it before May hits. I don’t think anyone wants to see that for another summer. The Sentinteals deserve a break.
Lord Mayor Betty Disero and members of council: Please get these protesters out of our town.
